Any chance of a Camillus megafolder?

Hmmmmm. Well, I'm not totally against the idea. I'd like to get Joe Talmadge's comments. See, one issue is that to me, the biggest Sheepsfoot advantage is the "rescue" properties, meaning you can jam it between human or animal hide and rope, seatbelts or clothing without harming anything alive. The Sax *can* do that, certainly better than a dagger
smile.gif
but it's no Sheepsfoot.

But let me throw one other concept out there: on a *folder*, a curved edge can mean a curved grip!

The most radical example I know of is perhaps the Cold Steel Scimitar. Or for that matter, Snickersnee's beloved Navajas(sp?). A curved grip can be a wonderful thing, although some pieces work well without it. The Tanto comes to mind...but THAT has a serious guard unavailable in a folder.

All this needs thought. I'm going to point Joe at the thread...

Jim
 
Jim,
We are biulding a LARGE folder, why not use the most universal american LARGE blade design...a bowie. I can't think of any task that it is unsuited for? WHat do you think?



------------------
Stay Sharp!
Will Fennell
Camillus Cutlery


 
The more I think about it the more I like a bowie/megafolder, especially one with a sharp back edge. I'm of the K.I.S.S. school of design. Deployment should be kept simple, IMO. If a 7" blade is too much then how about at least 6"? I think that the BFF1 needs to take megafolder design up a notch (post Sifu). Keep up the good work Phil and Will and the rest of us will continue to throw ideas into the mix (kind of a global brainstorming session
smile.gif
).

------------------
Megafolder Fans Unite!

Mike Melone

"Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. " Psalm 144:1
"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them." --Thomas Jefferson

 
Just my HO on this:

I like wharncliffe blades, especially for small gents folders. I don't like the idea as much for a bigger folder or fighter, because I like a belly for slicing and like the point centered rather than down low.

I like better the idea of a bowie shape blade or even a conventional drop point. I don't do fancy things like back-cuts, so I like a straight clip ending in a nice sharp soft-material-piercing point, some belly, and maybe a forward rake (i.e., Mad-Dog style positive included angle). But the real bowie crowd probably wants a concave clip and sharpened false edge for back cuts.

In any case, my advice would be, find a good working bowie shape, and make sure the whole package looks reasonably aesthetic and low-drag (too many big knives end up looking really clunky). In a knife this size, we're definitely getting to the point that for most people, their own skill and awareness is far far more important to the outcome of a defensive situation than small differences in blade design. So, I hate to say it, but for me it's acceptable to make small compromises in the blade and handle shape in order to get a secure, slick-looking, fast-handling package that gives people beyond the hard-core fighter crowd that MUST HAVE IT feeling.

Joe
 
A Bowie would sure as hell work. If you did the last 2.5" or so of spine sharp it would mean a "fat pommel" but there's nothing inherently wrong with that.

Jim
 
Yah! Keep in mind, when I think about "bowie", I am thinking about a high-speed low-drag fighting bowie. Think Bagwell's fighting bowies, or even Ernest Mayer's or even the Randall #1. What I am specifically *not* thinking of is a big-belly bowie shape, like the Ontario Marine Raider bowie, or Spyderco's Chinook prototype. Those fighting bowies have thinner tips and profiles, so if the false edge is sharpened, it won't need quite such a huge handle in the back. Plus, I continue to think aesthetics is important if you want to appeal to those beyond the pure-fighter clique.

Joe
 
The clip point of a typical american Bowie knife is a classic because it is efficient. The comment about having a belly for slicing is good but I have several Japanese and Chinese kitchen knives with straight edges that slice quite well. THe Sheepsfoot is a variant of the Sax with a shortened point. Please don't confuse the two. The shortened point is to increase the strength of the point so one could put alot of pressure on it. The "Warncliffe" blade is just a version of a Sax with an elongated point. The enlongated point provides the abiliy to stab more efficiently. Also, with a flat grind (my favorite) the full width of the blade can be carried almost to the tip. BTW sharpened back edges turn a pocketable knife into a sheath knife. Finally, because of their visual similarity to real working knives, I believe they will be much less likely to be conficated or otherwise arouse the ire of local constabularies than shapes that look like "fighting Knives." I use knives every day and find the Sax shape most useful for what I do. I find that the ability to be sharpened easily by virtually anyone and its efficient design for real world utility to be more important than a marginal advantage for combat. If I am defending myself with a 4"-6" knife, a lot of bad things have already happened. Again, I use knives every day but I can't tell you when the last time I was in a knife fight was. I would like to second Joe's observation that training and the right mental attitude are vastly more important than differences in the blade. Finally, When you build it I hope that it will be easily openable and closeable with one hand, right or left, The tactical advantage of still being able to clear your weapon and put it to use if something happens to your strong hand/arm is obvious. Also a reversible clip. Thanks for listening.

[This message has been edited by fudo (edited 20 October 1999).]

[This message has been edited by fudo (edited 20 October 1999).]
 
All good points Joe (as usual). Either drop point,spear point or clip (Bowie) point are all fine with me so long as they`re done right. IMHO the false edge (if there is one at all)should be delivered unsharpened (mostly for legal reasons in some locations) but if some or all of the clip is shrouded by the grip when folded it could certainly be sharpened later. It should also take a backseat to the efficiency of the primary grind and tip strength,again IMHO. A little foreward rake (ala Vaquero) would be dandy as well. Marcus
 
I'd absolutely love to see a Cuda mega folder. However, for me it needs to be drop point or spear point with sharpened top edge or serrations on back edge. I like G-10 handles. I want a black blade. I love the Cuda's opening mechanism. If possible, I'd like reversible pocket clip. As for the lock, I like the idea of integrating something into the button/slide. If not then an axis type or frame lock would be a good choice. I am on my second cuda (rescue blade) which is actually in my pocket as I type. My first was a first production run tanto blade serrated bead blast. I sold it because it was 1)tanto 2)first production run 3)bead blast 4)serrated. I wanted standard production, spear or drop point, black blade, plain edge. I loved it to keep it several months. Now I'm eyeballing Darrel Ralph's Madd Maxx's. Hey isnt' he already collaborating with Camillus.....How about a Camillus production Madd Maxx????

Greg B
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top