Crucible Steel

[RickC27]

I actually work about a mile from here in Syracuse, NY. Not until I recently got heavy into the knife scene the past few months, did I realize how many of these amazing steels we have available come from right around the corner! I was at a gun show this past weekend at the Fairgrounds, which happen to be right across the street. So when I was heading back to the truck I decided to snap a couple pictures.

[RickC27]

[sn0wman72]

That is cool..it is often surprising how close we are to things and are yet unaware until our perspective changes

[KnickKnackCity]

You should reach out to them to see if you can get on a tour of the factory.

[Bodog]

A tour and pictures from inside the factory would be cool

[The Meat man]

I wonder if they have a scrap dumpster?

[RickC27]

I wonder if they have a scrap dumpster?

I like where your head is at! Hahaha, pretty secure place though!

[Tucson Tom]

Very cool. Make arrangements to do that tour, take a bunch of photos and post them here. We'll find out it is a handful of hardworking regular looking dudes, not a bunch of eggheads in lab coats.

[bearfacedkiller]

I lived upstate for many years and my wife is from the 'Cuse. I spend a good bit of time there. Very cool that such high tech steels are made there.

On a side note, it was a sad day when Camillus closed it's doors. They were the hometown knife makers with a lot of history. A couple of guys from Camillus own a small knife shop now though. http://rockusacutlery.com/ If you live there and haven't been it is worth checking out.

Many do not realize that New York state was a major knife making state for many, many years. Kabar/Union Cutlery, Ontario, Camillus, PAL, Utica/Kutmaster and probably a bunch more that I am forgetting all called upstate NY home.

[RickC27]

I lived upstate for many years and my wife is from the 'Cuse. I spend a good bit of time there. Very cool that such high tech steels are made there.

On a side note, it was a sad day when Camillus closed it's doors. They were the hometown knife makers with a lot of history. A couple of guys from Camillus own a small knife shop now though. http://rockusacutlery.com/ If you live there and haven't been it is worth checking out.

Many do not realize that New York state was a major knife making state for many, many years. Kabar/Union Cutlery, Ontario, Camillus, PAL, Utica/Kutmaster and probably a bunch more that I am forgetting all called upstate NY home.

That's cool, small world! I've heard that from A LOT of people about Camillus. Anybody that I get into a knife conversation with, that owns a Camillus knife is very proud to say so, or to show it if they have one on them. Even my soon to be wife has a couple! Actually a very beautiful traditional style with an american flag and an eagle on the handle, some special edition for 9/11. Also has something etched in the blade. I'll have to take a look at it later and post a pic. I sometimes see Camillus knives for sale at local WalMarts, I wonder if they are only available locally and not nationwide?

[John E]

Schrade was based in Ellenville, NY (in Sullivan County in the Catskills).

John E

[Daveho]

That’s awesome!!
I have this building near my work...

[bearfacedkiller]

The Camillus knives sold now are, IMO, not Camillus knives. In 2007 the company went under, filed bankruptcy, their name and IP rights were purchased and now they are made overseas. Not the same Camillus as before. Everything since then is Chinamillus.

Camillus was a major contract maker and actually made lots of knives for other companies. There influence in the knife world was significant. They also made a lot of "Kabars" or USMC Fighting Utility Knives during WWII. I have read that they made more of them during the war than even Kabar did. They also made M3 knives and M4 bayonets for the Allies. They also made lots of Machetes and the once ubiquitous TL29 electricians knife. They made over 13 million knives for the war effort. There was a lot of history there and now it is just an off shored brand owned by some conglomerate.


Here is my, I think, late 70's era Model 69 Stockman pattern from Camillus. It is a nice knife.

I once had a TL29 but have no idea where it is? I keep meaning to get another while they are still available. They made millions of them.


You should be able to find plenty of old Camillus knives in the 'Cuse at garage sales and such. They made a lot of knives for many, many years and were the local knife manufacturer.