Camillus® U.S.M.C. Multi-Purpose G.I. Knife

Diamond Cut II

Diamond Cut II

Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
1,245
How does this knife compare to a SAK soldier? Is the quality good? How is the edge retention? Thank you for your time.
 
I have one of these:
CM1763.jpg


Compared to the Victorinox Soldier:
V5720M.jpg


the USMC knife is very awkward and crude...
what's even worse is that it is actually more expensive than the Vic Soldier.
 
Originally posted by Diamond Cut II
When I saw your post I just had to laugh:D . But you convinced me.
Click to expand...

In the same vein :D -
I have the Camillus U.S.M.C. Multi-Purpose G.I. Knife, NIB -
does anyone want to trade it for a Victorinox Soldier , NIB? :D
 
I have one as well and it is not even remotely in the same league as the V'nox Soldier. It is larger, the angles are different and the quality and workmanship are definitely substandard. I got mine cheap on eBay so I keep it but I don't use it.
 
Fella's, lets be fair here. The camillus knife was/
is designed to be a military issue knife for DEMO
use. It was never intended to be anywhere close
to the quality of the SAK.

That said I carried my Camillus DEMO knife for over
30 yrs. until it wore out from abuse. Would the
SAK survive that long? I kinda doubt it. So in all
fairness it depends on what / how your going to use
it.
 
Originally posted by Tightwad
That said I carried my Camillus DEMO knife for over
30 yrs. until it wore out from abuse. Would the
SAK survive that long? I kinda doubt it. So in all
fairness it depends on what / how your going to use
it.
Click to expand...

While I would not disagree that the USMC knife looks tough.....
that blanket statement about doubts of the equivalent SAK surviving cannot go unchallanged.

There are in fact many testimonials about the toughness of the Swiss soldier standard issue knife surviving all kinds of abuse - especially the ones with the Aluminum/Alox handles that have been Swiss military issue (to every soldier) since 1961, so there are lots of them around.

Perhaps you were thinking more in terms of the typical red plastic handled SAKs -
and yes, they do get scratched easily and can crack/break - but they are very easy to replace.
 
While it's a small point in fairness......
"Swiss military issue (to every soldier) since 1961, so there are lots of them around. "

How many Swiss soldiers have seen any real military
combat action? Aren't the Swiss normally neutral?

It matters not to me one bit that the SAK version
is "better" (smoother) made. As I said the
Camillus is made for serious grunt work.:D

We all know that while these two knives are
similar that's all they are. They are intended for
different uses. :cool: In most cases if you choose
carefully between these two knives you will have
the correct one.
 
I have several SAKs and also a mil surplus knife like the one pictured. The mil one seems more rugged to me.
 
I have both the Camillus (1996) and the Schrade (1982) version of that knife. The Camillus is somewhat nicer but neither one would win any beauty contests. Also the Camillus has a nice hollow-ground blade while the Schrade has a flat-ground one. I don't know if the specs changed between '82 and '96 but it looks like more work went into the Camillus.

I can't say anything about the SAK but these two are pretty tough.
 
Originally posted by Tightwad
While it's a small point in fairness......
"Swiss military issue (to every soldier) since 1961, so there are lots of them around. "

How many Swiss soldiers have seen any real military
combat action? Aren't the Swiss normally neutral?
Click to expand...

Taking this in the same humor.... and also the same
small point in fairness...... :)

Does that mean only soldiers who have seen combat know how to abuse a knife?

in which case most of the people on this forum must be combat veterans? :D :D
 
or handled the Camillus knife I won't comment on it. I will comment on the Victorinox Soldier however as I own one and have EDC'd it since Christmas.

The Victorinox has amazing fit and finish for a $20 knife!:cool:
Seriously these things are probably "the" best buy for the money out there. Nothing else I've seen in the $20 dollar price range comes close.

The tools on it work great. They are time proven and the desing of the Victorinox's can opener I prefer over the style on that camillus one...especially because it gives you the small screwdriver/some phillips.

It's tough! I've dropped it onto a tile floor, pryed with the large and small screwdriver and used the awl to make holes through hard plastic. To think a $20 knife can be used/abused like that and still look new makes me damn proud I bought it.
-Kevin
 
I once pondered the same question and I just had to buy both knives to determine for myself which was best.

IMHO, The Victorinox Soldier is much better in fit-and-finish, consistant quality, out-of-the-box sharpness, and comfort while using than the Camillus.

If treated well, both the Camillus and the Victorinox will be around long after you and I are dust.
 
I have three demo knives, one Camillus and two Western, I have three SAK soldiers, two Wenger, one Victorinox.

The SAKS are much much much better in fit and finish, the demo knives are much much much rougher in fit and finish, yet they do seem to hold an edge a bit longer.

I did some work on the demo knives:

Filed down the kick of the main blade a bit so it would close deeper inside the handle.

Filed the screwdriver to be less rounded.

Sharpened the leather punch pointy so I can use it as a scriber.

For me the demos cost less because they were bought in the U.S., here in Mexico the SAK soldiers go for about $30 U.S.

I definitly recommend the SAK over the demo.
 
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