- Joined
- Jan 6, 1999
- Messages
- 146
I recently received a free Camillus CUDA from Phil Gibbs/Design Engineer at Camillus and Moderator here for being the lucky guy that just happened to post first here at the Camillus Forum.
I would like to thank Phil Gibbs for his generosity,all the talented craftspeople at Camillus that worked on this beautiful blade,and Mike Turber and Spark and Company for making it all possible.
This knife is drop dead gorgeous. Crafted of ats-34,with stainless steel liners,and G-10 scales it just exudes quality. The unique opening mechanism deploys the blade very quickly.
This knife would make a great addition to any collection. The 4" blade is the spearpoint model which I requested,and Phil Gibbs was nice enough to send. The bead blast is superbly done,and gives the blade an elegantly subdued finish. As difficult as it was to do the following(the knife is a looker,and does say "first production run" on the blade)due to a thread expressing concern over the integrity of the liner lock,I placed a magazine on the kitchen table,and rapped the spine side of the blade,hard,six times using a quasi butterfly wrist snap. The lock held absolutely secure. The liner on my sample engages well into tang area of the blade(almost half the thickness of the blade stock). If this blade,gift or not did not hold, I would have sent it back to Phil. It passed with flying colors.
This steel stock on the CUDA has to be one of thickest I have seen on a folder and the knife has a magnificent feeling of solidity. Anthony Lombardo in his fine review of the Cuda in the March 1999 Tactical Knives,lists the blade thickness at .160
The fit and finish on the piece Phil Gibbs sent me, is honestly of a very high order. The three tiny philips screws securing the clip are even oriented the same with the bit slots pointing in unison,similar to what a fine gunsmith would do. Additionally,it just shaved a small patch of follicles off the top of my palm.
For the collectors, it came packaged in an attractive purple/blue cardboard box,wrapped in vapor corrosion inhibiting paper,and in a little open top plastic bag.
I have to say this is currently the finest knife I own(based on materials and workmanship),though admittedly I do not own a large collection.(Bucks,Cases,SAKs,Parkers,Gerber-lost the FSII in a hotel
,etc. My Himalayan Imports khukuri is also a favorite.
My only suggestion, is that a disk or ambi thumb studs be added for backup,which was mentioned by A.Lombardo and with which I agree. I might have the installation of same done if I decide to actually use this one of a 1000.
If you get a chance to actually examine a CUDA, I believe you will want one. Everyone I showed this blade to, their eyes opened up like saucers.
Once again, many thanks to Phil Gibbs and Bladeforums for a fabulous knife. Now I know how my daughter felt when she unwrapped her color Gameboy.
Stay safe and all the best, Phil <----<
[This message has been edited by Phil Squire (edited 23 March 1999).]
I would like to thank Phil Gibbs for his generosity,all the talented craftspeople at Camillus that worked on this beautiful blade,and Mike Turber and Spark and Company for making it all possible.
This knife is drop dead gorgeous. Crafted of ats-34,with stainless steel liners,and G-10 scales it just exudes quality. The unique opening mechanism deploys the blade very quickly.
This knife would make a great addition to any collection. The 4" blade is the spearpoint model which I requested,and Phil Gibbs was nice enough to send. The bead blast is superbly done,and gives the blade an elegantly subdued finish. As difficult as it was to do the following(the knife is a looker,and does say "first production run" on the blade)due to a thread expressing concern over the integrity of the liner lock,I placed a magazine on the kitchen table,and rapped the spine side of the blade,hard,six times using a quasi butterfly wrist snap. The lock held absolutely secure. The liner on my sample engages well into tang area of the blade(almost half the thickness of the blade stock). If this blade,gift or not did not hold, I would have sent it back to Phil. It passed with flying colors.
This steel stock on the CUDA has to be one of thickest I have seen on a folder and the knife has a magnificent feeling of solidity. Anthony Lombardo in his fine review of the Cuda in the March 1999 Tactical Knives,lists the blade thickness at .160
The fit and finish on the piece Phil Gibbs sent me, is honestly of a very high order. The three tiny philips screws securing the clip are even oriented the same with the bit slots pointing in unison,similar to what a fine gunsmith would do. Additionally,it just shaved a small patch of follicles off the top of my palm.
For the collectors, it came packaged in an attractive purple/blue cardboard box,wrapped in vapor corrosion inhibiting paper,and in a little open top plastic bag.
I have to say this is currently the finest knife I own(based on materials and workmanship),though admittedly I do not own a large collection.(Bucks,Cases,SAKs,Parkers,Gerber-lost the FSII in a hotel
My only suggestion, is that a disk or ambi thumb studs be added for backup,which was mentioned by A.Lombardo and with which I agree. I might have the installation of same done if I decide to actually use this one of a 1000.
If you get a chance to actually examine a CUDA, I believe you will want one. Everyone I showed this blade to, their eyes opened up like saucers.
Once again, many thanks to Phil Gibbs and Bladeforums for a fabulous knife. Now I know how my daughter felt when she unwrapped her color Gameboy.
Stay safe and all the best, Phil <----<
[This message has been edited by Phil Squire (edited 23 March 1999).]