Collecting on the cheap

[SA1911a1]

I have developed an interest in older pocket knives. As a kid, every service station had cards of $1.00 knives behind the counter and every boy in my community had at least one pocket knife. These old knives are good American carbon steel that can be easily sharpened to a razor edge that holds up to use. In this new collecting, I have a unit limit of ten dollars and probably average about $7.50 for these old dollar knives. One of the most popular styles of the times was the "camp knife" with punch, bottle opener, can opener and main blade. Everybody and their brother made similar knives. Here are some of the camp knives I have found over the past few months. Kamp King was apparently the biggest seller in the day and they are the easiest to find, but without looking too hard, I have come up with several other trade names, many made by the same cutlery company. Keep on the lookout for me for different varieties.

[ksbanker]

I love old pocket knives. I'll have to take a picture of some of the old one's I've picked up at random places.

That is a great collection! Much cheaper than buying guns all the time!

[Junk Yard Dog]

Somebody left one for me a few weeks ago. Not sure you would want it but I will try and remember to get a picture later.

[Ironnewt]

Neat.

[ffuries]

Steve want a U.S. knife to add to your collection? In the USAF Aircrew Life Support career field we call it the us knife (Us like, me, you, them, us). This example that I just took a picture of is a Camillus (I think they're all made by Camillus) dated 1973. I've got a few of them floating around here.

We packed them in survival vests, survival kits, and multi-place life raft accessory kits.

If you want one, the next time you come this way let me know, instead of sneaking up on me and it's yours.

FYI interesting tidbit for yall.

For those that have one of these knives, you'll notice from the picture I posted that one blade has a hole along the edge. This is where the little thumb pin went for easy opening on the blade. Prior to 1973 all the knives had them, in 1973 they did away with it, so you'll see some 1973 knives with and without the pin, with and without the pin hole. This was until the stock of blades with the pinhole was used up.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Somebody moved the one I have, it will turn up.

[SA1911a1]

Steve want a U.S. knife to add to your collection? In the USAF Aircrew Life Support career field we call it the us knife (Us like, me, you, them, us). This example that I just took a picture of is a Camillus (I think they're all made by Camillus) dated 1973. I've got a few of them floating around here.

We packed them in survival vests, survival kits, and multi-place life raft accessory kits.

If you want one, the next time you come this way let me know, instead of sneaking up on me and it's yours.

FYI interesting tidbit for yall.

For those that have one of these knives, you'll notice from the picture I posted that one blade has a hole along the edge. This is where the little thumb pin went for easy opening on the blade. Prior to 1973 all the knives had them, in 1973 they did away with it, so you'll see some 1973 knives with and without the pin, with and without the pin hole. This was until the stock of blades with the pinhole was used up.

Thank you, Mike. I will take you up on that the next time my wife and I go junking, probably before the end of the year.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Can't find that fucking knife Steve, looked all over, Gremlins stealing shit again. How about cartridges Steve? Have you started collecting them? Cartridges by the single round aren't that expensive, they look nice glued to a board on the wall. Yesterday I scored three .50 training rounds for $9. Only thing was one round turned out to be a 1918 German 13mm anti tank round that sells for around $100 given it's rarity. I have samples of every type of cartridge I have ever fired, many variety's of .30-06, 8mm Mauser, 7.62x45r, these alone can fill a whole board. With your wood skills I am sure you could make one of those shadowbox displays with all the little compartments.

[SA1911a1]

Can't find that fucking knife Steve, looked all over, Gremlins stealing shit again. How about cartridges Steve? Have you started collecting them? Cartridges by the single round aren't that expensive, they look nice glued to a board on the wall. Yesterday I scored three .50 training rounds for $9. Only thing was one round turned out to be a 1918 German 13mm anti tank round that sells for around $100 given it's rarity. I have samples of every type of cartridge I have ever fired, many variety's of .30-06, 8mm Mauser, 7.62x45r, these alone can fill a whole board. With your wood skills I am sure you could make one of those shadowbox displays with all the little compartments.

Cartridges don't interest me too much. I do have a bunch of WWII .45, dated '41, 42 and 43.(As a matter of fact, if someone needs some of the wartime stuff, let me know.) I have a single Swiss Vetterli round in a baggie with an 1897 rimmed round of some sort. For the life of me I can't remember what the other round is, but it is older than me. My wife is happy that I am now gathering in knives; they don't take up much room.


I did pick up something cheap to keep my ammo in. This box was in bad shape and missing some pieces, but a few hours and some of the old lumber I had hanging around got it put back pretty well. I did just enough to stabilize the box I had to add some hinges. As I was removing pieces I was puzzled by the cut nails that it was assembled with. With a little internet research it turns out the the nails, and the box are prior to 1800. The nails were cut by the local by the local blacksmith one at the time. In any case, it is back in service holding dirty old bollits.

The box is about 30" x 14 x 14, I paid $25.00 in a junk store somewhere around Macon, Ga. I am sure that it was the personal property of one of our Revolutionary heroes, or maybe a horse thief)

[ffuries]

Can't find that fucking knife Steve, looked all over, Gremlins stealing shit again. How about cartridges Steve? Have you started collecting them? Cartridges by the single round aren't that expensive, they look nice glued to a board on the wall. Yesterday I scored three .50 training rounds for $9. Only thing was one round turned out to be a 1918 German 13mm anti tank round that sells for around $100 given it's rarity. I have samples of every type of cartridge I have ever fired, many variety's of .30-06, 8mm Mauser, 7.62x45r, these alone can fill a whole board. With your wood skills I am sure you could make one of those shadowbox displays with all the little compartments.

Cartridges don't interest me too much. I do have a bunch of WWII .45, dated '41, 42 and 43.(As a matter of fact, if someone needs some of the wartime stuff, let me know.) I have a single Swiss Vetterli round in a baggie with an 1897 rimmed round of some sort. For the life of me I can't remember what the other round is, but it is older than me. My wife is happy that I am now gathering in knives; they don't take up much room.


I did pick up something cheap to keep my ammo in. This box was in bad shape and missing some pieces, but a few hours and some of the old lumber I had hanging around got it put back pretty well. I did just enough to stabilize the box I had to add some hinges. As I was removing pieces I was puzzled by the cut nails that it was assembled with. With a little internet research it turns out the the nails, and the box are prior to 1800. The nails were cut by the local by the local blacksmith one at the time. In any case, it is back in service holding dirty old bollits.

The box is about 30" x 14 x 14, I paid $25.00 in a junk store somewhere around Macon, Ga. I am sure that it was the personal property of one of our Revolutionary heroes, or maybe a horse thief)

Let me know if you want to part with the Swiss Vetterli round Steve. Still looking for one for our display here at the house.

Heres what I'm still looking for.

.557 Snider-Enfield
.557 Enfield (Minie)
10.4X38 Swiss
44 Special
22 Long
22 Short
8X57 J (8mm Round Nose)
8X50 (8mm original Mannlicher round)

[Junk Yard Dog]

18th century traveling chest, anything like this from before 1800, or even 1850 is expensive and sought after by collectors of such things. I sold something similar that was not as old for enough to buy several milsurps. You would have no problem getting your $25 back out of that find. It probably did belong to somebody who might be in the history books. Stuff like this was hand made to order, and it was not something most ordinary people would have. Regular folks used a sack, or leather bag to hold what little they had on the rare occasions they moved more than ten miles from home during the colonial era. Rick folks traveled, and they traveled heavy, this is were such chests came in, probably full of snuff box's or lace hankies, or maybe Jefferson's writing implements used to craft the Declaration of Independence. Or at least that's the hypothetical use I might mention if I put something like this on eBay Very nice find!

[Junk Yard Dog]

.577-450, and .577 Snyder are still in production, not cheap, and made with a solid brass case like any modern round. There were multiple variations of both rounds in the 19th century as the British experimented with metallic cartridge design. I have only one round of .41 Swiss rimfire ( Vetterli) and one full unopened box of Remington .41 Swiss shot loads. I need these for my collection, but .41 Swiss isn't that hard to find, it was still being made by Remington until 1940. Just keep buying odd lots of ammo when you see them, that's how I scored that rare 13mm German anti tank round yesterday.

[steelbuttplate]

18th century traveling chest, anything like this from before 1800, or even 1850 is expensive and sought after by collectors of such things. I sold something similar that was not as old for enough to buy several milsurps. You would have no problem getting your $25 back out of that find. It probably did belong to somebody who might be in the history books. Stuff like this was hand made to order, and it was not something most ordinary people would have. Regular folks used a sack, or leather bag to hold what little they had on the rare occasions they moved more than ten miles from home during the colonial era. Rick folks traveled, and they traveled heavy, this is were such chests came in, probably full of snuff box's or lace hankies, or maybe Jefferson's writing implements used to craft the Declaration of Independence. Or at least that's the hypothetical use I might mention if I put something like this on eBay Very nice find!

Also contained at one time, Rum, flintlock pistols, powder, lead, tobacco, wine, cocaine,opium, cheese, bacon, socks, wigs, trade beads, gold, silver, leather , awl, tea, salt, coffee, lard, biscuits, citrus fruits, and a pair of fine men's Alligator shoes.
Your gonna wear that old box out working on it Steve.

[SA1911a1]

I need to find a key for the lock and see if I can free it up.

[Junk Yard Dog]

18th century traveling chest, anything like this from before 1800, or even 1850 is expensive and sought after by collectors of such things. I sold something similar that was not as old for enough to buy several milsurps. You would have no problem getting your $25 back out of that find. It probably did belong to somebody who might be in the history books. Stuff like this was hand made to order, and it was not something most ordinary people would have. Regular folks used a sack, or leather bag to hold what little they had on the rare occasions they moved more than ten miles from home during the colonial era. Rick folks traveled, and they traveled heavy, this is were such chests came in, probably full of snuff box's or lace hankies, or maybe Jefferson's writing implements used to craft the Declaration of Independence. Or at least that's the hypothetical use I might mention if I put something like this on eBay Very nice find!

Also contained at one time, Rum, flintlock pistols, powder, lead, tobacco, wine, cocaine,opium, cheese, bacon, socks, wigs, trade beads, gold, silver, leather , awl, tea, salt, coffee, lard, biscuits, citrus fruits, and a pair of fine men's Alligator shoes.
Your gonna wear that old box out working on it Steve.

Blow? I never took Steve as someone being into that, anyway, how do you know what Steve has in the box? Been snooping?

[steelbuttplate]

I need to find a key for the lock and see if I can free it up.

I'd want to keep it locked too if I had all that in it.