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Copyright © 2003-2004 Phil Elmore, all rights
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Camillus CUDA MAXX
A Product Review by Phil Elmore
Camillus
has really impressed me in the last several years. Once a company
content to produce a few relatively outdated fixed blades, hunting knives,
slipjoints, and lockbacks, Camillus has taken the “tactical” market
by storm in an aggressive pursuit of modern cutlery consumers. The CUDA
(Camillus Ultra Design Advantage) series has
proven extraordinarily popular, the Arclite
neck knife and EDC (Every Day Carry) notable within its ranks.
To this impressive array of products Camillus has added the
CUDA MAXX 5.5, an enormous folding framelock knife with a blade of five and a
half inches. As of this writing the line includes both clip-point and
stiletto-style blades. The model shown here is (of course) the folding
Bowie knife that is the clip-point model. The MAXX knives were designed
by prominent knifemaker Darrel
Ralph.
There was a time when the Cold
Steel Vaquero Grande, with its six-inch blade, stood virtually alone in
the giant defensive folder category. The MAXX is every bit the
formidable tool that the Vaquero Grande is, however. I’d have to say I
find it more aesthetically pleasing, too, though that will mean nothing to
some prospective buyers.
My CUDA MAXX comes to me by way of Self
Defense Gear, from whom I received the usual excellent service and fast
delivery. The knife is shipped with a zippered, padded, black nylon
pouch for protection and storage.
The tough D2 steel blade was razor-sharp from the box.
While more susceptible to rust than common stainless alloys, D2 should serve
the average user well enough with proper care.
The action of the knife is very smooth. The “quik-flik”
design is intended to speed the knife on its way with a gentle nudge from the
finger. I was taken by surprise, in fact, when I first unpackaged the
MAXX and pushed the rear integral guard with my index finger. The blade
slid open and the framelock engaged firmly, whisper-quiet except for the final
“click” of the lock.
The “quik-flik mechanism activates smoothly and
with little effort.
The anodized Titanium handle is strong, light, and quite
attractive. The arched grooves provide a reasonable amount of traction
for the hand, though I’ve never found metal handles (regardless of texturing)
to be tacky enough to make me completely happy. In a knife of this size,
the handle also feels disconcertingly thin at first grip. I got used to
this before long, but it was unsettling before I adapted.
The framelock on my
sample engages firmly, with plenty of room for wear. Some do not like
framelocks because of the possibility of releasing the lock while tightly
gripping the knife, but I did not find this to be a problem on the MAXX.
While
it is a huge folder, the MAXX’s half-foot of handle actually fit comfortably
in a front pocket. Here the thin handle works to the knife’s advantage,
for if it was any thicker it would be nearly impossible to carry comfortably
in this fashion. The knife is equipped with a stainless
steel pocket clip.
Coincidentally, I got my hands on the CUDA MAXX at roughly
the same time that Dwight McLemore sent me a copy of his excellent Bowie
and Big Knife Fighting book, a beautiful text that looks almost like a
knife-oriented coloring book filled with large line art and sharp
information. I used the MAXX, which I suppose is a bit small by large
Bowie knife standards, to drill the material contained within Dwight’s
book. It performed its task well and would serve any aspiring Bowie
fighter unable or unwilling to tote an Ontario
Bagwell in his pants.
I fell in love with the MAXX while practicing
with it. It handles well, is light enough to move quickly, and cuts with
aggression. It remained smooth through repeated openings and developed
no perceptible blade play.
The knife does have an ambidextrous thumb stud, but this is
next to useless. It is almost flush with the handle and cannot be used
to open the knife without producing pain in the thumb. Given its smooth
action, the MAXX should be opened with a wrist snap or by flicking the rear
guard, which makes the thumb stud unnecessary.
You may not use the MAXX for every day
carry, but you might find it just the ticket for those really… big… needs.