I have been writing this blog for exactly one year. In that time I have reviewed fifty products, or about a product a week. Lots of different folks have sent me stuff to review from big, well know companies like Leatherman to small boutique craftspeople like Inkleaf Leather. I have made over 200 posts. And I have given away quite a bit of stuff--an Inkleaf Leather moleskine cover, a Leatherman Sidekick, an Iain Sinclair Card Sharp II, and a custom Mini Grip. In all, the total amount has come to well over $200 in stuff. That is not a lot, but remember, I don't have ad revenue that goes directly to me nor do I have a sponsor of any sort.
ASIDE
I have been approached by a few people to review their products. They are not makers, they are sellers. Thus far I have been hesitant because I don't want to be seen as endorsing things for sale. I don't want to have a relationship where I am just shilling things for a website. But, I have done research on a few of these folks and some have turned out to be really stand up folks. So, what do you think? I would, of course, not keep anything for myself, but would it impact my credibility if I were reviewing things sent to me by a reseller? Keep in mind this would greatly increase the number of things I can review as right now I am limited to my own budget and the Adsense revenue. Post in the comments. Your opinion really does matter.
END ASIDE
This has been money or products generated solely because of the website. The more readers, the more stuff I can give away. In the year since I started the blog more well over a quarter million people have stopped by and read my hopefully witty banter and your always perceptive comments.
I hope that this is just the beginning. When I started this blog I had one practical goal in mind: I wanted Sal from Spyderco to send me something to review. It has not happened yet, but I think eventually it will. As the daily readership increases, eventually, hopefully, I will get a Spyderco blade to review (and then give it away to a reader). The less practical goal was to create a library of reviews of lots of different products. I wanted something that I would like to read (if I hadn't written it). Now, with the aforementioned 50 reviews in hand, I think I about there, but I have no plans on stopping.
The next big giveaway is still in the works. I am trying to figure out a fair way to do it, but there are always concerns that one person will just swamp my email and make it impossible for others to enter. I would love to give the McGizmo away towards the end of the year and the Adsense revenue seems to be holding up.
In addition to giveaways, I have three new things I'd like to implement going forward.
First, I'd also like to do a few video reviews if I could. I have to get over the fact that they are more difficult for me to do than writing a review (I need a block of about 20 minutes to do it and with a little guy around that is hard to find).
I also want to do updates to the reviews I have already done, checking in a year later to see if the score stays the same or changes. Generally, I see two things impacting a score change: improvements in technology or ergonomics and long term usage performance. For example, the Sebenza has gotten better with time. I have played around with the pivot quite a bit and I like the action on the blade opening much better now than before. I also cut off the lanyard and it makes the knife smaller in the pocket and cleaner in appearance. It will obviously keep its score of 20/20.
Finally, I would like to create a database of small gear makers. I have hinted at it here and there, but the idea would be to create a single listing of all different kinds of small, US based gear designers and producers broken down into the following categories:
Lights
Knives
Multitools
One Piece Multitools
Pens
Packs and Bags
Apparel
If you have any suggestions for a mention, here are the parameters:
1. The gear maker needs to be a small set up. Leatherman is too big. HDS Flashlights are probably about as big a company as I would want to list.
2. The gear maker needs to produce things ENTIRELY or as much as practically possible in the US.
3. You need to have bought something from the gear maker so you can judge its quality and their service.
Send me an email or post in the comments section if you have any ideas. Custom makers are entirely okay.
Finally, I still have a coated aircraft cable keychain to give away. I have tried two different people, so go post on that thread and I will choose another person.
Thanks for reading. Getting my thoughts out has been very therapeutic. I hope it has been as fun to read as it has been to write.
PS: I have just bought the first product I was sent for review. I reviewed the Tom Bihn Cadet a few weeks ago, sent it back, and thought about it. It is a great bag. I just bought one. It was a huge hassle to do it this way and shipping wasn't cheap, but I think this is only way to maintain an appearance of objectivity.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Etsy No Brainer
Ritzy foodies just love small batch, handcrafted local food (my grandmother likes local food too, for a whole different reason). But the Slow Food Movement is just one way in which people have turned to smaller economic networks in the past few very lean years. The emergence of CSAs seem to be the perfect exemplar of this push (see government involvement isn't ALWAYS bad). But as people that like gear, it is hard to find the equivalent. There are, of course, custom gear makers like McGizmo, and the hundreds of custom knife makers, but there is no central marketplace for these folks. That is, not one usually referenced in the gear community.
If you peruse the boards at EDCF, USN, CPF, or any other gear forum you will very rarely see a reference to a common marketplace for small batch custom goods, but there is one. Etsy has been in use for craft people, mainly women, for years now and if you take a look at their offerings you just might be surprised at what you find. If you are looking for small batch, custom gear, try Etsy.
Etsy is a virtual craft show, dominated by blankets and sweaters and other traditionally crafted items. Etsy will only list things that are either vintage or are handmade. The rule for vintage is straightforward--the item must be more than twenty years old. The rule for handmade is a bit looser as any form of post-production modification counts. There are a lot of junky things on Etsy that are "handmade" because someone engraved "Grandpa" on the side. But if you look carefully you can find some pretty nice gear. I am not able to vouch for this stuff, but there are signs the things are well made.
My sister in law (who makes extraordinarily nice custom baby linens, here; they make great baby arrival gifts in case the women readers or the Mrs. wants some ideas) pointed me in Etsy's direction. In the few weeks since I started looking I have found a wide variety of really interesting gear there, much of it at much lower prices than offered elsewhere (in part because Etsy, by definition, cuts out the distribution and advertising costs). Don't believe me that a virtual craft show has things that are interesting for gear geeks? Let me prove my point.
Looking for a custom knife? How about this blade:
Custom Lockback Folding Knife
Here is a pic:
Not my cup of tea, but it is interesting and looks well made. Definitely different and the eagle wing as a thumb catch is pretty unique and functional.
Here is another knife from the same maker, a little more in line with my tastes, though still a little out there:
Custom Lockback Folding Knife Sunburst
There are quite a few rescaled SAKs on Etsy as well, many with visually pleasing wood handles. There are even a few fixed blades. Honestly a lot of the stuff is total junk that is rendered "custom" (as required by Etsy's standards, either custom or vintage, more than 20 years old) by a cheap engraving, but digging and checking back can reveal cool stuff. I saw a damascus flipper two weeks ago (listing is long gone, people have to pay to keep things listed) for a very reasonable price.
Not looking for a knife, what about a pen?
Oh, Etsy has a ton of options for you. Most are turned wood on pen "kits" but the results are unique and gorgeous. Here is a really nice example:
Turned Redwood Burl Pen
The pen mechanisms look like a Rockler or Lee Valley purchase, and this particular guy uses Parker refills (meaning Fisher refills can work too) but the wood body is the thing that makes the difference. If you read the page you can see that this particular maker knows what he or she is talking about, referencing the high grit micromesh used to finish the CA coats. This has all the appearances of a craftsperson at work.
Here is another pen that caught my eye:
Kauri Wood Aero Style Pen
Kauri is a wood that I am familiar with from my woodworking projects. I find it really surprising that knife makers have, by in large, ignored this really dense unique wood for handle scales. Here is a bit more about it (if you even have a PASSING interest in woodworking, click that link and look as some of that stuff). Again, this is a pen kit, but the work appears flawless. This particular piece is listed at $50, a very good price for the materials and apparent craftsmanship.
No mighty pen or sword? How about a really nice bag or two:
Leather Briefcase
The details and fasteners seem to be quite nice and the price is amazing, if the quality is there: $245 plus shipping. The information on the bag's ad again indicate a knowledge of leather and leathercraft.
Want something more gear-like?
Minimalist Icon Small Bag
This bag seems to be a stylish carry around the size of a Maxped PFII. There are two water bottle holders, one on each side, and a bunch of pockets. It has a worn look that will probably age well and the leather zipper pulls look cool. It is not made of super water repellant nylon, but instead cotton canvas. It also has a smaller price tag than the PFII, coming in at $45.00.
Alas, there are no real custom flashlights on Etsy (or none that I could find) but there was this:
Flashlight/Knife Holster
Again, not my style, but still, at least it is something.
I am really quite pleased with the custom stuff I have bought off of CPF and other places, but sometimes I wish there was a clearinghouse for ALL custom gear. Until then, it doesn't hurt to check Etsy.
If you peruse the boards at EDCF, USN, CPF, or any other gear forum you will very rarely see a reference to a common marketplace for small batch custom goods, but there is one. Etsy has been in use for craft people, mainly women, for years now and if you take a look at their offerings you just might be surprised at what you find. If you are looking for small batch, custom gear, try Etsy.
Etsy is a virtual craft show, dominated by blankets and sweaters and other traditionally crafted items. Etsy will only list things that are either vintage or are handmade. The rule for vintage is straightforward--the item must be more than twenty years old. The rule for handmade is a bit looser as any form of post-production modification counts. There are a lot of junky things on Etsy that are "handmade" because someone engraved "Grandpa" on the side. But if you look carefully you can find some pretty nice gear. I am not able to vouch for this stuff, but there are signs the things are well made.
My sister in law (who makes extraordinarily nice custom baby linens, here; they make great baby arrival gifts in case the women readers or the Mrs. wants some ideas) pointed me in Etsy's direction. In the few weeks since I started looking I have found a wide variety of really interesting gear there, much of it at much lower prices than offered elsewhere (in part because Etsy, by definition, cuts out the distribution and advertising costs). Don't believe me that a virtual craft show has things that are interesting for gear geeks? Let me prove my point.
Looking for a custom knife? How about this blade:
Custom Lockback Folding Knife
Here is a pic:
Not my cup of tea, but it is interesting and looks well made. Definitely different and the eagle wing as a thumb catch is pretty unique and functional.
Here is another knife from the same maker, a little more in line with my tastes, though still a little out there:
Custom Lockback Folding Knife Sunburst
There are quite a few rescaled SAKs on Etsy as well, many with visually pleasing wood handles. There are even a few fixed blades. Honestly a lot of the stuff is total junk that is rendered "custom" (as required by Etsy's standards, either custom or vintage, more than 20 years old) by a cheap engraving, but digging and checking back can reveal cool stuff. I saw a damascus flipper two weeks ago (listing is long gone, people have to pay to keep things listed) for a very reasonable price.
Not looking for a knife, what about a pen?
Oh, Etsy has a ton of options for you. Most are turned wood on pen "kits" but the results are unique and gorgeous. Here is a really nice example:
Turned Redwood Burl Pen
The pen mechanisms look like a Rockler or Lee Valley purchase, and this particular guy uses Parker refills (meaning Fisher refills can work too) but the wood body is the thing that makes the difference. If you read the page you can see that this particular maker knows what he or she is talking about, referencing the high grit micromesh used to finish the CA coats. This has all the appearances of a craftsperson at work.
Here is another pen that caught my eye:
Kauri Wood Aero Style Pen
Kauri is a wood that I am familiar with from my woodworking projects. I find it really surprising that knife makers have, by in large, ignored this really dense unique wood for handle scales. Here is a bit more about it (if you even have a PASSING interest in woodworking, click that link and look as some of that stuff). Again, this is a pen kit, but the work appears flawless. This particular piece is listed at $50, a very good price for the materials and apparent craftsmanship.
No mighty pen or sword? How about a really nice bag or two:
Leather Briefcase
The details and fasteners seem to be quite nice and the price is amazing, if the quality is there: $245 plus shipping. The information on the bag's ad again indicate a knowledge of leather and leathercraft.
Want something more gear-like?
Minimalist Icon Small Bag
Alas, there are no real custom flashlights on Etsy (or none that I could find) but there was this:
Flashlight/Knife Holster
Again, not my style, but still, at least it is something.
I am really quite pleased with the custom stuff I have bought off of CPF and other places, but sometimes I wish there was a clearinghouse for ALL custom gear. Until then, it doesn't hurt to check Etsy.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Custom Knives, Part 4: Filip De Coene Hybrid Friction Folder Review
What would a pocket knife look like if it was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe? How minimal can you get? What does the Platonic essence of a folding knife look like? It is a Filip de Coene Hybrid. This knife is so different, so elegant, so masterfully designed and crafted that it is a revelation in the pocket, in the hand, and in use. It is truly a masterwork of design and thanks to Filip's dedication that idea has been perfectly realized. It is where, I hope, custom knives are heading.
Here are the previous installments in this four part review/commentary on custom knives:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
This is not going to be a standard review. It is unfair in many ways to use the same 20 point scale. First, there is no lock, so it could only get a 18/20 using my regular scoring scheme, which is kind of silly, because quite frankly, this little marvel is about as perfect as I could imagine. Second, a lot of the features, such as the pocket clip, were things I chose. It would seem odd to award points for things I like when I was the one that picked them out (even weirder...what if I didn't like the things I chose?). Finally, I feel like after three years of pining over one of Filip's blades I have lost any semblance of objectivity.
Here is Filip's site. There are no reviews and I believe that my Hybrid is one of the first made, out of a batch of 6 or so. It uses D2 tool steel. My knife came to $296 for shipping from Europe. The blade's overall dimensions are pretty nice for everyday carry. The blade is 2.5 inches. The knife closed is 4.25 inches. Open it is 6 inches. The blade to handle ratio is thrown off a bit by the flipper, but the knife feels compact when closed and plenty big when open. It weighs 3.5 ounces thanks to the full titanium liners.
Filip is one of the best people I have ever dealt with in the custom gear world (rivaling the Hawaiian gentleman whose flashlights we all adore). Here is how nice he is: three years ago after perusing the Archives section on Bernard's site I contacted him and asked him about a knife. His prices were more than I had so I told him I would contact him again. A year later I had some more money and contacted him again, but we weren't able to hammer anything out because of a mismatch of what he had and what I could spend. Then, this Christmas, I just stocked all the gift money away and emailed him. "Send me anything you have. I want a knife of yours." A month later a small package arrived that my mail man hoped was chocolate. I told him it was something much, much sweeter and he gave the parcel and a curious look. Normally I would have gotten a "stop bothering me" email, but Filip was so laid back about it. I have no idea what the wait time is because things have developed around this knife in super slow mo. The Hybrid has been under wraps since 2010. He is working on other blades, kitchen knives and folders. He had a few left when I emailed him in December 2011. Only one, a pimped out Explorer, had a lock.
The design of the knife is simply brilliant. The pivot is offset in the handle and the blade in such a way that the massive, wide blade sits quite low in the handle when the knife is folded, see here:
By doing this de Coene is able to not only squeeze a boat oar of a blade into the handle he also creates a great finger choil/guard when the knife is deployed, see here:
The choil/guard does two things: first it gives you the ability to really control the blade, providing a grip RIGHT NEXT TO the blade itself. If you have never had a blade that allows you to do this, the difference it huge. One of the reasons I love Spydercos is because many of their knives have choils allowing you to do this. The control it grants you is really nice. Compare, if you can, the similarly sized Spyderco Dragonfly II to the Spyderco Leafstorm. The inability to really choke up on the blade is one of the things that, in my opinion, prevents the Leafstorm from being a great EDC knife (and conversely, makes the Dragonfly an all time great). You feel like your swinging a bat with only one hand holding on to the knob of the bat--lots of power but very little control. In an EDC knife you rarely need power and almost always need control. The second thing the choil/guard does is make it almost impossible to close the knife accidentally while in use. Your fingers, when butted up against the choil, prevent the blade from folding into the handle giving you a surprisingly sturdy and stable blade for a knife without a lock. This dual purpose is not only the hallmark of a great design, it is repeated elsewhere in the knife. The flipper, for example, makes it easy to deploy the knife one handed, but also meets up with the spine of the blade handle to give you another safeguard against the blade closing during use. The little flipper tail is the perfect size, large enough to hit with your finger without thinking about it, but not so large as to be an obstacle in your pocket. But when the blade is the deployed that same flipper is held in place by the hand gripping the knife. One thing--two uses: brilliant.
The fit and finish on the knife is really incredible. As my first fully custom knife I was expecting a lot and the knife delivered in spades. The G10 is a super smooth version and is so pleasing to the touch that the knife is hard to put down. There is nothing quite like the texture of this material. Furthermore, the G10 is sculpted into a wonderful convex shape, but it is not a symmetric convex handle when viewed in profile (like a rainbow). Instead, the thicker portion is near the spine of the knife, fitting the curve of your hand perfectly. The blade grind is unrivaled among the knives I have seen and handled. It is clean and even throughout, even the secondary grind is perfect. Filip uses a stock removal method and the D2 steel is nicely bead blasted. Even the pocket clip is nicely made. Sometimes the "over the top" style deep riding clips stand off significantly from the blade. Not here. It is tight, simple, and perfect for the job.
This is not a grippy knife, but it does not really need to be. Its shape alone provided plenty to hang on to and the slopes on the handle help even more. And like the lack of grip, once I held the knife and used the knife (which I have quite a bit), I was not terribly concerned by the lack of a lock. I guess I would like a locking version, simply because I am so used to a knife having a lock, but after using this blade I can see why so many people still carry Case knives and SAKs that have no lock at all. Here is my Hybrid with its color coordinated light&saber companion, the Steve Ku 40DD.
The knife is an expression of elegance--a sublimely simple design that wraps clever ideas, useful features, and a timeless look into a single eminently practical tool. If you want a knife that looks like it came from Dieter Rams's brain, this is it.
In the lead up to this review I had a pretty strong critique of the custom knife market in general. They are gaudy, overwrought, unnecessarily complex devices that make doing a simple everyday task secondary to their primary purpose--man jewelry. No one would mistake the Hybrid for a super aggro custom Strider grind. It is not going to win any awards for authenticity in Civil War reenactments. This is not a bling platform. It is a knife. A good, simple, clean knife. It cuts well. It carries well. It looks like it is from the very distant past where cavemen used chipped flint in simple shapes to cut stuff and at the same time it looks like it is from the distant future where everything is clean and uncluttered. This is as close as we can get to a folding knife designed by Bauhaus faculty.
The Hybrid is a triumph of design over ornamentation and it is fun tool to use. It certainly deserves the Perfect Seal and at less than $300 it is a bargain.
Bonus pictures:
In the pocket:
And in the hand:
And finally, opening without being gripped for cutting:
Here are the previous installments in this four part review/commentary on custom knives:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
This is not going to be a standard review. It is unfair in many ways to use the same 20 point scale. First, there is no lock, so it could only get a 18/20 using my regular scoring scheme, which is kind of silly, because quite frankly, this little marvel is about as perfect as I could imagine. Second, a lot of the features, such as the pocket clip, were things I chose. It would seem odd to award points for things I like when I was the one that picked them out (even weirder...what if I didn't like the things I chose?). Finally, I feel like after three years of pining over one of Filip's blades I have lost any semblance of objectivity.
Here is Filip's site. There are no reviews and I believe that my Hybrid is one of the first made, out of a batch of 6 or so. It uses D2 tool steel. My knife came to $296 for shipping from Europe. The blade's overall dimensions are pretty nice for everyday carry. The blade is 2.5 inches. The knife closed is 4.25 inches. Open it is 6 inches. The blade to handle ratio is thrown off a bit by the flipper, but the knife feels compact when closed and plenty big when open. It weighs 3.5 ounces thanks to the full titanium liners.
Filip is one of the best people I have ever dealt with in the custom gear world (rivaling the Hawaiian gentleman whose flashlights we all adore). Here is how nice he is: three years ago after perusing the Archives section on Bernard's site I contacted him and asked him about a knife. His prices were more than I had so I told him I would contact him again. A year later I had some more money and contacted him again, but we weren't able to hammer anything out because of a mismatch of what he had and what I could spend. Then, this Christmas, I just stocked all the gift money away and emailed him. "Send me anything you have. I want a knife of yours." A month later a small package arrived that my mail man hoped was chocolate. I told him it was something much, much sweeter and he gave the parcel and a curious look. Normally I would have gotten a "stop bothering me" email, but Filip was so laid back about it. I have no idea what the wait time is because things have developed around this knife in super slow mo. The Hybrid has been under wraps since 2010. He is working on other blades, kitchen knives and folders. He had a few left when I emailed him in December 2011. Only one, a pimped out Explorer, had a lock.
The design of the knife is simply brilliant. The pivot is offset in the handle and the blade in such a way that the massive, wide blade sits quite low in the handle when the knife is folded, see here:
By doing this de Coene is able to not only squeeze a boat oar of a blade into the handle he also creates a great finger choil/guard when the knife is deployed, see here:
The choil/guard does two things: first it gives you the ability to really control the blade, providing a grip RIGHT NEXT TO the blade itself. If you have never had a blade that allows you to do this, the difference it huge. One of the reasons I love Spydercos is because many of their knives have choils allowing you to do this. The control it grants you is really nice. Compare, if you can, the similarly sized Spyderco Dragonfly II to the Spyderco Leafstorm. The inability to really choke up on the blade is one of the things that, in my opinion, prevents the Leafstorm from being a great EDC knife (and conversely, makes the Dragonfly an all time great). You feel like your swinging a bat with only one hand holding on to the knob of the bat--lots of power but very little control. In an EDC knife you rarely need power and almost always need control. The second thing the choil/guard does is make it almost impossible to close the knife accidentally while in use. Your fingers, when butted up against the choil, prevent the blade from folding into the handle giving you a surprisingly sturdy and stable blade for a knife without a lock. This dual purpose is not only the hallmark of a great design, it is repeated elsewhere in the knife. The flipper, for example, makes it easy to deploy the knife one handed, but also meets up with the spine of the blade handle to give you another safeguard against the blade closing during use. The little flipper tail is the perfect size, large enough to hit with your finger without thinking about it, but not so large as to be an obstacle in your pocket. But when the blade is the deployed that same flipper is held in place by the hand gripping the knife. One thing--two uses: brilliant.
The fit and finish on the knife is really incredible. As my first fully custom knife I was expecting a lot and the knife delivered in spades. The G10 is a super smooth version and is so pleasing to the touch that the knife is hard to put down. There is nothing quite like the texture of this material. Furthermore, the G10 is sculpted into a wonderful convex shape, but it is not a symmetric convex handle when viewed in profile (like a rainbow). Instead, the thicker portion is near the spine of the knife, fitting the curve of your hand perfectly. The blade grind is unrivaled among the knives I have seen and handled. It is clean and even throughout, even the secondary grind is perfect. Filip uses a stock removal method and the D2 steel is nicely bead blasted. Even the pocket clip is nicely made. Sometimes the "over the top" style deep riding clips stand off significantly from the blade. Not here. It is tight, simple, and perfect for the job.
This is not a grippy knife, but it does not really need to be. Its shape alone provided plenty to hang on to and the slopes on the handle help even more. And like the lack of grip, once I held the knife and used the knife (which I have quite a bit), I was not terribly concerned by the lack of a lock. I guess I would like a locking version, simply because I am so used to a knife having a lock, but after using this blade I can see why so many people still carry Case knives and SAKs that have no lock at all. Here is my Hybrid with its color coordinated light&saber companion, the Steve Ku 40DD.
The knife is an expression of elegance--a sublimely simple design that wraps clever ideas, useful features, and a timeless look into a single eminently practical tool. If you want a knife that looks like it came from Dieter Rams's brain, this is it.
In the lead up to this review I had a pretty strong critique of the custom knife market in general. They are gaudy, overwrought, unnecessarily complex devices that make doing a simple everyday task secondary to their primary purpose--man jewelry. No one would mistake the Hybrid for a super aggro custom Strider grind. It is not going to win any awards for authenticity in Civil War reenactments. This is not a bling platform. It is a knife. A good, simple, clean knife. It cuts well. It carries well. It looks like it is from the very distant past where cavemen used chipped flint in simple shapes to cut stuff and at the same time it looks like it is from the distant future where everything is clean and uncluttered. This is as close as we can get to a folding knife designed by Bauhaus faculty.
The Hybrid is a triumph of design over ornamentation and it is fun tool to use. It certainly deserves the Perfect Seal and at less than $300 it is a bargain.
In the pocket:
And in the hand:
And finally, opening without being gripped for cutting:
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Common Man EDC Challenge
Suppose NBC's Today Show, that bastion of mainstream everything, contacted you and said: "We want to do a segment on tools and gadgets that people carry. We'd like you to recommend to us five things that you think everyone should carry on their person." What would you say?
I thought about this in the process of choosing gifts for people. I find that people are genuinely surprised when they find out how much nicer a lot of gear is than the stuff they carry or use. Perfect case in point: my Mom wanted a flashlight, but wanted to spend around $25 or less. I could have recommended the old stand by, a Mag Light 2xAA, but instead I suggested she buy a Maratac 1xAA (actually I bought it for her for Mother's Day). The price was about the same but the performance was light years better and it was a smaller device that used half as many batteries. We all know about these things, but the vast majority of people don't. So with that in mind, let's get to the challenge.
Assume the person has nothing other than cash and a credit card--no wallet, watch, phone or anything. Also assume that the stuff will not be babied and cared for like we care for our stuff. Finally assume that the person will want something that is as broadly useful and easy to maintain as possible. Given those criteria what five things would you recommend for the "Common Man EDC Kit"? Here are my five things:
1. Newest iPhone: A cellphone is required in modern life. I have been without a landline for about a decade now and it has been a wonderful transition. A smartphone is probably not required, but it is so nice and the iPhone, well, it deserves all the praise and sales it gets. Dead simple to use, hundreds of thousands of apps, and Siri is an amazingly useful feature.
2. Big Skinny Wallet: There are bigger wallets, more expensive wallets, wallets that will last longer, but no wallet is as slim, sturdy, and cheap as a Big Skinny. I can't see spending hundreds of dollars on a wallet--I just thrash on mine way, way too much. So this cheap wallet seems perfect to hand out to folks raised on fatty leather wallets from the anchor store at the mall. They'll be pleasantly surprised to learn you can carry plenty in a well-designed wallet that uses state of the art materials.
3. Leatherman PS4: The everyman would probably not really embrace a Cold Steel Voyager Vaquero but everyone, even the everywoman could embrace the practicality of the Leatherman PS4. Its the scissors folks. Pliers + scissors + small blade = perfect common man EDC.
4. 4sevens (or foursevens) Preon I flashlight: Go look around for a better combination of ease of use, performance, size and price. I believe that you will be back having concluded that the Preon I is as good as it gets. It has AAA batteries, no weirdo cells. It also has both a clicky and a twisty, making it more suitable for more folks.
5. Coated Aircraft Cable (for a keychain): This is one of those items that folks around me always look at and say "Oh, that's a good idea." I would love to pretend it was mine, but folks in the know have been carrying keys this way for years. The average person would be stunned and grateful for the upgrade from the run of the mill split ring.
Things that almost made the cut:
1. Spyderco Dragonfly II in VG-10: I didn't think the everyperson would need a dedicated knife if they had a decent blade in a compact package. That is exactly what the PS4 offers, so I think you can skip recommending a knife. Also, the average person has such a mental block when it comes to knives that they'd probably just opt to leave it at home. For some reason a Leatherman does not stir up those negative sentiments.
2. Modded Zebra F-701 pen: I am not sure you still need a pen in this day and age. Everything that you used a pen for at a store has been replaced with a signing pad. There are some places like restaurants where a pen would be nice, but they usually provide you with one. If there were a sixth item allowed, this would be it.
3. Black Cover-type notebook: I really, really like my date book even with an iPhone to keep me on task. That said, this is a safety blanket for me and not really an essential. I like them, but I don't think you NEED one. If the everyperson happened to be 80, then sub this in for an iPhone.
4. Victorinox Alox Cadet: If Leatherman don't stir up the reaction a knife does, then the SAK only stirs up a little bit. The alox handled knives are so thin and the blade so nicely shaped and sized I have a hard time not recommending them, but none have scissors or pliers, so the PS4 gets the nod.
5. G-Shock Watch: Ten years ago this would be a must, but I have found that even when wearing a watch I check my phone more often. This would be item 7 on the list, and a G-Shock is a good entry level watch--durable and easy to use with zero maintenance. They are ugly as sin, but they work so well.
6. Chawly Changer: If I lived in the city and needed change more, I would totally carry this. It is really well made and nicely designed, but as it is I just don't use change that much. It was stolen from my car recently and though I was pissed, I don't think I need a replacement.
I think some might say that you should carry a gun and I think there is something to that, but as an everyday item, I don't think I would. There is a lot of liability that goes along with a gun and in my job, going in an out of jails and courts, I can't see it. Also, if I am picking EDC stuff for the common person, there are so many irrational anti-gun people out there that recommending it would do no good, so it is off the list. I think others might say you need a First Aid Kit. I think that isn't a bad idea, but it really is cheating the purpose of the thought experiment here. The kit is almost certainly more than five items, so it is not really fair. Also, I have never carried one and never regretted it, so I am not sure that even if I counted it as one thing, I would still opt for it.
So there you have it, my EDC kit for the common person--five items everyone should carry.
Reply in the comments section with your five. I will give a random reply a coated aircraft cable key ring. Nothing huge, but hopefully enough to generate the necessary effort to reply.
I thought about this in the process of choosing gifts for people. I find that people are genuinely surprised when they find out how much nicer a lot of gear is than the stuff they carry or use. Perfect case in point: my Mom wanted a flashlight, but wanted to spend around $25 or less. I could have recommended the old stand by, a Mag Light 2xAA, but instead I suggested she buy a Maratac 1xAA (actually I bought it for her for Mother's Day). The price was about the same but the performance was light years better and it was a smaller device that used half as many batteries. We all know about these things, but the vast majority of people don't. So with that in mind, let's get to the challenge.
Assume the person has nothing other than cash and a credit card--no wallet, watch, phone or anything. Also assume that the stuff will not be babied and cared for like we care for our stuff. Finally assume that the person will want something that is as broadly useful and easy to maintain as possible. Given those criteria what five things would you recommend for the "Common Man EDC Kit"? Here are my five things:
1. Newest iPhone: A cellphone is required in modern life. I have been without a landline for about a decade now and it has been a wonderful transition. A smartphone is probably not required, but it is so nice and the iPhone, well, it deserves all the praise and sales it gets. Dead simple to use, hundreds of thousands of apps, and Siri is an amazingly useful feature.
2. Big Skinny Wallet: There are bigger wallets, more expensive wallets, wallets that will last longer, but no wallet is as slim, sturdy, and cheap as a Big Skinny. I can't see spending hundreds of dollars on a wallet--I just thrash on mine way, way too much. So this cheap wallet seems perfect to hand out to folks raised on fatty leather wallets from the anchor store at the mall. They'll be pleasantly surprised to learn you can carry plenty in a well-designed wallet that uses state of the art materials.
3. Leatherman PS4: The everyman would probably not really embrace a Cold Steel Voyager Vaquero but everyone, even the everywoman could embrace the practicality of the Leatherman PS4. Its the scissors folks. Pliers + scissors + small blade = perfect common man EDC.
4. 4sevens (or foursevens) Preon I flashlight: Go look around for a better combination of ease of use, performance, size and price. I believe that you will be back having concluded that the Preon I is as good as it gets. It has AAA batteries, no weirdo cells. It also has both a clicky and a twisty, making it more suitable for more folks.
5. Coated Aircraft Cable (for a keychain): This is one of those items that folks around me always look at and say "Oh, that's a good idea." I would love to pretend it was mine, but folks in the know have been carrying keys this way for years. The average person would be stunned and grateful for the upgrade from the run of the mill split ring.
Things that almost made the cut:
1. Spyderco Dragonfly II in VG-10: I didn't think the everyperson would need a dedicated knife if they had a decent blade in a compact package. That is exactly what the PS4 offers, so I think you can skip recommending a knife. Also, the average person has such a mental block when it comes to knives that they'd probably just opt to leave it at home. For some reason a Leatherman does not stir up those negative sentiments.
2. Modded Zebra F-701 pen: I am not sure you still need a pen in this day and age. Everything that you used a pen for at a store has been replaced with a signing pad. There are some places like restaurants where a pen would be nice, but they usually provide you with one. If there were a sixth item allowed, this would be it.
3. Black Cover-type notebook: I really, really like my date book even with an iPhone to keep me on task. That said, this is a safety blanket for me and not really an essential. I like them, but I don't think you NEED one. If the everyperson happened to be 80, then sub this in for an iPhone.
4. Victorinox Alox Cadet: If Leatherman don't stir up the reaction a knife does, then the SAK only stirs up a little bit. The alox handled knives are so thin and the blade so nicely shaped and sized I have a hard time not recommending them, but none have scissors or pliers, so the PS4 gets the nod.
5. G-Shock Watch: Ten years ago this would be a must, but I have found that even when wearing a watch I check my phone more often. This would be item 7 on the list, and a G-Shock is a good entry level watch--durable and easy to use with zero maintenance. They are ugly as sin, but they work so well.
6. Chawly Changer: If I lived in the city and needed change more, I would totally carry this. It is really well made and nicely designed, but as it is I just don't use change that much. It was stolen from my car recently and though I was pissed, I don't think I need a replacement.
I think some might say that you should carry a gun and I think there is something to that, but as an everyday item, I don't think I would. There is a lot of liability that goes along with a gun and in my job, going in an out of jails and courts, I can't see it. Also, if I am picking EDC stuff for the common person, there are so many irrational anti-gun people out there that recommending it would do no good, so it is off the list. I think others might say you need a First Aid Kit. I think that isn't a bad idea, but it really is cheating the purpose of the thought experiment here. The kit is almost certainly more than five items, so it is not really fair. Also, I have never carried one and never regretted it, so I am not sure that even if I counted it as one thing, I would still opt for it.
So there you have it, my EDC kit for the common person--five items everyone should carry.
Reply in the comments section with your five. I will give a random reply a coated aircraft cable key ring. Nothing huge, but hopefully enough to generate the necessary effort to reply.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Custom Knives, Part 3: Heading in the Right Direction
So far it may seem like I am pooping on custom knives entirely, but that is not my intent. Instead I want to show what I think are deficiencies in the form and then turn towards a more positive take on stuff that is out there. This is the start of that positive turn.
Any discussion of high end knives, custom or otherwise, has to start with Chris Reeve's Sebenza. It is, for reasons I laid out in the Gear Recommendation Series, the starting point and ending point for many people. It has a robust feel, fit and finish that are unrivaled, and a price, given what you get, that is pretty darn reasonable. But it is more than just practicalities that make the Sebenza important. The design of the Sebenza, especially the basic model, is so superb and refined that it embarasses many of the busier, less focused knife designs out there. One of the axioms of good design (and life) is from Albert Einstein who was referencing multiple theories of reality: "Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler." In the Sebenza we see that simplicity. Its famous lock is a great example. One part, the handle slab, serves two purposes: lock and handle. There is so little adornment on the knife that the blue anondized parts seem to gleam like little stars against the gray, matte finished titanium. And then there is the blade itself--thick without being bulky, a classic clip point. In the end, the Sebenza is a challenge and a dare--make it more simply I dare you. To date, no one has out-Sebenzaed the Sebenza despite people trying for 20 years. The Sebenza is to high end knives what the iPod is to music players--simple, accessible, and brilliant in its design.
But the Sebenza's simple beauty has created a problem for many knife buyers and makers. As a maker, in order to justify a higher price you have to offer something significantly better and in all honesty that is pretty difficult. Improving the fit and finish, while possible, is a proposition in diminishing returns. There is only so much you can do to tighten tolerances and still have the higher level of performance be noticeable by a buyer. So instead of trying to make something simpler or more elegant designers, even Chris Reeve himself, have gone in the other direction larding on layer after layer of unnecessary embellishment and calling that a good design.
But not all is lost. There are a few areas where the Sebenza is lacking and creative and smart custom knife makers have gone all out in trying to make a better mouse trap. One area I think we all can agree is lacking is the opening method. A thumb stud is a cheap, clunky way to open a knife. I prefer a thumb hole, but I also see a flipper being very nice. Think of it this way--with both a thumb hole and flipper, both have additional benefits. A thumb hole lightens the knife AND gives you a good thumb ramp for cutting. A flipper gives you a bit of a guard for high pressure cuts. Neither method adds parts, less parts means less can go wrong. Finally, both the hole and especially the flipper do little to mar the graceful, smooth appearance of the blade itself, unlike a thumb stud which is like a pimple on the steel, whether it is jeweled or not. Another area where the Sebenza could be upgraded is in the pivot. The ball bearing based pivots are both smoother and sturdier.
For the money, I think that Gerry McGinnis makes some of the nicest flippers around--simple, elegant designs. One of my favorites is the Prawn. Here is a picture:
It is a bit bigger than the Shrimp (both Terry's version and CRKT's version). The overall size of the blade is perfect for EDC, hitting the sweet spot that the Dragonfly II occupies. It is simple, laid out well, and has a nice useful blade shape. The flipper, as is usually the case, does double duty--opener and hilt. Gerry makes a ton of different flippers, some of which veer close to the Klingon territory, but most are quite elegant designs.
Another custom maker that hits the right spot is Dustin Turpin. The Turpin Logic is what I would make if I had the ability. It is a super simple flipper with a Ti handle and IKBS in the pivot. The result is a buttery smooth knife that is quiet and unassuming, but a freaking cutting machine. The Logic pushes the size limits I like on an EDC knife--clocking in at around 3.25 inches, but it is one gorgeous knife:
You all know of my fondness for the Dauntless designs from this post a few weeks ago. They are more complex and more detailed than either the Prawn or the Logic, but they still have a bit of restraint, only straying into the messy area of design in some of the more extreme versions. In particular, the JW Smith Dauntless is a nice looking, more detailed blade:
It is not that the blade must be plain or simple, but that the adornments should be in service to an overall aesthetic vision and they are in the case of the Dauntless.
Another custom maker that I really like, design wise, that has a bit more flair is Neil Blackwood. Blackwood's collaborations with Benchmade (the Rukus, Mini Rukus, Skirmish and Mini Skirmish) and Boker (the Pipsqueak) have all been well received by knife fans, but it is his custom knives that are truly spectacular. Here is a very nice looking Henchman:
The knife looks like it could be from the 18th Century or from the 22nd Century and that ambiguity means that it is approaching a timeless design. The yellowed Micarta, uninterrupted by mosaic pins or other unnecessaries, gives the knife a gorgeous sepia luster. The simple, straightforward blade shape, made all the more elegant by a flipper, is just perfect for the knife. Now if we could only persuade Neil to drop his silly pocket clip designs. They are just too cutesy for blades that cost around a grand. I know, I know, its clever that they are reliefs of the knives themselves, but that is something more appropriate for a gimmicky OEM Chinese made knife that sells at a flea market than one of the finest custom made knives available.
There is a ton of talent out there. A lot of it is going in a distinctly wrong direction, but some folks out there are really doing amazing work. Flippers, it seems, are where the custom world is heading. I don't think this is a bad thing. I'd really like to see a Dauntless that is JUST a flipper, but that might violate the "Dauntless rules." With all the praise I have heaped on these knives and their designers, they are still not exactly what I would consider inspired design. They aren't the Eames chair. They aren't in the same league as Thomas Moser's Continuous Arm chair I highlighted in the first article. The next post in this series will talk about that knife--my Filip de Coene Hybrid Slipjoint. Born from a lightning strike of inspiration on a truly clean design slate, the Hybrid is what I have been looking for for years.
Any discussion of high end knives, custom or otherwise, has to start with Chris Reeve's Sebenza. It is, for reasons I laid out in the Gear Recommendation Series, the starting point and ending point for many people. It has a robust feel, fit and finish that are unrivaled, and a price, given what you get, that is pretty darn reasonable. But it is more than just practicalities that make the Sebenza important. The design of the Sebenza, especially the basic model, is so superb and refined that it embarasses many of the busier, less focused knife designs out there. One of the axioms of good design (and life) is from Albert Einstein who was referencing multiple theories of reality: "Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler." In the Sebenza we see that simplicity. Its famous lock is a great example. One part, the handle slab, serves two purposes: lock and handle. There is so little adornment on the knife that the blue anondized parts seem to gleam like little stars against the gray, matte finished titanium. And then there is the blade itself--thick without being bulky, a classic clip point. In the end, the Sebenza is a challenge and a dare--make it more simply I dare you. To date, no one has out-Sebenzaed the Sebenza despite people trying for 20 years. The Sebenza is to high end knives what the iPod is to music players--simple, accessible, and brilliant in its design.
But the Sebenza's simple beauty has created a problem for many knife buyers and makers. As a maker, in order to justify a higher price you have to offer something significantly better and in all honesty that is pretty difficult. Improving the fit and finish, while possible, is a proposition in diminishing returns. There is only so much you can do to tighten tolerances and still have the higher level of performance be noticeable by a buyer. So instead of trying to make something simpler or more elegant designers, even Chris Reeve himself, have gone in the other direction larding on layer after layer of unnecessary embellishment and calling that a good design.
But not all is lost. There are a few areas where the Sebenza is lacking and creative and smart custom knife makers have gone all out in trying to make a better mouse trap. One area I think we all can agree is lacking is the opening method. A thumb stud is a cheap, clunky way to open a knife. I prefer a thumb hole, but I also see a flipper being very nice. Think of it this way--with both a thumb hole and flipper, both have additional benefits. A thumb hole lightens the knife AND gives you a good thumb ramp for cutting. A flipper gives you a bit of a guard for high pressure cuts. Neither method adds parts, less parts means less can go wrong. Finally, both the hole and especially the flipper do little to mar the graceful, smooth appearance of the blade itself, unlike a thumb stud which is like a pimple on the steel, whether it is jeweled or not. Another area where the Sebenza could be upgraded is in the pivot. The ball bearing based pivots are both smoother and sturdier.
For the money, I think that Gerry McGinnis makes some of the nicest flippers around--simple, elegant designs. One of my favorites is the Prawn. Here is a picture:
It is a bit bigger than the Shrimp (both Terry's version and CRKT's version). The overall size of the blade is perfect for EDC, hitting the sweet spot that the Dragonfly II occupies. It is simple, laid out well, and has a nice useful blade shape. The flipper, as is usually the case, does double duty--opener and hilt. Gerry makes a ton of different flippers, some of which veer close to the Klingon territory, but most are quite elegant designs.
Another custom maker that hits the right spot is Dustin Turpin. The Turpin Logic is what I would make if I had the ability. It is a super simple flipper with a Ti handle and IKBS in the pivot. The result is a buttery smooth knife that is quiet and unassuming, but a freaking cutting machine. The Logic pushes the size limits I like on an EDC knife--clocking in at around 3.25 inches, but it is one gorgeous knife:
You all know of my fondness for the Dauntless designs from this post a few weeks ago. They are more complex and more detailed than either the Prawn or the Logic, but they still have a bit of restraint, only straying into the messy area of design in some of the more extreme versions. In particular, the JW Smith Dauntless is a nice looking, more detailed blade:
It is not that the blade must be plain or simple, but that the adornments should be in service to an overall aesthetic vision and they are in the case of the Dauntless.
Another custom maker that I really like, design wise, that has a bit more flair is Neil Blackwood. Blackwood's collaborations with Benchmade (the Rukus, Mini Rukus, Skirmish and Mini Skirmish) and Boker (the Pipsqueak) have all been well received by knife fans, but it is his custom knives that are truly spectacular. Here is a very nice looking Henchman:
The knife looks like it could be from the 18th Century or from the 22nd Century and that ambiguity means that it is approaching a timeless design. The yellowed Micarta, uninterrupted by mosaic pins or other unnecessaries, gives the knife a gorgeous sepia luster. The simple, straightforward blade shape, made all the more elegant by a flipper, is just perfect for the knife. Now if we could only persuade Neil to drop his silly pocket clip designs. They are just too cutesy for blades that cost around a grand. I know, I know, its clever that they are reliefs of the knives themselves, but that is something more appropriate for a gimmicky OEM Chinese made knife that sells at a flea market than one of the finest custom made knives available.
There is a ton of talent out there. A lot of it is going in a distinctly wrong direction, but some folks out there are really doing amazing work. Flippers, it seems, are where the custom world is heading. I don't think this is a bad thing. I'd really like to see a Dauntless that is JUST a flipper, but that might violate the "Dauntless rules." With all the praise I have heaped on these knives and their designers, they are still not exactly what I would consider inspired design. They aren't the Eames chair. They aren't in the same league as Thomas Moser's Continuous Arm chair I highlighted in the first article. The next post in this series will talk about that knife--my Filip de Coene Hybrid Slipjoint. Born from a lightning strike of inspiration on a truly clean design slate, the Hybrid is what I have been looking for for years.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
One ends and the next one begins...
This post has three purposes--first as an overview of the Custom Griptillian service offered by Benchmade, second to show off the cool giveaway item, and third to announce the outlines of the next contest.
I ordered Joseph Wain, the winner of the logo contest, a custom Mini Griptillian. It is one of my favorite knives, an excellent buy, even in the stock version. The custom service offers you the chance to pick quite a few options on the knife. Here they are, with Joseph's choice in bold.
Knife (I chose this both because I like the smaller knife and there were some budget constraints):
Griptillian
Mini Grip
Blade Shape:
Drop Point in FFG
Tanto in FFG
Sheepsfoot in a Hollow Grind
Opener:
Thumb Stud (Drop Point or Tanto only)
Thumb Hole (Sheepsfoot only)
Handle Scales:
Dozen colors, Joseph chose orange
Blade Steel (no choice, I picked the blade steel because I really believe it is that much better):
154 CM
D2
N690
S30V
Hardware:
Satin
Black Oxide
Clip:
Standard Clip
Standard Clip Black Oxide
Standard Clip Black Paint
Spilt Arrow Clip
Split Arrow Clip Black Oxide
Images can be applied and I dropped Joseph's sweet logo on to the knife. I wanted it to swap out for one of the two logos already on the knife, but I had a sneaking suspicion that would not happen. Its placement is fine, as it is. I had to change the order because Joseph changed his mind and opted for the thumb hole (good idea) and Benchmade was great about it. The call was easy, the process was seamless, and the shipping was lightning fast. I cannot recommend the service enough. I love all of the options. I called them this past Monday. The custom knife arrived yesterday. I took it out, snapped some pictures and sent the knife to Joseph today.
Here is a close up of the one spec that really matters:
Here is a shot of the knife over all:
Here is a shot of the knife with the split arrow clip installed (I really like that clip over the standard clip):
And the money shot, Joseph's logo on his brand new knife:
Overall, I think Joseph chose perfectly. This is one hell of an EDC knife, all of the great ergos of the original Mini Grip with a truly great blade steel. I would dare say that this is the best version of the Mini Grip available, better even than the Ritter version, as I truly believe that the thumb hole is superior to a thumb stud. And, for Joseph, the price is unbeatable--FREE.
This leads me to the third topic, the next giveaway. The AdSense revenue is averaging around $30-40 a month, which is not bad. I would like to build up $100 and use that to purchase some items for review, specifically a Kershaw Cryo and a EagleTac D25a (those will also be given away, in due time). After that, I would like to store up the cash for something big: a McGizmo Haiku. That would probably take until the end of 2012, but that would be a hell of a giveaway. The rules would be simple: you would need to write a review using the 20 point scale for either a bag, a multitool, a knife or a light, and submit it. The review would need to be something I have not previously reviewed. I would also like the person to have owned and used the item for a while before the review. All of the reviews will be published, provided they meet a certain level of detail and coherence. I will pick the best article and that person will win the McGizmo. The entry period would start around March or April. The end would be whenever the AdSense revenue reaches $500 (the price of a McGizmo Haiku). I will let you know for sure. Again, the AdSense revenue is key. My wife would scalp me if I gave away $500 of our money, but for some reason the AdSense revenue is okay.
So be thinking about what you want to review. All things equal--the cooler the product the higher I will rank the review. A review of a Hinderer XM-18 will beat out a review of a Buck 110 all other things being equal.
Congratulations again to Joseph Wain.
I ordered Joseph Wain, the winner of the logo contest, a custom Mini Griptillian. It is one of my favorite knives, an excellent buy, even in the stock version. The custom service offers you the chance to pick quite a few options on the knife. Here they are, with Joseph's choice in bold.
Knife (I chose this both because I like the smaller knife and there were some budget constraints):
Griptillian
Mini Grip
Blade Shape:
Drop Point in FFG
Tanto in FFG
Sheepsfoot in a Hollow Grind
Opener:
Thumb Stud (Drop Point or Tanto only)
Thumb Hole (Sheepsfoot only)
Handle Scales:
Dozen colors, Joseph chose orange
Blade Steel (no choice, I picked the blade steel because I really believe it is that much better):
154 CM
D2
N690
S30V
Hardware:
Satin
Black Oxide
Clip:
Standard Clip
Standard Clip Black Oxide
Standard Clip Black Paint
Spilt Arrow Clip
Split Arrow Clip Black Oxide
Images can be applied and I dropped Joseph's sweet logo on to the knife. I wanted it to swap out for one of the two logos already on the knife, but I had a sneaking suspicion that would not happen. Its placement is fine, as it is. I had to change the order because Joseph changed his mind and opted for the thumb hole (good idea) and Benchmade was great about it. The call was easy, the process was seamless, and the shipping was lightning fast. I cannot recommend the service enough. I love all of the options. I called them this past Monday. The custom knife arrived yesterday. I took it out, snapped some pictures and sent the knife to Joseph today.
Here is a close up of the one spec that really matters:
Here is a shot of the knife over all:
Here is a shot of the knife with the split arrow clip installed (I really like that clip over the standard clip):
And the money shot, Joseph's logo on his brand new knife:
Overall, I think Joseph chose perfectly. This is one hell of an EDC knife, all of the great ergos of the original Mini Grip with a truly great blade steel. I would dare say that this is the best version of the Mini Grip available, better even than the Ritter version, as I truly believe that the thumb hole is superior to a thumb stud. And, for Joseph, the price is unbeatable--FREE.
This leads me to the third topic, the next giveaway. The AdSense revenue is averaging around $30-40 a month, which is not bad. I would like to build up $100 and use that to purchase some items for review, specifically a Kershaw Cryo and a EagleTac D25a (those will also be given away, in due time). After that, I would like to store up the cash for something big: a McGizmo Haiku. That would probably take until the end of 2012, but that would be a hell of a giveaway. The rules would be simple: you would need to write a review using the 20 point scale for either a bag, a multitool, a knife or a light, and submit it. The review would need to be something I have not previously reviewed. I would also like the person to have owned and used the item for a while before the review. All of the reviews will be published, provided they meet a certain level of detail and coherence. I will pick the best article and that person will win the McGizmo. The entry period would start around March or April. The end would be whenever the AdSense revenue reaches $500 (the price of a McGizmo Haiku). I will let you know for sure. Again, the AdSense revenue is key. My wife would scalp me if I gave away $500 of our money, but for some reason the AdSense revenue is okay.
So be thinking about what you want to review. All things equal--the cooler the product the higher I will rank the review. A review of a Hinderer XM-18 will beat out a review of a Buck 110 all other things being equal.
Congratulations again to Joseph Wain.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Zodiac Preon 1 Mod
A friend of the site's Rob Robideau, whose site can be found here, gave me the heads up on his book and a mod for one of the more popular lights out there, the 4sevens Preon (officially the Preon 1 and 2 now). In the long term a post on the book is coming, as it is a hefty tome and definitely worth an in-depth look, but I wanted to get word out about the Preon mod in the short term. Here is a picture, post mod of my Preon 1:
The mod literally fixes all of the problems I had with the Preon light. The light got a 17/20 losing three points, one each, for fit and finish, carry, and hands free use. The head of the light did not fit tightly enough to prevent water from getting in. Additionally, the clicky tailcap would regularly activate in pocket (aka "Hot Pocket" a dangerous flashlight related affliction). Finally, because of the wobbly clicky, the light could not tailstand all that well, unless you had the twist tailcap on.
The Zodiac Engineering (an entirely made in the USA operation, run by a small business man) tailcap solves all three problems. First, it now tailstands like a champ. Second, the clicky is at the bottom of an indent in the tailcap, see here:
This makes Hot Pocket a thing of the past. The boot is a bit of a lint magnet, but other than there is no complaint. Finally, because of new tailcap, but head cinches down tighter and makes the light more waterproof (it was fine, in clicky mode before, but the clicky caused Hot Pocket, in twisty mode, the head is looser). The entire cap is made using titanium and the titanium tailcap from foursevens.
Here is the best part--the whole process costs $16, if you provide the tailcap (warning older models have tailcaps that can't be modded, so contact Zodiac before sending one). If not, it is the cost of a tailcap, $15 from foursevens, plus the $16. Zodiac's service was excellent and the machining is top notch--like McGizmo nice. Ken has some other plans too--including a scalloped bezel and a scalloped tailcap. Here is a sneak peek of the scalloped version:
Great work for a great light. Really, with the mod, the Preon becomes one of the best EDC lights out there--tiny enough to slip in any pocket, plenty bright for most tasks, easy to use, and using a universal and cheap battery. This is very nice aftermarket mod, and it is cheap.
The mod literally fixes all of the problems I had with the Preon light. The light got a 17/20 losing three points, one each, for fit and finish, carry, and hands free use. The head of the light did not fit tightly enough to prevent water from getting in. Additionally, the clicky tailcap would regularly activate in pocket (aka "Hot Pocket" a dangerous flashlight related affliction). Finally, because of the wobbly clicky, the light could not tailstand all that well, unless you had the twist tailcap on.
The Zodiac Engineering (an entirely made in the USA operation, run by a small business man) tailcap solves all three problems. First, it now tailstands like a champ. Second, the clicky is at the bottom of an indent in the tailcap, see here:
This makes Hot Pocket a thing of the past. The boot is a bit of a lint magnet, but other than there is no complaint. Finally, because of new tailcap, but head cinches down tighter and makes the light more waterproof (it was fine, in clicky mode before, but the clicky caused Hot Pocket, in twisty mode, the head is looser). The entire cap is made using titanium and the titanium tailcap from foursevens.
Here is the best part--the whole process costs $16, if you provide the tailcap (warning older models have tailcaps that can't be modded, so contact Zodiac before sending one). If not, it is the cost of a tailcap, $15 from foursevens, plus the $16. Zodiac's service was excellent and the machining is top notch--like McGizmo nice. Ken has some other plans too--including a scalloped bezel and a scalloped tailcap. Here is a sneak peek of the scalloped version:
Great work for a great light. Really, with the mod, the Preon becomes one of the best EDC lights out there--tiny enough to slip in any pocket, plenty bright for most tasks, easy to use, and using a universal and cheap battery. This is very nice aftermarket mod, and it is cheap.
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