Rickster55
Well-known member
Thats not really true Bolster. Blades are stamped before the heat treating is done. Most, if not all, edge holding ability comes from proper heat treating.
pocket knives
- Thread starter aidank
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Addrock
Well-known member
This is one of the knives I have, and carry daily along with a leatherman skelatool, both can be clipped on to belt loop or clipped on to pocket edge. The blade is thick at non-edge.
http://www.leathermans.co.uk/Leatherman-Crater-Lock-Knife.html
http://www.leathermans.co.uk/Leatherman-Crater-Lock-Knife.html
Read the Labels...I bought a Buck Canoe pocket knife from Cabelas that is not made in the USA. I did some searching and apparently Buck has farmed out some of their production.
The knife seems pretty solid...but made in China
Look before you buy
The knife seems pretty solid...but made in China
Look before you buy
cashishift
Well-known member
Kershaw Leek.. love it.
70chevellegsp
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2011
- Messages
- 238
Buck has made a lot of changes over the past 10 years. They farmed out most (if not all) their pocket knives overseas, along with some of their folders. They've also switched from 440c to 440a on most of thier production knives. No hammering a new Buck knife thru a pipe (thier logo) with 440a. I have a Buck General that I've hammered through more than a few deer bones without chipping or rolling the edge. But it's from the '80's.
Carl B
Well-known member
CAMILLUS Pocket Knife
Following the thread, and looking at all the recommended pocket knifes - I went out to my tool box. I had always kept the pocket knife that my Dad had carried, in my tool box. I'm 66 this year and I'm pretty sure my Dad had his pocket knife long before I got it when I was 11 years old.
Cleaned it up so I could see any names or model numbers - turns out it is a Camillus from New York. So I Googled it - and they are still in business. Didn't see anything exactly like mine there - but mine has held a really sharp edge for years at a time. There current "Western" seems to be the closest in style/design - but I'm pretty sure mine had wood handle.
http://www.camillusknives.com/
I didn't see anyone mention Camillus here - and wondered if anyone else has any of their current offerings.
FWIW,
Carl B.
Following the thread, and looking at all the recommended pocket knifes - I went out to my tool box. I had always kept the pocket knife that my Dad had carried, in my tool box. I'm 66 this year and I'm pretty sure my Dad had his pocket knife long before I got it when I was 11 years old.
Cleaned it up so I could see any names or model numbers - turns out it is a Camillus from New York. So I Googled it - and they are still in business. Didn't see anything exactly like mine there - but mine has held a really sharp edge for years at a time. There current "Western" seems to be the closest in style/design - but I'm pretty sure mine had wood handle.
http://www.camillusknives.com/
I didn't see anyone mention Camillus here - and wondered if anyone else has any of their current offerings.
FWIW,
Carl B.
canuckian
Well-known member
had one when I was younger (long gone) that looked a lot like that "granpa" 3 blade one with the white/brown handle. It was US made for sure but can't remember for sure if it was a camillus. I do like the look of some of their folding knives with the G10 handles though.
american lockpicker
Banned
I've been carrying a Mora 2000.
muddyjoe15
Well-known member
Case sodbuster jr. Holds its edge nicley and is made in the USA.
Attachments
nate379
Banned
I am a big fan of the folding knifes that hold a drywall blade. Gets dull? Toss the blade and pop in a new one.
american lockpicker
Banned
I used to have the Stanley sliding blade version, only one I could find not made in China.
southern iron
Active member
i carry a smith & wesso am-60b H.R.T, very soild knife with classic looks or a speed draw stiletto
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Rickster55
Well-known member
Carl B,
Sadly, Camillus is no longer in business. They closed in 2007. The current Camillus line are imports and in no way reflect the quality that came out of the Camillus factory. I say this as a former Camillus employee who had over 28 years there. I was lucky to get out and move on six months before they closed.
Sadly, Camillus is no longer in business. They closed in 2007. The current Camillus line are imports and in no way reflect the quality that came out of the Camillus factory. I say this as a former Camillus employee who had over 28 years there. I was lucky to get out and move on six months before they closed.
Carl B
Well-known member
Hi Rickster55:
Good to hear from you. Yes, as I was looking deeper into the current Camillus Web Site - I found the "History" section, along with Acme United Corporation's notice that they did not actually buy the Camillus Company Inc. - - just the Trade-Name, Patents and Trade-Marks - - and therefore would not be responsible for any warranty on knifes built before 2007.
It struck me as almost fraudulent that Acme hypes the 135 year history of the Camillus Brand and its associated quality - but then in the same breath disavows itself from anything actually made by Camillus. Then on another page they talk about "knock-off's" being produced and sold by others!! - I wonder if they have a clue as to how phony they look themselves.
FWIW,
Carl B.
Good to hear from you. Yes, as I was looking deeper into the current Camillus Web Site - I found the "History" section, along with Acme United Corporation's notice that they did not actually buy the Camillus Company Inc. - - just the Trade-Name, Patents and Trade-Marks - - and therefore would not be responsible for any warranty on knifes built before 2007.
It struck me as almost fraudulent that Acme hypes the 135 year history of the Camillus Brand and its associated quality - but then in the same breath disavows itself from anything actually made by Camillus. Then on another page they talk about "knock-off's" being produced and sold by others!! - I wonder if they have a clue as to how phony they look themselves.
FWIW,
Carl B.
Bolster
Well-known member
Reading through this post, I see about 2/3 the people posting know what a good knife is, and own good ones.
The other 1/3 has no idea of what a good knife is, carry cheap ones that won't hold an edge, but sing their praises to the hilt.
Readers of this thread, if you don't know much about knives...beware. There is a mix of good and bad information here.
Don't rely on someone shouting about what's "best" persuade you! Do your homework. In particular, learn about the different knife steels, and whatever you do, stay away from 420 & 440A unless you want a spatula rather than an edge. Also not keen on many of the basic Chinese steels which are very soft.
The other 1/3 has no idea of what a good knife is, carry cheap ones that won't hold an edge, but sing their praises to the hilt.
Readers of this thread, if you don't know much about knives...beware. There is a mix of good and bad information here.
Don't rely on someone shouting about what's "best" persuade you! Do your homework. In particular, learn about the different knife steels, and whatever you do, stay away from 420 & 440A unless you want a spatula rather than an edge. Also not keen on many of the basic Chinese steels which are very soft.
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Sr. WiNdTeCh
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2011
- Messages
- 241
I agree, learn about the steal they are made with. The knife I posted has very good steal.
Edit, nice edit to add learn about knife steal after i posted this.
Edit, nice edit to add learn about knife steal after i posted this.
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Bolster
Well-known member
I know about the importance of heat treating. It's important, but it's not a cure-all. It can't turn a cheap stampable 420 steel into ZDP-189 no matter how good it is. On the other hand, a bad heat treat of ZDP-189 can make it as bad as 420.
And I should add that a lot of manufacturers don't know how to heat treat, or don't care to do a good job of it. Some mfgrs outsource their heat treating.
High quality steels aren't stamped, they're laser cut, water cut, ground, whatever the manufacturer decided to do, but they're not stamped. A stamped steel is a virtual guarantee of...how to say this...not top shelf steel. Stamped steels are inherently soft (that's why they're stamped), and the goal of the manufacturer is (1) low cost and (2) shiny blade. Mfgrs figured out long ago that shiny high-polish blades sell better to unknowing customers.
Yes, you can polish a quality steel. But that's not what I'm talking about.
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bart1
Well-known member
vonhef
Well-known member
Both of those are good steel... but the S30V seems to be a more popular choice now.
Sr. WiNdTeCh
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2011
- Messages
- 241
As is the knife i posted.
I also agree with these two responses. Use a utility knife for the bags. You'll end up ruining a good blade if you have to open too many. There are quick-change knives with spare blade storage built in. Or, you can get the ones with the snap-off blades but blade disposal might be a problem because the snapped off pieces can be dangerous.
Leatherman is my "knife of choice" for pocket-knife and utility-knife use. I like the Micra but they have sizes to fit almost every need. Leatherman blades have a competent edge on them and while they are not up to the quality of a truly premium knife they are serviceable and acceptable enough for me.
Leatherman is my "knife of choice" for pocket-knife and utility-knife use. I like the Micra but they have sizes to fit almost every need. Leatherman blades have a competent edge on them and while they are not up to the quality of a truly premium knife they are serviceable and acceptable enough for me.
vonhef
Well-known member
Indeed... the S30V seems to be a great steel. My latest knife from Benchmade has the M390 super steel. I have been very impressed on it's edge holding capability, but havn't tried (or needed) sharpening it yet.
I am curious how the M390 will compare to the S30V under normal use.
Bolster
Well-known member
Those are both very good steels in a very good knife. You don't need any recommendations, my friend!
street131
Well-known member
What do you guys think of smith and wesson knives? Ive had several of them and been happy, i would absolutely love to buy a hundred dollar knive but i climb trees, mow lawns and landscape and ive lost every knife that i have ever had. I like the look of smith and wesson knives, but how do they match up against other brands?
bullfrog123
Well-known member
Rickster55
Well-known member
Bolster - you're absolutely right about the steel. However, "cutlery grade" steel used to be 440A and it was a decent steel. When the US stopped making it and the only ones to make it was Japan, the "steel of choice" became 420. As the tactical knives became more popular, different steels were used such as SV30, ATS34, and others. Those types of steel need to be laser cut and etched. There is definitely no comparison with 420 or 440. Camillus made knives for Cold Steel for several years and that's where the fine tuning was done in regards to heat treating. You could literally shave with those knives.
They're cheap, and do the job just fine. I wouldn't throw it in there with the 200$ Benchmades and the like, but if they work and don't cost you a few days worth of pay, then I see no problem. Don't switch just because of a name. Stick with what you like, especially if the one you have does the job.
street131
Well-known member
very wise advice for sure, I used the knife for fert. bags, hay twine, rope, tow straps, trimmer string and the edge seems to get pretty dull after about a month of use. Theres a guy about a mile away that all this guys does is sharpen everything that you could think of. He charges 2.00 per knife to sharpen them. I know my smith and wesson is a cheap knife, but whenever i try to sharpen the knife myself, i screw up the edge and seem to have a hard time getting it back to its original angle.
american lockpicker
Banned
I don't think very highly of S&W knives. Its just a rebrand(Taylor owns them I think) not a real Smith & Wesson product.
I purchased a fairly cheap ($20?) sharpening "kit" from either Walmart or Gander Mtn. Pretty darn similar to this one: http://smithsedge.com/products/product.asp?id=34&cid=4
It does the job rather well. I sharpened my Benchmade 950 a while ago and it's still pretty darn sharp. Lines it up and everything. Might wanna give that a try, but if ya don't, $2 isn't a terrible price just to get it sharpened without the hassle.
This is why I will no longer buy a Camilus knife or a Schrade knife. I still have a few Camilus Boy Scout knives with the philp screw driver blade.