MAXX disappointment

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ig
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Ig

Ig

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Jun 1, 2001
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I received my Cuda MAXX 5.5 Bowie blade and was disappointed. All posts I've read here said that MAXX knives very well made almost as custom model. My knife also well made - no blade playing, nice polish etc., but have 2problems which are cosmetic, but because this knife intended mostly for collection purpose, annoying. First - while the blade polished the "guard" area have visible slots on inner and outer sides.

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The second problem - the edge of this knife is the ROUGHEST I ever had. Looks like sharpened by extra coarse stone.
On the pic MAXX with CRKT M16 - you can see difference.
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I've sent e-mail to Camillus get this informative reply:
Dear Customer:
To answer the questions in the email sent to us on 3/28/03.
1) The guard area is not finished:confused: /polished on inner and outer sides.
2) The edge of the knife is belt sharpened
3) All our Cuda Maxx knives are made this way.
If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.
Thank You
Camillus Cutlery
Customer Service


The #3 is answer on my question if all all of MAXX knives are made (I think I used wrong word - "look" is more suitable here) in this way, or mine is exception.
So I would like to ask you if your knives looks like mine.
 
Yep, mine looked just like that. The rough look around the flipper/guard is from the cut out process. While I can't speak for Camillus, I would venture a guess and say by not polishing these small areas, they save a lot of time, which helps to keep the cost of the knife down. It is a very easy process to clean that up with a Dremel tool. As for the edge, I couldn't tell you about that on mine. I put a new edge on mine as soon as I got it. I do that with most knives I get that I intend to keep and use.

I can clean those problems up for you. If you're interested send me an e-mail.
 
I had those same marks on my flippers when I got it. They are, as mentioned, from the laser cut-out process. To polish them out would cost us, the consumer more, so they were left there. They do polish out easily. Think of it as getting to know your baby.As for the edge, mine came looking great. It even looked as if it had been touched on the buffer after the ground edge had been applied. All in all I concider those small itemms when I consider how little I paid to get those materials and performance. I do love mine!:D :cool:
 
D-2 works best with a belt finished edge.

As for the rough flippers, I agree that it is aestetically unappealing but at the price point I aint' complaining.

I taled to Will about this and according to him that is one of the results of using a good tool steel. A softer, cheaper steel would have left a smoother laser cut area. Tradeoff, I guess.
 
D-2 works best with a belt finished edge.
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Well, if this is best, how looks worst? I am not realy interested in how it was done, but what is result.


I can clean those problems up for you. If you're interested send me an e-mail.
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Dirk, thank you for your help proposal (hope this right word - my English isn't so good :(), but I can do this work by myself and live a little far away.
 
d-2 works (as in CUTS) best with a "toothy" edge.
A polished edge just wouldn't bring out the best the steel has to offer.

Madd Maxx's aren't collectible knives. They are using knives.
The right tool for the right job?
 
Ig,
First, thanks for being a customer! Yup, the marks in the guard area of the CUDA MAXX is laser cut marks. The steel is very tough stuff, and that is what we end up with. Yes, we could grind that area by hand, but it would cost ALOT more. Most folks have been very pleased with the cost/value of the MAXX series, and we feel it is worth the difference.

The edge of the CUDA MAXX's are usually not nearly as smooth as a blade of relatively soft AUS8 blade like the M16. Not knocking the M16, its a great knife at a great price, and it certainly will take a polished edge, but I believe you will find that D2 will hold an edge ALOT longer than AUS8. This being said, I would not characterise the MAXX blades as being typically "rough". If you want, we will be glad to take a look at it, and resharpen the knife for you. But understand that it is not going to be as smooth as a softer steel blade.

If you want to send it in, call 800-344-0456 and speak to Wendy. Reference this conversation on BF with me, and get return information. We want you to be a happy customer!
 
I would like to clear something.
In my life I've seen only 4 Camillus knives, and I'm owner of 3 of them. I have not possibility to see "live" knife before I order it. I've read decent amount of posts here, but didn't remember any post says that the blade is semi-finished.
Except mentioned above were is not equal grinding on sides - can't get good pic. Any one of those things is not big deal, but all them together ...
May be I expect too mach from the knife - not only premium materials, but also good look.
 
Ig the blade is not "semi-finished".
It is finished in a manner appropiate and optimum for the steel used (D-2).

You could have the edge polished, but then it wouldn't be a very effective cutter on many things.
 
I don't mean for this to sound bad but the Cuda Maxx series is not a "safe queen" kinda knife. Everything about a Cuda Maxx screams use me, abuse me, try to break me! If you wanted the smoothly finished, fully polished, eye candy knife you should maybe think about selling the Cuda Maxx and get the orignal Darrel Ralph version Madd Maxx. His knives are custom and no oversite is overlooked on them, and the blade is S30V steel which looks cleaner on the edge. But be aware that there is a waiting period and the Madd Maxx is quite a bit more than it's Camillus production counterpart.
 
I agree with Big Bad Wolf. Also, if anyone is interested in more third party information about the CUDA Maxx, there's a review of the knife by Jerry Van Cook in the latest issue of Tactical Knives (magazine). I just skimmed through the article at a bookstore but, in short, JVC loved it.
 
I'd like to chime in that my Maxx (bowie blade) has a slight bend at the tip which annoys the heck outa me.

But overall, this is a lot of knife for the money, with a beautiful design and built with quality materials. I also have the rough flipper interiors and it does not bother me.

In fact, I like it so much that I'm thinking about buying another one; just in case something bad happens to this one.

One peeve is the D2... you have to take care of it or it can discolor or rust.
 
If you want one made to perfection, you can contact Darrel Ralph, the custom maker and designer of this and the stiletto model. He also design the EDC, which is better finished, much like the CRKT M16.
 
Good point. If I had known how this knife made, I would have preferred custom model. I really like design, but don't think that "Maxx is a bargain " . It would be bargain if made better, and "as is" it isn't cheap enough.
 
Who wouldnt prefer the custom model though :), I just got the Cuda Maxx Stiletto last week, cant believe how amazing it is. the problems you outlined in your first post do exist on the one I have, except its not quite as bad (the laser cut out parts), not even close.

the sharpening job on it is just fine though.
 
Originally posted by Ig
Good point. If I had known how this knife made, I would have preferred custom model. I really like design, but don't think that "Maxx is a bargain " . It would be bargain if made better, and "as is" it isn't cheap enough.
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Keep in mind, the custom model costs many times more than the CUDA Maxx, and it may require a substantial wait time.

Sure, the laser marks on the flipper was cutting corners, but it was a choice Camillus had to make. I'd rather do it myself and have a cheaper knife.

As far as the edge goes, have you actually tried using the knife? The rough edge on the D2 makes for one MEAN cutter! That sucker is downright dangerous! It may not look like much, but it will sure slice! :eek:

All and all, the CUDA Maxx is top quality for little money.
 
Keep in mind, the custom model costs many times more than the CUDA Maxx, and it may require a substantial wait time.
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I personally prefer to buy well made knives or nothing. I also agree to pay more for them.


Sure, the laser marks on the flipper was cutting corners, but it was a choice Camillus had to make.
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If I had known about this choice ...

I'd rather do it myself and have a cheaper knife.
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Let me to quote myself: "Any one of those things is not big deal, but all them together ...", and when I want to work on knives I order from knifekits or jantzsupply.

As far as the edge goes, have you actually tried using the knife? The rough edge on the D2 makes for one MEAN cutter! That sucker is downright dangerous! It may not look like much, but it will sure slice!
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I think there is difference between rough and too rough. All the D2 blades I've seen (mostly Bob Dozier knives) were sharpened even not close to this one.
 
It sounds like you are just not happy with this knife. Which is cool.

You also posted what the problems you see in the correct forum for Will to see. Which is also cool.

An offer was made to correct these issues for you. Cool.

However, it sounds like nothing will make you happy over this issue.

What exactly would like to have happen?

Not that I can do anything about it. I am just curious.
 
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