My informal CUDA MAXX review

B

BryanH

Joined
Nov 25, 2001
Messages
123
Okay, here we go.......: I got the knife yesterday, and put it in my pocket right away. I thought, from the pictures I'd seen, that the handle was kinda rounded, but it turns out that it's actually flat. Rides in the pocket most excellently. I was somewhat concerned that the size of the knife, and the guards would make it uncomfortable while sitting down, or driving. On the contrary, it's an extremely comfortable knife. I haven't had any problems with it at all, and I've worn it all day today, and most of the day yesterday. It sits in the pocket really well. The only thing is that you can see the guards when it's clipped in your pocket, but no biggie. Also, like some people asked, if you put it in your pocket upside down, yes, the guards will act like a "wave" and open the blade, but it's a really big blade, and it's kinda weird doing it, at least for me. In the closed position, the knife makes a very effective yawara or koppo stick for enhancing strikes, and I'm sure someone with a lot more skill in it that I have could effectively use it to facilitate locks. In the closed position, the guards could also be effectively used for gouging or raking techniques. Another technique that I think would be possible with the knife in the closed position is "inertial openings" like the Bram Frank Gunting by Spyderco. I wrapped a dowel rod with an old towel(couldn't find any human volunteers), and secured it, and tried it out a couple of times. You can definitely get the blade to swing open and lock securely by smacking the guard in a downwards motion against, say, someone's arm(sorry if that's not real clear, but I'm just going by what I've seen of the Gunting in magazines, and the tests I did). With the blade open, WOW! The lockup is super secure, and absolutely no blade play on mine whatsoever. The handle feels great, and the knife feels secure in the standard, or reverse grip. The fit and finish on this knife is totally superb. The clip is great, too. Really grabs my jeans and won't let go. That's about all I can think of for now. If I think of more later, I'll post it.

BryanH
 
Man, I'm so sorry! I accidentally posted this in the wrong place! Can some kindly moderator move it over to the Knife Reviews section for me? Thanks!

BryanH
 
Bryan,

Does the guard catch on the inside of your pocket when you are pulling the knife out? No "chafing" inside the pocket from the guards?

Sure seems like a lot of knife for the money.

How does she cut? I am really curious about this question.

Thanks:)
 
Bryan - does the knife feel like it is "one piece" when it is open?

How is the balance?

thanks
 
BryanH, how is the anodized color? Was your maxx vibrant blue or flat dull blue?
 
Geode, it's not a lot of money -- it's a lot of knife :D

The guard won't snag on your pocket because it sits just over the pocket's edge. I pull the knife out by hooking a finger under each flipper and pulling up.

It cuts like a kitchen knife ... well, I sliced up a salad with it last night. It went through a slightly soft tomato very cleanly. It's so sharp, and the blade is so large, it would be ideal for cutting up a big turkey or roast.

It is extremely solid when locked open. When I first began playing with it, I had to laugh -- it doesn't feel like a folder at all when it's open because it is so big and so rigid. The grip is very comfortable and positive, no sliding around, in hammer or reverse. The balance is about on the third indentation from the bolster. In a sabre grip, that puts it at my index finger. Definitely not blade-heavy. If you hold it with index finger just behind the guard, the blade dances upward.

nonbox, the color changes constantly. When I first got it, it was that flat blue-gray. Then I went for a walk, and when I got home, it had turned more blue, especially toward the butt, where it had heavy purple overtones.

Tonight, I went out for about an hour, clipped it to my back pocket and forgot about it till I got home. The front of the handle had turned that garish royal blue for most of its length, and the clip side had a deep purple color down the middle.

Now, about two hours later, the color is mostly faded back toward the blue-gray, but it is still darker than the original pale shade.
 
Originally posted by Geode
Bryan,

Does the guard catch on the inside of your pocket when you are pulling the knife out? No "chafing" inside the pocket from the guards?

Sure seems like a lot of knife for the money.

How does she cut? I am really curious about this question.

Thanks:)
Click to expand...

Geode,
I totally have to agree with Esav's thoughts on this. The guards sit just above the pocket, not inside. They are visible to people. My stepdaughter thought it looked like I was carrying a little hammer. The blade cuts wonderfully. Not many cutting chores I'd hesitate to tackle with this! The lockup is rock solid, and it really does feel like a fixed blade. And the balance is great. Not blade heavy at all, which was something I was kinda worried about.

Nonbox,
Like Esav said, the color seems to constantly change. Right now, mine is kind of the flat bluish gray, but during the day, it changes everytime I pull it out of my pocket.

BryanH
 
Got mine yesterday and after I quit smiling so big:D I finaly got to fliking it and man it is smooth. My initial color was pale gray blue. after I wiped it down and it dried it started to change to more pale blue. By the end of the night it was a nice aqua blue. I have carried it all day today and it doesn't feel too big in my pocket. No snagging, no riding up, the clip keeps it were you put it. I have 4 inch folders that feel like they take up more pocket space than the MAXX does. No blade play and the lock-up is rock solid. Camillus and DDR have done an excellent job on this one as usual. I get to show it off at a party tonight and I'm looking sooooo forward to the reactions that I'm going to get. :D :cool: :D
Dean
 
I get to show it off at a party tonight and I'm looking sooooo forward to the reactions that I'm going to get. :D :cool: :D
Dean
Click to expand...
Reactions ... like reducing crowding around the bar ... :cool: :D :cool:
 
I received my MAXX from 1SKS yesterday. I really wasn't expecting much at this price point, but was completely blown away when I opened the box! The first surprise was the thoughtful inclusion of a small Tuff Cloth, so thanks for that (1SKS?). The next item of interest is that I expected to see the knife rattling around in the box, similar to my Mini-Talon. To my surprise Camillus includes a very well made zippered cordura? case with the MAXX. It is honestly one of the better made cases I've handled. Once I stopped drooling over the case I carefully removed its contents, again, not expecting too much for my 150 bucks.

Holy cow! I've owned three custom MAXX's and let me tell you, this knife has got to be THE most impressive factory folder in the history of factory knives! If it doesn't win multiple awards at Blade, I will lose faith in the knife industry "Pooh-Bahs" for eternity. I honestly thought Camillus or Darrel made a mistake and sent out custom knives in CUDA boxes! I had to double-check the etching on the blade to be sure this was a factory knife.

The materials are excellent: D2 blade, Ti handles, and I can't tell a freakin' difference from the custom version, design wise. It has the same ball detent, clip and thumb stud/blade stops and the same (if not similar) pivot pin and washers. The grinds on mine are excellent for a factory knife. It locks up solid with no blade play in any direction. The anodizing is near custom quality.

There are only a few MINOR differences that I noticed from the original. There are posts holding the handle together instead of a back spacer, although the newer MAXX customs may be manufactured this way as well. The anodizing is overly impressive for a factory knife, although doesn't show the spectrum of colors on the custom MAXXs I've had or handled. There are some machining marks on the edges of the guards, but are hardly noticeable. I won't swear to this, but it seems the handles are a TINY bit thinner than their custom counterpart's. Also, the blade doesn't have the 2-tone finish that is standard on the custom version. It is nicely polished and has a great sheen to it.

I have only one gripe about this knife and it's going to sound PC. The "Quick-Flik" etched on the blade probably won't help anyone in court if they get nicked with this knife in their pocket (not that the sheer size of this beast won't get you in enought trouble) ;)

I'd be amazed if Camillus is making money on these knives. I would have paid twice the cost for this quality and these materials (ignore that last part, Will). RUN and get one of these soon, because I think once Camillus' marketing group realizes they're selling customs for $150, they'll raise the price accordingly!

Chris
 
Couldn't agree more with you Chris. I too was not expecting the quality of knife at the price it was selling. I had one of the first DDR Maxx's and the Camillus is indeed faithful to it. I wondered if Camillus was making anything on these. I too would have paid double for the quality. Now Will don't go and jack the price up on us ;)

I have been carrying this one since I got it on Monday, and have to say that it rides great in my front right pocket. Course I wear jeans. The Maxx is easy to draw out from a sitting position and easy to replace in the pocket. I wonder if the low ride clip my original Maxx had on it would fit? That is the ONLY change I would make to this fine knife.

KUDOS to Camillus for such a QUALITY product!!:D :D :D
 
Shane,

The lock is part of one metal handle that springs toward the opposing handle behind the base of the blade when it is deployed. Similar in principal to the mechanism for a liner lock, but usually significantly thicker and stronger. Hence the name "integral".

Go to the Chris Reeves website for a more detaile explanation and a look at the lock. Also pictures on the Camillus forum will show the lockup of the maxx.
 
I hate to just "me too" on this, but everything good that has been said about the CUDA Maxx is absolutely true! Camillus did a beautiful job of producing what is in nearly all respects a custom knife. And not just any custom, either! :D

--Bob Q
 
It's a great knife, if it's the kind of thing you like. I have two of Darrel's custom Madd Maxx knives and the CUDA comes oh-so-close to their quality at a fraction of the price.

The quality, fit/finish, and materials are amazing at the price. The CUDA Maxx is now in my regular rotation. I wore it last night clipped to the left inside pocket of a sports jacket and it just disappeared. It melted away for the evening, just as though I was carrying it in a custom rig. It's an unbeatable buy for those of us who like big knives. I guess my SIFUs are retired for good.
 
If I'm not mistaken, the guards act as a flipper. Is the action slick enough to allow opening the blade quickly and easily with the flipper/guard?

Joe
 
Joe, the flippers are how you open it. Those thumbstuds aren't thumbstuds, they're stop pins. You can push on the flipper or hook it on something like the edge of a pocket and "Wave" it open. Be ready for it, the blade snaps open very fast.

Get your hand out of the way, though. I brushed a fingertip with the back of the tip, and opened a pinprick cut. Out of the box, you can't feel it slice through paper, and cutting a raw carrot feels like cutting a boiled carrot.
 
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