Don't take manufacturers' specs for granted

[parnass]

I carry a fair amount of EDC gear on my person and the weight of multitools and knives is important to me.  The problem is that one cannot always trust the manufacturers' (and even reviewers') published weight specifications. 

For example, the Victorinox Spririt weighs 5-3/4 ounces according the the Victorinox blister package and the same number is listed in the Amazon.com description.  However, my Vic Spirit actually weighs in almost 30% heavier (7.4 ounces) on a half dozen digital scales I used.

Another example is a Kershaw knife I bought (and returned) recently.  It actually weighed less than Kerhaw's published specification.

I watched a slew of video reviews of the same knife on YouTube.com, and the majority of "reviewers" cited the manufacturer's inaccurate weight specification instead of actually measuring the weight.

Inaccurate weight specs call into question other specifications, e.g., length, type of material, country of manufacture, etc.

[jekostas]

It happens.  Of all the knife companies I have experience with, I think Spyderco (and to some extension Byrd) are the only ones that I've seen that actually consistently get their weights and dimensions right.  I'd like to say SanRenMu as well, but I don't have a ton of experience with the company (the three I have are spot on, though).

Kershaw is notoriously bad for it, but I think they also constantly make minor updates to their items to correct problems and don't always update the specs.

[Styerman]

I always take spec. sheets with a grain of salt , like porn. they are for adult entertainment only !

Chris

[Grant Lamontagne]

This is exactly why I started the Comparative Weight Chart in the Multitool Encyclopedia.  I actually weighed a number of tools and found their weights were somewhat different from those listed in the manufacturer's specs, so I decided to start a list of all my findings.  Of course, I haven't kept as up to date with it as I was in the past, but it's on my list of things to do!

There is also the concern that perhaps my scale was not accurate, but I compared it with the scale at my local post office, as well as my wife's food scale and they are all within normal tolerances- variations that could result from pocket lint or other crud in the hinges for example.

Def

[nuphoria]

I always take spec. sheets with a grain of salt , like porn. they are for adult entertainment only !

Chris

 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I just updated a few tools I happened to have handy.

Def

[parnass]

This is exactly why I started the Comparative Weight Chart in the Multitool Encyclopedia.  I actually weighed a number of tools and found their weights were somewhat different from those listed in the manufacturer's specs, so I decided to start a list of all my findings.....

Thanks, Def.   

[Grant Lamontagne]

No problem- someone has to try and make sense of things! 

Def

[Mercury]

I've noticed this as well.  Anyone know what the Surge actually weighs?  I have owned two and never weighed them.  heavy buggers though...

[Grant Lamontagne]

Comparative Weight Chart

Surge     335.5g   11.83oz   380.5g   13.42oz   Nylon Sheath

First two are the weight of just the tool by itself in both real measurements and those things that Americans like and second are "as equipped" weight with whatever I got with the tool.  In this case, it was just a nylon sheath.

Def

[Mercury]

Comparative Weight Chart

Surge     335.5g   11.83oz   380.5g   13.42oz   Nylon Sheath

First two are the weight of just the tool by itself in both real measurements and those things that Americans like and second are "as equipped" weight with whatever I got with the tool.  In this case, it was just a nylon sheath.

Def

Man that's heavy.  I knew it!  (the metric system makes them seem heavier btw  )