Finally have a true keychain sized EDC combo!

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

A couple weeks ago, I got a Squirt S4 in a trade.  The rivet in the scissors was a little loose, but a few taps with a ball-peen and an appropriately sized pin-punch, and it's good as new...

It came with a little leather handmade sheath that fits nicely and stays on well without a loop or strap, etc.  I also got myself a plain white Photon Freedom Micro with the 'covert' nose.  I clipped it on the split-ring on the lanyard loop of the S4, and now I have a genuine keychain sized, pocket friendly EDC combo!  Yippee!!!   

[captain spaulding]

The S4 is an awesome tool. 

[nuphoria]

Cool

No pics of the coolness?

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I'll see what I can do.  Probably won't be able to do so until this evening though.  Got a lot on my plate for today.

[Zed]

Glad you like your S4. there a very well made mini MT, since getting my p4 its not left my pocket 

[captain spaulding]

Glad you like your S4. there a very well made mini MT, since getting my p4 its not left my pocket 

(Image removed from quote.)

Where did you get that leather sheath.

[Zed]

Glad you like your S4. there a very well made mini MT, since getting my p4 its not left my pocket 

(Image removed from quote.)

Where did you get that leather sheath.

I got it from AHB (Allan) as part of a trade, i dont think these are leather but good for protecting from scratches from my loose change or while bashing away on a keychain 

[captain spaulding]

Leather or not it looks awesome. 

[kirk13]

Its bizzare how the P4 is so much nicer than the theoretically better PS4

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Leather or not it looks awesome. 

+1   

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Okay ladies and germs... here it is, a pic of my new toys.  Sorry for the delay... I've kinda had this minor  issue with my back... 

[Lynn LeFey]

Hey... that sheath looks familiar... All I made it for was to keep scratching down. Not much to look at, sadly.

And if Captain Spaulding looks REAL close, he may recognize the tool.

I'm starting to wonder what the average number of users' hands on these boards a tool passes through before finding it's final owner.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Well, the cover works great!     I've been keeping it on whenever I'm not using the tool or just goofing off with it. 

I've never been very fond of the Squirt line; I had a PS4 but gave it to my wife for her ultralight hiking kit.  The scissors on it just didn't do it for me.   But, I like this little tool a lot; for the time being it's bumped my Compact as my primary EDC pocket tool. 

[MeadMaker]

How do you like the blade on that tool Heinz?  I had to put a bevel on the flat side of my PS4 blade to help it keep an edge.  Chisel grinds have never worked well for me.

[AimlessWanderer]

Hey... that sheath looks familiar... All I made it for was to keep scratching down. Not much to look at, sadly.

And if Captain Spaulding looks REAL close, he may recognize the tool.

I'm starting to wonder what the average number of users' hands on these boards a tool passes through before finding it's final owner.

I was quite amused watching a certain Wenger Minigrip cross the Atlantic a few times on the FSOT boards  I've kind of lost track of it now though

[frugalscotty]

I've never been very fond of the Squirt line; I had a PS4 but gave it to my wife for her ultralight hiking kit.  The scissors on it just didn't do it for me.   But, I like this little tool a lot; for the time being it's bumped my Compact as my primary EDC pocket tool.

The Squirt S4 is one of my favorites. I often pair it with a Vic Waiter and my Maratac AAA. In my job I have to cut zip ties nearly every day and the S4 scissors handles this better than the SAK scissors.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

How do you like the blade on that tool Heinz?  I had to put a bevel on the flat side of my PS4 blade to help it keep an edge.  Chisel grinds have never worked well for me.

This blade issue has me in a bit of a quandary right now...  In general, I've been underwhelmed by the blades in Leatherman tools.  I really like the S4 for pocket carry, but I've had bad experiences with this same blade on other keychain sized LM tools, like my Style CS. 

So far, however, it's working surprisingly well, considering it's the same blade as the Style CS.  Right now it's plenty sharp, but I haven't put it through any tough materials yet; mostly just plastic wrap, box tape from opening parcels, etc. 

I've had issues with chisel ground blades too, and would much prefer it be a regular flat grind, but for now it's doing okay.  But, I won't be using it on anything tough, unless I have nothing else available; I'll use some other tool in those situations whenever I can.

[colt 1911]

Love the s4

[captain spaulding]

I got that S4 from another member here before it went to you Lynn.   

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I got that S4 from another member here before it went to you Lynn.   

I guess it is a small world, eh Cap?     Right now, if I want to carry one and only one tool with me, it's that sweet little S4.  Except for the corkscrew and hook, it has all the same tools as my Compact, but is half the size.  And I love the way it fits in my hand... I like it a lot better than the Style CS I gave to my wife.

[macabee]

My favoured option is a Leatherman micra and photon micro light.
The dogs smurf indeed!

[captain spaulding]

Sure is Heinz.   

[powerring]

This is a great combo.  I love the S4 and wish Leatherman hadn't discontinued it.  The Squirt and the Photon were my EDC combo for a long time until I switched to a Style CS (since it had all the functions I needed).  I have a PS4 also but the scissors are inferior to the S4 and in general I just don't like it as much.

[edcgear]

My ultimate keychain combo is:

- Squirt P4
- SAK Midnight manager (adds scissors, pen, light and true 3D philips magnetized)
- CC Pico pry bar

You're good to go on most if not all day to day home and office chores!!

[powernoodle]

My ultimate keychain combo is:

- Squirt P4
- SAK Midnight manager (adds scissors, pen, light and true 3D philips magnetized)
- CC Pico pry bar

Thats close to my current flavor, though yours has the benefit of being smaller.



My thinking is this:  for me, the P4 plus Manager combo works because the scissor that the P4 loses (relative to the PS4) is replaced by the much more precise scissor on the Manager.  The P4 also provides improved drivers (relative to the Manager).  Additionally, I prefer the Manager to the Classic and Rambler (fewer tools) and to the Midnight Manager as the light on the Midnight Manager- while usable - is very dim.  Being a flashlight freak first and foremost, the long, flat runtime and good output of the Fenix E01 are worth the cost of size and weight to me.

I only use the whistle once or twice a year to signal someone - usually my sons - but having it when I need it is worth the cost of daily carry.

The flip side of this is that something like a Classic + Photon is of course much smaller and lighter.

This just demonstrates that on this issue as well as every question we face, we are consciously or unconsciously engaging in a cost-benefit analysis.  With EDC tools, that analysis occurs on a sliding scale of size/weight on one end, with functionality on the other.  Carrying nothing is obviously the smallest and lightest kit, whereas pushing around a Sears toolbox with 2 assistants (preferably Swedish bikini models) is the most functional.  So we pick something in between those extremes, depending on what we value most.

[Note to self: investigate viability of EDC-ing a Swedish bikini model.]

I rarely go crazy small and light, simply because I don't have to.  When my attire requires, I will downsize as necessary.  Compared to the average person who has no EDC, even a Classic + Photon combo is vastly superior in comparison.

[powernoodle]

In the interest of absolute minimalism, this is as light as I would ever go.


Victorinox Classic and Photon Freedom.

[AimlessWanderer]

This is my minimalist set up

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Some nice combos guys! 

After having the little Photon for a while now, I'm wishing it were brighter.  I had a Rex that I gave to my wife, and now I'm regretting it.  I didn't like the tint or the weird beam profile, but now I'm kind of missing it; I'd rather have the Rex than the Freedom Micro.  All things considered though, the Freedom Micro does what I need, even if it doesn't get as bright as I would like.

[gregozedobe]

Some nice combos guys! 

After having the little Photon for a while now, I'm wishing it were brighter.  I had a Rex that I gave to my wife, and now I'm regretting it.  I didn't like the tint or the weird beam profile, but now I'm kind of missing it; I'd rather have the Rex than the Freedom Micro.  All things considered though, the Freedom Micro does what I need, even if it doesn't get as bright as I would like.

If your Freedom Micro is more than 2 years old it is possible that a newer one will be significantly brighter (they upgraded the LED a while back).  Also fresh, good quality CR2016 batteries can make a big difference to the brightness of these great little lights.

[badwolf]

Hey... that sheath looks familiar... All I made it for was to keep scratching down. Not much to look at, sadly.

And if Captain Spaulding looks REAL close, he may recognize the tool.

I'm starting to wonder what the average number of users' hands on these boards a tool passes through before finding it's final owner.

I was quite amused watching a certain Wenger Minigrip cross the Atlantic a few times on the FSOT boards  I've kind of lost track of it now though

I have it got it from Ashley, its a great little tool but soon to be in the trade section, off on another journey