Old knife Co. gone

[MAINER]

Camillus closed its doors at the end of Feburary.

Went looking for a BK-7 and found they were mighty scarce. Several sites listed them as discontinued or no longer available. Prices edging up already.

They musta made a "Gajillion" blades for the troops. Marine combat and multi-blade pocket knives. Lately, they were making some pretty neat stuff.

Beckers will probably be made by another company, I hear.

Shame. :(

[flint_knapper]

Yes it is< I hope parker/frost don't pick/buy them up.
They have really screwed up the knife market over
the years.

Robert

[Howling Fury]

Originally posted by flint_knapper
Yes it is< I hope parker/frost don't pick/buy them up.
They have really screwed up the knife market over
the years.

Robert

Or Taylor...

http://www.taylorbrandsllc.com/

They sound like they are putting an All-American spin on Chinese crap.

It's sad to see Camillus go the way of Schrade. And it P.O.'s me to no end that these companies go under because they can't compete with the made in China crap (no fault of the companies) :mad:

I wish my local K-Mart would get a clue that 40 dollars isn't a clearance price for a Schrade Tough Tool. If it was reasonable I might pick up the last few Made in the USA STT's they have.

[hso]

The Beckers weren't "owned" by Camillus. The knife designs and intellectual property belong to Ethan Beckers and as soon as he can get loose from the contractural entanglements of Camillus the BKT knives will be back in production.

[Scottso]

Another American Co lost to Communist Crap!! I do not understand why people think that a tool they might need to save there lives is a bargain at $40?!? Get a quality dependable Knife that you can hand down and has a lifetime warranty! You do get what you pay for!
Buy American!!

[Illurian00]

FWIW

Regards the closing,,,It wasn't 'just' slave labor forein competion. Tha company was privately held by two families; third generation. The word was they simply didn't want the headaches of owning and managing the factory . Much easier to coast along on the sweat and tears (read $$) that grandpa had left behind. to bad,as the product was viable and they had orders to fill.

Too, the workers going out on strike over contract disputes last year just made it easier to throw in the towel.

Spring of '06 they held the first and only factory sale open to the public. I 'm sorry I didn't have more $$ to spend. The idea originated with a couple of ladies, long time employees. At first mamagement dismissed the idea. But then then the geniuses in charge (GIC) realised that might move some stalled inventory. So they called the ladies back and asked, Whats your plan? the company offered to split the take w/ the workers. The skilled craftpersons who had carried that company for generations through thick and thin, ekking out a modest living said NO,,,put the money into the company , we'll donate our time to run the event as well. (DUH !)SO WHEN THE STRIKE DID OCCUR SOME MONTHS LATER, AND THE OWNERS CLAIM THAT THE WORKERS WERN'T BARGAINING IN GOOD FAITH,,,IT KINDA RINGS HOLLOW.

FWIW,,,Had a cup of tea w/ the former president of their former union(USWA),,,but she doesn't talk much about the Cutlery anymore,,,,that's something she 'used' to do .