Heres a look at my recent adventures in key ring tools.
It started a while ago with the launch of the Bear Grills tools from Gerber.And no,before anyone asks,I didnt buy one.But the good advice and info here did make me look at a Gerber Clutch...
Now I have stated before here that Gerbers just dont do it for me,but having said that I'd never owned one,and a quick hunt around tinternet pointed outthat £15 or so would see a Clutch landing on my doorstep.
So £15 later....
I had a Clutch and I have to admit it wasnt as bad as I'd expected.It has a fair selection of tools,pliers,knife,file,philips and flat drivers,plus tweesers.Tools have a reasonable snap to them,althought theres is a bit of a technique to deplying the tools without breaking a fingernail!
Its reasonably light and compact,but in truth I think its a wee bit heavy for carrying on a keyring.In use its ok...the blade is fine for bashing down cardboard boxes,and if your like me and bit your nails compulsively,the file doesnt let you down.While the drivers arnt bad,you do feel the tool twist when applying torque.Its not too bad,but it is disconcerting.
I lent it to a couple of couple of workmates who use MTs and there observations matched my own.
As I explained in a previous post I gave the little Gerber to friend at work who needed a tool.
As it turns out he loves the tool and the freedom it gives,being able to take on tasks with out having to beg for a tool.Hes now looking at buying himself a full sized LM
Its funny though.As much as the Clutch wasnt the greatest tool in the world,it did have lots of character,and I found myself missing the little thing.So rather than get another Clutch I thought I'd try its sucessor,the Vise...
Again the Vise cost around £15,but man what a difference!The Vise is slightly smaller,gains a serrated blade at cost ot the file.The flat screw driver/bottle opener has morphed in to one that straddles the back springs.The smooth scales of the Clutch are replaced with what looks like anodised metal,with poorly fitting inlays.All in all,I wasnt impressed.It felt cheap.
Anyway,a few days later I had my annual review at work(waist of smurfing time,but anyway...).As part of the conversation,my gifting of the Clutch came up,with my line manager remarking have useful it seemed.Now having done his job in the past,I dont quite understand have anyone gets by without a MT,and I said as much.
Anyway moments later the Vise went the way of the Clutch....
I decided that I wanted another Clutch,and in the search came across a SOG Crosscut...and as usual thanks to good advice here,I ended up contacting WH867 about a Crossgrip(and Cheers mate your a gent
).
So after a few days of waiting it was
!
OOOHH its pretty!It is very old school,much the same generation as the LM Micra I'm guessing,but has a neat little blade,very nice file,neat combo tool(small driver and bottle opener)and very neatly packaged tweesers and a mini flatformed philips.The casing is maked out in in inches and centimeters.
In use the compound pliers are just awesome,but the other tools dont lock anywhere near as securely as the do on the Clutch or vise though.
And a few days later
The new Clutch arived,a red one this time(its not pink,no seriously its NOT pink!ok?)
So in reflection what do I think?Whats best?
In all honesty,a LM Squirt PS4....its more solid,has pliers and scissors and a sexy anodised finish...but they are damned expensive for what they are.
The Vise I just wouldnt recomend,its just too cheap,it dosnt feel good in the hand and it will ended damaging whatever else thats in your pocket.Maybe the BG version corrcts these shortcomings but its a hell of a price when you can get a LM Kick for much the same price(of any multitude of SAKs)
The Clutch isnt great,but it has charactor and it does feel good it the hand.It aint perfect,but I cant help loving it.
The SOG has kinda redeamed SOG for me(I had a Power Assist for a very short while and couldnt get on with it).It is flawed,but the pliers are simply awesome,and its despite its short comings a lovely bit of kit.
So in the end,yes the PS4 is better,but twice as good £ for £?Well no.None of them fit well on keyrings as theyre too heavy,but the Clutch and the SOG do punch well over they're weight.Sorry I cant choose between them.
Thank smurf for rotating EDC
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