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Off-brand October Challenge

us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #60 on: October 17, 2024, 02:44:59 AM
Day 16

No action shots, but I used the Ruike quite a bit today. Opened several packages and snugged up some loose screws. Midway through the month, I don't think it's fair to call it a replacement for the Executive, but it is a decent little knife for the price.


au Offline ReamerPunch

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #61 on: October 17, 2024, 03:01:14 PM
Day 17

Packing is the worst. :facepalm:


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #62 on: October 18, 2024, 01:25:56 AM
I would argue that moving all your stuff around is the worst.

Great work, gents! :tu:
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #63 on: October 18, 2024, 04:08:44 AM
Good luck with the move, RP.

Day 17

Trimmed the stems on this bouquet for my stepdaughter. These scissors are great!


gb Offline SurgeUk

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #64 on: October 18, 2024, 07:12:29 PM
Just showing some support  :salute:

Great pics & uses awl  :tu:

Nextool Black Knight & a bottle of "apple juice"  :whistle:
They don't like it up 'em!


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #65 on: October 19, 2024, 05:28:52 AM
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right?

Day 18

Something old, something new... posing with the OG Wave I got and cleaned up.


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #66 on: October 20, 2024, 04:34:55 AM
Day 19

Helped get the staples out of some new Halloween decorations.


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #67 on: October 21, 2024, 02:52:35 AM
Hope the move is going well, RP!

Day 20

Opened Halloween costumes with the scissors. Photo by Mrs. Roberts.


au Offline ReamerPunch

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #68 on: October 21, 2024, 09:06:25 AM
Thanks. I finally moved, so now I'm sorting through everything to find where I put everything. I've missed too many days but I already have the badge so no worries there. Nice to see your Roxon going strong. :cheers:


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #69 on: October 22, 2024, 01:23:49 AM
 :iagree: and I'm glad the move went well!
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #70 on: October 22, 2024, 02:56:16 AM
Day 21

Opening the surprise box! Where else can you get knives for just over a dollar a pound?


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #71 on: October 22, 2024, 09:36:15 AM
Sone eBay lots come close, but no cigar. :like:
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #72 on: October 23, 2024, 01:47:00 AM
Day 22

I love cooking for other people, but not so much for myself. Sometimes when it's just me for dinner I grab an MRE from the stash.


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #73 on: October 24, 2024, 01:07:39 AM
 :iagree: During the work week, I can't be bugged to do anything other than make a sandwich for lunch and microwave my dinner. How are those civvie MREs?
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #74 on: October 24, 2024, 03:45:10 AM
That brand is decent. Better than most of the other pseduo-MREs I've tried (which isn't a ton, admittedly.) The two big differences I notice between them and the genuine surplus:

1. Lower variety. I've only ever gotten crackers or tortillas in the bread slot, cheese in the spread slot, and I think three things in the snack slot (corn nuts, dried fruit, trail mix).

2. The "goo" slot (protein shake, fruit puree, etc.) doesn't exist. I think the overall calorie count is somewhat lower (not a bad thing, I'm not humping around with 100 pounds of gear) and most of their drinks are sugar sweetened instead of zero cal, so they don't have the calories to "spend" there.

Not as good as the real thing, but passable for a lazy civilian (and I'd certainly be happy to eat it if we got smacked with a blizzard or something and the power was out).

Day 23

Scissors and file helped install a hammer mod on this Skeletool CX. Still not sure how I feel about the Skeletool. I think what I really want is something halfway between the Signal and the Skeletool for office carry. 4" form factor, lose the outdoor gadgets, swap the saw for a file, and I'd be a happy non-camper. I'd call it the Secretary to keep the S theme, and because it'd be like a good secretary. Mostly stays out of the way, but handles 90% of the work around the office.


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #75 on: October 24, 2024, 11:28:04 AM
There could be a Skeletool in my future. Some of those spiffy color schemes are really eye-catching. If Leatherman added a file and good scissors to a Skeletool without substantially increasing the price, it would probably sell like hotcakes.
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #76 on: October 25, 2024, 12:46:02 PM
Day 24

Adjusted the pivot on this CRKT M-16 a bit looser for easier opening with the tab. I don't think I've ever had a knife that was easier to flick open then use the stud.


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #77 on: October 26, 2024, 06:22:31 AM
Day 26

Ruike opening a Jarritos.


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #78 on: October 26, 2024, 03:02:14 PM
 :like: :drool: I'm gonna look for that when I make the Saturday Meijer run!
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #79 on: October 27, 2024, 06:33:20 AM
Day 26

Very busy day for the Storm. Cutting rope, opening packages, bending wire. Closed down the camper for the season, and didn't get a chance to pause for a pic during the work. Here it is with the strop tonight when I touched up the edge a bit.


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #80 on: October 28, 2024, 01:28:28 AM
Day 27

Apologies for the pseudo-repeat, but I spent a good chunk of the day working on the M16. In the end I removed the broken/modded LAWKs "washer" replaced it with a "regular" one from the hardware store up the street. I had to dremel out the center a bit wider, but that wasn't too bad. Put it back together a couple different ways and found one that locks up tight and opens and closes smooth. Kind of a pain in the butt, but it's always nice to take something apart and tweak it. Really feels like "my" knife now. Awlso touched up the edge. Looking forward to carrying it.


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #81 on: October 29, 2024, 01:18:36 AM
Day 28

Ruike opened up this telescoping lantern/speaker. It's gonna go on the porch to play spooky noises and help the trick or treaters find their way on Thursday.


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #82 on: October 30, 2024, 12:23:06 AM
I haven't had trick-or-treaters in probably at least a decade. But it sounds like the lantern could help keep the little sprogs safe. :tu:
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #83 on: October 30, 2024, 02:35:57 AM
Apparently it's a big deal in our new neighborhood. I guess we'll find out.

Day 29

Peeled an orange with the hook cutter. Gotta test it out if it's going to be an Executive replacement. It sliced well, but the orange was pretty tough. I think that's the fruit's fault, not the knife's.


us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #84 on: October 30, 2024, 10:26:48 AM
Looks like a webbing/cord cutter or a gut hook. Pretty neat take on the combo tool! :tu:
USN 2000-2006

Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #85 on: October 31, 2024, 02:18:31 AM
Day 30

End of challenge glam shot. It's late here, I'll post my thoughts tomorrow. All in all, I think both tools are passable, but not sure I'd go so far as to recommend either.


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: Off-brand October Challenge
Reply #86 on: November 01, 2024, 12:01:42 AM
Alright, thoughts on these tools before I move onto black carry month.

Ruike S31

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

As I said at the start of the challenge, this has gotten trotted out as a potential Executive replacement ever since Victorinox discontinued them. It is not. It only has like half the tools! That's not to say it's a bad knife. I like the nice deep belly on the main blade. The cutting hook is great for opening packages and oranges both. The screwdriver is a larger head than the Executive, which I think is a small win overall. The scissors are a resounding meh. They jimped handle isn't super comfortable and they're passable cutters. I miss the nail file, T&T, etc. If you don't like the nailfile and want something bigger than a Classic/Rambler, there's a niche there. It's cheaper than the Rambler, which is something. Good construction, holds an edge well. Certainly the best "off brand" knife in this category I've ever used.

Roxon Storm

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  
(Curl for scale)

The scissors are really the story here. They're good scissors. Sizable, cut well (maybe not quite as well as the Vic scissors, but the size makes up for a lot), and comfortable to use. But they're big. They push the tool into the size/weight category of something like a ST300 or Swisstool (not Spirit). The size and variety of the other tools isn't up to those kinds of standards, so you're left with a light duty tool in a heavy duty form factor, with a pair of scissors added on. Again, that's not an unreasonable niche, but it is bit niche. The tools all worked well. I admit that the saw issue is probably more because I tried to cut up a pumpkin (it worked great on actual wood) than any fault by Roxon. And they had the best warranty experience I've ever gone through. New tool with minimal fuss in under two weeks, and I got to keep the old one, which I was able to repair with nothing more than a screwdriver.

Both of these are very acceptable tools. At the price point ($25 for the Ruike and $45 for the Storm) they're very strong in their respective categories. If you want something different, a specific toolset, or are looking for something more budget friendly they'll do great. As a basic EDC, I think some of the more established options offer a more well rounded choice.
« Last Edit: November 01, 2024, 12:08:07 AM by BPRoberts »


 

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