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In 1902, Adolf Kastor, a German immigrant, purchased small knife factory in Camillus, New York, and began supplying domestically produced knives to the nation. The Camillus plant became famous for its military knives and pocket knives.
In 1946, Camillus Cutlery began making official knives for the BSA. They produced quality knives for the Scouts until 2007, when the factory closed its door for the last time. Here is an outstanding history of Camillus, written by Mr. Dexter Ewing.
Camillus also, at times, produced BSA knives that were marked as Imperial and Schrade Walden.
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CAMC4A, BSA #1996. This is a camp style knife. The #1996 is one of the standard BSA models, produced by several different companies. On the bail end, it has two blades, one a combination flat bade screwdriver and bottle opener, the other an awl(leather punch). The other end has the main blade, and a two-piece can opener. The shield is shield shaped, and made of raised silver metal. The shield has the First Class badge on it. The handles are black. The bail is permanently attached. Each bolster has a single line stamped into it. Carbon steel blades. This version was manufactured from 1946-1949.
CAMC4A: Note lined bolsters, black handles. (Courtesy Phil Stevens)
CAMC4A: This, the 1996, was the most popular BSA model in history. (Courtesy Phil Stevens)
CAMC4A (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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| CAMC4B, BSA # 1052. This is the same as the CAMC4A, but with white pearl handles instead of the black handles. Manufactured 1949-1953. |
| CAMC4C, BSA #1996. This is the same knife as the CAMC4A, but with one variation. This one has a one-piece can opener. Produced 1950-1953. |
| CAMC4D, BSA #1996. This version is the same as the CAMC4A, except the bail is removeable, and the screwdriver blade is shorter. The main blade is etched "Official Knife, Boy Scouts of America", and has the BSA eagle and fleur-de-lis in the center. Manufacture began in 1954. |
| CAMC5A, BSA #1046, Camillus #BSA046. This is the first major change in Camillus Scout knives. The shield is now round, with the BSA eagle on it. The bolsters are smooth and unlined, and there is no bail. handles are black, jigged Delrin. The shield end has three blades, the main blade (etched same as the CAMC4D), a one-piece can opener, and a combination flat-blade screwdriver and bottle opener. The other end has two blades, an awl (leather punch), and a short Phillips screwdriver. The Phillips blade drops into a rectangular notch in the shield side of the knife. 3 5/8" closed, 8" open, main blade is a 2 1/2" stainless spear. Manufactured 1986-1991. |
| CAMC5B, BSA #1046, Camillus #BSA046.This knife is very similar to the CAMC5A, but with some significant differences. The blades are stainless steel instead of carbon steel as with the CAMC5A. The Phillips blade is longer and skinnier.
CAMC5B: This photo shows the shorter Phillips tip, and the skinny shaft that supports it.
The awl has a broader base. The rectangular notch for the Phillips blade is gone, and a semi-circular nail notch has been added in its place. 1998 suggested retail was $33.95. Manufactured from 1992-2007.
CAMC5B: Notice the semi-circular nail notch for lifting the Phillips blade.
CAMC5B: Nice shot of the etched blade, and the Camillus tang stamp.
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| CAMC4E, BSA #1996. The #1996 has so many variations, it's amazing the BSA kept assigning the same model number to so many different knives. The CAMC4E is a camp knife. The handles are black, the bolsters are smooth and unlined. The bail is permanently attached. It has the round shield with BSA eagle and fleur-de-lis. The stainless steel main blade is etched "Official Knife, Boy Scouts of America", and has the BSA eagle and fleur-de-lis in the center. 3 3/4" length closed, 8" open, main blade is a 2 1/2" stainless spear blade. Has nickel silver bolsters. 1998 suggested retail was $29.49. Offered 1989-2007. |
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CAMC4F, BSA #1996, Camillus #BSA0008. Same as the CAMC4E, but with brown jigged Delrin handles. Camillus referred to this as a "four blade camp knife".
Production data: Production card numbered A5779-A-06. The spear was 3 3/4" x 095, and actually made by Ulster. The short screwdriver and can opener were purchased from another source. The belt punch was made in house, and was 2 1/2" x 072. All were made from 1095 steel. The handles were identifed as "Br Stag BSA emblem Delrin". Clevis was nickel plated.
2007 retail was $41.75. Manufactured 1985 - 2007.
CAMC4F: Note brown jigged handles, smooth bolsters. (Courtesy Phil Stevens)
CAMC4F: The original blade etching has worn off on this specimen. (Courtesy Phil Stevens)
CAMC4F (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
CAMC4F (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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CAMC4G, BSA #NA. The CAMC4G is a departure from the traditional camp knife, as this one has smooth red plastic handles. Four blades, a main clip, awl, combo bottle opener and flat-blade screwdriver, and can opener, permanent lanyard ring, and a white BSA logo on the main blade end of the red handle. Main blade is fully etched. Manufactured NA - 2007.
CAMC4G: An unusual camp knife with red plastic handles. (Courtesy Phil Stevens)
CAMC4G: A nice specimen of tbis knife, with full blade etch and handle logo. (Courtesy Phil Stevens)
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CAMC4H, BSA# 1002 Norman Rockwell Commemorative, "Tomorrow's Leader", Limited Edition, in presentation case.
CAMC4H (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick
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CAMC4I, BSA # Norman Rockwell Commemorative, "All Together, Now", Lmited Edition, in presentation case. Reverse side has the Scout Law on the handle. Manufactured c. 1996. UPC 0730176010649.
CAMC4I (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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CAMC4J, BSA# Norman Rockwell Commemorative, "A Scout Is Helpful", Limited Edition, in presentation case.
CAMC4J (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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CAMC4K, BSA# (No Kerr # or Holbrook #) 2005 National Jamboree four blade knife. Main blade, one piece can opener, awl, and cap lifter/flat blade screwdriver. Blade is etched with the 2005 NJ Ft. A.P. Hill logo, and 2005 National Scout Jamboree. Handles are white bone, permanent bail, no lines on bolsters. Leather sheath has Tenderfoot badge on the flap. More information about this knife would be appreciated.
CAMC4K: White bone, four blades, with leather sheath. (Photo courtesy of Ron Fish)
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CAMC4L, BSA # 1787 Norman Rockwell Commemorative, "On My Honor", Limited Edition, in presentation case. Manufactured 1999.
CAMC4L: "On My Honor" Commemorative knife in presentation box. (Photos courtesy os Thomas Linton)
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CAMC5A, BSA #1046. Black handle, five blade, no bail.
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| CAML1A, BSA # 1371. White handle, gold fleur-de-lis in a translucent blue, oval shield. Lanyard hole in end opposite the hinge. Blade etched "BSA lock back". Blade length 3 5/8". The BSA misspelled the words "Lock Back" on the box, but not on the blade. This may have been an attempt at forming a trademark name for the lock back knife style. Manufactured 1980-1984.
CAML1A: Note blue oval, jigged white handles, and gold fleur-de-lis
CAML1A: Blade showing etch and BSA #1371 (Source: unknown)
CAML1A: Presentation box and paperwork
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CAML1B, BSA #1372, Kerr #CAM25BR. Lock back knife, white handle, single blade is etched "Adventurer, BSA". Slide switch lock. Blade is 3 5/8" long. Lanyard holblack leather belt holster. Came with leather lanyard and Manufactured 1980-1984.
CAML1B, closed position
CAML1B, with blade open. Rough specimen, but it gets the idea across.
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| CAML1C, BSA #1065 Single blade lock back, blade 2" long, traditional BSA eagle and fleur-de-lis sheild on end opposite hinge,blade etched "BSA LOCK BACK # 1065". Made !982-1988. |
| CAML1D, BSA # 1370 Similar to CAML1C, with two differences: blade is 3 5/8", and shield is a fleur-de-lis. Manufactured 1985-1987. |
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CAML1E, BSA #1381 or 1375 Single blade lock back. Jigged Delrin handle, blade 3 5/8", lanyard hole in end opposite hinge, no shield, blade marked "Adventurer BSA". Open length 8.25", closed length 4.75". Weight 5 ounces. Original price $14.25. Made 1985-1988.
Adventurer Lockback, CAML1E (Photo courtesy Phil Stevens)
CAML1E in original package (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
CAML1E: Note leather lanyard, which was original. (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
CAML1E: The all-important instruction sheet
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| CAML1F, BSA #1065 Single blade lock back, short blade at only 2". Single bolster at hinge end. Blade etch is "Boy Scouts of America". Shield is traditional BSA eagle and fleur-de-lis on end opposite hinge. Manufactured 1989-1991. |
| CAML1G, BSA #1066Single blade lock back, single bolster on hinge end, blade etched "Official Knife Boy Scouts of America". Has brass tube lanyard hole, traditional BSA eagle and fleur-de-lis shield. 5" length closed. Made 1989-2007.
CAML1G: Single blade Camillus lock back
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CAML1H, BSA#
CAML1H (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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CAML2A, BSA #1068, Camillus #CM-BSA068 "Woodsman Double Lockback". Two blade lock back. Main blade is a traditional main blade, etched "Official Knife Boy Scouts of America". Second blade has a saw tooth edge. 3 3/8" high carbon stainless steel clip blade with BSA etch, and a 3 3/8" stainless wood saw. The brown jigged Delrin handle comes with a round coined nickel silver fleur-de-lis shield, a nickel silver bolster, a double lockback, and a lined lanyard hole. Single bolster. The Camillus Boy Scout Woodsman Double Lockback Knife is 5" closed, and has an overall open length of 8 3/4".
CAML2A: Double Blade "Woodsman" Lock Back
CAML2A: Blade etch and tang stamp (Photo: A. McBroom)
CAML2A: Original Camillus box (Photo: A. McBroom)
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CAMN1A, BSA#
CAMN1A: Tenderfoot penknife. (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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CAMN3A, BSA #1995, Camillus # BSA0007. Eagle Scout knife, red, white, and blue Duralens handles. "EAGLE SCOUT" in all capital letters in the white stripe. 2 1/4" closed, 5 1/2" open. Shield is an eagle with raised wings. The three blades are main blade and nail file, on the shield end, and scissors on the other end. Main blade is a high carbon stainless steel pen blade. Has small key ring loop on mainblade end. Packaged in a gift box.
Production data: The Camillus production card for this knife was numbered A5799A19. The main blade (spear) wa defined as 2 5/8" X 049, made from 420 stainless. File was 420 stainless, and 2 1/4" x 049. Full linings of 430 stainless, bolster tip 410 stainless. Covering (scales) listed as "Plain 424 Red Eagle Scout". Account of #872, Eagle Scout (1995).
Production numbers: Actual production numbers are not complete, but there are factory notes specifying some of the production runs as follows: 10/1986 (First Time) 10,000 pcs; 10/1987 2,500 pcs; 01/1988 4,500 pcs. The production of this knife was prolific, with over 17,000 pieces produced in the first two years.
1998 suggested retail was $29.95, 2007 retail was $41.75. Manufactured 1987-2007. (Data courtesy Tom Williams)
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| CAMN3B, BSA #1998. Green handled "Exploring" knife. Has word "Exploring" down length of handle. The "E" is stylized, and the lower leg extends under the "x", and has a fleur-de-lis. Manufactured 1987-present. |
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CAMP1A, BSA#
CAMP1A (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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CAMW2A, BSA#1900, Kerr #CAM22BR 2.88" long when closed.
CAMW2A (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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CAMW3A, BSA #1047. This is the classic three-blade "whittler" style pocket knife. It has the silver-colored, raised metal shield with the First Class badge on it. The handles are black, and secured to the liners by two rivets plus the pivot pin. The main blade has a long nail pull, serrated to double as a match striker. the main blade and the medium blade are on the shield end, and the short blade is on the opposite end. The bolsters are smooth and unlined, and the handles have a swelled center. Produced 1947-1969.
CAMW3A: Black handles, shield shaped BSA shield. (Courtesy Phil Stevens)
CAMW3A: Three blade whittler (Courtesy Phil Stevens)
CAMW3A (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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| CAMW3B, BSA #1047. This is identical to the CAMW3A, but with the addition of a removable bail on the end opposite the shield. Produced 1947-1969. |
| CAMW3C, BSA #1047. Same as the CAMW3B, but with brown handles instead of black handles. Produced 1947-1969. |
| CAMW3D, BSA #1047. Same as CAMW3DC, except shield is plastic. These knives were made by Imperial for Camillus, so the tang is stamped "Imperial Knife Co.". Manufactured 1963-1969. |
| CAMW3E, BSA #1047. Same as CAMW3D, except the shield is now round, with the BSA eagle and fleur-de-lis. Closed length 3 5/8", open length 8", main blade 2 5/8". Blades are a high grade carbon clip blade (main), sheepfoot (second), and a small clip (third). Has nickel silver bolsters, and a gift box. Manufactured 1947-1969.
CAMW3E: Black handles, swell center, three blade whittler. (Source: Unknown)
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| CAMW3F, BSA #1047. Same as the CAMW3E, but with a brown handle. |
| CAMW3G, BSA #1047. Same as the CAMW3F, but with bail on end opposite shield. Made 1970-1979. |
| CAMW3H, BSA #1047, Camillus #BSA047.Same as CAMW3E, but with stag handles. 1998 suggested retail was $27.95. Manufactured 1985-2007.
CAMW3H: Note the stag handles
CAMW3H: All three blades, main blade has a serrated, long nail nick
CAMW3H: Closeup of BSA eagle and fleur-de-lis (
Camillus CAMW3H Scout Knife, New With Box (Photo courtesy Dmitri Pitarys)
CAMW3H (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
CAMW3H (Knife courtesy of New Mexico Scouting Museum. Photo by Bob Wick.)
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CAMW3I, BSA #1047. Same as CAMW3E, but with a white handle. Offered 1980-1984. (Same as Kerr CAM16BR, Holbrook W3D)
CAMW3I (Photo courtesy of Jerry Downen)
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| CAMW3J, BSA #1047. Same as CAMW3E, but with Delrin stag handle. Made by Schrade for Camillus. Schrade #863. Manufactured 1987-2007. |
| CAMW3K, BSA #, Camillus #CM-BSA900 The two blade Leader's Classic Knife has a 1 7/8" long high carbon stainless steel clip blade and a pen blade. The brown jigged Delrin handle have an acorn coined nickel silver fleur-de-lis shield, and nickel silver bolsters. Knife length is 2 3/4" closed, and has an open length of 6 1/2". Manufactured (unknown start) - 2007. |
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CAMW3L, BSA # NA, 75th Anniversary. Three blade, 3.25" length, serpentine shape handle, single rivet bottom center of the handle, non-removable belt shackle, round shield with FDL and eagle, smooth bolsters, brown plastic jigged handles with amber colored ends. Manufactured 1985 only. "75th Anniversary / Boy Scouts of America / 1910 1985" was etched on the main blade, but no emblem on the blade. There were two versions. This one has carbon steel blades, and is the less common of the two varieties. The other version, CAMW3M, has stainless steel blades.
Closed 75th Anniversary Camillus, Serpentine Shape CAMW3L (Allen McBroom)
All Three Blades of the CAMW3L; Etching Gone from Main Blade (Allen McBroom)
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CAMW3M, BSA # NA, 75th Anniversary. Identical in every respect to the CAMW3L, except this version has stainless steel blades. This is the most common version of this knife.
CAMW3M, with blade etching visible. Stainless blades.
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