Camillus Cutlery Auction

September 25, 2007

For over a hundred years, the Camillus factory outside of Syracuse NY produced knives that were used by everyone from Boy Scouts to our American military.  Last week on Monday through Wednesday, the final assets of the company were sold off at an auction that drew a great many former employees.  The plant was closed in February after a six month labor strike.  Following that the company brand name, as well as its assets and patents were sold wholly to Acme United Corporation who plans to slowly nurse the company back to health.

The three day auction was held at the old Camillus Cutlery facility.  Items on the auction block included everything from office equipment, office desks, and a wide assortment of unfinished knives and knife making machinery.  There were a great many bidders for the wide assortment of tooling and specialty knife equipment, but interspersed amongst the active bidders were a many of the employees that over the years established the Camillus name. 

We are all eager to see what Acme United will bring to the equation and if they can invigorate a storied name.  In a crowded field of knife companies and with a consumer market that is increasingly buying tactical over traditional, it will interesting to see what direction they take the Camillus brand and how many of the original devotees to the brand will follow the brand to its new home.