Having just finished the April's Fool Challenge, Alan sent me over here. Can I start a day after and finish a day after, too?Let's hope so, 'cause here's my first pic:DAY 01:The 110 look-alike I'm going to use:(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)
The more the merrier I say, welcome aboard pfrs....be interested how you find that Joker knife, seem very reasonably priced but have no idea beyond that
Day 3Hanging oute with the Tidioute (Image removed from quote.)
That Kabar is cheap enough to where I actually just bought one for this challenge. One-hand opening, Buck-like, and cheap enough to be a work knife I don't have to baby. I try to avoid coated blades myself as well. They just don't age well.
I just placed a order for that Kabar folding hunter
That is what I used to do after tapatalk stopped working, but now it doesn't work anymore either Sent fra min M2002J9G via Tapatalk
Day 2. Modern (Otter Messer production) Mercator K55K "Black Cat". I have an older, smaller slipjoint version, and to my amazement, the new one is made just as well. With a 3.54" blade, it's a tiny bit smaller than the 110; plus it's about 70 years older, having been introduced in the 1890s. It is slim and lightweight (despite the stamped steel handle), as well as comfortable. The Buck 110LT and 110LT Slim Select always just felt awful in hand. They were comfortable, but not the same balance or feel. The Mercator still feels well balanced, is strong (lockback and 3mm blade!), is slim, and is carbon steel. Perfect for a work knife and lightweight, but hard use (and affordable!) EDC that doesn't weigh me down. (Image removed from quote.)The small Mercator probably dates to the 1950s. The tang stamp is "KAUFMANN SOLINGEN", not Mercator. Hy. Kaufmann was the original manufacturer from the 1890s up through the 1990s; when Otter Messer bought them out. The knife advertises Samson Cordage Works's Bellingham, WA office. In the 1980s, they moved the HQ from MA to the Bellingham office. They're still in business to this date; and seem to be one of the major producers of synthetic rope. I actually wanted one of these instead of the big one, but the "small" model mostly just seems to be produced for European markets, as it's still complaint with most European blade laws. It's not easy to find in the States, while the K55K is a common item. https://i.postimg.cc/7hSP2NX2/KIMG4185.jpgMain uses so far today have been to open a package with some assorted stuff; as well as some various cutting chores. (Image removed from quote.)I wanted to try the Proto J-100. They've been making this version for about 5 years. I didn't know they even made them until about 3 years ago, when I came across them in a Proto Tools catalog I'd had for three years before that (and mostly just used to order handmedown sockets or wrenches I'd lost). Our local Fastenal, the Proto dealer for where I live, would've had to special order it, and that was expensive. Grainger had them back then, but showed a much cheaper, older design (between the classic 1950s J-100 that ended production in the 1990s and this revamped version was an old, ugly, and cheap Stanley design they marketed as Proto). They only updated the photo last year. They were $7 each, but I had to pay a lot of shipping. I needed some hinges to repair a barn door, and I'd lost my safety glasses (that was shipped separately); and I wanted to try a LED Pelican flashlight. So, I waited a couple of months and did a combined order. (Image removed from quote.)The Proto J-100 is just a tiny bit too big to fit a #2 Phillips screw. I am buying several more of these, and will try to file/sand one down to fit a Phillips screw. It's a great keychain pry tool, as well as screwdriver for most larger common slotted screws. It was purchased to replace my Nite Ize Doohickey, which mostly gets used as a prybar. Unlike the Doohickey, are no bottle openers or wrenches to compromise the main functions. It's also made from a proper tool steel, not mystery "stainless steel". (Image removed from quote.)I've always wanted to try a Pelican flashlight, as I heard they were hard to break. Recently, they introduced them with decently powerful LEDs. I have a weird thing for industrial flashlights, especially USA-made ones. They are usually more durable, and brightly colored. The incandescent are cheap, but dim and two hour runtimes with D-Cell batteries and constant replacement of PR6 lamps run into money. The Stealthlite 24.10 was about $45; and that's the cheapest I've seen. It's 183 lumens, and runs for just under six hours. While the Mini Maglite Pro runs for just half that, the output is double, it's also American-made and HALF the price. But then again, I'm guessing this is partially more expensive as it's designed to be "intrinsically safe". This will be my working flashlight, and it will see a lot of hard use. I prefer a larger, high-vis light. I also recently picked up the Mini Maglite Pro, which is also to be used as a worklight. Many of my multitool sheaths are designed to fit a Mini Maglite. Little pocket-size lights are easy to lose. I thought I'd lost my Olight S1R 2 trying to get a garage door with a broken spring open, and I finally found it two weeks later (when the company that put the door in got around to fixing it after sitting on the replacement spring for a week) sitting on the bed cover of my truck. My i3EOS Desert Tan is still missing. Big ones are harder to carry, and a full-size Maglite is insane to carry around, but something the size of a Mini Maglite or this Pelican is just fine. (Image removed from quote.)
Oops, i will be using a Klotzli for a week anyway Day 2(Image removed from quote.)
Well, don't know much about it, either. Got it for quite some time, but never used it much. I think I payed about €20 or less, with the sheath. It's heavier and bigger than the usual SAKs I carry and only has one blade, so... Maybe this challenge will get it out for good. It's not so smooth to deploy/close as the 110, but the lock is pretty good. No blade play, decent edge and balance.DAY 02:In breakfast duty (well, just keeping company). (Image removed from quote.)
Exactly the same case for me here! Hope you will like it, for what it's worth, I think it is has decent value. Virtually no play(just very minor side to side if I force it), solid lock up, good thumbstud action) IIRC, you could attach photo directly onto a post(but the photo may have to compile with forum spec, IIRC), maybe that's what RP mean? I think your points are sounded very valid for industrial safe equipment(such as intrinsically safe), for many years I have been a huge fan of Maglite products, until the modern led tech arise and now the choice for a good flashlight is literally limitless. I remember multiple level output used to be the sole domain of talented flashlight modders, but now it is so common that no one will blink twice about that. But for inexpensive robust flashlights, I think the Minimag with leds are really still a pretty good solid choice. Just coming off FOA challenge, this really does remind me of a 110.
Can never say no to GEC! I quite like this knife, quite well ornated!
I tried to attach pics that have been downsized through chrome, but it says no file selected Sent fra min M2002J9G via Tapatalk
Thanks! I'll try to have some pics showing more detail.
DAY 3Used it to open my new Dave Beck WSK
Just coming off FOA challenge, this really does remind me of a 110.
Day 2. The small Mercator probably dates to the 1950s. The tang stamp is "KAUFMANN SOLINGEN", not Mercator. Hy. Kaufmann was the original manufacturer from the 1890s up through the 1990s; when Otter Messer bought them out.
Day 4I cut the little cord that they use to tie the chicken legs together. My hunter may not be the prettiest, but it sure is sharp.(Image removed from quote.)
@comis That is exactly the same I've done but when I choose the resized file or won't show in the attachment "field".Sent fra min M2002J9G via Tapatalk
Almost identical, just really the blade pin and tang stamp thats off, i like Klotzli knives so i don't want to say it's a Buck 110 clone but..it's a Buck 110 clone I have an old clasp lock Merc that would probably be fine in this thread, i will give it a few days later Day 3(Image removed from quote.)
Day 3: Started with Schrade's 6OTX. This was produced in 2003 only, and was to be replaced in 2004 by the 7OTX, which had a more sensible looking blade and thumb studs instead of the thumb disk. Schrade beat Buck to the punch with a lightweight, slim model based on a traditional brass-frame lockback folding hunter by 15 years. But, the blade shape is awkward. My plans at the time I bought it were to strip the heavily worn coating and use some red enamel engine paint to redo the handles. (Image removed from quote.)It is missing a pocket clip, which I ordered a (factory leftover) replacement for today. That wasn't a problem, as the knife was just like $8 or $9 if I recall. I don't have any screws that fit, but needed to buy a thread/pitch gauge, and will see what thread it is, and check with the local Fastenal if they have any the same length and thread. (Image removed from quote.)I first opened the safety glasses that shipped seperately from the stuff I showed Sunday. (Image removed from quote.)And the Kabar 3189 later on: It's decently well made for $20, but the blade has a tiny bit of wobble and the G-10 handles aren't exactly even along the spine. (Image removed from quote.)The only thing I don't like about the 3189 is the clip. Buck's 110LT is tip-up, while the 3189 is clip-down. Despite the imported origin of the Kabar, I like the Kabar better. The plastic handles I was never able to mesh with. Never got why Buck didn't just put a one-hand opener blade in an (existent) aluminum frame slim 110. (Image removed from quote.)Heck, this is almost perfect except for the lack of a one-hand open blade (and the fact it just recycles a Spitfire clip instead of the LT model's deep-carry clip). (Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)Later in the day, I did switch to the 3189. I had to find a couple things in an old back room in the basement; which over the years served as both a coal storage area and a cellar. That room is dimly lit, so I grabbed the Stealth-Lite. I'm liking it a bit more. I like its switch (which also locks on or off) and I dropped it three times onto concrete, which did nothing other than shut the light off (which I suspect is part of the intrinsically safe features).(Image removed from quote.)Found an old vise I think will be perfect for knife repair. Hard to believe I never noticed it all these years. It's a Columbian Vise Co; model 3 1/2"(Image removed from quote.)
DAY 03:Preparing lunch once more.(Image removed from quote.)
Hmmm...that's beyond me. Maybe asking in the Q&A would help? Wow, that's the 'Tracker' blade, right? Curious how well this will work. Yes from Dave Beck Enjoy the 3189, for what it's worth, I think it is a decent tool. IIRC, there is not a day goes by where I don't see food in a challenge, keep em' coming!
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