Marbles Utility & Schrade Camp Knife Comparison...

I recently bought this Schrade Camp Knife (SCTSCAMP4), and have had the Marbles Utility version (MR278) since January.  These are current imported productions of the discontinued Camillus Camp Knife, with something like 10,000,000 of those produced, maybe more if other manufacturers like Imperial were included(Bladeforums thread with info), but are no longer produced by any US companies, as far as I know.  Used U.S. produced versions can still be found on ebay, and prices vary depending on condition and rarity.  Camillus is still in business, and I do wonder if they'll bring out a new version of the knife, but I'm sure it would be imported like most of their current offerings.

 

I've never owned one of the US produced versions, having seen and handled more with broken springs than without.  I looked through a box piled full of them at a gun and knife show one time, and every last one of them had broken back springs, and then I noticed the box was labeled as 'scrap knives'.  The guy at the booth said a lot of old timers liked to buy a few of them and take them apart and put together one good one.

The Marbles knife has polished scales and slightly better fit and finish than the Schrade.  The Marbles' lanyard bail is longer, blade and tools have matchstrike nail nicks, and the knife and tools are slightly thicker than those in the Schrade.   The blade shapes are just slightly different, as are the leather punch/awl, can openers, and bottle opener/screwdriver.  The can opener and awl on the Marbles have an angle in them to fit in the tool alongside the others, where the Schrade can opener is to some extent curved and its awl just lays closer to the blade when closed, than does the Marbles' awl which is also sharper with a ground edge.  They can be found online for +/- $10 plus shipping, but between the two, I think the Marbles version looks nicer.  Either are fine for a beater knife, or to toss in the glove compartment of a vehicle.  Something to hand someone that wants to 'borrow' a knife, and you don't want your good EDC blade lost, stolen, or broken, lol...