Camillus Pilot's Knife

MrCoffee

MrCoffee

Joined
Feb 17, 2007
Messages
2,304
Hey everyone,

I have been looking at getting a pair of Pilot's knives, and it seems that everyone either completely hates them, or loves them. What I have in mind for these knives is strictly SHTF use, not camping, hiking, or general use, but a knife that can be purchased with the express reason to go into my wife's/son's BOB.

I do not want to throw a lot of cash into these blades, for a number of reasons, but mostly because we don't use our BOB's, they stay packed and ready to go. The size is important, meaning that the 7" Kabar is too long for either intended user to feel comfortable using, both feel they have trouble controling a blade larger then the 5" version. In all likelihood, both will have their normal fixed blades with them if we have to bail, but I really don't want use to have to "go back and grab" them. And of course, these days budget is important to everyone, including me. At $35 is seems like a hell of a good knife/deal.

So I am looking for opinions, or alternative blade suggestions.
 
I like em. Good blades for the reason you suggested. Tough, cheap, and take a good edge. I think you could do alot worse.

Id say Mora, but for the purpose you stated, I think these are better suited to hard uses.

I say go for it.
 
The Callimus Pilot's Knife isn't the route I'd take. Despite the brief saying “not camping, hiking, or general use”, I still think a utility pattern of some sort is the order of the day. Although not principally designed as a weapon the Pilot's knife certainly draws more strongly from a weapon type design that any other type of design. It makes massive sacrifices in utility value in the process.

Fitting your brief of a budget stow away and forget it I believe a pair of Grunts for less that $40 USD would be a far better solution. I believe the utility value of those wouldn't just be better than, but completely obliterate the Pilot's knife. And after all that's the function that will in all probability all they'll ever be needed for. Even if a SHTF fighting scenario was given serious consideration I'm sure they'll poke a hole at least as good too. Yup, nice grind, comfy handle, versatility, and low maintenance. I can think of better, but I can't think of a better budget buy that fits your brief.
 
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Good call! I totally forgot about the Grunt!

Also those cold steel bushmans are great blades....
 
"Made in China" means alot to me. Deal breaker.

I've got two pilots, one mil and one civilian.
 
I'd say the crkt a.b.c. knife its a bit smaller at 3.75" but is cheap and compact. A good stow away knife and the serrations might be useful.
 
The Camillus Pilot's Knife has a double guard. That makes it a poor choice for anything that isn't knife fighting. Sure, one can use it for utility tasks, it just won't be good for it.

My suggestion would be any Mora. They don't get any cheaper than that, but in actual use those cheap Moras are far better than something like the Pilot's Knife, unless one uses knives only for 1) chopping things and 2) killing people and animals, instead of stuff like, say, cutting things. :D
 
I am going to put in a positive vote for the Pilot's Survival Knife. I have one that I was issued decades ago...it was made in February, 1973. I used and abused it all around the world, in every type of climate, for several decades of my military career (a good portion of that serving in Special Operations). The steel in the blade on mine is first-rate...takes an excellent edge and holds it. You will not go wrong in getting these as "bug-out" heavy-duty knives for your wife and son.

My assessment is based upon actually using one...hard...out there in the real world, for just the types of tasks you are describing. And it actually is good for something other than fighting.

Ron
 
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Elen said:
unless one uses knives only for 1) chopping things and 2) killing people and animals, instead of stuff like, say, cutting things. :D
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Am I the only one that has more than just ONE knife in my BOB? A SAK will do the "cutting things" part very well.
 
"In the recent issue of Tactical Knives, they did an article on the new Blackjack line, and the Grunt was listed as AUS8, and made in Japan. This one is made in China, and uses 10CR17 steel. At first I thought it might be a copy, but it an internet search showed that the new ones are made in China. Knife was surprisingly well made. Very sharp, chopped some firewood with it for about fifteen minutes, edge was still super sharp..."

- silenthunterstudios

"Knifeware no longer owns Blackjack.

I have been told by the New Owners that If the Grunt is Continued it will be made in china.

10cr17 is supposed to be superior to AUS-8. It is rated more like AUS-10.

Mike"

-Mike Stewart
 
baldtaco-II said:
Although not principally designed as a weapon the Pilot's knife certainly draws more strongly from a weapon type design that any other type of design. It makes massive sacrifices in utility value in the process.
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I think I would have to disagree. A modest sized, bowie style blade, I think, makes a find general utility blade. Its probably a bit heavier than it need to be, but for the price its hard to beat.

About the only downside of the design is the double-sided cross guard, which can limit your grip options, thus making it a bit harder to use for some chores. However, 5 minutes with a hack saw blade and file can fix that problem easily. ;)
 
bltjr1951 said:
Am I the only one that has more than just ONE knife in my BOB? A SAK will do the "cutting things" part very well.
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I'm sure you're not. Doesn't hurt to keep more than one. :thumbup:

A SAK is a handy thing to have around. But in my experience, they're a pretty awful substitute for a fixed blade when it comes to cutting things. Flimsy blade made out of soft stainless that doesn't hold an edge that well, and the handle ergonomics are pretty horrid compared to a decent fixed blade. And it folds, so we can add insecure construction and difficult cleaning to the list of downsides... I like to carry a SAK Ranger, but when I have a fixed blade of reasonable size anywhere near, there's no way I'll ever use the SAK for cutting things rather than that fixed blade.

If I was to choose more than one knife to go in a BOB, it would make sense to me to throw a SAK in there, a fixed blade in the regular Mora size range, and a hatchet or a real axe, even, depending on how compact you want it. A midsize fixed blade like the Pilot's Knife isn't something I would consider, but tastes differ. Like Ron53 pointed out, one can certainly use such a knife and be happy with it. But personally, I don't consider it an optimal choice for any task outside fighting someone. And if I was planning to fight someone, I wouldn't want to do it with just a knife.
 
mdauben said:
I think I would have to disagree. A modest sized, bowie style blade, I think, makes a find general utility blade. Its probably a bit heavier than it need to be, but for the price its hard to beat.

About the only downside of the design is the double-sided cross guard, which can limit your grip options, thus making it a bit harder to use for some chores. However, 5 minutes with a hack saw blade and file can fix that problem easily. ;)
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I don't believe that's anywhere near enough to make it compete with the Grunt. Those Pilot's knives and the big Kabars were the first real knives I used. They were great value when I was young for beating around and doing the kinds of things you do with a knife when you are young. And they were surely better than anything comparable produced here of a similar type and price at the time. Plus they had that military appeal that comes from youth.

My tastes have changed much since then though. That Grunt has a better handle, has a convex blade, and is made from better materials. Overall it is a better design. It would do better for kitchen type tasks 'cos it can slice. It would also do better for heavier work because it has more heft than the Pilot's knife. I can't think of a single thing about the Pilot's knife that would out perform the Grunt. Well, maybe if you chase into some minutiae hypothetical fantasy of having to rub it up a rock and hoping for a spark I suppose. Even on plunging power I don't see it winning. The handle of the Grunt makes the guard of the Pilot's knife redundant for that. And the tip is every bit as good for poking.

There's a vid of a Grunt here. The guy is a complete ignoramus but you do get a better look at the blade http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoAXgCAWcvs

:-)
 
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baldtaco-II said:
I don't believe that's anywhere near enough to make it compete with the Grunt.
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Not saying its a perfect choice, and honestly it would not be my personal choice for a survival kit blade. I just don't think its as terrible as some people are making out. Its an inexpensive, tough, servicable knife for survival situations. ;)
 
mdauben said:
Not saying its a perfect choice, and honestly it would not be my personal choice for a survival kit blade. I just don't think its as terrible as some people are making out. Its an inexpensive, tough, servicable knife for survival situations. ;)
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Cool with me amigo. I think it's a very serviceable knife. I just believe with high level of confidence that the Grunt is a far better knife even if they cost the same. The fact the original poster quoted $35 for the Camillus and my link shows you can get two Grunts for $39.90 kinda smacks it clean out the park. Yeah, don't get me wrong, the fact I'm going against the Camillus doesn't mean I think it is bad. It is just that all things are relative and I think there is much better to be had. ;-)
 
Ontario has some interesting blade shapes in their spec plus line, with different guards that might work better, but you cannot go wrong with the AFSK. As an aside, the K-Bar short has a smaller grip, and is only 1/8 inch stock, which makes it less robust than the AFSK.
 
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