How's your Dominator?

Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
861
I'm really looking into buying one of these at the moment, so I guess I want to know how it's holding up for you people out there. I've read the reviews and all, but since it's now been out for a while, wondering how you feel about the knife.

Looks like a great knife, but why should I choose it over other tac folders in that price range?
 
I picked one up. It's kind of like a Sebenza with assisted opening and better grips on the handle. The BM710HSSR is still my EDC, and I have a BM806D2 on the way that may take the place of the 710. I just love the Axis lock for speed of opening, closing, and strength. I'd take a read through the Camillus forum under Makers and Manufactures. Some people have had problems with the nylon washers ni the Dominator wearing and leading to blade play, uncentered blades when closed, etc. I haven't experience this yet.

Also it takes a hefty push on the flipped to get it open. When I first got it (birthday) I was sitting at the table and everyone was sitting around and I wasn't able to open it at first! Haha! Finally I gave it a good squeeze and it flipped open. Since then I have adjusted the pivot, lubed it up with some Militec-1, and I can open it easier now. It still takes a good push, but I'm pretty comfortable opening it now.

It came shaving sharp so I haven't touched up the edge.

One thing to keep in mind is the handles being Titanium will probably scratch easy like the handles on a Sebenza. So if you keep it in the same pocket with your keys be prepared for scratches. That's why I like the G-10 on the BM710, it never shows any wear. :)

Also when you close it you're working against the tension bar (or whatever). I can close it one handed, but it takes a little more attention when doing so. The Axis locks can be close almost as fast as they can be opened. This is handy when you're in the middle of something and you only have one free hand. You can quickly open, cut, and close an Axis with some practice. I used to work in a retail environment where I sometimes had a package I had to open for a customer and I wanted to have my knife out as little as possible. Usually I could do a little spin move (turn my back to the customer) and have the knife out and away by the time I turned back around and they never knew what happened.
 
Camillus is on the 2nd production run of the Dominator. I have one. It opens much easier, the blade is centered and the frame lcok is plenty strong. This is same design idea as on the Madd Maxx and it has been tested as one of the strongest locks made. With less leverage coming from a shorter blade, this lock is possibly stronger than the Madd Maxx. I have also discovered a possible culprit to the difficult openeings. After opening mine a multitude of times and running into the occassional hard opening, I started watching the entire opening process. I discovered that when gripping the knife in preparation to open it, if your middle finger extends over the clip and rests on the lock, you will have a stiffer opening. Apparently that little extra pressure or maybe it isn't so little, I have no way to quatify how much pressure is being applied, is enough to make the blade hard to open.

I have also found that after I converted it to tip up carry, this gripping problem is reduced. I figure it has to do with how you index the knife carried tip up as opposed to carrying tip down, drawing and transerring the knife to a grip that permits access to the flipper. Camillus is not a fan of tip up carry. Don't bother asking for that option to be added.
 
Mine is holding up great. I bought it at the AECA show in Chicago this past September and have rarely been without it. I finally had to touch up the edges on the diamond stones, and it got sharper than when I got it! I am truly enamored with this knife.
 
I've got the MA Dominator and it is pretty much flawless. The only thing I do not like are the thumb studs. My thumbs just slip off when I open it. A little filing and texturing should take care of that. I can't wait until the MA's go into production (I hope).
 
I think its great mine opens easy 99% of the time, its all about practice and adjustment. you can close this knife fairly easliy with one hand but it does take practise and maybe a cut or two. I use it as my EDC. Get one you will Love it.
 
has anyone had any blade play yet?, If so is it side to side or up and down (fold-un fold) play?
 
Originally posted by Wunderbar
I've got the MA Dominator and it is pretty much flawless. The only thing I do not like are the thumb studs. My thumbs just slip off when I open it. A little filing and texturing should take care of that. I can't wait until the MA's go into production (I hope).

They are not thumbstuds, they are blade stops. The Dominator and Maxx and other Ralph designs are meant to opened with the "flipper".
 
Mine is still going strong. The action has loosened up a little, but that's all. There is no blade play and the lock is solid. This is a great knife!

--Bob Q
 
Roshi. I know the studs are for the blade stop, But on the MA Dominator you really need them to open the blade. The "flipper" on the tang is much too hard to use to deploy the blade.
 
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