review request Camillus marine combat knife

[shootist16]

Anyone care to comment oi=n the Camillus Marine combat knife? Especially the version with the kydex sheath. Also who is a good source for them?

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Dennis Bible

 

[Will Fennell]

Dennis,
I'll leave a practical review to a more 'unbiased' member, although if you have any specific questions, I'll be glad to help.

But I will add that the 7" Fighting/Utility Knife[also know as the CAMILLUS MARINE COMBAT KNIFE] has served our country continously for 68 years. It has opened millions of rations and ammo crates. It has helped dig fighting positions and clear fields of fire all over the world.

And back in the '40's, it helped convince, rather pointedly[pun intended], thousands of enemy soliders that is wasn't nice to bomb Pearl Harbor.

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Stay Sharp!
Will Fennell
Camillus Cutlery
www.camillusknives.com

 

[CH]

The USMC Fighting Utility is an excellent choice. It needs no gimmicks to work. As Will pointed out, it has been tested and found to be perfectly suitable for a myriad of tasks by our troops for many years on most every continent. Most Navy SEALS use this knife, known as the MK2 in the Navy.

 

[pkd3]

Hey Shootist,

I have found that theknifestore.com is the best so far to find the 5684 or 5685 that I prefer.($29.95) I have a particular sentiment for this knife that my Dad was issued in 1942, and being a knifeaholic to boot, the 5685 is definitely one of my favorites. I am also interested in more info and reviews of this great tool. I wonder how the handle holds up through the years?
Phil

 

[Rob Simonich]

I took a Camillus Marine Combat knife that I got from Will on a conoe trip through the Missouri Breaks last summer. I beat the crap out of it and it held up very well. I did bend it once digging in the ground, but straightened it right out. That tells me the tangs are annealed somewhat, which is good. The blade held up very well and resharpened easily on a little diamond hone I had. I ended up giving the knife to a 10 year old boy we met on the river, and hopefully I have made another knife nut! The knife had the kydex sheath, and it worked very well. Great knife for the money!

 

[Sporty]

Wow! Sounds like a great knife for little money that holds up under heavy use. I will have to get me one! That must have been one very happy ten year old, I know I would have been...

-Sporty

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The pen is mightier than the sword...but not as much fun!

 

[R.D.Hatch]

PKD3
I have my issue USMC from Vietnam 1966.Served me well for 19 months in that Southeast Asian paradise. The stacked leather handel still is in great shape and it has been used since then for most of my outdoor use. The only drawback is a tendency to rust at the base of the blade at the guard handel junction.
As others have said millions of Marines,Sailors,and Soldiers have used them for 50 years,that says something for the design and toughness. No one can abuse equipment like a mud Marine in the bush.
Rob,loved the line about not nice to bomb Pearl Harbor!
Happy Holidays!!

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Those who beat their arms into plowshares will plow for those who do not.
R.D.Hatch
Stafford,Virginia

 

[CH]

Last week I took a Camillus Marine combat knife and put the knife and sheath in a bucket of water. Just took them out and they're fine. The sheath is obviously a little soggy and flimsy, but completely usable. The handle suffered no ill effects. The blade, guard, and pommel were coated with Break Free CLP before the dip and have absolutely no rust. I tossed a Cold Steel SRK leather sheath in the bucket for comparison and by the end of the day it was completely trashed. It swelled up like a balloon. Merry Christmas!

 

[Jeff Clark]

I bought one from a WWII vet who said it saved his life on a fiercely defended landing. He got pinned down and used it to dig himself a hole to hide in. The finish showed the work.

 

[WKeating]

I still have my Camillus "K-Bar" which carried me through a 13 month tour in VN. I got it new and like stated by others it cut com wire, opened B-1 rat cans (and yes I did like "ham n'muthrs") cut straps on ammo crates, made poles for poncho "hootches" and on several occasions helped me dig toward the center of the earth when I realized (too late) that perhaps my hole could be just a little bit deeper! I've taken it camping used it in the yard and while it is beat up and scratched IT STILL WORKS! Weldonk

 

[Velitrius]

Mine was quite possibly the most abused knife I have ever owned. I bought it at a military surplus store in Tacoma, WA. They gouged me for it, but I didn't know that.

I used it to cut the carpet out of my Pinto (yep, had one) without much thought of sawing the metal floor beneath. I went through a phase of knife throwing, and it bounced off many a tree trunk to land in the river rocks. I cut open cans of food quite a bit while camping. (It is the ultimate camping blade).

Through all of these slings and arrows, it never really showed any signs of abuse. No chipping, bending, or parts snapping off. It wore the scratches like badges of honor. Finally, I lost it somewhere.

Gonna have to go and get me another one, now that you brought this up. I might take better care of my next one, but I won't worry too much if I dont.