No More Camillus Cuda Folder!!!

W

wallgrenj

Joined
Jul 12, 2002
Messages
100
Hi All,

This is ridiculous! First I bought the Camillus Cuda Maxx 5.5 with Bowie blade. When I got the knife, I was shocked over the extremely bad finish!!! And after a few days- the pocket clip fell off! :grumpy:
A picture: http://web.singnet.com.sg/~wallgren/images/Knives/Cudafinish.JPG

And since I live in Singapore, it's not just to send it back to US for service/replacement!

Then recently, I thought I give Camillus a 2nd chance- and I ordered Cuda Maxx 5.5 Stiletto. When I got the knife, a quick look told me that this time the finish and the pocket clip seams to be ok! Great!
Ha, I was wrong! :( When I hold the knife, it kind of felt funny. After a few min, I realized why! Knife seen from the side- the center line of the blade is way off from the center line of the handle! So I got a knife looking as a V when it's open! Ok, that was to exaggerate it a bit!!! But here is a picture: http://web.singnet.com.sg/~wallgren/images/Knives/CudaMaxx.jpg

I just have to ask how can this happen??? For the prices I have to pay for these knives- I should be able to expect a much better finish & quality than I can get on a $20 knife. But in this case, it looks like a $20 knife is a much better buy!

So no more Camillus folders for me- not in a lifetime!

But I would like to highlight that my experience with one of the fixed blade knives- CUDA® Talonite "Talon" is different! A great knife with a great blade material!!! I highly recommend it!!!

Regards,

Jorgen
 
That's a bummer! Since you aren't happy with them, I'd be more than happy to take them off your hands for the cost of shipping from Singapore to Ohio. :D
 
Looks like somebody has been sipping a little too much of the Troll sauce to me! The Cuda Max folders are great knives.
 
Hi There!

DIRK- Sorry can't do, since I do not have a license to export or import knives (required in Singapore). :( Once I get a knife- I am stuck with it! Great support in US or not!... But from here, it's costly and expensive to return knives to the manufacturers in US (import/export of controlled equipment cost money).

DANBO- seams like you are the one sipping the 'Troll sauce'(or smooking the magic mushrooms...or whatever..)- Have you seen the pictures (I don't think so!)? Or do you need more proof? I would be more than happy to give it to you!!! Do you have a video cam and MS Netmeeting installed?

I agree 500% that Darell Ralph's Mad Maxx, and most of his other, designs are some of the best designs available!!! But if you try to tell me that it's something wrong with me, because the 2 Cuda Maxx 5.5 knives- which I have received are of very bad quality. Then you are probably just upgraded yourself from $5 knives! Or are you just lucky to be living in US, so you can return and get a new knife as soon as you get a ****** one!?? Which is it? You tell me...

For US$200 + & - $50 - I can get some great folders of very high quality! From for example M.O.D.! Well worth the money! So far, I have not seen a Camillus folder giving me that value (tried 2 times). But for sure Camillus gave me the value in the Cuda TALON Talonite blade (but that's a fixed blade knife)! That's one of the best performing knives I have ever used!

So my feeling is that Camillus is good in fixed blade... But with my experience- not at all when it comes to folders!!!

I am open to discuss this- but do not take any "Troll sauce" crap from anyone. I have the proof- fullstop!!!

Thanks and Regards,

Jorgen
 
Hey Jorgen,
sorry about your experience with cammillus - I was looking forward to the robo-dominator. I share your grief about being so far from US to fully utilise the excellent after-sales service of knifemakers.

BTW, slightly off topic here, next time you're buying something from US, email me (I'm looking for some stuff too) - mebbe we could each save some shipping costs.

Spyken
 
Between wallgrenj (16 posts) and Danbo (3025), the one imbibing on the Troll sauce is not wallgrenj.
Wallgrenj's complaint is legitimate and reasonably put forward.
 
Jorgen,

Make sure you email Will Fennell at Camillus about your problem.

willfennell@camillusknives.com

He will not be happy to hear about your problem and will work with you until it is resolved. Camillus is very serious about customer satisfaction.

A knife is only as good as the knife company behind it, which is why I have several Camillus knives, and a Robo-dominator and Aftershock on order.

It's clear that there are issues with the knives you have received, and I would be very very surprised if these issues weren't resolved to your satisfaction by contacting Will.
 
marty123 and gaben,

Thank you both for your replies! I highly appreciate it.

Thanks and Regards,

Jorgen
 
Hey Jorgen - take a CHILL PILL!
As far as the Bowie Max the lines around the flipper are laser cut marks - as described in the other thread a conscious decision was made by Camillus to leave them since to hand finish them out would raise the cost of the knife a lot and these are users not display case knives - does not affect utility of knife in any way - balancing act of cost vs. looks - decision was to keep cost down.

As for the Stilleto please e-mail Will as there is something off center with the knife and he will want to make it right - unfortunately due to distance & import/export restrictions you have not as easy as here to get things fixed but have no doubt that Will will do whatever he can to get you squared away - Camillus has demonstrated many times over that they will go the extra step to keep their customers satisfied - just let him know. Let us know how it works out?

Bill
 
Hi penguinva,

So at this price level- it's basically ok that the knife looks like sh_t and that the pocket clip fell off!? I have seen plenty of knives in the same price range, and lower, which gives you a much better finish and precission- M.O.D is one of them. So in the end, it's a choice I as a buyer have to take- what do I want for my money?

Anyway, I have not contacted Camillus. First time I did it, I was not impressed with the reply. So I just take these 2 knives as a loss and next time I buy something better.

Regards,

Jorgen
 
Jorgen,
I understand you're being frustrated but I noticed that Will sent you an e-mail - I hope you will at least give him the curtesy & respect to allow him to try to make it right. The only finish concern you had mentioned were the laser-cut marks which are normal - if the rest is not finished properly then you have a real concern, otherwise you have to realize that it is a much more difficult and larger knife to manufacture than the 4 original M.O.D. folders and is much less expensive than the Dieter CQD. The clip I didn't think worth mentioning because if it was loose a screwdriver would have solved the problem in seconds - if the screws stripped out which you didn't mention then you have an issue to take up with Will.

They are good knives backed by a good company that does care when something gets out the door that isn't right - M.O.D. has had its share of QC problems too - at least allow Camillus the opportunity to do right by you.

Have a great day!
Bill
 
All knife companies,(Buck, Spyderco, Camillus, Benchmade, SOG, etc.), have occasional, and maybe more than occasional, issues with problem knives going out in a less than proper state. I don't mean a perfect state, but a proper state of pretty good fit and finish, and especially lockup. It's kind of hit or miss - mostly hits but occasionally a miss. We need even more hits and even fewer misses.
And then there are custom makers.

It's particularly problematic when the knife buyer is overseas (or even in Canada) and faces some notable problems in regards to costs for shipping and customs, as well as other customs and delivery problems.

Let us know how it turns out, wallgrenj. Good luck.


Now let's see, will it be Cap'n Crunch or Count Chocula for supper. Hmmm.
 
Hi All,

I just would like to update you all, that I took your advice and contacted Will Fennell at Camillus Knives. I didn't expect anything, since I am in Singapore.

But Will Fennell, Camillus Knives, has informed me that they will support me, despite of the fact I am living in Singapore!!! :)

So I am very sorry that I too quickly jumped to my conclusions!!! And now I am once again a very happy "knife nut"!!! ;)

Thank You All and Regards,

Jorgen

P.S. Danbo- go easy on the Troll Sauce! :D
 
This should come as a pretty good lesson to people who have a gripe with a particular knife. Before you post a public piece of dirty linen, you might be better off trying an email to the maker to see if some satisfaction may be possible. If it is an error or screw-up in manufacturing, or even if you make a mistake, most makers will try their level best to make it right. As an example, I was putting Loc-Tite in the threads of the clip screws of my Spydie Pro Venator, now called Pro Hunter, and some got into the pivot and made it all but impossible to open. I sent it to Spydie service with a note about what and how it had happened and an offer to pay for the repairs. A couple of weeks later, after no word from Spyderco, I received the repaired knife back with a note about the proper care of a folding knife, including a hand-written addition about keeping glue and Loc-Tite out of the pivot. There was no bill and I have never received one, even when I called and asked about it. I was, needless to say, profusely grateful.

Manufacturers will also make design errors, or designs that do not fit you, personally, and there is nothing that they or you can do about that but to grin and bear it. I feel that way about the original plastic clip Delicas and Enduras, although there are others who LOVE them, and I also feel that way about the Q Clipit and the Pro Venator, both of which I own but do not use. I had a BenchMade Elishewitz 830 but traded it away as it had a swell at the base of the hilt that pressed against the heel of my hand when I used it, hurting terribly. But I know a number of others who swear by the knife. These are matters of personal reaction to a design and not of poor quality, however.

My one experience of Camillus has been my CUDA MAXX 5.5, and it is, perhaps, the most knife dollar for dollar that I have ever bought. And it is totally acceptable in its quality and finish, exceeding my expectations, actually.
 
FullerH,

Your comment- "post a public piece of dirty linen" is kind of interesting! I posted my experince in a proper way- at least I think so. Then if I am correct, this forum is for sharing experiences and information etc...

When I said that I am sorry that I too quickly jumped to my conclusions- I was refering to the fact that I didn't think I could get any support because I live in Singapore. Camillus proved me wrong and is now giving me a great support! :) I was not sorry for sharing my experinces.

Then the difference between my story and yours- is that you messed up your own knife- I didn't! ;)

Regards,

Jorgen
 
As I said to you in response to your email to me, I had intended that post to cover a number of preople whose first instinct is to go to the Forums and to trash whatever manufacturer happened to have the misfortune of making the knife that they bought. Examples of this may be found throughout the various fora.
 
Good for you, wallgrenj.
I'd say wallgrenj has conducted himself quite properly throughout this matter. His critics are wrong. Some people, say a certain Marty123 with his recent Strider thread, are clearly fools and asking for trouble. But not wallgrenj. His behaviour is an example that others, such as a certain Marty123 as well many more here on BF, might do well to emulate.
And good for Camillus, too. Taking care of somebody over in Singapore sounds like pretty good service, to me.

So sayeth I. And I'm smart!
 
I agree with marty123. Wallgrenj bought two knives and showed us two pictures. His discription was restrained. It appeared to be a legitimate problem. The response from Camillus indicates it was a problem. There is no sane reason why should he hide it. It's great to hear how good something is, but to balance the equation, we also need to hear about difficulties. All companies have some problems...except the great CRK of course. What's important is how many difficulties and how they handle them. If people don't come forward with problems, then as consumers we will never know how often they occur. Wallgrenj reported on facts, he did not bash anything.

I'd like to hear more about how the pocket clip came off. I'd like to know if penguinva is correct about the finish. It doesn't seem as good as Spydercos and Benchmades in the same or lower price bracket. The Max is on my buy list. At internet discount this knife sells for about $180. I'd like to know if I can buy through the mail with confidence, or should I handle a few before purchasing.
 
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