CUDA vs ROBO CUDA?

G

GarageBoy

Joined
May 23, 2003
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I was on the CUDA website and I got a tad confused. You flick open a CUDA, so what is the point of the assisted ROBO CUDA?
 
Maybe Bill Gates wanted to own one, but he wasn't strong enough to flick it out, so he payed the Cammilus to make an assisted-opening version. Or herhaps it's a conspiracy by the law enforcement agencies to charge more people for possessing a friggin' huge assisted open knife (where it's illegal).
 
Yes, that is what I meant. Is there a mechanism that lets the CUDAs be flicked or is it just very smooth?
 
Originally posted by GarageBoy
Yes, that is what I meant. Is there a mechanism that lets the CUDAs be flicked or is it just very smooth?
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Assisted opening means that you unfold the blade like normal, except when the blade is out a certain percent of the way (it's usually either 5% or 15%, I forget) a spring snaps it out fully extended. So you could flick it or open it a few degrees, it doesn't matter. About being smooth, though, one of the above posters linked to a review where he said it takes too much force for the innitial few degrees of opening for him to enjoy the knife.
 
The standard CUDA flicks beautifully, I liked it so much that I'll be getting myself one in the very near future. I've heard a few reports of minor little problems with blade alignment, so I'll be sure to get mine at a B&M store. Luckily there's a very nice store nearby that even gives a military discount!
 
Originally posted by GarageBoy
Oops sorry, I meant the unassisted CUDA. How is it able to be flicked out? Thanks TheMightyGoat
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I have one in my pocket right now, and yes, it flicks out well. I can flick it out just by snapping my wrist, but not everyone is strong enough to do that (I'm not trying to make myself sound like Herculies here, it doesn't take a whole lot of strength). It can also be flipped out with a similar snap of the wrist, except at the same time you push or fling the blade out a little bit with your thumb by the flipper. It all works out into one smooth action, and you're suddenly holding five and a half inches of razor blade.
 
The Newly Minted Thwack Scale in Rank Order:

  • Balisong (It usually takes me two or three minutes to open, during which I've stabbed myself three times, so it gets the lowest Thwack score)
  • Two handed opening pocket knife (e.g. friction folder with a nail nick)
  • One handed opening knife with thumb stud or equivalent
  • One handed opening knife with flipper
  • Assisted opening pocket knife (e.g. ROBO mechanism, or Ken Onion's mechanism for the Kershaw knives)
  • Automatic or D/A knife (e.g. Benchmade 3550)
  • WAVE Emerson design
  • Fixed Blade Knife

Italian Stilettos are automatically excluded from this list as they don't excatly Thwack, so much as they go Sproing, and start ejecting little bits of themselves in every direction, so long as every direction primarily means "under the couch."

Feel free to elaborate ...
 
Originally posted by GarageBoy
I was on the CUDA website and I got a tad confused. You flick open a CUDA, so what is the point of the assisted ROBO CUDA?
Click to expand...
Which CUDA are you referring to? It's a whole line of knives, except for the early Quik Action opening knives which are known only by the name CUDA. The only other CUDA knife you'd be able to flick open is the CUDA Maxx, since the CUDA E.D.C. is a framelock, has quite a strong-locking detent, and has a fairly light blade.

The ROBO knives are a sub-series of the CUDA knives. There's two right now, the smaller Dominator and the humongous Aftermath.

Just trying to clear up any confusing terminology. You're probably referring to the CUDA Maxx and the CUDA Aftermath.
 
AS I understand it the robo assist will be in the Aftermath, the Dominator, and the CUDA Maxx. I am not certain but the the Limited run Gibbs may have it as well. I believe that is all Camillus is planning for right now.

With the robo assist you can open the blade approx. 30 degrees before the assist takes over. It is also designed so that prior to the 30 degree point any jarring or knocks will not open the blade but actually make it close. A nice safety feature.

To the original question, what is the point? Easier opening. The above mentioned knives are set up with a flipper that is fairly easy to open. Some people have a hard time with it. Also, some people like tigher pivots which make it harder to use a flipper. The assist overcomes that. Also, the robo mechanism will be removable. That means you will be able to convert your assisted opening knife to a complete manual without compromising the function of the knife. Also, it doesn't void the warranty.
 
The EDC actually flicks very well. I get my thumb under the stud and flick hard, then it builds some pressure before the detente releases and snaps open just as hard as by Boa, if not even more so. I've never met anyone else who can do this, at least not consistently but it works great for me.
 
Roadrunner, that's interesting. I've never been able to get past my fear of sliding my thumb onto the blade, plus I've got a pretty tight pivot to eliminate the blade play. Do you use a wrist flick after you've opened the blade slightly with the thumbstud?

Wow, I haven't heard that the Maxx is getting the ROBO treatment as well. Sounds like a cool upgrade, especially since the assist mechanism is made to be removable. Did Camillus mention this at Blade? I couldn't find it on their forum.
 
Nope, I can open it very fast and hard without moving my wrist at all. It's difficult to describe, but I'll try. I hold the knife just as if I were going to open it like any other one hand opener, then bend my thumb to a 90 deg angle and place my thumbnail beneath the stud. Then I straighten out my thumb with a very explosive movement, since the detente holds it until a fair amount of pressure has built up it comes open as fast as any auto, even faster than some. As I said I think I might be sort of gifted with this, because my brother can't get it to open completely 9 times out of ten when he tries it. He gets really frustrated too, it's pretty funny. The trick is to straighten your thumb explosively so the pressure builds before the detente releases. I've got my pivot adjusted pretty tight too, to the point of zero lateral play, even with the lock bar disengaged. I've never cut myself doing this either.
 
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