Camillus Dominator

Kennieyk

Kennieyk

Joined
Feb 5, 2003
Messages
959
Is it out yet ? I was thinking of getting one . Anyone had a chance to play woth it ? It looks really kewl .
 
I thought I saw it posted they should start shipping July 7th ? I'm also looking forward to some reviews of this knife for sure !
 
Originally posted by Morgoth412
Ditto Chazzy. And thanks for the info.
-Kevin
Click to expand...


I was all fired up on this one, until I realized how quickly a torsion bar fails on any Speedsafe Kershaw.

At least you can take a Kershaw apart, I don't see any Torx screws on the Dominator :-(
 
There is a big difference in quality from a $50 Kershaw and what will probably be a $170 dollar Camillus knife. If for some reason it does go, it will more than likely be covered under waranty.
BTW, where did you hear about the torsion bar failing on the Kershaw? I have never heard of this problem yet. People here have been EDCing Leeks and Boas for awhile and I have heard nothing.
-Kevin
 
Originally posted by Morgoth412
There is a big difference in quality from a $50 Kershaw and what will probably be a $170 dollar Camillus knife. If for some reason it does go, it will more than likely be covered under waranty.
BTW, where did you hear about the torsion bar failing on the Kershaw? I have never heard of this problem yet. People here have been EDCing Leeks and Boas for awhile and I have heard nothing.
-Kevin
Click to expand...



Okay, the (rainbow)leek is about $60, a Boa is about $100, I figure part of the extra $60 on the Dominator is because of a higher grade blade (S30v) None the less, I really do feel my point is valid. Both you and I know that extra cost does not automatically ensure extra quality.

I dont know what exact mechanism is in a Dominator, but It can't be much diffent from what Kershaw have done. Any mechanism such as this WILL fail over a long enough time line. What then? send it back to Camillus, so they can replace the bar, and replace the rivets in the handle?

I'm suspicious when i see a folding knife that can't be disasembled, it makes me think they're hiding something,this coupled with the fact that I've heard more than a few 'grumbles' over Camillus makes me skeptical. Yes Mircotech are using those new screws, (Not keen on them either) but Camillus are just plain using rivets.

The torsion bar on my Leek and Boa both failed, they're thin, so it's not suprising. That's happened to plenty of speedsafe knives.
 
Discussions on the Camillus forum have gone over this; the robo mechanism actually will be removable if you don't like it. From what I understand the mechanism is completely different from the Speed Safe. Also, I've only heard a few isolated instances of the Speed Safe failing. True, it will give out sooner or later, but so will any mechanical device. The more complicated, the sooner it will fail. Even if either device 'only' lasts for say ten years, you're still getting a lot of use out of a fairly complicated device.
 
you are right about the torsion bar I see. The Leek and similair Kershaws do fail. Good to know, I had not heard that before.

I would say the extra 60 dollars is not so much for the S30V, but for the titanium handles.

I agree with you on the point that money doesn't necessarily mean quality. You are certainly right, it doesn't. But Cammilus is a well respected company that puts out respected models like the Maxx5.5 and EDC. I wouldn't doubt there quality.

With respect to rivets. I don't think they are hiding anything... I would imagine that it's more about making sure that customers don't screw around with the assited opening. If it was able to be taken apart I would think Cammilus would be dealing with alot more waranty problems. I know Spyderco rivets all of there lockbacks, even the higher end ones. This way customers aren't constantly sending in lockback knives for repair after they have tampered with the lock spring. Spyderco doesn't rivet there other knives... Why? Becuase those are easier for the average Joe to take apart and not screw over and have to send in to Spyderco.
-Kevin
 
any kind of spring mechanism will fail eventually whether it be a 45 dollar scallion speed safe or a 450 dollar MT scarab or a 1000 dollar plus custom auto. I've read that you can remove the robo mechanism on the dominator (could have been aftermath though, or maybe both) and it becomes a normal manual folder. The problem with the speedsafe is that the torsion bar is also the detent mechanism, on the robo knives the mechanism is independant of the detend
 
If the spring should fail i do think it would be fixed by Camillus!
I would not even worry about that. It looks like a good knife. I would not compare this knife with a kershaw .
 
I do know that the Dominator can be disassembled. The robo mechanism is different than the speed safe and it is extremely robust. True anything mechanical will eventually wear out. It will take some time to wear out the robo mechanism.

I was able to see the mechanism as Darrel's recently when he was working on prototypes for his customs.

You will not be disappointed by the Dominator. :)
 
Any mechanism such as this WILL fail over a long enough time line. What then? send it back to Camillus, so they can replace the bar, and replace the rivets in the handle?
Click to expand...

Yep. What's wrong with that? It's the same thing you'd do with ANY knife that fails. Camillus stands behind their products.
 
Anyone know if the Pivot Pin on the Dominator can be adjusted to take out side play? Have only seen pics, and they don't show whether the pivot pin has a torx/hex hole for a wrench.

thanks,
TT2Toes
 
I don't think that the Dominator has rivets. I can't say for sure because I haven't seen one in person, but if you look at the pictures that I have seen http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=244826 all of the hardware looks just like my Maxx 5.5 (the pivot is a direct copy for sure) http://www.1sks.com/images/camillus/cam-maxx-cu2262.jpg . I think what you are seeing on the presentation side of the knife is the receiving (female) end of the torx screw assembly on the handle and the pivot pin. If you flip the Maxx over to the locking bar side you have access to the torx screw head (male side)on all of the connectors in the handle and the pivot. Does my explination make sense to anyone but me? :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top