Hi There! 
You can read my full review of the Camillus Cuda Talon in the latest issue of the Knifeforums Magazine. But I would like to share some of my findings with you here on this forum.
I have lived in Southeast Asia for the last 13 years. The climate here is not only very hot, but also very humid. Average about 32-36 degrees Celsius (90-97 degrees Fahrenheit), with a Relative Humidity of above 90%. It's a climate not very suitable for carbon steel knife blades, which will start to rust within a few hours. And even many stainless steel blades start to rust, without daily care and maintenance.
So I was looking for small fixed blade knife, which could withstand the tropical weather here. A knife which I could use for all types of
different cutting chores- such as during fishing, barbecues, boat trips and jungle tracking. And when I got to hear about Talonite as a blade material, I did some research on the internet. But it didn't help much, since there are so many different opinions about Talonite as knife material! Some said that Talonite blades brakes very easily and that it is a very soft material which will roll edge very easily, when used for other things than cutting meat... Some said it was the best knife material they ever used. I was seriously confused!!!
Since I was not able to get a clear understanding of Talonite- the only thing was to actually test it myself! So I got hold on a Camillus Cuda Talon with 3.5" blade. I have now used it for over 6 months and I am very, very happy with the performance!!!
I have to highlight that I am a firm believer of using a tool for
what it was made for! You don't buy an electric drilling machine, and
then used it as a hammer to force in 4" nails in the wall- right?
But I didn't follow all the advice I got on how using a Talonite knife. I have been using it in the kitchen, cutting wood, leather, electrical wires and much much more!
But the big challenge for the Cuda Talon was in the end of last May,
when I went for a combined beach, fishing, Scuba diving and jungle
tracking trip. We went to Tioman island, located in Malaysia. Tioman
island lies in the South China Sea and is 39km (24 miles) long and 12km (7 miles) wide. The island is covered in dense jungle and high mountain peaks. So only the coastal areas is inhabited and there are only five villages on Tioman. Tioman island is generally regarded as the setting for the mythical Bali Hai, in the film South Pacific.
I Earlier mentioned that I am a firm believer of using a tool for what it was designed for. You must excuse me, but I have made one small exception. Camillus Cuda Talon was not designed to be a diving knife. But I have found it to be an excellent diving knife!
During on our stay at Tioman Island, I use Camillus Cuda Talon during
all my Scuba diving and once it came handy in a preventive rescue
operation! Preventing Hawksbill turtles from getting stuck in old
fishing nets at a depth of about 15-20 meters (49- 66 feets). During
all this diving, I never cleaned the knife with fresh water. And
despite of the fact that this knife came in contact with salt water on a daily basis- it never rust or corroded! But the screw and even the aluminum nuts on the Tek-Lok corroded! And when aluminum start to
corrode, but not the knife blade itself- then you know that you have a knife material which can take any weather conditions!
Then how about the edge? Frankly speaking, I have only sharpen the Cuda Talon once during the 6 over months I have used this knife. And that was with a few strokes on a Gerber diamond rod. It's a fact- talonite continues to cut, long after the "shaving sharp" edge is gone!
So if you need a knife which is able to cut- "almost forever" and
without having to clean and oil your blade continuously. Then Camillus Cuda Talon is the knife! This knife will fulfill even your extreme usage! I don't say that you should buy this knife if you dive, since it was not designed for it. But I feel my experience and usage of the knife gives you an idea how well it can perform, even during extreme conditions. It's a great knife, a great design by Rob Simonich and made of Talonite which will bring you through even the toughest conditions! I highly recommend Camillus Cuda Talon for everyday cutting chores, as well as for serious extreme outdoors activities, where equipment failure is not an option!
Please read more about my "Talonite Adventures" in the latest issue of Knifeforums Magazine!
Regards,
B.J. Wallgren
You can read my full review of the Camillus Cuda Talon in the latest issue of the Knifeforums Magazine. But I would like to share some of my findings with you here on this forum.
I have lived in Southeast Asia for the last 13 years. The climate here is not only very hot, but also very humid. Average about 32-36 degrees Celsius (90-97 degrees Fahrenheit), with a Relative Humidity of above 90%. It's a climate not very suitable for carbon steel knife blades, which will start to rust within a few hours. And even many stainless steel blades start to rust, without daily care and maintenance.
So I was looking for small fixed blade knife, which could withstand the tropical weather here. A knife which I could use for all types of
different cutting chores- such as during fishing, barbecues, boat trips and jungle tracking. And when I got to hear about Talonite as a blade material, I did some research on the internet. But it didn't help much, since there are so many different opinions about Talonite as knife material! Some said that Talonite blades brakes very easily and that it is a very soft material which will roll edge very easily, when used for other things than cutting meat... Some said it was the best knife material they ever used. I was seriously confused!!!
Since I was not able to get a clear understanding of Talonite- the only thing was to actually test it myself! So I got hold on a Camillus Cuda Talon with 3.5" blade. I have now used it for over 6 months and I am very, very happy with the performance!!!
I have to highlight that I am a firm believer of using a tool for
what it was made for! You don't buy an electric drilling machine, and
then used it as a hammer to force in 4" nails in the wall- right?
But I didn't follow all the advice I got on how using a Talonite knife. I have been using it in the kitchen, cutting wood, leather, electrical wires and much much more!
But the big challenge for the Cuda Talon was in the end of last May,
when I went for a combined beach, fishing, Scuba diving and jungle
tracking trip. We went to Tioman island, located in Malaysia. Tioman
island lies in the South China Sea and is 39km (24 miles) long and 12km (7 miles) wide. The island is covered in dense jungle and high mountain peaks. So only the coastal areas is inhabited and there are only five villages on Tioman. Tioman island is generally regarded as the setting for the mythical Bali Hai, in the film South Pacific.
I Earlier mentioned that I am a firm believer of using a tool for what it was designed for. You must excuse me, but I have made one small exception. Camillus Cuda Talon was not designed to be a diving knife. But I have found it to be an excellent diving knife!
During on our stay at Tioman Island, I use Camillus Cuda Talon during
all my Scuba diving and once it came handy in a preventive rescue
operation! Preventing Hawksbill turtles from getting stuck in old
fishing nets at a depth of about 15-20 meters (49- 66 feets). During
all this diving, I never cleaned the knife with fresh water. And
despite of the fact that this knife came in contact with salt water on a daily basis- it never rust or corroded! But the screw and even the aluminum nuts on the Tek-Lok corroded! And when aluminum start to
corrode, but not the knife blade itself- then you know that you have a knife material which can take any weather conditions!
Then how about the edge? Frankly speaking, I have only sharpen the Cuda Talon once during the 6 over months I have used this knife. And that was with a few strokes on a Gerber diamond rod. It's a fact- talonite continues to cut, long after the "shaving sharp" edge is gone!
So if you need a knife which is able to cut- "almost forever" and
without having to clean and oil your blade continuously. Then Camillus Cuda Talon is the knife! This knife will fulfill even your extreme usage! I don't say that you should buy this knife if you dive, since it was not designed for it. But I feel my experience and usage of the knife gives you an idea how well it can perform, even during extreme conditions. It's a great knife, a great design by Rob Simonich and made of Talonite which will bring you through even the toughest conditions! I highly recommend Camillus Cuda Talon for everyday cutting chores, as well as for serious extreme outdoors activities, where equipment failure is not an option!
Please read more about my "Talonite Adventures" in the latest issue of Knifeforums Magazine!
Regards,
B.J. Wallgren
