I wrote this for another website where the readers were mostly unfamiliar with Camillus' products. With the potential increase in collector interest, a few short reviews might help steer buyers towards some of Camillus' better-made products and away from models that many buyers would find disappointing.
1) Camillus Barlow, single blade, 5" closed
This was an inexpensive closeout a couple of years ago. The blade action is very smooth, good "walk and talk", with no blade play at all. The handle material is a brown 'sawcut' plastic - could be Delrin, but doesn't feel as durable as the Schrade Old Timer handles. The big disappointments: the scales don't match up well to the liners. And the finish on the bolster (stainless? Nickel silver?) has been ground completely through on one edge, exposing the pot metal beneath.
2) Camillus TL-29, electrician's knife
This model has been supplied to the military for many years. My particular TL-29 is unique, modified by Oupa's Outback Forge in Australia. Oupa's work on the blades, bolsters, and handle slabs is outstanding. Overall, it's a good quality knife, very tight springs, excellent fit, and a very effective blade lock on the screwdriver.
3) Camillus/Timberline Pilots Survival Knife
This knife is a cheap replica of the Timberline SpecWar. The blade itself is 440C and perhaps justifies the $30 closeout price. But otherwise it's not much of a knife. The plastic handle feels chincy, and the weight indicates that there's not much of a tang in there. There's also a small gap between the blade and handle, proving that the tang is only a fraction of the blade's width.
4) 6" CUDA CQB
Designed by Robert Terzoula, this is an incredible knife, an absolute steal at $30 closout. The carbon-steel blade is razor-sharp, one of the sharpest out-of-the-box products I've ever received. The rag micarta handle seems to be indestructable and has a good grip. One price-saving feature on this knife is the green nylon sheath, perfectly usable but obviously less expensive than the hard kydex sheath included with some of the other CQB models.
5) Woodcraft lockback #887
An average - sub-averge knife. The handles and bolsters are very well fitted, but the blade is a tad loose when opened. The lock works well and is smooth to operate. The nickel-silver bolsters and brown wood handles are handsome, but I think the slabs are phony laminate instead of real wood.
6) Camillus Lev-R-Lock
Originally contract-made for Soque River, Camillus started selling these for themselves when Soque River went out of business. The knife is a very intesting design, the Lev-R action and lockback feel dependable, and the checkered handles grip well. But the fit is poor and the blade has quite a bit of play when opened.
7) Camillus USMC
Camillus was the first company to begin making the USMC for the military for WWII, although the pattern is more associated with Ka-Bar. These are still made to the same specs as during WWII - carbon steel blades, stacked leather handles, and steel pummel. Costing a bit less than the current Ka-Bar production and considered by many to be lower quality, the Camillus is still a heck of a bargain. Any knife with a durable handle, 6-1/2" high carbon blade, and leather sheath would be a bargain at these prices.
8 ) and 9) Becker BK2 Campanion and BK7 Combat Utility
The Becker line from Camillus is often recognized as one of the best blade deals in the market. The quality high-carbon blades are sharp out-of-the-box and well finished. Personally, I'd prefer a bead-blasted finish, but the black coating on these is reported to hold up well, even during hard use. The handles are durable "GV6H" (aka 'plastic'), but are easily removed via screws and replaceable with Micarta. The BK2 comes with a well designed kydex (aka 'plastic') sheath; the BK7 comes with a soft nylon sheath. The BK7 is more aesthetically pleasing with the long clip-point blade, but the extra pommel bit is distracting (athough undoubtedly useful). The BK2 has a slightly wider blade and is much shorter, giving it a stubby look. Any of the Becker knives are good for the money, but I selected these two as being particular bargains, a lot of knife for the money. If I could add a third Becker, it would be the BK9.
Photos to follow....
Best Wishes,
-Bob
1) Camillus Barlow, single blade, 5" closed
This was an inexpensive closeout a couple of years ago. The blade action is very smooth, good "walk and talk", with no blade play at all. The handle material is a brown 'sawcut' plastic - could be Delrin, but doesn't feel as durable as the Schrade Old Timer handles. The big disappointments: the scales don't match up well to the liners. And the finish on the bolster (stainless? Nickel silver?) has been ground completely through on one edge, exposing the pot metal beneath.
2) Camillus TL-29, electrician's knife
This model has been supplied to the military for many years. My particular TL-29 is unique, modified by Oupa's Outback Forge in Australia. Oupa's work on the blades, bolsters, and handle slabs is outstanding. Overall, it's a good quality knife, very tight springs, excellent fit, and a very effective blade lock on the screwdriver.
3) Camillus/Timberline Pilots Survival Knife
This knife is a cheap replica of the Timberline SpecWar. The blade itself is 440C and perhaps justifies the $30 closeout price. But otherwise it's not much of a knife. The plastic handle feels chincy, and the weight indicates that there's not much of a tang in there. There's also a small gap between the blade and handle, proving that the tang is only a fraction of the blade's width.
4) 6" CUDA CQB
Designed by Robert Terzoula, this is an incredible knife, an absolute steal at $30 closout. The carbon-steel blade is razor-sharp, one of the sharpest out-of-the-box products I've ever received. The rag micarta handle seems to be indestructable and has a good grip. One price-saving feature on this knife is the green nylon sheath, perfectly usable but obviously less expensive than the hard kydex sheath included with some of the other CQB models.
5) Woodcraft lockback #887
An average - sub-averge knife. The handles and bolsters are very well fitted, but the blade is a tad loose when opened. The lock works well and is smooth to operate. The nickel-silver bolsters and brown wood handles are handsome, but I think the slabs are phony laminate instead of real wood.
6) Camillus Lev-R-Lock
Originally contract-made for Soque River, Camillus started selling these for themselves when Soque River went out of business. The knife is a very intesting design, the Lev-R action and lockback feel dependable, and the checkered handles grip well. But the fit is poor and the blade has quite a bit of play when opened.
7) Camillus USMC
Camillus was the first company to begin making the USMC for the military for WWII, although the pattern is more associated with Ka-Bar. These are still made to the same specs as during WWII - carbon steel blades, stacked leather handles, and steel pummel. Costing a bit less than the current Ka-Bar production and considered by many to be lower quality, the Camillus is still a heck of a bargain. Any knife with a durable handle, 6-1/2" high carbon blade, and leather sheath would be a bargain at these prices.
8 ) and 9) Becker BK2 Campanion and BK7 Combat Utility
The Becker line from Camillus is often recognized as one of the best blade deals in the market. The quality high-carbon blades are sharp out-of-the-box and well finished. Personally, I'd prefer a bead-blasted finish, but the black coating on these is reported to hold up well, even during hard use. The handles are durable "GV6H" (aka 'plastic'), but are easily removed via screws and replaceable with Micarta. The BK2 comes with a well designed kydex (aka 'plastic') sheath; the BK7 comes with a soft nylon sheath. The BK7 is more aesthetically pleasing with the long clip-point blade, but the extra pommel bit is distracting (athough undoubtedly useful). The BK2 has a slightly wider blade and is much shorter, giving it a stubby look. Any of the Becker knives are good for the money, but I selected these two as being particular bargains, a lot of knife for the money. If I could add a third Becker, it would be the BK9.
Photos to follow....
Best Wishes,
-Bob
