Madd Maxx/Cuda Maxx: Any thoughts?

V

VorpelSword

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Messages
1,550
I bought a Camillus "Cuda Maxx" folding dagger for our active duty son when they were introduced back in 2001 or '02. Back then they were $125 while the semi custom Mad Maxx version was a Grand from the Darrwl Ralph shop.

Today, I don't see the semi custom Mad Maxx offered anywhere (Ralph died)), but the Camillus knives are on e-Bay for over a Grand.

Anybody have either version? Any thoughts?
 
The Camillus version is one of the few knives I have always regretted not buying (at retail prices). I've seen them on ebay from between $500 to $1000, but there was no way I was going to pay that much ($500) without being able to handle one first, or at least be able to return it. And there's no way I'd pay a grand for a production knife.

For those who own or have owned one, I'm curious to know what the quality level was, particularly the lock-up. If the knives had "issues", like maybe lock-slip, then I can stop regretting not buying one ;) .

I'm very particular about the shape/taper of dagger blades, and I always felt Darrel Ralph got the shape/taper of his dagger blades just right.

I once got very close to buying an HTM/Darrel Ralph Maxx folder, but research told me that the knives commonly suffered from lock-slip, so I passed.
 
Last edited:
killgar said:
For those who own or have owned one, I'm curious to know what the quality level was, particularly the lock-up. If the knives had "issues", like maybe lock-slip, then I can stop regretting not buying one ;) .
Click to expand...

Mine was perfect in every way....... :(
 
I like the factory and the customs. Camillus did a good job on these. The only drawback for me was the D-2 blades. I can’t carry D-2 in the summer, it rusts in my pocket. Camillus offered Talonite blades (Stellite 6-BH). Darrel did custom blades for me in Stellite 6-K, CPM S-90-V, and CPM S-30-V. My son in law anodizes scales for me.
The short green one is my EDC.
View attachment 1911014View attachment 1911015View attachment 1911016View attachment 1911017
 
As I said in the OP, I bought one for our son when he was in the Marines and about to deploy to Iraq. I had it for a month or two before giving it to him. Visually: I really like the symmetrical profile and double fullers of the "stiletto" profiled blade. It seemed to be a good knife. Unassisted, but seemed to open in my hand just by thinking about it. My only reservation is/was that very un-butch baby blue anodizing. The D2 was a price point compromise of course.

He didn't take it with him on deployment though. The Viet Nam and Desert Storm veterans in the training cadre at Twenty-Nine Palms discouraged anything that was a stabbing dagger; the Cuda and a John Ek stayed at home. Instead, they encouraged him to bring more utilitarian profiled blades; a Randall #1, a CRK Green Beret, a CRKT M21 and a Leatherman Wave . . .all were part of his combat kit.
 
Last edited:
It is my personal opinion that about any utility profiled blade will adequately perform as a self-defense weapon if it comes to that. If pressed into a situation that requires one to cut another, however justified, the use of asn aggressive looking dagger/stiletto profiled knife will not help make the case for self-defense . . .in my un-informed opinion. Even if the use of force is legally justified, there may be charges related to the knife itself. Be aware of regulations in your jurisdiction.
 
Last edited:
VorpelSword said:
It is my personal opinion that about any utility profiled blade will adequately perform as a self-defense weapon if it comes to that. If pressed into a situation that requires one to cut another, however justified, the use of asn aggressive looking dagger/stiletto profiled knife will not help make the case for self-defense . . .in my un-informed opinion.
Click to expand...
Camillus offered the 5.5” blade in plain edge clip and 1/2 serrated clip. The 7” blade came in spear point only. The spear points were easy to modify to clip. The 9” models were all Darrel Ralph customs, so you could specify the shape.
 
VorpelSword said:
It is my personal opinion that about any utility profiled blade will adequately perform as a self-defense weapon if it comes to that. If pressed into a situation that requires one to cut another, however justified, the use of asn aggressive looking dagger/stiletto profiled knife will not help make the case for self-defense . . .in my un-informed opinion.
Click to expand...
Lol… no I think stiletto do just fine…

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1190793368426204
 
tiguy7 said:
Camillus offered the 5.5” blade in plain edge clip and 1/2 serrated clip. The 7” blade came in spear point only. The spear points were easy to modify to clip. The 9” models were all Darrel Ralph customs, so you could specify the shape.
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure that the Camillus that I bought was a stiletto blade that was 5.5 inches of D2.
 
zeuqramjj2002 said:
Lol… no I think stiletto do just fine…

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1190793368426204
Click to expand...
Sure, they are fun. I wore out a couple when I was 12 years old.

Now think a moment and imagine that, heaven forbid and with some very good reason, you have injured someone with that knife . . . .Will the jury get to see that video and read your post on it? WILL IT COLOR THEIR JUDGMENT? Again, however justified you may be in inflicting harm on someone else, making the case for self-defense may be difficult. Even if there is acquittal on self defense, there may be charges related to the weapon itself. Be sure of the regulations in your jurisdiction.

If you feel that the EDC of a serious knife is necessary, you may want to re-evaluate what you are doing along with the where, when and why of it.
 
Last edited:
My recollection is that when the Camillus Cuda Maxx was first introduced, they offered three blade profiles. There was the stiletto dagger style, the clip point style and a really ugly "Bull Nose" style. This memory comes from what I saw in the old "Brigade Quartermaster" catalog from around 2003.

I have never seen this last style offered on e-Bay or anywhere else. Has anyone ever seen one of them?>
 
VorpelSword said:
My recollection is that when the Camillus Cuda Maxx was first introduced, they offered three blade profiles. There was the stiletto dagger style, the clip point style and a really ugly "Bull Nose" style. This memory comes from what I saw in the old "Brigade Quartermaster" catalog from around 2003.

I have never seen this last style offered on e-Bay or anywhere else. Has anyone ever seen one of them?>
Click to expand...
I wonder if the “Bull Nose” variation is 7” Spear Point.View attachment 1911794
 
^^^

No. The "bull Nose" was this ugly not-a-clip-point, not-a-sheep's-foot monstrosity.

I wonder if any were ever sold, or even made.

Now I wish I'd kept those tactical catalogs from the early 2Ks; Blackhawk, Brigade Quartermaster, and others. Used to have a stack, but our sone left the mARINES and the internet killed printyed chatlogs. I think there was a cover story in one of the knife journals too.
 
Last edited:
tiguy7 said:
I like the factory and the customs. Camillus did a good job on these. The only drawback for me was the D-2 blades. I can’t carry D-2 in the summer, it rusts in my pocket. Camillus offered Talonite blades (Stellite 6-BH). Darrel did custom blades for me in Stellite 6-K, CPM S-90-V, and CPM S-30-V. My son in law anodizes scales for me.
The short green one is my EDC.
View attachment 1911014View attachment 1911015View attachment 1911016View attachment 1911017
Click to expand...
How long have you used it as your EDC? Let’s see an after picture. I love seeing well used, long carried knives with honest wear and character to them.
 
AntDog said:
How long have you used it as your EDC? Let’s see an after picture. I love seeing well used, long carried knives with honest wear and character to them.
Click to expand...
I have EDC’d the middle knife for over 20 years. The handle has been reanodized which greatly improves the scratch resistance. The custom blade is made of Stellite 6-K which is also used to make tool bits. Stellite is used to coat the edge of bulldozer blades and steamshovel bucket teeth to impart wear resistance.View attachment 1912127
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top