Cuda Maxx D2/Ti 5.5" ? Should I or not?

The Mastiff

The Mastiff

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Apr 21, 2006
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I ran accross a chance at a N.O.S. Camillus A.O., frame lock designed by Darrell Ralph. It seemed very nice to me, though it sounds like a M16 bolt clacking when opening:o .

Question: How do these hold up in the long run? Doesn't the thumbstud stop all that inertia.

Question: Will these go up in value if I get one or more around 270 ish?

Any long term troubles or problems I should be aware of? I know they aren't for everybody due to their size. Mine would have to be an outside/hiking knife due toi the size.

I'd appreciate comments. They do seem well made, and one sliced me through 3 folded layers of a silicone cloth, which I was impressed with. They got that D2 very sharp at the factory.

BTW, I miss camillus. I think that's clouding my judgement. Thanks, Joe
 
The CUDA MAXX 5.5 is one of the best of the king-sized knives. I had a REKAT that I never trusted after the locks on several failed and the company pulled out of the knife business and I never liked the Grand Vaquero. I love the CUDA MAXX 5.5. It carries well, surprisingly so for a knife that size, in my right front pocket. It locks open with authority and I have never had a problem with its frame-lock. The blade is heavily biased toward staying closed when closed and requires a good push to get it going but, once moving, it will snap open with authority. The "guards" on it are actually intended as opening devices to assist in getting moving. The blade is all that one could ask of a large blade in a folder and the titanium scales are comfortable to use.

As to the price, with the fact that there will be no more production models only the custom made versions from Darrell Ralph, the original designer, my guess is that $270 is probably a good price for a new one and that its value will only go up if the knife is maintained. But, please remember that I am not one who collects based upon resale. My knives are all users and I don't worry over the resale all that much.
 
Thank you for your opinion and advice. I have a voice telling me to pick up a few. I really like these. The old Camillus quality is apparent. The hand sharpened blades show experience and a pride of workmanship.

I was looking for a dominator plain edge when I ran accross these even rarer knives. I guess things happen for a reason. I just wish I could grab them all up for the future. Thanks again, Joe
 
I have a CUDA MAXX 5.5 with the Bowie-style blade and I rather prefer the clipped point on it for general utility type work but there are those who much prefer the spear point version, especially for self defense. I also have an even rarer vesion, the Gibbs CUDA MAXX 7.0. It only came in the spear point form, although I think that they had a different name for the blade shape. THe problem with the 7" version is that the blade is so heavy that it is barely able to be retained in the hilt of the knife and carrying the knife is an invitation to legal problems over it being a "gravity blade" in Virginia or most other jurisdictions. it is one exception to my rule about not having "safe queens."
 
i have had several production and custom maxx's, great knives, of the cammilus gendre i like the stilletto version, mostly for looks, and it matches my ralph maxx, the bowie i didnt like as much, have had 2 or 3 of them though.

i would not pay a dime over $250 or so for one though, i bought my ralph 5.5" maxx stilletto on the forums a while back for ~$350 and its wayy nicer than a cammilus, i bet it would be easier to get my $$ outta it to boot, so if ya are gonna spend some $$ i would look for a ralph myself.

but they are cool knives, lotsa folks make knives which mimic a popular custom, not all do it very well, the cammilus maxx and the ralph maxx were pretty damned close let me tell ya, thickness, weight, blade shape, materials, all pretty close to the custom. of course the custom was a little smoother, a little better grind lines & F&F, but like i said, all in all pretty damned close.
 
i would not pay a dime over $250 or so for one though,
Click to expand...

Thank you for your comments. Do you not forsee them getting scarcer and more expensive now Cammillus has went belly up? The Dominators are beginning to get scarce, the 5.5's and 7.5 even more so already. Joe
 
Joe, with Camillus out of business, how can the Camillus CUDA MAXX do anything but get more and more scarce? There will be no more made, ever. It was a very expensive knofe to make and I sincerely doubt that anybody will be willing to pick up production on it for the rather limited market that it served.

SIFU1A, I don't doubt that you paid rather less than $270 for the Camillus CUDA MAXX back when they were in production, but you must remember that they are no longer in production. With a finite supply and a demand that, while limited, will continue to grow, the price can go nowhere but up on any NIB or similarly good condition versions. These were the kings of the production mega-folders.
 
oh i am sure they will go up, but if ya go much over $300 ya can get a custom ralph, what do you think would be the better knife for the $$?? ya could buy a used ralph for $350 to $400 and for IIRC $50 or so ralph will refurbish it ti LNIB shape, to me a custom is most always a better knife than a production.

i wouldnt pay much more than $250 or so, and i would have to really want one to pay that.

of course i dont collect cammilus it would only be a user to me, if ya just had to have one for your collection, i guess i could see spending whatever.

but, once ya start talking over $300, i would save up $100 or so and get a ralph, IIRC he doesnt make the maxx anymore either.
 
Sifu1A, I must agree with you from a user point of view, but I get the impression that The Mastiff was thinking of the knives more from an investment.collector POV, in which case, the criteria are very different.
 
Before Camillus stopped production (1 1/2 years ago) the Max was rurnning $170 to 200 at gun shows. That being said, I haven't seen one for sale in a year.
 
Thanks again. So Brownshoe, that $270 does represent quite a price hike due to the scarcity of the knives. I haven't seen any at the last several gunshows and that's where I was thinking about selling them. I wouldn't expect to move all 10 in one show but there is enough people around that like them. I guess if I got them at a better price it might be worthwhile.

I bought one a couple years ago and the quality was excellent, sharpness was as good as anything I've ever done with D-2, probably better.

I notice the dominators aren't really scarce except in clip /plain edge as usual. Thanks again, Joe
 
i just dont think they are gonna go up much more from where they are now.

its very difficult to say which knife is gonna go up in value though, i would have never thought a spyderco gunting would bring the $$ they do now, but there is a lot more collector interest in spyderco vs cammilus imho.

i still would say get a ralph vs spending almost as much on a cammilus.

generally, its my opinion if ya wanna make $$ theres a lot of better things to invest in vs knives, rolex watches is one thing, stock market another, i generally lose $$ not make $$ on knives lol.
 
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