Camillus CUDA Maxx: First Impressions

4 Ranges · Jul 24, 2002

Here are my first impressions of the highly-touted CUDA MAXX:

Upon first opening the box, and actually laying eyes on the knife...it confirmed everything that Maxx owners have been saying: FREAKIN' HUGE. The size and all-around design, IMHO, makes this a fantastic tactical knife. So, on first glance, it's already impressive. So I move onto the next obvious step which is...

...testing the opening of the knife. The opening is smooth, not as silky as some, but I like that. I found that the guards on the knife, when folded, actually acts as an assisted opener, like kershaw knives. Of course, the blade doesn't "spring out" the way kershaw knives do, but I was very pleased to see that the option was there.

What really brought the excitement, for me, was when I confirmed my suspicions about the other side of the guard when folded: it acts like an emerson "wave", so that, when it is carried tip-up, the guard gets caught on the inside lining of your pants pockets as you pull it out. It unfolds BEAUTIFULLY and QUICKLY this way!!!! I couldn't believe that this knife had THIS feature as well. If Camillus put this into their ads for this knife, they'd sell even more of this product than they already are.

Now, onto the locking mechanism. Based on my observations, there's just no way this blade will fold during use. The frame is THICK. It will keep this blade in place, even if a gorilla stuck the knife in a tree and hung from it.

Now, the blade. D2. 'Nuff said. I killed so many cardboard boxes with this knife. Snap cuts, back cuts went through the cardboard like butter. The lightness of the knife adds to the momentum of the swing. Considering that the blade is already very thin...it went through it's target like it was nothing.

IMPROVEMENTS: add a tip-up carry option on this, so that the quasi-wave feature on the knife can be taken full advantage of by it's owner. It might be a little tricky to do, but I think adding this option will definitely show off the "hidden" features of this knife.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Fantastic knife!! Well worth the expense. I can't say enough about it. I'm so crazy about it, that I'm going to purchase another one. CUDA MAXX! CUDA MAXX! CUDA MAXX!!!!

ThorTso · Jul 25, 2002

Sounds great. Do you perhaps have some pics? or a site where I could see some pics? Thanks

jayharley · Jul 25, 2002

4 Ranges: I believe there is a past post, from Camillus, explaining why they did not utilize the guards as a wave feature. Camillus is a very up front and honest company. They did not want to compromise the Emerson Wave Patent.

SIFU1A · Jul 25, 2002

and it will smooth up w/use, mine did anyway, a great knife for the $$ imho

greg

Roadrunner · Jul 25, 2002

I wonder if Camillus would consider asking Emerson to license them the use of the wave feature for the Maxx? Spyderco did it for Benchmade with the AFCK, at least for a while. Just a thought.

Jazzman · Jul 25, 2002

I REALLY doubt that Emerson would allow anyone to use the wave. I say this because, in the past Emerson has had a bout with a certain custom who wanted to use the wave and was denied. So considering their history, I dont' think that this will happen.
Matt

Horus · Jul 26, 2002

Today I recieved a CUDA Maxx and on first impression all the positive criticisms regarding this folder are absolutely right. But there is one thing that irritates me, the IMO useless "holes" (arrow) at the open side of the handle. Is there a reason for this holes that I can not understand?

ahenry · Jul 26, 2002

I wonder if Camillus would consider asking Emerson to license them the use of the wave feature for the Maxx?

I cant recall for sure if it was in the Camillus forum or not, but I know I read the comments about this from somebody at Camillus. Even if Emerson would license their wave patent, Camillus/Darrel Ralph doesnt want this knife carried tip-up. They explained the specific reasons for it, but it boils down to safety. Of course you can stick the thing in your pocket any way you want, but unless somebody convinces them otherwise, they arent going to give a tip-up option for this knife. Personally given the proper method of opening this knife (with the guard) I think a tip-down style works better. Thats just MHO though.

Wirebender · Jul 26, 2002

Horus- the blind holes on the open side of the handle aren't useless, they're for symmetry! The custon Maxxes have the same holes. In other words, Darrel just liked it that way.

Wirebender · Jul 26, 2002

Horus- the blind holes on the open side of the handle aren't useless, they're for symmetry! The custon Maxxes have the same holes. In other words, Darrel just liked it that way.

bquinlan · Jul 28, 2002

I expected to have the clip on my Maxx reversed for tip-up carry, but after carrying and using it for a week I decided that it just wasn't necessary. I can flip it open with the guards almost as fast. Also I worry about the guards catching on something down inside my pocket if I carried it inverted.

Your milage may vary, but I have decided that the design works well enough as intended that I really don't need to mess with it.

--Bob Q

Matt Shade · Jul 30, 2002

The holes sort of give the knife a fixed blade look when its open. At first glance the screw heads and holes seem to be pins holding it together. I think it looks neat.