Did someone buy the Camillus Cutlery name?

Posted by: Byrd_Huntr

Did someone buy the Camillus Cutlery name? - 01/20/11 01:08 PM

Camillus Cutlery USA went bankrupt a couple of years ago. All of a sudden, I see the knife sites flooded with foreign made Camillus branded knives. Did someone buy the name?

If so, it's another hard pill to swallow, as legacy American cutlers fall and their proud old names are exploited.

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CM18506
Posted by: Paul810

Re: Did someone buy the Camillus Cutlery name? - 01/20/11 01:37 PM

Camillus was purchased by the Acme United Corporation at a bankruptcy auction. It's an American owned company, however I believe most (if not all) of their knives are made in China. It pretty much has little to do with the original Camillus.

Along the same lines, Schrade cutlery was purchased by Taylor Cutlery (the same people that make the Smith and Wesson knives). Again, I believe all of their knives are made overseas.

With that in mind, all is not lost. Becker Knife and Tool, which used to be a part of Camillus, is now part of Kabar. They are still making great knives right here in the USA. I also believe that Bear and Sons cutlery bought some of Camillus' tooling and continue to use it to make knives right here in the USA.

With Schrade, the former president of the company bought out one of their old buildings and formed Canal Street Cutlery along with a lot of Shrade's former employees. Essentially they are carrying on Schrades legacy. Their knives are more expensive than what Schrade used to produce, but they're also significantly higher quality.
Posted by: Byrd_Huntr

Re: Did someone buy the Camillus Cutlery name? - 01/20/11 05:43 PM

Originally Posted By: Paul810
Camillus was purchased by the Acme United Corporation at a bankruptcy auction. It's an American owned company, however I believe most (if not all) of their knives are made in China. It pretty much has little to do with the original Camillus.

Along the same lines, Schrade cutlery was purchased by Taylor Cutlery (the same people that make the Smith and Wesson knives). Again, I believe all of their knives are made overseas.

With that in mind, all is not lost. Becker Knife and Tool, which used to be a part of Camillus, is now part of Kabar. They are still making great knives right here in the USA. I also believe that Bear and Sons cutlery bought some of Camillus' tooling and continue to use it to make knives right here in the USA.

With Schrade, the former president of the company bought out one of their old buildings and formed Canal Street Cutlery along with a lot of Shrade's former employees. Essentially they are carrying on Schrades legacy. Their knives are more expensive than what Schrade used to produce, but they're also significantly higher quality.


I noticed that Bear and Sons now makes their own version of the Schrade 152 Sharpfinger. It has a Staglon handle just like the premium Schrade Uncle Henry did. I think it comes in rosewood too.