Quick Hits: End of the Year Round Up
Throughout 2015 I was the human guinea pig for you and tried out a bunch of different stuff. Just we start 2016 with a clean docket. Some of the items are things I can't really squeeze into an existing scoring system, so these will be simple thumbs up or thumbs down kinds of comments.
Northwoods Knives Everyday Barlow (product page)
As a reviewer you can sometimes get attached to products in the minds of readers. I have, for better or worse, become something of a spokesperson for the Indian River Jack. Even with that review more than a year old, I still get emails about it--both good and bad. The IRJ has had some fit and finish issues over the life of the product, thanks to the less than perfect fit and finish by the OEM, Queen.
Even with that in mind, I was one of the folks that took to Instagram with the beautiful EDB the minute I took it out of its package. Unfortunately, since then I have been barraged by stories of poor fit and finish. I ordered two, uncertain of which blade shape I would like, and both were less than good. The spearpoint had a dent in the edge which I was able to strop out, but the clip point was seriously off centered and rough in a few spots. Both had a significant number burrs along the spine, which I could remove, again with a strop. But my experience wasn't an isolated one. Reader after reader complained. Even my uncle (whose gear addiction I am responsible for) got one and was disappointed.
The time has come to consider finding a new OEM for Northwoods Knives stainless steel models. Most are GEC products and those blades rarely have issues, but if you want a traditional with new steel, like the CPM154 on the EDB and the IRJ, those Northwoods Knives are made by Queen. The EDB is the second series of knives from Northwoods and Queen that was less than stellar.
Its sad too because this is a pattern I really love. The blue camel bone was stunning and everyone likes CPM154. That said, the widespread, almost universal complaints lead me to give this knife a pass. In the future, if Derrick can get the OEM improve the build quality, this could be an all time classic design.
Score: 16 out of 20 (2 off for Fit and Finish and 2 off for Grind, but really these are just so bad, this isn't worth purchasing) NOT RECOMMENDED
Score: 16 out of 20 (2 off for Fit and Finish and 2 off for Grind, but really these are just so bad, this isn't worth purchasing) NOT RECOMMENDED
Lumintop Tool AAA (product page)
Lumintop sent me this light to review and I am always happy to take review samples, even if I am not happy with the sample itself. Lumintop has a wide array of interesting lights and until I was contacted I was unaware that they made something like the Tool AAA. There was a reason for that--this the most boring, by the numbers 1xAAA I have reviewed. It is literally indistinguishable from a sea of other 1xAAA but for the branding. There is a friction fit clip and it stinks. The highs and lows are the same as just about every other 1xAAA light running the XP-G emitter. The clicky is okay, but the light doesn't tailstand. I am not sure who the intended audience is because this light isn't hardy enough for the tac crowd nor is it sleek or small enough for the EDC folks. The only thing that is truly bad about the light is the UI which starts at MEDIUM. There is precisely no reason to start at medium. If you are using it as an EDC, you want to start in low for night use. If you are a tac person you want it to come on in high. Bad move on a light that is otherwise a 100% snoozefest.
Score: 13 out of 20 (2 off for an utterly boring Design, 2 off for Carry for a terrible pocket clip; 2 off for a mind boggingly UI; and 1 off Hands Free for an inability to tailstand)
Lumintop sent me this light to review and I am always happy to take review samples, even if I am not happy with the sample itself. Lumintop has a wide array of interesting lights and until I was contacted I was unaware that they made something like the Tool AAA. There was a reason for that--this the most boring, by the numbers 1xAAA I have reviewed. It is literally indistinguishable from a sea of other 1xAAA but for the branding. There is a friction fit clip and it stinks. The highs and lows are the same as just about every other 1xAAA light running the XP-G emitter. The clicky is okay, but the light doesn't tailstand. I am not sure who the intended audience is because this light isn't hardy enough for the tac crowd nor is it sleek or small enough for the EDC folks. The only thing that is truly bad about the light is the UI which starts at MEDIUM. There is precisely no reason to start at medium. If you are using it as an EDC, you want to start in low for night use. If you are a tac person you want it to come on in high. Bad move on a light that is otherwise a 100% snoozefest.
Score: 13 out of 20 (2 off for an utterly boring Design, 2 off for Carry for a terrible pocket clip; 2 off for a mind boggingly UI; and 1 off Hands Free for an inability to tailstand)
Ontario Knives RAT II (product page)
Lightning is hard to capture twice. The budget darling RAT I is a big but well-respected knife. Ontario took an unambitious route to arrive at the RAT II literally shrinking everything about the RAT II irrespective of the ergonomic impacts. This is an ugly and uncomfortable knife. The blade has a weird gap between the cutting edge and pivot. It not only makes the knife hard to use, kind of like typing on a keyboard via a broom handle, it also puts the edge at a weird cutting angle. I could live with that because the deployment here is as good as I have ever seen. I know it sounds weird, but this is the best thumb stud deployment I have ever had, including on customs. It just flies out of the handle with a slight nudge. It is hard to believe that the knife isn't an assist. But the RAT II has another problem--the Honey I Shrunk the Knife approach to handle design results in a cramped and uncomfortable grip. There are better budget blades out there. If you need AUS-8 for some reason, I like the Ka Bar Doziers. But if knife steel isn't an issue the CRKT Drifter is just better, still the King of the Budget Blades. The RAT I may be a great budget knife but its little brother is a pale imitation.
Score: 15 out of 20 (2 off for a lazy, just shrink everything Design, 1 off for Steel for AUS8, 2 off for a weird, uncomfortable blade shape)
Lightning is hard to capture twice. The budget darling RAT I is a big but well-respected knife. Ontario took an unambitious route to arrive at the RAT II literally shrinking everything about the RAT II irrespective of the ergonomic impacts. This is an ugly and uncomfortable knife. The blade has a weird gap between the cutting edge and pivot. It not only makes the knife hard to use, kind of like typing on a keyboard via a broom handle, it also puts the edge at a weird cutting angle. I could live with that because the deployment here is as good as I have ever seen. I know it sounds weird, but this is the best thumb stud deployment I have ever had, including on customs. It just flies out of the handle with a slight nudge. It is hard to believe that the knife isn't an assist. But the RAT II has another problem--the Honey I Shrunk the Knife approach to handle design results in a cramped and uncomfortable grip. There are better budget blades out there. If you need AUS-8 for some reason, I like the Ka Bar Doziers. But if knife steel isn't an issue the CRKT Drifter is just better, still the King of the Budget Blades. The RAT I may be a great budget knife but its little brother is a pale imitation.
Score: 15 out of 20 (2 off for a lazy, just shrink everything Design, 1 off for Steel for AUS8, 2 off for a weird, uncomfortable blade shape)
Blackwing Palomino 602 Pencils (product page)
Goodness are these pencils expensive. I bought a pack of twelve for $22 at the Harvard Book Store. But they are, simply put, the best wood case pencils (as opposed to mechanical pencils) I have ever used. Only the best mechanicals with good lead rival this pencil. The eraser is also quite good. The lead is very soft and very dark, allowing for an insane amount of good shading. My whole house fights over these pencils, even my wife who draws only in 3D and usually of molecules with carbon in them. Fifteen seconds with a 602 will show you that wood case pencils can be truly great.
Highly Recommended, but unscored
Goodness are these pencils expensive. I bought a pack of twelve for $22 at the Harvard Book Store. But they are, simply put, the best wood case pencils (as opposed to mechanical pencils) I have ever used. Only the best mechanicals with good lead rival this pencil. The eraser is also quite good. The lead is very soft and very dark, allowing for an insane amount of good shading. My whole house fights over these pencils, even my wife who draws only in 3D and usually of molecules with carbon in them. Fifteen seconds with a 602 will show you that wood case pencils can be truly great.
Highly Recommended, but unscored
Edgevale Cast Iron Shorts (product page)
Who loves short shorts? If the answer is you, then these knife-friendly shorts should be in your dresser. I am usually a jeans and cargos guy, but these shorts look cleaner than those do for semi formal summer events. That said, they show a lot of thigh. Too much for me. Sitting in a lawn chair in a pair of Cast Irons makes you feel like you are at a photo shoot for Playgirl. An inopportune move and it feels like the horse could get out of the barn. I love the knife tab on the pocket though and in a pair of more traditional cargos, it would be a huge success. As it is, I can't recommend these shorts. Finally, if you do feel like you want to be in Magic Mike III and plan on ordering a pair of Cast Irons be aware that they run small. This is not the normal waist sizing, it is hipster sizing. I am a 34 in EVERYTHING. Here I was a 38 waist and even then my non-spaghetti legs felt constrained. Also, they are bit pricey for what they are, knife tab and all.
NOT RECOMMENDED
Who loves short shorts? If the answer is you, then these knife-friendly shorts should be in your dresser. I am usually a jeans and cargos guy, but these shorts look cleaner than those do for semi formal summer events. That said, they show a lot of thigh. Too much for me. Sitting in a lawn chair in a pair of Cast Irons makes you feel like you are at a photo shoot for Playgirl. An inopportune move and it feels like the horse could get out of the barn. I love the knife tab on the pocket though and in a pair of more traditional cargos, it would be a huge success. As it is, I can't recommend these shorts. Finally, if you do feel like you want to be in Magic Mike III and plan on ordering a pair of Cast Irons be aware that they run small. This is not the normal waist sizing, it is hipster sizing. I am a 34 in EVERYTHING. Here I was a 38 waist and even then my non-spaghetti legs felt constrained. Also, they are bit pricey for what they are, knife tab and all.
NOT RECOMMENDED
Scout Leatherworks Pocket Protector (product page)
The number of twee product sites on the internet has exploded in recent years. Wanna pay Murray Carter prices for what appears to be a rasp shaped into a knife and completely untempered? Chelsea Miller will sell a knife and tell you to experience it as "living art". And you already know my love for Best Made. Leather work sites are their own genre of baloney in this world of twee product sites. Among the silliness there is Scout Leatherwork. Sure they offer some uber lux items that are of questionable utility (hey, I'd sell handles that make Mason jars into coffee cups too if I could make a profit at it). The Pocket Protector--designed to take a small 1xAAA flashlight and a traditional folder--is a great, but limited design. If you carry that stuff as part of your EDC, the Pocket Protector is phenomenal, spreading the profile over a wider area and protecting other stuff in your pocket. If, however, you don't carry that kind of stuff, the Pocket Protector is useless. That said, it is good enough and the renaissance in traditional folders has created enough good stuff to make this piece of kit worth it for just about everyone. The fit and finish is great and the look is amazing. The leather is very high quality.
Recommended
Pinch One Piece Multitool (KS page)
This thing was a terrible expenditure of money. The price was high, the delivery was delayed and the tool that I got is just about useless. The finish on the tool is wretched--lots of folks got ones with inaccurate rulers and mine came with edges that looked like they were finished by someone with caffeine jitters. The tool's size, its main selling point, is most of the problem as it gives you ZERO leverage. Leverage tools, like pries and bottle openers need leverage. This was a waste and a stupid Kickstarter. In the future, please pinch me so I wake up and don't waste money on something this stupid again.
Score: 11 out of 20 (2 off for a dumb, counter productive Design, 2 off for atrocious Finish, 2 off for no Grip, 1 off for mystery meat steel, and 2 off for dreadful Tool Performance)
The number of twee product sites on the internet has exploded in recent years. Wanna pay Murray Carter prices for what appears to be a rasp shaped into a knife and completely untempered? Chelsea Miller will sell a knife and tell you to experience it as "living art". And you already know my love for Best Made. Leather work sites are their own genre of baloney in this world of twee product sites. Among the silliness there is Scout Leatherwork. Sure they offer some uber lux items that are of questionable utility (hey, I'd sell handles that make Mason jars into coffee cups too if I could make a profit at it). The Pocket Protector--designed to take a small 1xAAA flashlight and a traditional folder--is a great, but limited design. If you carry that stuff as part of your EDC, the Pocket Protector is phenomenal, spreading the profile over a wider area and protecting other stuff in your pocket. If, however, you don't carry that kind of stuff, the Pocket Protector is useless. That said, it is good enough and the renaissance in traditional folders has created enough good stuff to make this piece of kit worth it for just about everyone. The fit and finish is great and the look is amazing. The leather is very high quality.
Recommended
Pinch One Piece Multitool (KS page)
This thing was a terrible expenditure of money. The price was high, the delivery was delayed and the tool that I got is just about useless. The finish on the tool is wretched--lots of folks got ones with inaccurate rulers and mine came with edges that looked like they were finished by someone with caffeine jitters. The tool's size, its main selling point, is most of the problem as it gives you ZERO leverage. Leverage tools, like pries and bottle openers need leverage. This was a waste and a stupid Kickstarter. In the future, please pinch me so I wake up and don't waste money on something this stupid again.
Score: 11 out of 20 (2 off for a dumb, counter productive Design, 2 off for atrocious Finish, 2 off for no Grip, 1 off for mystery meat steel, and 2 off for dreadful Tool Performance)