Camillus Fuego Fixed-Blade

This knife is the real deal. Far be it for me to prefer a fixed blade over a folding piece, the Camillus Fuego makes me feel like I've been missing out on the full-tang benefits of a real knife and feels like one of those old-timey pieces that you'd find in an old hunting cabin, stubbornly resistant to the dulling tides of time, holding up as good as it had been from day one. 



Some specs as per the Camillus website:

  • Blade Edge: Smooth

  • Blade Length: 3”

  • Overall Length: 6.25”

  • Blade Grind: Hollow Grind

  • Blade Style: Clip Point

  • Handcrafted Leather Sheath

  • Handle Color: Black/Gray

  • Handle Material: Micarta

  • Full Tang Fixed Blade 

  • Hand Orientation: Left and Right

  • Main Blade Material: 440

  • Rockwell Hardness: HRC54 (learn more about the Rockwell Scale here)

  • Lifetime Warranty


The 3" 440 steel blade is small, no doubt, which is far from any kind of downside so long as this knife is used for the proper applications. The Mircata handle is absolute perfection and the overall feel of the Fuego is that of unparalleled quality and craftsmanship - something that's not as common nowadays in an extremely saturated market of damascus steel and aesthetically-crafted titanium. 

On top of it's design and quality - the sheath works to perfection, allowing easy one-handed equipping and unequipping. I'm usually weary of sheaths, but Camillus always delivers when it comes to the casings (oftentimes molded), which is an underrated component to to consider when maneuvering through the woods and juggling numerous tools. Subsequently, to be able to equip and unequip this piece so easily with one hand, and having the other hand to swat gnats out of my eyes, was a real and appreciated treat. 

The flint that comes with the knife, to my unexpected joy, is exceptionally large - without sacrificing much space in the sheath's housing. Nothing is more discouraging than trying to get a spark to catch off a small and dainty flint. Happy to say that flint, sheath, and knife itself all work together symbiotically rather than being crammed into some medley of awkwardly fitting and frustrating usage. 



There's one make or break factor when it comes to the Camillus Fuego, and fortunately, it has nothing to do with the actual product. Rather, it's all in the expectations surrounding its use. 

Camillus is quick to brand this as an all-purpose knife, which I'd possibly be a bit more cautious about doing. Its blade length, overall size, and lack of serrated edge works against the actual versatility of this piece. For cutting cord, definitely. For general bushcrafting, sure. For whittling spikes or some dynamic notching? Sort of. For trap construction? Not the #1 option but it can do the job.

In other words, there are some general things that are simply easier to do with a longer or partially-serrated knife, but that shouldn't detract from this brilliantly-designed piece, of which expectations should be formed around ostensibly and logically. 

That being said, this is a phenomenal product that I'd consider a staple every-day option but would also happily pair with a larger knife if you're looking at some deeper bushcrafting. No cons about the Fuego, which seems an unintentional throwback to a time of durable design and no apprehension about possibly wasting money on a dud product.

This one's no dud.