How about big folders

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logan5

Joined
Jun 26, 2001
Messages
297
So I have been looking at bigger folding knives. In particular the Cuda Maxx and the Buck Strider. One is very tactical looking and one is just huge. At first I was looking at just the Buck and had basically made up my mind, but now for some reason the Cuda Maxx has been on the list.
What are some owner’s impressions? I know neither is the Handmade original, and I am not looking at them, mainly because of price and I will use this knife, but is fit and finish up to par with a good factory knife?
Why would I want a 5.5" knife? Why wouldn't I want a 5.5" knife? I know the buck isn't a Strider, but is it built weaker? I can't stand blade play and to me it makes a knife junk. Do either of these have a history of blade play?
Anything else to get me influenced one way or the other. Any ideas on good folders?
 
How about a Cold Steel Vaquero Grande (6 inch blade, 13 inches total opened length), or a REKAT Sifu (5.4 inch blade, 12 inches total opened length)? Those two are big.:).
 
I have or have had a TOPS Magnum, a Cuda Maxx and a Buck Strider 711. Out of the 3 I was most impressed by the Cuda Maxx, but still haven't figured out, for me at least, a reason for carrying such a big folder. Way I look at it if I'm going to carry a folder that big I'd rather just carry a fixed blade.
 
The Buck-Strider is a good factory knife, but as you said it is not a Strider. What you do get is a very strong knife, with no play. If you need a knife that can take a beating, but can't afford a Strider, the Buck Strider collaboration will be a good substitute. The only real downside in my opinion is that the handle ergonomics are not near as good as on the real deal.
 
The Cuda Maxx is the best big factory folder bar none. The fit and finish are close to hand-made, a great lock-up and the strongest lock around, the design is first rate, the materials are absolutely top rate. It makes the others look like POS candidates, even though they are decent knives in their own right.
 
I've carried a Camillus CUDA Maxx every day since the first group of them was shipped. Except for legal limitations on where it can be carried I think the Maxx makes a great EDC. It is actually quite light and compact, but every bit as tough as it looks. The lock is simple, thick, strong, and reliable. Mine has no blade play of any kind. It feels like a fixed blade in the hand and it behaves like one in use.

I do have smaller blades on my multi-tools and every once in a while I'll use those too, but the CUDA has been great for everytyhing from heavy use to fine work. That bowie tip comes to a very fine point.

There really isn't anything not to like about the Maxx. :)

--Bob Q
 
Thanks for the responses. And as a follow up
Glockman99, I've looked at the Cold Steel knives and I just can't get over the plastic handles. And the REKAT is just too funky looking to me.

Burkstar, as for a reason, because I want to, for some dark deep physiological reason;) Nothing that a 3" folder wouldn't do, just bigger.

ErikD, I've noticed the ergo difference also and honestly it's the reason I don't have the Buck right now. I really like the true Striders ergos a lot better, but is the Buck bad?

And I believe in California there is no law listing a length limit on folders. The law is more concerned with autos and fixed blade (dirk/dagger terms abound) carry. But please tell me if anybody has any first hand experience.
 
well, i like the maxx better than the buck/strider and the sifu also, the buck/strider is just so thick its kinda hard to conceal, and HEAVY too, the sifu is made by a co. tyhats outta biz, so if ya have probs w/the lock (has been known to happen w/REKAT) other than MAYBE pat crawford could fix it, your outta luck imho - the maxx is VERY thin, and has an excellent lock, 10X better than REKAT imho, and really carries well for me.and since REKAT folded, the price on the sifu seems to be going up. traded mine for a nealy pesh kebz, the 5" version w/black blade, and have never regreted it either.......most sifu's i have seen have been $150 and up, some for a used knife, albeit one in good shape. i dont know any dealers w/new ones for sale, so they arent easy to find....

the maxx is a 'loud' knife, i wanna send mine to bodycote and get the blade and handle blacked, i think it would look great. and w/the D2 steel on the maxx w/no coationg, ya gotta keep it oiled or it will rust, have had some rust probs w/mine, nothing seriuos, but they will spot!!

to me, the buck just seems more at home in the woods rather than as a edc in the city, and the blade is a lot shorter than the maxx to boot....its just so heavy duty, look at one, they are BIG

tops are good too, but starting to get up there in the price dept i think. rather than spend $250 plus on a production, would rather kick in $150 or so and geta crawford perfigo, w/a 4.5" blade, i like it!!

so, FWIW, i would get the maxx, a great knife at a great price

greg
 
logan5: Might be best for you to do a search under "Cuda Maxx". There have been numerous threads, since the Maxx came out, that covers the exact comparisons you are looking for.
 
I have been looking at the reviews (of both knives and more), but they haven't sold me yet. I was looking for a little more to push me over the edge.
 
.....and maybe the price difference won't seem so intimidating. I picked up a GB at Blade and couldn't get it out of my mind during the approx. hour it took me to make up my mind to go back to the booth and shell out the $350.00 it took to put it into my bag and move on. NO REGRETS AT ALL!!

Larry S.
 
An Emerson Super Commander might be up your ally. They are only available from one source. They are not as thick as some of the other one's mentioned, but it is one heck of a knife.

www.tadgear.com
 
No, I haven't gotten to handle ANY of the knives in question. I know it sounds a little crazy, but the next, and only knife show that would have any of the knives is in Sept at BAKCA (http://www.bakca.org/show.htm). Other than that I would have to travel to L.A. area for Blade West witch I am not doing. The other possiblity that I have is to go to TAD Gear (Triple Aught Design) that is in Oakland and I noticed on thier web site that the have added an "Open to the Public" with directions section. But even if I do that, according to the web site, they don't carry the Mad Maxx and they are out of stock on the Strider (I did really want to see the Strider vs. Buck in person) so that leaves just the Buck. Other than them there are a few sportings goods stores, but no real knife shops that I know of.

I look at the dimensions and compare them to something that I have or have handled in the past, look at countless post here for the past month or so and have good luch in purchasing sight unseen in the past
 
Hey Malazo,

Thanks for the tip, and it looks like I might just be going to TAD Gear after all. From the web site it looks like they have a bunch of cool toys to look at/fondle with even if I don't end up buying a knife.
 
logan5, It's not so much that the ergo's on the Buck knife are bad, as it is that the Strider is just better. As it comes from the factory the Bucks edges aren't rounded, plus the handle itself is a little boxy. It is a purely functional design, and as such is not really all that comfortable for extended use. If however you are looking for a great knife that won't fail, the Buck is a good choice. HTH:)
 
Well, I went to TAD and got to handle the Buck and they had a "display" (he made sure that I understood that this knife was not for sale as he handed it to me) Strider AR and I got to tell you LarryS was right. Pick up a Strider and feel it. Now, as stated by ErikD, the Bucks ergo's are not bad, but as described above the edges and the surface for that matter of the G10 is very coarse. A little sand paper and elbow grease would fix it, so it’s not really that big of a deal. But as it sits, I really don’t think that I have handled a better pocket-eating knife before. The Action on the Buck was very nice it opened smoothly and locked up tight. The thing that really disappointed me with the Buck was the handle shape/ergo's. Compared to the Strider there is no finger groove/choil what ever it’s officially called. The Strider has two, there is one built into the blade and handle. Why couldn’t Buck get at least one of those? It really lets you control the blade and is my favorite feature on the knife.

Also as suggested by Malazo, I looked at the Emerson Super Commander. And big it was, it’s just not what I am looking for. I like that thick, unconcealable, camp knife look. The Emerson was thin but it didn’t look any more beefy than the regular commander, just longer.

Well I ended up not buying anything but I am now leaning towards saving my pennies and getting the Strider. I kind of thought that picking up the Buck was going to sell me on it and it might have if the Strider hadn’t been there and fouled me up. I had enough $ in my pocket for the Buck, but not for the Strider. So now does anyone know where to handle a Cuda Maxx in the San Francisco Bay Area?
 
I gotta agree with glockman, Vaquero Grande all the way. HUGE BLADE, wicked too. Next on my list. :)
 
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