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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Review request Camillus Heat
- Thread starter Blop
- Start date
I bought the larger HEAT w/serrated blade last fall. The blade was appro. 3/16" thick. The assisted-opening was smooth but a bit aggressive and thus you had to pay particular attention to hanging onto the handle while opening. The thumb stud at the blade base to open was a nice, easily accessed feature. Sheath was a low grade nylon that was way too large for the size of the knife. Liner lock locked up solid. This knife is imported from Taiwan. For not much more, you can get a SOG FLASH II Assisted opening that is USA made...thats what I did....hope this helps...Blop said:
here's a portion a review i did on the Dominator and HEAT on another forum. hope it helps. i've edited it a bit where needed.
HEAT:
i have heard a lot of good things about the HEAT lately, good enough for me to order 7 of them... only 2 are mine, the rest went to a police recruit class. the HEAT is VERY similar to the Dominator in shape and design, but there are significant differences. the HEAT is also a Darrel Ralph design, but made in Taiwan, encorporating a AUS8 3.65" clip point blade, and a "nested" stainless linerlock within a black glass reinforced handle, and also has the assisted "Robo Power" feature. i have heard Zytel as the material for the handle, but also have heard that GV6H is used (handle material on the BK&T knives). the blade can come either satin or with a black coating. i am unsure of the type of coating... (it is a polymer finish). the handle has the has the same areas "jimped" as the Dominator, but not as pronounced. the flats of the frame have smaller deeper scallops with very pronounced finger grooves molded into the frame... very comfortable and nice. the knife is carried tip down on a stainless clip but can be reversed for left hand carry. there is a Torx allen wrench and replacement screws for left hand carry, and instructions on how to properly install, make sure u follow the instructions. screws are of the Torx variety. there are twice as many smaller torx screws holding the knife together compared to the Dominator.
internally, the HEAT differs significantly so from the Dominator. removing the screws that hold the knife together reveals that the black handles are seperate from the stainless steel liners.on the non locking side of the handle, the spring is not an integral part of the construction, and can be removed so that u have a non assisted knife...nice feature. on the locking side of the handles, the liner lock is nested within the black grip. an interesting and improved feature on the HEAT compared to other liner locks is that it has a folded area that not only increase the surface area for the lock to engage, but also allows for a larger surface area for the thumb to disengage the lock. lock engagement is positive and very secure. of note, there is a generous amount of blue lock thread on all screws. the HEAT also has an upgrade that i wish Camillus would make for the Dominator... the HEAT has thick bronze phospher washers. interestingly, there is also a very very thin nylon washer was between the bronze phospher washer and the blade... maybe to protect the finish???
as with the Dominator, there are "thumb" studs that act as a blade stop on the knife. the knife is designed to be opened by a "flipper" on the blade. a solid push on the flipper allows the knife to open up and lock in place. the HEAT only needs approximately 20 degrees to have the spring assist open the knife. the assist is VERY positive and FAST, more so than on the Dominator. the HEAT opens as hard as any of my automatics (MT, Dalton, Vallotton)... makes one have a very wide grin when opening for the first few times.
blade grind is excellent and finish on the uncoated blade is also excellent.
there is not much i would change on the HEAT, a very well manufactured knife coming from Taiwan. i would like to see an option for tip up carry, but Camillus has made a corporate decision not to do so from what i understand. of course, i would like to see an upgrade in the blade steel, but AUS8 is a very good steel, and at the price point that this knife sells for, retail, around $85 - $100, it is an EXCELLENT value. one would be hard pressed to find a better knife for under this price. internet pricing is around $50.
i am thoroughly impressed with the HEAT. i still will use the Dominator as the blade steel and frame lock appeal to me more, but for a handy knife i wouldn't be afraid to take with me on a trip (maybe minus the spring assist), i would take the HEAT in a heart beat. a little cliche, but the HEAT IS ON!
sorry, no pics... no digital camera... *sigh* a little long too, but hopefully this helps someone.
HEAT:
i have heard a lot of good things about the HEAT lately, good enough for me to order 7 of them... only 2 are mine, the rest went to a police recruit class. the HEAT is VERY similar to the Dominator in shape and design, but there are significant differences. the HEAT is also a Darrel Ralph design, but made in Taiwan, encorporating a AUS8 3.65" clip point blade, and a "nested" stainless linerlock within a black glass reinforced handle, and also has the assisted "Robo Power" feature. i have heard Zytel as the material for the handle, but also have heard that GV6H is used (handle material on the BK&T knives). the blade can come either satin or with a black coating. i am unsure of the type of coating... (it is a polymer finish). the handle has the has the same areas "jimped" as the Dominator, but not as pronounced. the flats of the frame have smaller deeper scallops with very pronounced finger grooves molded into the frame... very comfortable and nice. the knife is carried tip down on a stainless clip but can be reversed for left hand carry. there is a Torx allen wrench and replacement screws for left hand carry, and instructions on how to properly install, make sure u follow the instructions. screws are of the Torx variety. there are twice as many smaller torx screws holding the knife together compared to the Dominator.
internally, the HEAT differs significantly so from the Dominator. removing the screws that hold the knife together reveals that the black handles are seperate from the stainless steel liners.on the non locking side of the handle, the spring is not an integral part of the construction, and can be removed so that u have a non assisted knife...nice feature. on the locking side of the handles, the liner lock is nested within the black grip. an interesting and improved feature on the HEAT compared to other liner locks is that it has a folded area that not only increase the surface area for the lock to engage, but also allows for a larger surface area for the thumb to disengage the lock. lock engagement is positive and very secure. of note, there is a generous amount of blue lock thread on all screws. the HEAT also has an upgrade that i wish Camillus would make for the Dominator... the HEAT has thick bronze phospher washers. interestingly, there is also a very very thin nylon washer was between the bronze phospher washer and the blade... maybe to protect the finish???
as with the Dominator, there are "thumb" studs that act as a blade stop on the knife. the knife is designed to be opened by a "flipper" on the blade. a solid push on the flipper allows the knife to open up and lock in place. the HEAT only needs approximately 20 degrees to have the spring assist open the knife. the assist is VERY positive and FAST, more so than on the Dominator. the HEAT opens as hard as any of my automatics (MT, Dalton, Vallotton)... makes one have a very wide grin when opening for the first few times.
blade grind is excellent and finish on the uncoated blade is also excellent.
there is not much i would change on the HEAT, a very well manufactured knife coming from Taiwan. i would like to see an option for tip up carry, but Camillus has made a corporate decision not to do so from what i understand. of course, i would like to see an upgrade in the blade steel, but AUS8 is a very good steel, and at the price point that this knife sells for, retail, around $85 - $100, it is an EXCELLENT value. one would be hard pressed to find a better knife for under this price. internet pricing is around $50.
i am thoroughly impressed with the HEAT. i still will use the Dominator as the blade steel and frame lock appeal to me more, but for a handy knife i wouldn't be afraid to take with me on a trip (maybe minus the spring assist), i would take the HEAT in a heart beat. a little cliche, but the HEAT IS ON!
sorry, no pics... no digital camera... *sigh* a little long too, but hopefully this helps someone.
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2003
- Messages
- 1,321
A really extended review, i lked to read.
Thank you for the input.
There is just one question left, considering the "nested" liner.
The HEAT is described as a folder with two steel liners. I first thought about full length liners with the locking one just cut in for the lock.
Are they partial liners, maybe like those on a Benchmade Griptilian? Not going the full length.
Thank you for the input.
There is just one question left, considering the "nested" liner.
The HEAT is described as a folder with two steel liners. I first thought about full length liners with the locking one just cut in for the lock.
Are they partial liners, maybe like those on a Benchmade Griptilian? Not going the full length.