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Cammilus Survival knife

by Joe Puckett
(Durham NC)

Retired

Retired "DOC"

Almost 25 years ago, I bought a Cammilus (K-Bar?) Pilot's Survival knife. It's 5 inch blade has saw teeth on the top. The handle is stacked leather and it has a full tang. I've had to replace the sheath once. I keep it sharp with the medium grit stone in a Lansky sharpener.

This knife was with me during all my deployments and field exercises as a Navy Corpsman assigned to the Marine Corps. Although I was issued the standard USMC K-Bar, I put it aside in favor of the lighter, handier and easier to use Pilot's knife.

The butt on the knife could drive tent pegs and often did. I've used it to split kindling for campfires, cutting branches to build field-expedient shelters and general camp chores. I've never had the need to skin small game with it but I'm sure it would have been just the ticket.

If I found myself in a survival situation, this would be the knife I'd want to have on my belt. In addition to this knife, I would also want to have my trusty Victorinox Tinkerer Swiss Army knife that I got for Christmas years ago and carry in my pocket every day. Keep the Rambo knives in the movies and hanging uselessly on your belt.



Be a wilderness survivor, not a wilderness victim.




Comments for
Cammilus Survival knife

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Oct 15, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		BIG KNIFE
by: retired doc

To "The Dude." I agree that Ka-Bar makes great knives. However, you mentioned that one should be careful because "they are big." That is one of my points for favoring the pilot's knife over the well known Marine Corps Ka-Bar fighting knife. The pilot's knife, whether from Ka-Bar, Ontario or any reputable manufacturer is my choice. After all, it's original design was for use by military pilots who may find themselves in a survival situation. Interestingly enough, the army colonel who once ran the survival school at Ft. Bragg, N.C. would not allow students to carry large knives but instead issued a folding knife not unlike your common Swiss Army knife. That all being said, it doesn't mean the big Ka-Bar has no place in the survival kit. As we used to say in the Navy: "Whatever floats your boat." If it works for you, there's no reason to change. And, you're absolutely right about knock-offs...otherwise known as "cheap chink junk. You certainly get what you pay for.
Joe Puckett
Oct 09, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Get a Real Ka-Bar
by: The Dude

Your best bet is to purchase a REAL K-Bar, from the brand Ka-Bar. They still make the mil-spec K-Bars for the marines, and they make a FANTASTIC knife.

I've had two of their blades (a Warthog and a USMC Next Gen Special Forces Ka-Bar, though it looks like they don't offer those models anymore) for at least 6 years now and I've never even had to sharpen them! I've cut wood, skinned game, whittled (careful, they're big) and cut all kinds of rope and wire, and the blades are just as sharp as the day I got them. No rust- low maintenance, inexpensive when compared to knives of similar quality.

JUST MAKE SURE YOU DON'T PURCHASE FROM Ka-Bar INTERNATIONAL! It's like Gerber International. Junk steels, poor handle materials- just a consumer mall-ninja version of their otherwise amazing products. If the Ka-Bar you find isn't at least $50, find a different one to buy.

/just my .02 cents.
Oct 08, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		To:Anonymous
by: nj4x4fever

Thanks for the recommendation, I found the website and I have placed my order. Thanks again.
Oct 08, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		to nj4x4fever
by: Anonymous

Check out Ontario Knife Co.'s "Spec Plus" brand. They have updated versions of most Ka-Bar's with Kraton handles. I have an older version of their Marine knife but it has a stainless steel blade that is almost impossible to hone to acceptable sharpness. The newer ones have carbon steel blades which are easier to sharpen. They also carry the pilots knife in original form with stacked leather grip. This company makes some pretty impressive knives and I can't imagine you'd go wrong with any of their products. By the way, I don't work for them.
Joe (Retired Doc)
Oct 07, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks For Sharing
by: nj4x4fever

I have often wondered what would make a great survival knife, I carry a multitude of pocket knives, and multi tools around when I am outdoors, sometimes I have my trusty Camp axe.
I guess the Knife could be used like an axe and hack out parts in logs to make a decent shelter if the need was there. Where can one purchase a top quality K-Bar and how do you tell it is not a knock off brand.
Dennis

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