In my time away..

Benner · **on:** October 18, 2011, 01:24:57 PM

I think I could write a book on my life over the past year as so much has happened (and I am sure one day I will bore you all with the story), but what I did want to discuss was my change in mindset towards tools and carry.

The biggest change in my carry since I left was the moving of my plier based MT from my pocket to my car. I haven't pocket carried a full sized MT now for many months and dare I say it (gulp!) I haven't missed it not being there at all. This is because I have realised that what I actually need every day is very limited, so a folder or SAK twinned with my trusty GasBaby (that dude is going nowhere!) does enough for me. I am no longer the walking toolbox I once was!

Another thing that has changed for me over the past few months is my "pickiness". For those that remember me, you will know that the most minor of flaws in a tool (blade play for one!) used to bug me beyond belief. So much so in fact, that some things (my Cold Steel Ti-lite for example) never got used as the little niggles ruined it for me. This was the old me. I think in my time away I have gained a little perspective and I am now enjoying tools/knives etc a lot more as I am just using them as intended, not faffing around with the minor things.

But maybe my biggest change (and actually what inspired me to write this thread) is I am more realistic. No, nothing to do with tool needs, but legality. I have discussed the legality of carrying pretty much everything and have enjoyed doing so very much, but in the end, for me at least, all it did was breed anxiety. I now worry far less about what I carry and 'use my loaf' rather than measuring my blades to ensure they aren't a single mm over the 3" allowed length. It can, and has in some cased, all got too much IMO. What really put me into perspective on this was a thread that I read on another forum about the legality of carrying a pencil sharpener as "surely the blade inside could be classified as a concealed fixed blade". This is utterly ridiculous.

Now I'm not saying 'all grab ya folders UK guys and head into the streets', but what I am saying is, sometimes a sensible head is required. Worrying about the "fixed blade" in a Swisscard, for me at least, is just too much. Be sensible, stay safe, and like me some of you may enjoy your collections just that bit more.

This is Ben on a random thought process this morning, signing off.

getahl · **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2011, 02:14:17 PM

Welcome back!

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2011, 02:17:46 PM

Yeah I did much the same with my MT's

Now I just carry a SwissTool in my Lunada, and just pretty much carry a Swisschamp or Farmer now

As for the legality issue, well I'm afraid I'm just as nurotic about that as ever

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2011, 02:21:25 PM

The nice thing about a SAK over a dedicated folder isn't just the extra features- it's almost impossible to convince a jury that you were up to no good when you are carrying a SAK, while a one handed opening tactical folder made of the latest ninja killing steel and emblazoned with the name "DETHTRON 4000" might be a bit harder to explain!

Seriously, it's neat to see how the mighty have fallen to the world of minimalism!

Def

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2011, 02:30:59 PM

All good points Benner

I had a similar awakening with tool quality a while back (there's a thread around here somewhere), and forced myself to carry a Juice CS4 for a month I think just because I hated it. I got by, and everything got done that needed to be done, I just didn't enjoy carrying it. It did "relax" my views to a certain extent though, and I'm much more tolerant of tools because of it.

On the topic of legalities I bag carry a Swisstool everyday, recently I've had a Gerber MP700 in my pocket most of the time and I've not had a problem. The main reaction that people have to these tools is inquisitiveness. On the flip side I had had strange looks with innocuous pocket knives and occasionally (from stupendously knife phobic people) had them called a weapon

If it's black it's dangerous, if it's pretty coloured it's safe, if it's wood scaled (or red celidor scaled) and traditional it's nigh on invisible.

I've sat in a hospital with medical staff and security all around eating apples with my SAK and none of the staff battered an eyelid ... but I think the knife views taken are more on the judgement of the person carrying the tool than the implement itself a lot of the time. Common sense is undoubtedly the key to what tools you use, when you use them and how you use them. Unfortunately it also calls for common sense from the viewing party too, and that's often the unknown factor

Zed · **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2011, 02:31:41 PM

Welcome back benner, TBH i mainly only carry a opinel #4 these days as very legal, and a classic on my keychain, i do back pack carry my wave that is well concealed but thats only when cycling or on long walks camping etc, i dont feel the need for a larger knife even though i love my big bucks,

paul

Dunc · **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2011, 02:32:26 PM

Things have changed a little for me too , I've moved away from my fixation with Swisstools and while they will havethat special place with me I'm finding LMs better suited to my needs .
Like you Ben I'm starting to get away from those little niggles with tools being too tight, too loose and blade play etc. after I realised you can find something wrong with just about every production multitool if you look hard enough .

I'm still a walking toolbox though

Welcome back mate

Gareth · **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2011, 03:24:21 PM

Well I've always been pretty forgiving of a MT's little quirks, just so long as it's broadly able to do what it's been designed for and it doesn't cause you physical pain when using it.

When it comes to carry though I've gone the other way. $:-\$ Since retuning to work a year and a half ago (where I use a MT pretty much every day) I now find it really hard to feel comfortable without a set of pliers on me at all times. A far cry from the SAK-happy, stay at home guy when I first joined the forum.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #8 on:** October 18, 2011, 05:29:44 PM

I've settled into a fairly consistent EDC over the last 10 months. At work, it's my Cybertimer 41 (Cybertool 41 with Timekeeper scales) and a one piece tool, currently a TTPockeTool Chopper. I use the bit driver the most, followed by the can opener, file, main blade and pliers.

Well, acutally, I use the pen prettty frequently too.

On the farm, it's a pliers based MT, usually the Charge ALX, but occasionally the Skeletool or Juice Kf4, paired with the Atwood Roid Rench (SuperPryBaby) and my blue Farmer. With that, I can handle 75-80% of the little events that pop up on the Farm.

Interestingly, as much as I like folders, they're just not as handy for me.

getahl · **Reply #9 on:** October 19, 2011, 12:24:10 AM

My EDC tools have been fairly minimal for a while now. Currently rocking an alox classic on the keychain, with a Buck 309 in my pocket. I'm a buyer, so my need for tools is nearly zilch. I've used a Phillips on one or two things in the last few months, but have otherwise not needed anything other than scissors or a blade to cut the occasional zip tie, or break down a box full of printer paper. I have a Powerlock and a few tools in my car, if need be.

Chako · **Reply #10 on:** October 19, 2011, 12:31:18 AM

Does this mean your going soft on shelf queens?

Gareth · **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2011, 01:16:53 AM

Quote from: Chako on October 19, 2011, 12:31:18 AM

Does this mean your going soft on shelf queens?

them thar are fightin' words!

Mercury · **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2011, 06:46:36 AM

While I am still carrying my Multi every day, I have slimmed down what I pair it with. There were times when I carried a Blast, Skeletool, Swisschamp, and a Folder or 2 layer SAK because I felt I may need parts of all of them. That was when I was working Security overnight and was pretty bored. In the Hotel where I work I always had to fix door locks and Safes, so I did need my tools, but not nearly to the extent that I was carrying them. I only carry my Blast now, and most of the time(but not every day) I pair it with a SAK and a Folder if I am at home.

WhichDawg · **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2011, 09:02:32 AM

sooo....does this mean a Sebenza is coming to one of us really cheap?

cerbera147 · **Reply #14 on:** October 19, 2011, 01:37:47 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on October 18, 2011, 02:21:25 PM

The nice thing about a SAK over a dedicated folder isn't just the extra features- it's almost impossible to convince a jury that you were up to no good when you are carrying a SAK, while a one handed opening tactical folder made of the latest ninja killing steel and emblazoned with the name "DETHTRON 4000" might be a bit harder to explain!

Seriously, it's neat to see how the mighty have fallen to the world of minimalism!

Def

Does Travis sell the DETHTRON 4000?