I always like to have 2 philips sizes with me. So if I have a pst, I'll have 2 philips. But if I have my modded Powerlock with 2 philips in it...I'll have 3 philips!! too many! The pocketwrench II is growing on me because of the wrench...and the ruler...and the 1/4 slot...and pry bar. hmm... we might have a winner
In the sub-thirty field there's...A Pocketwrench II is a great substitute (pry, closed wrench, ruler, hex driver).The afore mentioned Gerber Shard is good too (pry with flathead screw tips, bottle opener, phillips) as is its bigger brother the Gerber Artifact (pry with flathead screw tips, bottle opener, phillips, exacto blade).The raker ring tool (recessed cutter, flathead, hex, bigger hex or oxygen wrench): http://www.rakerknives.com/damascus_tools.htmThese Ti keys float around eBay (flathead, bottle opener).The new CRKT TA-Bar Tool (pry, knife, hex driver, bottle opener).Can't help much beyond that as I can't afford 'em either. But here's a random options:http://www.pockettoolx.com/http://www.phlaunt.com/jdrknifeandtool/http://sites.google.com/site/jrpcustomknives/A forum member was working on a project with an open ended wrench and a magnifying glass but I'm pretty sure he's been eaten by a grue at this point.EDIT: Sorry, I keep editing it as I think of more.
I'm sort of leaning into the gerber shard. I cruised MT.org(not the forum) for one-piece and its riddled with mostly unaffordable Atwood, and the shard isn't even on there . I like the fact it has a pry bar, if I tried to use my mt screwdriver I'd hear a snap, close my eyes, and pray it is not labeled as "misuse." I have a bottle opener so that doesn't matter, I have a couple flatheads and philips too. A wrench fixture, pry bar, or another uncommon tool would be delightful
How does the pocketwrench II measure up as a prybar? I know its not angled, but sometimes I don't even need an angle to do my prying.
It's something like $70 I think but availability is the key just like with Atwoods, sorry. Your more apt to get your hands on a Raker Ring Tool or a JDR Ti tool than anything else in the custom field.
I have both a Raker Ring tool and a Shard! As my papaw used to say "Everyman and a farmer ought to have one of them"The ultra stout Raker Ring tool flat head also makes a nice prybar and the seatbelt cutter works real well for anything that will fit in there: Cord, rope, tape, etc. And at 21$ for the ATS-34 how you can go wrong? (For a few dollars more you can get the pretty Damascus)Also, if you get a shard, sand off all that ugly black paint. It makes it look like a real expensive piece then. (Image removed from quote.)
Neither atwoods or the RRT are "custom" they are batch produced on a waterjet cutting machine with only a few bevels hand ground.