Off-Brand Challenge - ETHEREALICER

WWW · **Reply #30 on:** October 12, 2015, 04:12:03 PM

I was really hoping that the scissors wouldn't suck so bad, still the one I found the more attractive was the single bladed one and it seems to perform beautifully. Looking forward for the future posts.

Etherealicer · **Reply #31 on:** October 12, 2015, 05:16:33 PM

Quote from: WWW on October 12, 2015, 04:12:03 PM

I was really hoping that the scissors wouldn't suck so bad, still the one I found the more attractive was the single bladed one and it seems to perform beautifully. Looking forward for the future posts.

Of all SAKs, MTs I've ever held, this might be my all time favorite blade.

It's obvious that Böker is a blade manufacturer, because that part they got down.
Spoiler to the final thoughts: If they work on the scissors and on that rescue-blade thingy, this tool could be a winner.

Etherealicer · **Reply #32 on:** October 12, 2015, 05:26:52 PM

Just noticed that the tip of the awl is bent... I know my desk is hard, but that is no-good.

Corwyn · **Reply #33 on:** October 12, 2015, 06:57:54 PM

Quote from: Kampfer on October 08, 2015, 07:24:27 PM

Did You test the cock screw?

WWW · **Reply #34 on:** October 12, 2015, 08:14:05 PM

Like many other tools in the market, it could be great with a few tweaks. Some flashlight manufacturers seem to be more aware of forums, reviews and etc. And try to improve based on clients feedback, I understand the cost of tooling and such but with minor improvements they could end up with a much better tool that would sell much more (IMO).

Etherealicer · **Reply #35 on:** October 16, 2015, 07:14:17 PM

Day ?: To can or not to can, that is the challenge.

Sure, the can does not need an opener but where is the fun in that. And as the City Tool does not offer one, I had to look for alternatives. First up is the blade

That was easy

I cannot see any damage to the edge. Except for some a scratches in the polished sides.

Etherealicer · **Reply #36 on:** October 16, 2015, 07:18:35 PM

The awl punched some holes, no further damage visible to the awls tip.

Another easy win. That scissor is really good at medium to heavy tasks. Sadly it became a little unhinged and bending it back was almost to easy (that scissors is just a tad on the soft side). The ege also degrade quite a bit.

shibafu · **Reply #37 on:** October 16, 2015, 11:02:46 PM

Quote from: Etherealicer on October 11, 2015, 09:36:46 PM

I will probably get the City Tool 1 (Blade only), that is how good the blade is. As for the rest, I will not give my final assessment yet, but yeah... it won't get a recommendation.

The 1 is a real winner I think. A well-made, modern sodbuster for a good price.

Etherealicer · **Reply #38 on:** October 16, 2015, 11:18:08 PM

Quote from: shibafu on October 16, 2015, 11:02:46 PM

Quote from: Etherealicer on October 11, 2015, 09:36:46 PM
I will probably get the City Tool 1 (Blade only), that is how good the blade is. As for the rest, I will not give my final assessment yet, but yeah... it won't get a recommendation.

The 1 is a real winner I think. A well-made, modern sodbuster for a good price.

Honestly, #1 is probably the best at the moment, but if Böker works on that tool line it can be great.

Etherealicer · **Reply #39 on:** October 17, 2015, 09:35:49 PM

I did a lot of cardboard cutting today (sorry no pictures). The blade that has not been sharpened yet, but has suffered quite some abuse still was doing OK. But OK is not enough, so I sharpened it a bit and it now cut like nothing again.

I might have mentioned it before, but I do love this blade

For me it has the perfect shape for a multitude of tasks. With its hollow grind its excellent for cutting. This feels much more like a premium blade than the one on my Charge. For me this is the best MT blade currently available. In fact despite not being OHO and not locking, this is my 2nd favorite blade (close behind another Böker blade).

The City Tool frame is very similar in size when compared to a 91mm SAK, so where did they find the space for that extra wide blade?
Simple, the blade layer does not have any backlayer-tools and if you look carefully, the 4th pin (which I think exists but is hidden, so this is to be taken with care) does not go through the blade-layer.

Etherealicer · **Reply #40 on:** October 17, 2015, 09:38:44 PM

Comparison shots of the Böker City Tool Blade with other MTs:

Be careful, both Charge and Surge are 1cm back!
The blade without tool is from a MP-600...

Etherealicer · **Reply #41 on:** October 18, 2015, 04:22:43 PM

Bit of a scare today, the scissor spring was incredibly weak (see how much play it has in the picture). Anyway, figured out what the problem was. When I took off the pocket-clip yesterday I put the screw back in and apparently tied it to tightly. Loosing that screw restored the scissor spring. So, while everything is good again I dislike the fact that the clip is on that critical screw.

Etherealicer · **Reply #42 on:** October 21, 2015, 10:02:36 PM

Small screw-driver VS IKEA

Have you ever been offered one of these knife sets that come in a fake-leather briefcase. The vendor will claim that the set commonly costs more than a thousand buck but due to some wild reason you have the once in a lifetime chance to get the set for 50! Truth is, the knifes are not even worth that they are complete and utter garbage. Sadly the rescue-blade sort-off reminds me of those knifes (it also has the same cross-section, see image below) making this the SAK-alike with the best and worst blade

But what about the screw-driver at its tip?
Today was the first time I used it to tighten a screw on my IKEA closet. I did not want it to close on my finger so I held it a bit different than I usually would... promptly I slipped off. Immediately, I spotted traces of wear on the driver. So, just for exercise I tightened 7 more.
In total I tightened 4 on the left side, using my right hand on this fairly easy challenge.
- I slipped off 3 times in the process

I also tightened 4 on the right side, using my left hand
- Slipping off 9!!! times
- Having the driver collaps 3 times

I had low expectations for this tool and sadly I still got disappointed

Fake "action" shot

After first screw you can already see abuse on the screwdriver

After only 8 screws it looks quite bad

zoidberg · **Reply #43 on:** October 21, 2015, 10:31:55 PM

Etherealicer · **Reply #44 on:** October 21, 2015, 11:01:11 PM

I would like to point out that the large screwdriver has done more work and harder work without showing any signs of wear! So, the large flat seems to be made of tougher material.

Etherealicer · **Reply #45 on:** October 24, 2015, 07:53:12 PM

AND NOW SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

Well, maybe not: SWIZA D04 or as I call it the Do-oh-fer

(doof means stupid in German, doofer means more stupid)
Lets hope the knife is more exciting than its name... so, first impressions.

The very first thing I saw was that it said "dishwasher safe up to 80°", now I'm properly excited. The tool is grippy and with its curve quite comfortable. At least on the scales there are no hotspots. It does however not feel as sturdy as the Boker or a Victorinox, although that is just based on the feel so utterly irrelevant.

Its got a locking blade, awl, large-screwdriver/cap-lifter, small-screwdriver/can-opener, back-layer Phillips and tweezers in the scales.

The BLADE

Typical SAK-like spearpoint blade. As for the steel I can only say that it feels soft and bends much more than a Vic blade. Not my favorite shape, also not a huge fan of the hole. The blade locks and is unlocked by pressing the cross on the scale (I wonder how long that plastic there will hold up)

The AWL

I like that they put an awl in the blade layer.

Shorter than the pioneer awl. I'm a bit worried about that prominent rim.

SAK Guy · **Reply #46 on:** October 24, 2015, 07:58:08 PM

Thank you for the first impression review!

Etherealicer · **Reply #47 on:** October 24, 2015, 08:00:11 PM

Next up is the "opener-layer"

Weirdly enough it's the can-opener that is super beefy (thicker than the Victorinox cap-lifter) and the cap lifter that is quite thin (thinner than the Victorinox cap-lifter)

Shockingly, the cap-lifter looks like a cap-lifter... It locks strongly at 90° and 180°, feels very truth-worthy at least concerning back spring retention.

This must be the ugliest tool after the Skeletool, but at the end of the day, this is not a beauty contest, so lets wait and see it perform. What I noticed however is, that the spring is much weaker than for the cap-lifter, it feels not good (probably due to the fact that the 3rd pin is much closer to the cap-lifter pivot).

Etherealicer · **Reply #48 on:** October 24, 2015, 08:00:28 PM

Quote from: SAK Guy on October 24, 2015, 07:58:08 PM

Thank you for the first impression review!

Not done yet

zoidberg · **Reply #49 on:** October 24, 2015, 08:05:02 PM

Etherealicer · **Reply #50 on:** October 24, 2015, 08:05:40 PM

Backlayer Phillips
No Sir, I do not like Sir. Funny enough I only today found out that I don't own a single Vic with back-layer Phillips

It's slightly (maybe 1mm) longer than the Vic CS... whatever back-layer tool who cares...

Yay, it has Wenger style tweezers in its scales.

They not only look better than its Vic brethren, they feel more solid and stronger. The tip is slightly angled which gives you a slightly pointy and a flat grip. Also, initial tests by my fiancee confirm that they perform better.