US Army knife versus SAK

[El Corkscrew]

So, how does the US Army Camillus knife compare to the SI or Soldier?



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I have a 1993 Camillus US Army knife and if I compare it to a Victorinox alox Soldier knife the Vic wins in my opinion.

The awl on the Vic works much better.

The cap lifters on both knives are similar, but the Vic has a little wider screwdriver tip on it.

The Vic can opener is, in my opinion, much quicker to use. The Camillus can opener is the claw type that goes clock wise around the can.

The main blade on the Camillus is similar in shape to the Vic.

Here are pictures of a Camillus and a Vic for comparison

     

[zrxoa1]

So, how does the US Army Camillus knife compare to the SI or Soldier?




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I have a 1993 Camillus US Army knife and if I compare it to a Victorinox alox Soldier knife the Vic wins in my opinion.

The awl on the Vic works much better.

The cap lifters on both knives are similar, but the Vic has a little wider screwdriver tip on it.

The Vic can opener is, in my opinion, much quicker to use. The Camillus can opener is the claw type that goes clock wise around the can.

The main blade on the Camillus is similar in shape to the Vic.

Here are pictures of a Camillus and a Vic for comparison

I have been looking at pics on eBay. The Camillus doesn't "look" to be as well made as the SAK. The bail on the US knife is hideous!  I couldn't deal with the can opener either. I depend on the smaller flat head far too much.

Thank you for the info and pics!!





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[ColoSwiss]

In addition to the before mentioned back spring problems, the Camillus' have a well deserved reputation for removing thumbnails. They're also cruder than the SAKs.

[twiliter]

In addition to the before mentioned back spring problems, the Camillus' have a well deserved reputation for removing thumbnails. They're also cruder than the SAKs.

Cruder yes, like prehistorically so. 

[zrxoa1]

With all due respect to the SAK world, of which I am gladly a part of, I had hoped for better reports on the US version. Being a US citizen, I would like to "support" my country by carrying a US made knife like the Camillus. However, at almost 50 years old, I have no desire to deal with something that substandard.

I love my Wenger and it will continue to be with me daily.

That said, I will source a less expensive example of the Camillus someday and add to the collection.


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[ColoSwiss]

So, how does the US Army Camillus knife compare to the SI or Soldier?




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I have a 1993 Camillus US Army knife and if I compare it to a Victorinox alox Soldier knife the Vic wins in my opinion.

The awl on the Vic works much better.

The cap lifters on both knives are similar, but the Vic has a little wider screwdriver tip on it.

The Vic can opener is, in my opinion, much quicker to use. The Camillus can opener is the claw type that goes clock wise around the can.

The main blade on the Camillus is similar in shape to the Vic.

Here are pictures of a Camillus and a Vic for comparison

I have been looking at pics on eBay. The Camillus doesn't "look" to be as well made as the SAK. The bail on the US knife is hideous! I couldn't deal with the can opener either. I depend on the smaller flat head far too much.

Thank you for the info and pics!!





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The oversized bail on the Camillus was for attaching to a mess kit handle with other utensils for cleaning in a tub of hot soapy water.

[zrxoa1]

Well, then it was made that way for a reason. Shame on me for not knowing better. Thank you for the education. 

So what's the deal with the nail nicks causing so much trouble.


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[twiliter]

So, how does the US Army Camillus knife compare to the SI or Soldier?




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I have a 1993 Camillus US Army knife and if I compare it to a Victorinox alox Soldier knife the Vic wins in my opinion.

The awl on the Vic works much better.

The cap lifters on both knives are similar, but the Vic has a little wider screwdriver tip on it.

The Vic can opener is, in my opinion, much quicker to use. The Camillus can opener is the claw type that goes clock wise around the can.

The main blade on the Camillus is similar in shape to the Vic.

Here are pictures of a Camillus and a Vic for comparison

I have been looking at pics on eBay. The Camillus doesn't "look" to be as well made as the SAK. The bail on the US knife is hideous! I couldn't deal with the can opener either. I depend on the smaller flat head far too much.

Thank you for the info and pics!!





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The oversized bail on the Camillus was for attaching to a mess kit handle with other utensils for cleaning in a tub of hot soapy water.

LOL 

Oh my... 

[ColoSwiss]

Well, then it was made that way for a reason. Shame on me for not knowing better. Thank you for the education. 

So what's the deal with the nail nicks causing so much trouble.


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They are extremely stiff to open and often break thumbnails. I inherited several from my Dad; got rid of all of them.

[twiliter]

And then the bail is used as a safety, to keep that soapy blade from taking your trigger finger ALL the way off... 


Either you are just one funny guy CS, or whoever told you that story was. 

[SAK Guy]

With all due respect to the SAK world, of which I am gladly a part of, I had hoped for better reports on the US version. Being a US citizen, I would like to "support" my country by carrying a US made knife like the Camillus. However, at almost 50 years old, I have no desire to deal with something that substandard.

I love my Wenger and it will continue to be with me daily.

That said, I will source a less expensive example of the Camillus someday and add to the collection.


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Then carry one of these.....   All these except the CASE and KaBar (maybe) are Camillus made.  There are Camillus branded Scouts of fine quality and Remington Camp/Scouts that are also Camillus made.







You can even get one with a Phillips...

Imperial BSA 5 Blade Scout.


Scout thread...
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,71569.msg1458308.html#msg1458308

[twiliter]

I used to have one too, used to that is. 

The mess kit, excellent, the "army knife", not so much...

[ColoSwiss]

And then the bail is used as a safety, to keep that soapy blade from taking your trigger finger ALL the way off... 


Either you are just one funny guy CS, or whoever told you that story was. 

It was originally intended for the Camillus to  replace the mess kit knife. However the various nooks and crannies made it too hard to clean properly. The oversized bail was retained for cleaning the can opener.

[Roc]

With all due respect to the SAK world, of which I am gladly a part of, I had hoped for better reports on the US version. Being a US citizen, I would like to "support" my country by carrying a US made knife like the Camillus. However, at almost 50 years old, I have no desire to deal with something that substandard.

I love my Wenger and it will continue to be with me daily.

That said, I will source a less expensive example of the Camillus someday and add to the collection.


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Then carry one of these.....   All these except the CASE and KaBar (maybe) are Camillus made.  There are Camillus branded Scouts of fine quality and Remington Camp/Scouts that are also Camillus made.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

You can even get one with a Phillips...

Imperial BSA 5 Blade Scout.
(Image removed from quote.)

Scout thread...
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,71569.msg1458308.html#msg1458308

 

[SAK Guy]

With all due respect to the SAK world, of which I am gladly a part of, I had hoped for better reports on the US version. Being a US citizen, I would like to "support" my country by carrying a US made knife like the Camillus. However, at almost 50 years old, I have no desire to deal with something that substandard.

I love my Wenger and it will continue to be with me daily.

That said, I will source a less expensive example of the Camillus someday and add to the collection.


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Then carry one of these.....   All these except the CASE and KaBar (maybe) are Camillus made.  There are Camillus branded Scouts of fine quality and Remington Camp/Scouts that are also Camillus made.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

You can even get one with a Phillips...

Imperial BSA 5 Blade Scout.
(Image removed from quote.)

Scout thread...
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,71569.msg1458308.html#msg1458308

 

Thx Rocky!! 

[El Corkscrew]

and you must admit the American Army Knife or AAK has basically no ring to it at all...

Americans don't give it their best unless nuclear power is involved ....   

[Roc]

No. Thank you. That was a barrage of beautiful! Been thinkin about a scout for years. Just never pulled the trigger.

[zrxoa1]

Well....guess I'll find out some more. Just snatched a brand new Camillus off of flea bay for $25...new, still in packaging. 


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[VICMAN]

So, how does the US Army Camillus knife compare to the SI or Soldier?




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I have a 1993 Camillus US Army knife and if I compare it to a Victorinox alox Soldier knife the Vic wins in my opinion.

The awl on the Vic works much better.

The cap lifters on both knives are similar, but the Vic has a little wider screwdriver tip on it.

The Vic can opener is, in my opinion, much quicker to use. The Camillus can opener is the claw type that goes clock wise around the can.

The main blade on the Camillus is similar in shape to the Vic.

Here are pictures of a Camillus and a Vic for comparison

I have been looking at pics on eBay. The Camillus doesn't "look" to be as well made as the SAK. The bail on the US knife is hideous!  I couldn't deal with the can opener either. I depend on the smaller flat head far too much.

Thank you for the info and pics!!





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You are welcome!

[deputy tom]

I've owned Camillus army knives and Vic Soldier & Wenger SI knives. The Swiss models are my favorites. I've since sold the Camillus models to collectors. YMMV. tom. 

[zrxoa1]

I've owned Camillus army knives and Vic Soldier & Wenger SI knives. The Swiss models are my favorites. I've since sold the Camillus models to collectors. YMMV. tom. 

I bought the Camillus for $25. It'll be a keeper. Probably live in a drawer. Haha!




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[thatotherguy]

The Vic is a better knife in every way than the old stamped steel demo knife. The steel on the demo knife is softer and harder to sharpen without rolling or burring, the can opener is nigh useless, the awl is too blunt to effectively use, the scales are sharp and uncomfortable in the hands, and the backsprings break fairly commonly. Aside from nostalgia or a militaria collection (I lean towards the collection side), there is no reason to prefer the demo knife over the Soldier or SI.
ETA: My demo knife is a beat up '71 Imperial I found somewhere along the way, probably at a yard sale, for the record.

Now, if you're talking about authentic Camillus bone scaled official Boy Scouts of America knives, the comparison gets harder. Those knives were beautiful, perhaps too much so for the abuse they were destined to receive in the hands of young scouts (I'm an Eagle Scout, I've seen some horrid things done to pocketknives over the years). For pure functionality and setting nostalgia aside, however, the Vic still wins. There's a reason why the only decent multifunction official scout knives currently in production are Victorinox. For full disclosure, I'm a sucker for a good four-blade Scout pattern, which is why the Pioneer is my favorite Swiss Army knife.
 

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[El Corkscrew]

The Vic is a better knife in every way than the old stamped steel demo knife. The steel on the demo knife is softer and harder to sharpen without rolling or burring, the can opener is nigh useless, the awl is too blunt to effectively use, the scales are sharp and uncomfortable in the hands, and the backsprings break fairly commonly. Aside from nostalgia or a militaria collection (I lean towards the collection side), there is no reason to prefer the demo knife over the Soldier or SI.
ETA: My demo knife is a beat up '71 Imperial I found somewhere along the way, probably at a yard sale, for the record.

Now, if you're talking about authentic Camillus bone scaled official Boy Scouts of America knives, the comparison gets harder. Those knives were beautiful, perhaps too much so for the abuse they were destined to receive in the hands of young scouts (I'm an Eagle Scout, I've seen some horrid things done to pocketknives over the years). For pure functionality and setting nostalgia aside, however, the Vic still wins. There's a reason why the only decent multifunction official scout knives currently in production are Victorinox. For full disclosure, I'm a sucker for a good four-blade Scout pattern, which is why the Pioneer is my favorite Swiss Army knife.
 

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   I enjoyed reading that.

[SAK Guy]

The Vic is a better knife in every way than the old stamped steel demo knife. The steel on the demo knife is softer and harder to sharpen without rolling or burring, the can opener is nigh useless, the awl is too blunt to effectively use, the scales are sharp and uncomfortable in the hands, and the backsprings break fairly commonly. Aside from nostalgia or a militaria collection (I lean towards the collection side), there is no reason to prefer the demo knife over the Soldier or SI.
ETA: My demo knife is a beat up '71 Imperial I found somewhere along the way, probably at a yard sale, for the record.

Now, if you're talking about authentic Camillus bone scaled official Boy Scouts of America knives, the comparison gets harder. Those knives were beautiful, perhaps too much so for the abuse they were destined to receive in the hands of young scouts (I'm an Eagle Scout, I've seen some horrid things done to pocketknives over the years). For pure functionality and setting nostalgia aside, however, the Vic still wins. There's a reason why the only decent multifunction official scout knives currently in production are Victorinox. For full disclosure, I'm a sucker for a good four-blade Scout pattern, which is why the Pioneer is my favorite Swiss Army knife.
 

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[thatotherguy]

Thanks for the kind words (or, in this case, emoticons) guys!

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[zrxoa1]

Got a couple new knives in today, this is one of them!


I was shocked. The thing is new but the blade is in rough shape. It "looks" good at first glance, but the blade is nicked up. I'll have to clean it up some.








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[zrxoa1]

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[thatotherguy]

Unfortunately that kind of thing is a side effect of production by the lowest bidder in the highest quantity possible...

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[stugumby]

These are best described as mass production beater knives. In the days before multi tools this was about all there was except the TL-29  linesmens knife. I have owned several over the years, never had a back spring break, lost mine in the desert back in 1991. Must have opened a jillion cans of turboshaft oil with the can opener. Still have one marked Q 1986, still impressed with its durability and overall usability for beater tasks. And yes, the Victorinox's are much better standard of fit and finish. Amazingly though they are similar in cost,Ontario sells them as a camp knife at around $35 and Vic pioneers go for the same price. Overall a good soldiers basic tool for basic tasks, exactly what they were designed to do.

Also there are some cheap copies out there, schrade and rough rider come to mind.