I never even saw one of these while I was in the Army. I had one in high school though. Don't remember the year. No idea what ever happened to it. A couple of weeks ago for some reason I decided to get on eBay and look for one. The first one I saw was my birth year. I got it. If anybody is interested you can look up military specification MIL-K-818D. It's a 19 page document issued by the government detailing every single possible thing about the knife for manufacturers..... The knife blade has to be made from 440A, 440B, or 440C stainless steel. The other tools had different specs.
I was in the army from 1988-2006 and had 4 MOS’s and I never saw one of these while serving either. I’ve only seen them at yard sales, flea markets and milsurp stores. Makes me wonder if all the supply Sergeants sold them for profit.
I'VE BEEN CARRYING THIS KNIFE (CAMILLUS 1990)SINCE I JOINED THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AT 17yrs old (4yrs) MY GRANDPA GAVE IT TO ME BEFORE I LEFT FOR MY FIRST TRAINING COURSE I NEVER REALIZED WHAT IS WAS OTHER THAN THE BEST EDC I'VE EVER OWNED STILL IN MY POCKET TODAY THANKS FOR THE VIDEO BROUGHT BACK SOME GREAT MEMORIES LOVE RESPECT FRIENDSHIP ❤️❤️🥃🥃👹👹🤠🤠
I have my dad’s 1960. He was in the USMC during Vietnam (1966ish) and served as a helicopter mechanic in Hawaii. I was curious as to its history so I looked it up and here we are. I keep it in my bedside table and use it for opening packaged and such around the house. Its still in perfect shape and sharp as a tack!
I have 2 of these U.S. Camillus military pocket knives , a 1968 and a 1955 . I carried the 1968 pocket knife daily for over 24 years , it was my favorite pocket knife. Sadly I had to retire it last summer because I wore the springs out in it. I replaced it with a Boker Magnum Camp Knife , for a $20 knife I have been very happy with it. Last Christmas my friend sent me the 1955 U.S. Camillus pocket knife. I haven't used it , I just put it away with my retired 1968 model.
Thanks for this video! I recently bought one dated 1986, no thumb stud. I heard about the brittle back spring problem. Apparently, someone is making a replacement spring for this knife. Best of luck!
My Dad gave me one circa 1978. It had the stud on the cap lifter so it must’ve been an older model. Last time I saw it was when I was stationed at McGuire AFB in 1981. Missed that knife. I bought a cheap Chinese replica but it just didn’t have that American mojo but I still have it. In 2007 when I found out Camillas was closing shop I looked in Army Surplus Stores, even had a friend search in another city. Eventually I bought four (they were $20 each). Gave one away and kept 3. Two have USMC and one has US. Classics.
Great video. Thanks for posting this. I just dug mine out after watching this. I own two of them. One is a 1992 Camillus. The other is still in the plastic wrapping, unopened, so I don't know the maker or the year. I had no idea about the backspring flaw. Thanks for that helpful bit of information. Somehow, I haven't broken or lost mine yet. I used to come across these periodically in the Army. As someone else mentioned, they came as one of the components of the demo kits. Engineers always seemed to have them, as did parachute riggers. They were also provided with survival gear. I just cleaned up my 92 version, and I'm now appreciating what a cool piece it is.
I just came across a 1980. I didn’t know they made them every year and stamped them with the date. Now I’m on the hunt for a 1969. Thanks for the info. 🇺🇸
I was a Combat Engineer in the Marines and this exact knife was included in our demolition kits, we called them “demo knifes” not because they were non-magnetic, that had nothing to do with it, it was just a Boy Scout knife we used to cut time-fuse & det cord with. They were hard to find as they quickly disappeared.
I have been an Army combat engineer for 25 years. They are a part of our demo kits as well...well, until they disappear. In our demo kits, the other knife, known as a linesman's knife or electrician's knife frequently disappeared as well.
Son of a gun. Just last month I bought one of these utility knives from Marbles, and it arrived from the factory, in the bubble wrap, with a broken back spring. So I guess Camillus isn't the only one that has this problem, and it still has not been fixed.
Earlier ones had carbon steel blades and springs, and brass liners. Stainless scales though. I have not had trouble opening two opposing blades at once. I carried one like that from the first or second grade until high school.
I literally have a box of these about 30. I picked them up from deployments all over the planet. Careless soldiers and Airmen leave them behind at terminals that I was operating. Oldest is 1965, newest 1997.
I have a 1994 one as well, bought that year from an Army surplus truck that came to our town every month. I love the knife and it has the best can opener I have ever had. I unfortunately managed to break the tip of the blade at some point. I still use it to open cans and bottles, don't use it for anything else.
Greatings from Serbia, great video, learned a lot about Camillus GI knives. Love them, found couple of them in realy good condition in US on e-bay, can't wait them to arrive. One of them is from '88, my birth year, one '76 and one '65 which is little raugh around the edges but not bad. All the best!
My uncle just gave me a 1958, bent tip and bent twisted driver, thought it was cheap junker! I will cherish it! Oooh how bout "one days trash is another days treasure"? Ss
I have 2 of these . A 1961 and a 2002. A bit of history and sources material. I got the 1961 out of the army Demo kit ( C4, det cord , knife , etc) . army field manual 5-25 figure 1-43 show you the demo knife in the demo kit. The first time out off AIT that I was able to blow some ordnance up in 1994 and got my 61 out of it. I used it for years until I got my 2002. My 61 stay in my jewelry box now. Great Video
I have four: '67, '69, '76, and 2003 (USMC issue). They have come to me in various states of usability. The '67 I have is not a well-made item. The overall fit is crummy and I hope the Army vet who used it did not rely on it too much. But they are historically important. In my opinion (there are those who will disagree) don't buy them for use. Rather, buy them for what they represent: a support to our people in the field.
bought those in self serve sales from 1,50 in the 80s and 90s some were good some were crap. a classic throw away. the USMC stamped hande ones are hard to come by
It was always in Demo kits because it was indeed used for demo. As others mention, the knife could be used to cut det cord and time fuse. But here's why the awl is on it - to make a hole for a blasting cap. Then you could crimp it by folding the bottle opener against the back of the knife blade. I have one dated 1984, given to me by my ODA. I graduated the Q course in class 1-83 - the last hard class. In my day you had a Rolex watch, a demo knife, and a star sapphire ring. I never figured out the significance of the ring, but the watch could be used to trade when your s**t was weak and you found yourself in a hostile environment.
Thanks for another excellent video. I like the idea as using them as gifts by matching the years. Does anyone know where l can purchase replacement springs? Thanks in advance.
I was born in 1962 I find hundreds of 1961s and 1963’s as soon as I find a 1962 they want like four times as much as any other Knife I’m wondering what was so special about 1962
The government spec for the knife specifically says, "Using the thumb nail, it shall be possible to open any of the blades with the remaining blades open or closed." Maybe it should've said open OR closed....
I carry a 1968 ( Vietnam era ) U.S. Camillus pocket knife every day. It's the handiest tool I ever had and I keep it very sharp. I clip the shackle to my belt key clip to carry it. I've been carrying this knife since before my wife and I were married , and we've been married over 22 years now. I've used it for everything from tightening screws and fixing things , to making new belt holes , opening cans of beans and bottles , and for cutting everything from rope to hose and more , it's even been used to castrate bulls at a local branding. Great great pocket knife.
they quit the thumb stud in 1968. I have a 1969 version, which doesn't have a stud. it does have a busted back spring though..... must have been a design defect.
I would like to amend my above comment. I pulled my knife out of the drawer and took a better look at it. It is a 1969 version but there is a hole in the pop top remover where a thumb stud probably was installed at one time, or could install. Seems like a solid piece except for the spring problem.
my father gave me this knife few weeks ago. he got this knife as an air force pilot when he was stationed in Germany,living in Germany since he quitted army. now to my question the blade and the tools don't open easily and they get kinda stuck. No one here in Germany have any idea and even the blacksmiths don't have any idea and even don't want to separate/touch them because the utility knife isn't from Germany. Does anyone have any idea how to make it work again?
Hi there! Without seeing your knife up close, The best advice I can give you is to soak it in something like WD-40 or some type of penetrating oil. It sounds like there may be some corrosion in the blade pivots, and it may need a good cleaning. If you get the blades to move a little bit, keep working them back and forth until they loosen up like normal. When all is well, clean in hot soapy water, rinse off, dry, and finally give the pivots a few drops of oil. Hope this helps. Remember not to force anything and be careful around the sharp blade. Good luck!
Besides oil you can use this for hard to open nail nic knives. Case Knives 07585 Collector's Club Knife Opener with Stainless Construction www.amazon.com/Case-Knives-Collectors-Stainless-Construction/dp/B008DNPLQY
Normal order is resumed.enjoyed that pal.when my son who is RN went to afghan they where given a gerber multi tool.i think there's a video on it.tha only difference now is you get no military markings on the issue ones.atb paddy
Mine has brass spacers not stainless steel next to the springs. Also says U.S. Marine Corps. Has thumb stud but has no year! Any information for me? Came with a sheath that has the usmc eagle globe and anchor on it. Does not say Kingston or Camillus on it. Was my great grandpa's who was in ww2 all the way up through Vietnam usmc.
Thanks for posting! I have one of these, has a hole where the thumb stud used to be, US Marine Corps on one side but no other markings whatsoever. Any ideas on date or manufacturer? Semper Fi! - Jeff, USMC ‘75-‘79
Yeah, Although I'm a Awl Man and ofcorce a Can Opener Man, heh heh heh, Just Joking, Yeah, its has a Saw too, and in the Amoxicillin, But yeah, I open can's when I have a Afternoon Dilight, Darn, I mean like Pork and Beans.,,.
Back in 2007 when Camillus stopped making these for the government they military started sourcing Victorinox Pioneers. This is almost the same knife but quality is so much better with the Victorinox . I had no problem turning in my old issue ones for brand new SAKs. Now I believe the military is even going with the new Victorinox Soldier, which is on an order of superiority so much better than this its not even fit to be mentioned in the same sentence. The DEMO knife has one major flaw and that flaw made these knives basically disposable and everyone knew it. These knives were not "prized" or even liked. Even the TL39 was better even though it would break off your thumb nail trying to open one of the blades. These knives came dull and prone to breakage. I did have one in a little survival kit, so it was in effect better than nothing, but not much.
@@ISLANDOUTDOORS1 It wasn't just the springs. It was the way the knife unfolded. If you opened the two opposing blades, it puts too much pressure on the back spring it causes it to crack rendering the knife pretty much useless.
The spring on mine broke (as well as my heart!) when opening just the knife blade. I still have it 'somewhere'.... I didn't have the heart, to just throw it away. Aside from its (now) broken spring, it's in near mint condition.... DAMN!? I've forgotten the year of manufacture, but I believe that it has the 'stud' on the cap lifter.
My grandpa is army vet (nam) gave me one when i was a kid . and i fucking traded it for yugioh cards at the boys and girls club a good 15 years ago smh
@@64MDW Same like the US ???Did you know , that after 5 years with no transactions on an account in a US Bank, the Money automatically belongs to the governement??? How long was WW II???hmmm?
