Inexpensive keychain tools from N. America

[american lockpicker]

Heres some reviews of an EDC keychain and some tools I have. All the tools are made or assembled in either Canada, USA, or Mexico.



US Shelby Co P-51

Originally made for the US Military to open ration cans. This tool is very useful can be used as can opener, large flat screwdriver, letter opener and has many other uses. Theres an earlier version called the P-38 which is smaller and more versatile but the P-51 is easier to use as a can opener. It cost me $2 new at a local Army/Navy surplus store.





Here I use it to turn on a whole house fan. A P-38 fits perfectly but this was too big so I had to use the corner.



Here I'm opening a can of soup(I know I could have pulled the tab but its a can opener review...)



Key-Bak

This is an important tool if you lose things easily. Its made in Ontario, California(same city where Maglites and Phoenix Arms pistols are made) and assembled in Mexico. It costs around $15 at a local locksmiths shop.









Craftsman 9-4160 4in1 Screwdriver

This is a nice and cheap way to carry an assortment of flat screwdrivers. Earlier versions are better made but at least its still made in the USA. It cost me $1 at Sears.



Here it is in use(as if you've never seen a screwdriver used before lol.)



American Whistle Corporation "The American Spirit" Whistle

Heres an obsure item also one I don't use much. The NYPD use it and its the only metal whistle still being made here.



Uncle Bill's Sliver Gripper

Heres a really good tool that I highly recommend. I use it for removing splinters, ticks and, shards of glass. The construction of this is so simple its ingenious. It cost me $5 at a woodworking store. Also its also highly recommended by General Norman Schwarzkopf. The tweezers are nice and strong not flimsy like the ones found in Victorinox or Wenger SAKs.





Sorry this photo didn't turn out better.



As you can see here its really clever how it locks together.



Maglite Solitaire

This is an outdated light but its very useful despite that. It features anodized aluminium construction, adjustable beam, uses a common AAA alkaline battery, carries a spare bulb, and its extremely inexpensive(costs between $4-7.) Its made in Ontario, CA just like the key-bak. I like this because its relatively dim(doesn't hurt night vision) and has dual uses for example it works great as a follower in a half euro Mul-T-Lock.







Leatherman Micra

This is a real handy multitool and one of the few older Leathermans thats still being made. This is an earlier USA made one. I've had the newer Squirt S4 and I prefer the micra more. They cost around $20-30.

My most used tool: the bottle opener. 



The newer ones say Leatherman Tool.



Notice how the scissors overlap.



I prefer a dedicated phllips but i like this more that the phillips bits used on the New WAVE.



The tweezers aren't great but better than SAK ones.

[Gareth]

Nice round-up ALP.

[John]

Great little tools all of them,I think the U.B's sliver gripper and the P-51 should be on everyone's key ring 

[prime77]

Great job on the the write up ALP.

[Freudian Frog]

Great little tools all of them,I think the U.B's sliver gripper and the P-51 should be on everyone's key ring 

+1.

Man, that's the laziest post ever... I mean this +1ing stuff... *snickers*

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Great write up mate

[Sazabi]

Great little tools all of them,I think the U.B's sliver gripper and the P-51 should be on everyone's key ring 

+1.

Man, that's the laziest post ever... I mean this +1ing stuff... *snickers*

+2  Nice write up, AL.   And like John and Frog say, I too have a pair of sliver grippers and a P-51 on my keychain; of course, there's also a Rambler, an E01, and a salvaged Victorinox bottle opener on my keychain, too, but they all work together co-operatively. ^.^

[John]

Great little tools all of them,I think the U.B's sliver gripper and the P-51 should be on everyone's key ring  

+1.

Man, that's the laziest post ever... I mean this +1ing stuff... *snickers*

+2  Nice write up, AL.  And like John and Frog say, I too have a pair of sliver grippers and a P-51 on my keychain; of course, there's also a Rambler, an E01, and a salvaged Victorinox bottle opener on my keychain, too, but they all work together co-operatively. ^.^

Talking of bottle openers I need to get one of these Ti key bottle openers  



Oh and a similar set up 

[Benner]

Nice round up ALP  and I agree with all that you said apart from the tweezers on the Micra being better than a SAK's.  You been smoking something or what?    I think the most useless tweezers ever feature on the Micra.  I may do what Chrissy did to hers and make them into a pokey stick as at least I may find a use for that.

[american lockpicker]

I think they are better because they are harder to lose.

[Benner]

I think they are better because they are harder to lose.

But what about function?

[zepla]

Quote:
"I've had the newer Squirt S4 and I prefer the micra more." Why is that?

[american lockpicker]

Quote:
"I've had the newer Squirt S4 and I prefer the micra more." Why is that?

I like the bottle opener, screwdrivers and, tweezers better. The S4 does have better scissors.