Revived Sos Surprise Box GAW ( US edition ).

[pfrsantos]

Here are some more photos of the small knife. I really like this guy. The size is pretty unobjectionable for just about anyone and it's got a really nice snap and opens/closes really nicely.

Not to mention gorgeous! And limited edition! And cute!

 

[IMR4198]

   USPS shipping for the box is going up the last week of April.  This would be a good time to sign up for it.  A couple of members could probably pass it around before the rate increase and find some neat stuff.  Or bring a couple extra dollar to the post office.  Best wishes.  G
 

[Alan K.]

Are you kidding me?  The rate just went up a couple of months ago. 

[Tuisto]

Man, I keep coming back to what a cool idea this whole box thing is. I'm sure even Julia had fun sitting there and poking through the box and every time I go back to it and look through it again I find something new that hadn't caught my eye before. I'm actually waiting on a Victorinox Parts Kit thingy and was going to wait until that gets here so I can fix up a few of the items in here before it goes out to the next person (hopefully the Parts Kit shows up soon!).

[AzteCypher]

My wife and my son both get a kick out of going through it.  The wife's picked a thing or two before but my son and I always find something.

[IMR4198]

Are you kidding me?  The rate just went up a couple of months ago. 

    Supposed to go up on shipping fees on April 26.  Unless something changes.  Higher fuel costs has put them in the red.  Stamps are going to stay the same for a little while, but they are rumored to increase.  Maybe a buck each for first class stamps.  A**zon shipping policies has really affected a big portion of their income at the post office. 
     Just for chuckles, I might mention that I received a parcel that was sent to me on March 13.  It started out about 60 miles away and went all around two states with about two dozen stops at different post offices and processing facilities.  Made its way to the post office about two miles from my house, then back on another loop until it went back to where it was shipped from.  They sent a notice to the original person who shipped it, and had them come to the post office there.  Wouldn't let them claim it.  Wanted a new shipping label, but wouldn't let them put one on.  Finally after some head scratching and no explanation, the box disappeared from tracking for another three days and eventually a pick-up receipt went in my battered mailbox on Werecoyote Trail.  I picked it up yestiddy.  Took from March 13 until March 25 to come 60 miles.  Ground Advantage package insured.  It easily traveled 500 miles on its circuitous journey to bring me a pair of really nice sox and a cute Nieto pocketknife.  The box had  originally been sent with a sharpie address written on the box itself, and with a label that had been printed with a computer.  The post office took off the computer printed label and then taped it back on the box again.  On top of the printed on address, which was identical.  The box was an old recycled Ama*** thing that held together rather well considering its trials.  There was no evidence that anyone had been in it.  Nobody unstapled the cardboard hanger and tried on my Alpaca sox or ripped open the sealed envelope marked Toledo that held the knife. 
Best wishes.  G
 
   

[IMR4198]

Here is the little Spanish knife.  I didn't take a sock photo. Gray Alpaka brand. Probably too warm now to wear them. Best wishes. G
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[Tuisto]

You know Gary, I actually had two similar experiences where an item that was shipped from Alabama went to Texas and Louisiana and then made it back to me, and another item that was shipped from Florida went to Texas, then Missouri, then Illinois, then to me. I thought I was hallucinating when I looked at the tracking info but I guess this isn't a one-off by the sound of your experience... I'm not sure what the deal with the anfractuous routes is but it alarms me that, in this day and age, items can be sent on such bizarre journeys.

[AzteCypher]

I wonder if it's people not paying as much attention when loading and unloading the postal trucks.  Might be that a package gets left behind and oops, there it goes to Alaska instead of Texas.   

[IMR4198]

   I have always been surprised how many members there are on here that could be eligible to receive the box, but somehow don't ever sign up for it.  It seems our European friends have a jolly old time sending the box back and forth.  The box never stays in one place very long. 
   I think I have received the box either three or four times.  I didn't want to look like I was hogging the trough.  Twice I only signed up because the box was stuck in one place with nobody next in line at all.  It was still fun, even though I was just trying to expedite the turnover.  Twice I was looking for something specific so I could use it in a challenge.  One time was for the BUCK badge.  Once for the Delemont challenge.  I think that is right.  I had a goal of finding a Leatherman when I joined up.  I had been just observing for quite some time before that.  I was lucky enough to ring the bell with a Wingman the first time I got the box.  I jumped on that thing like a frog on a cricket. 
   I think I paid $17 and change the first time I shipped.  Bought some tape at the Dollar Tree.  Boxes and labels are free.  Hard to find a new L-Man for the investment of around $18.  I carried it today as a matter of fact.  There have been a bunch of nice multi tools being donated and grabbed lately.  I have seen several really nice Gerbers in the "What I kept" photos.  CASE knives.  Lots of other good things.  Now it will cost a little more to get in the game.  Maybe as high at around $24 to ship.  Think of it as buying a lottery ticket that has a guaranteed return of more than the investment.  If you don't take a single, solitary thing out of the box, it is still a bunch of fun to get this thing and unstack the items and look at them.  Throw in something you would like to share (and this is ONE sharing place). 
    I'm still scratching my head on this one.  Best wishes.  G
 

[WECSOG]

No wonder they're in the red for fuel costs.
Last time I had the Box, the tracking didn't even work when I sent it out. I have a couple of family members and a few friends who retired from USPS, so I have somewhat of the inside story of what goes on there. Bottom line is that regardless of what you pay for priority, registration, insurance etc, your package will either arrive or it won't. End of story.
It may arrive in two or three days, a week, a month, or never. Tracking may work, or it may not. Or it may work for awhile and then quit working. Either way, even if it never shows up, you won't be paid for the insurance. You won't even be reimbursed for the shipping cost.
A retired postal supervisor told me that in 30+ years of working for USPS, she never saw anyone get paid for an insurance claim. Not once. She also told me that postal employees are not even trained on how to handle insurance claims.

The post office makes a big deal about their claim that they are not a governmental entity (although a lot of them act like they've watched way too much "Law And Order"). But there's no way a private company that's not backed by the federal government could be that inefficient and negligent, and get away with it.

[Tuisto]

Well, there's also just the possibility of a hand-to-hand handover (lotta hands in that sentence). There seems to be a disproportionate number of board members in a ~200km radius of me.

[IMR4198]

   I'm surprised to hear you offering that as a possibility.  As high as gasoline is right now, especially.  The Aussie members used to do that before they stopped circulating the box and it evidently disappeared into an alternative universe.  They would get together and take photos and have a lunch or something.  I think the Finns did that a time or two with the EuroBox.  Best wishes.  G
 

[AzteCypher]

You know, that's not a bad idea.  I know there's some folks around me that visit the forum so maybe I can reach out to them and ask if they'd like to get together to take a gander at the box with me.

[Adam5]

Okay, so these are the items that immediately called to me. The Pocket Wrench was an item that I'd wanted for a while now and had been perusing the secondary market(s) for and I'm so glad there was one in the box! I've also always been curious about the little rescue/emergency derma-safe razor blade thingy. I'm still perusing the box and will in all likelihood pull a few more things out. What a cool idea this box is!

Excellent!

[Alan K.]

 
I would love to see a couple more people get the box before the rate increase at the end of April.  I'd be happy to take it second, if anybody else wants to take it first. 

[Tuisto]

   I'm surprised to hear you offering that as a possibility.  As high as gasoline is right now, especially.  The Aussie members used to do that before they stopped circulating the box and it evidently disappeared into an alternative universe.  They would get together and take photos and have a lunch or something.  I think the Finns did that a time or two with the EuroBox.  Best wishes.  G
 

Yeah, for sure, I'm willing to go about 200km from where I currently am if anyone wants to meet up in the middle!

[Alan K.]

I have received the surprise box six times since Sos started it. Three times in 2023, once in 2024, and twice in 2025.  I found new and interesting items in the box every time thanks to the generosity of this community.  It started out as a small, flat rate priority box and Sherry had intended that each recipient would take one item and send it to someone else until the box was empty.  Instead, everyone added to the box until it grew to a medium flat rate box that weighed close to 11 pounds.  I encourage anyone who hasn't had a chance at the box to sign up for it.  You never know what you might find.  The cost to whoever gets it is that you have to send it to the next person, and the shipping is going up another $2.00 at the end of April. 

[Alan K.]

I received these in 2025.  Whatever you find, it's fun going through the box and seeing what's in it.  Whatever you keep is likely to be worth a lot more than the cost of shipping it to the next person.  I'd really like to see someone who hasn't had the box before sign up for it.  If nobody signs up for it in the next couple of days, I will happily take another turn.

[Tuisto]

There are definitely some very good goodies in this box just waiting for someone!

[AzteCypher]

I've had it 6 times as well.  Is it bad that I've kept a spreadsheet documenting who's had is since I joined MTO?  Please don't judge me....   

My son and I have always found several cool things in there.  Even the wife has perused here and there and picked a thing or two.

[Alan K.]

I think I've actually had the surprise box more than 6 times, but I lost a lot of pictures when my previous computer died suddenly. 
Pretty sure this Case Mini Trapper and this Spyderco Dragonfly were surprise box finds, and there was an insulated bottle carrier that my mom took.

[WECSOG]

I've had it twice. At some point I'll probably throw my name in the hat again; but I'll let it circulate a bit more for now.

[IMR4198]

    Seems like you got a military TL-29 out of the box, WECSOG.  I spent some time cleaning it up some.  You wouldn't believe the condition it was in before.  Looks like our friend Alan kept a TL-29 type from the box.  I got a Craftsman civilian copy from the box myself.  One of my favorites.  Best wishes.  G
 

[Alan K.]

I couldn't help myself. I just like the TL-29 type knives. Got two of them out of the surprise box.  Also checked my records and the pink digital camo Case trapper did not come from the surprise box.  I actually bought that for some reason.

[WECSOG]

    Seems like you got a military TL-29 out of the box, WECSOG.  I spent some time cleaning it up some.  You wouldn't believe the condition it was in before.  Looks like our friend Alan kept a TL-29 type from the box.  I got a Craftsman civilian copy from the box myself.  One of my favorites.  Best wishes.  G
 

Yes, I did Gary. Thanks! You did a good job on it. 

[IMR4198]

     There was still plenty to do with it.  The screwdriver was a mess.  It is still a great old Camillus.  I got bored and worked on a few of the knives in the box.  Cleaned up some and repaired a couple.  I think there was a Klein TL-29 in the box one time.  I don't know who got it.  I put a lanyard on the Craftsman that I kept and carry it now and then.  Including yesterday. 
Best wishes.  G
 

[WECSOG]

     There was still plenty to do with it.  The screwdriver was a mess.  It is still a great old Camillus.  I got bored and worked on a few of the knives in the box.  Cleaned up some and repaired a couple.  I think there was a Klein TL-29 in the box one time.  I don't know who got it.  I put a lanyard on the Craftsman that I kept and carry it now and then.  Including yesterday. 
Best wishes.  G
 

I have that one and one more, also a Camillus. I would like to find one of another brand, such as Cattaraugus. I have a couple of Catt 225Q Quartermaster's knives. I got one of those for $25-30; the seller volunteered to sell it that cheap because the included sheath was left handed and had some scratches on it!  I didn't bother pointing out that they all came with a left handed sheath. Also, the scratching was the original owner's name and unit number.