A UK friendly specific EDC gadget thread!

[dangerman]

Looking at these little knives I can't see how they can make them so cheap - although I've not put them to the test or to any real demand to be honest, and I'm not savvy to all the grades of stainless steel and other materials and workmanship. So far it seems to me that SAKs are overpriced if others can make similar things nearly as good for such a smaller price. That being said, there are plenty of people on youtube telling stories of their 30odd year old knives being repaired cheap (or free?) by Victorinox. Maybe the extra price is for the aftercare.

Maybe SAKs are better for one reason or another, but there is so much knife snobbery around that I can't tell the difference between that and genuine constructive criticism.

[Deeps]

Looking at these little knives I can't see how they can make them so cheap - although I've not put them to the test or to any real demand to be honest, and I'm not savvy to all the grades of stainless steel and other materials and workmanship. So far it seems to me that SAKs are overpriced if others can make similar things nearly as good for such a smaller price. That being said, there are plenty of people on youtube telling stories of their 30odd year old knives being repaired cheap (or free?) by Victorinox. Maybe the extra price is for the aftercare.

Maybe SAKs are better for one reason or another, but there is so much knife snobbery around that I can't tell the difference between that and genuine constructive criticism.

I'm no expert either but in the past I've tried the really cheap knives and had the corkscrews unbend because the metal is that soft. There are guys on here who will know all about the different grades of steel but I guess its a case of you get what you pay for. My current SAK (Spartan, its my fav for the size and general price) has been on the go for at least 10 years, probably a bit more and still going strong and it used to be used pretty regularly. For that kind of reliability I don't grudge the cost.

[dangerman]

Looking at these little knives I can't see how they can make them so cheap - although I've not put them to the test or to any real demand to be honest, and I'm not savvy to all the grades of stainless steel and other materials and workmanship. So far it seems to me that SAKs are overpriced if others can make similar things nearly as good for such a smaller price. That being said, there are plenty of people on youtube telling stories of their 30odd year old knives being repaired cheap (or free?) by Victorinox. Maybe the extra price is for the aftercare.

Maybe SAKs are better for one reason or another, but there is so much knife snobbery around that I can't tell the difference between that and genuine constructive criticism.

I'm no expert either but in the past I've tried the really cheap knives and had the corkscrews unbend because the metal is that soft. There are guys on here who will know all about the different grades of steel but I guess its a case of you get what you pay for. My current SAK (Spartan, its my fav for the size and general price) has been on the go for at least 10 years, probably a bit more and still going strong and it used to be used pretty regularly. For that kind of reliability I don't grudge the cost.

I've got the Spartan too, I've just attached that there pocket clip to it so that I can carry it easier. My only problem with the Spartan (other than the price) is that it doesn't have a pozzy screwdriver. Might buy a mechanic or something to replace it at some point.

[dangerman]

I had an EDC disaster yesterday. I got sloppy and since I'd changed my pants my maxpedition pouch was juggled around to a different pocket. The new pocket, the hand warmer pocket of my waterproof coat, is a tight fit and it takes some wedging to get it in there and zip it up.

So anyway, I'd recently used a battery from it and I remember stuffing a replacement into it just before my wife started shouting that she was waiting in the car... "hurry up" etc, you know the drill. We were taking the kids to the museum.

Next thing, I park the car up in town and start walking. I reached into my pocket for my pouch but it was gone. I didn't think much of it, I thought I'd put it down to tie my lace and then left it there or something. I've not lost anything like that in years.

So I'm wandering around the museum and my kids are shouting at me and they're causing mayhem. I get a phone call and I can hear a voice but it was too noisy in there and they hung up. Then a text message arrives...

"Hi, I found a little bag thing that has loads of stuff in it. A lighter and a marker and a pen and things. Is it yours? I found your number on the emergency contacts card in it."

It must have fallen out of my unzipped pocket as I rushed out the door and into the car. It must have fallen onto the road. I know that much because the guy who found it brought it back to me, left it by my front door lovingly wrapped in the carrier bag that was inside the pouch. It looked to have been run over by a car, the lighter was smashed, the marker, my mini med tin mangled. The zip on it is also screwed.

But I can't stop thinking about that guy... I think he was Eastern European, I heard a smidge of his accent over the phone even though I couldn't hear what he was saying. What a fantastic bloke. I'd like to think I'd have done the same thing, but I consider myself a particularly nice feller.

Anyway - I got very lucky there. My door key for work was inside it and if I'd have lost it I'd have been up crap creek. I hope that guy wins the lottery or something.

Today I left my keys on a park bench and walked away. Five minutes later I was lucky that they were still there. I've turned into a complete idiot. Need to sort this out.

The lesson I'll take is to agree a system, fix a pocket or whatever where my kit lives, and leave it all the time. That way, I'll know straight away that something is wrong if I notice it missing. And I'll get out of the habit of putting things down and not picking them up - I'll have to work harder at getting into good habits.

[ForgeCorvus]

DM: Not a fail then.... Just take it as a learning opportunity

I hope Karma notices the guy

[Hoipoloi]

I've turned into a complete idiot. Need to sort this out.

Is this an age related thing? I've turned 60 and it happens quite a lot these days.

[Yorkshire Andy]

I had an EDC disaster yesterday. I got sloppy and since I'd changed my pants my maxpedition pouch was juggled around to a different pocket. The new pocket, the hand warmer pocket of my waterproof coat, is a tight fit and it takes some wedging to get it in there and zip it up.

So anyway, I'd recently used a battery from it and I remember stuffing a replacement into it just before my wife started shouting that she was waiting in the car... "hurry up" etc, you know the drill. We were taking the kids to the museum.

Next thing, I park the car up in town and start walking. I reached into my pocket for my pouch but it was gone. I didn't think much of it, I thought I'd put it down to tie my lace and then left it there or something. I've not lost anything like that in years.

So I'm wandering around the museum and my kids are shouting at me and they're causing mayhem. I get a phone call and I can hear a voice but it was too noisy in there and they hung up. Then a text message arrives...

"Hi, I found a little bag thing that has loads of stuff in it. A lighter and a marker and a pen and things. Is it yours? I found your number on the emergency contacts card in it."

It must have fallen out of my unzipped pocket as I rushed out the door and into the car. It must have fallen onto the road. I know that much because the guy who found it brought it back to me, left it by my front door lovingly wrapped in the carrier bag that was inside the pouch. It looked to have been run over by a car, the lighter was smashed, the marker, my mini med tin mangled. The zip on it is also screwed.

But I can't stop thinking about that guy... I think he was Eastern European, I heard a smidge of his accent over the phone even though I couldn't hear what he was saying. What a fantastic bloke. I'd like to think I'd have done the same thing, but I consider myself a particularly nice feller.

Anyway - I got very lucky there. My door key for work was inside it and if I'd have lost it I'd have been up crap creek. I hope that guy wins the lottery or something.

Today I left my keys on a park bench and walked away. Five minutes later I was lucky that they were still there. I've turned into a complete idiot. Need to sort this out.

The lesson I'll take is to agree a system, fix a pocket or whatever where my kit lives, and leave it all the time. That way, I'll know straight away that something is wrong if I notice it missing. And I'll get out of the habit of putting things down and not picking them up - I'll have to work harder at getting into good habits.

Well on a similar heading was in the pub today and Mrs andy found a iPhone on the floor .. Asked about and no one had lost a phone it was locked so i tapped emergency ignoring some older chap saying it was a shortcut to 999... and the guy had all his medical info there and a emergency contact tapped it and it connected to his daughter..... Told her we would put behind the bar and told them "Mr smith would be coming for it". 2 mins later Mr smith comes in.. He'd been out for a fag with Mrs smith

who had her daughter ring her asking if she was with dad as some stranger had found dads phone...

[sniper 55]

You were lucky there to find an honest person.

[dangerman]

I've been EDCing my Streamlight Stylus and, despite reviews, I'm feeling a little underwhelmed. The batteries died because the button was compressed while in my pocket. That's not good is it? Worse, it takes aaaa batteries which I can't find anywhere other than online and for a smeg of a lot of money.

That being said, one of our prepper buddies on here has suggested that one can strip a 9v battery and acquire six aaaas. That sounds like a good deal, you can get 9v batteries for 50p sometimes. That said I should have done my research, turns out that only certain brands are made up of aaaas, and the ones I got from Lidl (that I bloody well paid extra for!) have a stacked cell kind of internal. What an arse.

I'm just wondering if any of you lot know how I can tell which 9v batteries have the aaaas in, and which to avoid? Do all Duracells have them in? Energisers?

Once I've got some cheap batteries for it, I'll be able to give this thing a bit more of a try and a review. So far I think it would be good for medical uses, checking pupils and things, because it's not super mega bright. But why are the reviews so good for it? Meh.

[Hamradioop]

maplin sell 4xa batterie in packs of 4.

Tesco sell 4xa batteries in pack of 2.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To- ... OUT-OF-9V/