WW2 Camillus navy knife and Harper's ferry civil war gun

Hi there, just looking for info on these items that I inherited.

The knife was my grandfathers once from ww2. He was in the navy.

The second is a Harper's ferry civil war gun. It has the Eagle U.S. Marking, along with the words Harper's ferry. Any info and also value (just out of curiosity). Thanks!

 

Welcome! Great photos!
What are you going to do with these?

 

looks to me like the blade has been blackened and the handle altered from a standard issue form.....of the Mark 1 clip point fighting knife.


Yours is likely worth more in memories than dollars.


As for the long gun...

While it looks like an 1841 model......you'll need to have an expert look it over.
If it is indeed legit .....there's a few thousand dollars there......depending on condition issues....

 

Here is a website on Harper's Ferry guns with some of them percussion like yours.
http://harpersferryarmoryguns.com

You might think about contacting Rick Hudak who seems to know all about these guns. He has written a book on the Harper's Ferry Arsenal.
http://www.harpersferryarsenal.com

I can't make out the date under Ferry.

It seens the Navy Camillus, NY knives were made from the mid 1944 to 1945.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/183445-help-date-camillus-usn-mark-2-knife/


--- Susan

 

The knife hasn't been altered. It was his issues knife during ww2.

I know my grandparents bought the gun back in the late 60s early 70s. When they passed my aunts and uncles held a massive auction of all of their antiques. I fortunately was able to acquire a few before they sold them all.

 

I can guarantee the knife has a new, non-issue, custom-made handle and sheath, the pommel isn't visible in the photos. The Harper's Ferry weapon has had the forward part of the stock cut off. Neither item is sought after by collectors so best to keep as family heirlooms.

 

Wrong. I have seen original examples with the short for end. I've also seen similar examples of the Camillus knife with that sheath and handle. This knife had been in my grandmothers closet since my grandfather got out of the service in the mid 50s. I guarantee to you that she never had it altered. Please don't talk out of your bottom, sir.

 

I have never seen that handle on an issued knife.
No one said she touched it.
If you can show us that handle on any other similar knife I'd love to see it , otherwise I'd surmise that he altered it in the field.

 

Well I certainly admire your concrete convictions. I've been in the antique arms business in one form or another since the 1970's, have bought and sold nearly 10,000 items, and have never been lucky enough to see either item you have in the original condition as your examples. I'm not aware of any of the many books that have been written on these items which show in photos or describe in text items like yours identified as being in original condition.

But don't take my word for it, take them into any antique arms show or to an experienced antique arms dealer of your choice and ask. If you need suggestions on a show to attend where there will be many different vendors to ask, tell us what geographic area and we'll have some suggestions. Good luck.

 

I live in central Illinois. Thanks

 

Some of the shows listed will have some antique gun dealers, some won't, the promoters would know. There are many other sites listing gun shows. Some shows get cancelled so it pays to call before driving any distance.

http://www.illinoisgunshows.net

 

Very diplomatically stated Spring...

 

Now, if that were one of my grandsons........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!