The Challenge of Champions in 2022!

[kamakiri]

This ‘67 Hoffritz is going to participate. Good enough to use as-is.

.

[BPRoberts]

Champion Plus reporting for duty!

1. What's the easiest way to get pics on the forum? Phone>Computer>Forum seems like it's going to get tiring doing daily.

2. Is the inline Phillips sticking out more than it should? The full head is exposed, which isn't true on any of my other knives. Anything I can do about it?

[kamakiri]

Champion Plus reporting for duty!

1. What's the easiest way to get pics on the forum? Phone>Computer>Forum seems like it's going to get tiring doing daily.

2. Is the inline Phillips sticking out more than it should? The full head is exposed, which isn't true on any of my other knives. Anything I can do about it?

I upload directly from the phone after resizing to be under the max byte size. Otherwise I host it elsewhere like Flickr to post higher res pics.

The newer styles of inline Phillips with any of the clear mag bezel stick up a few degrees more than the older, longer style that went with the gray mags. Looks normal to me. The old ones were almost flush with the adjacent can opener.

[kamakiri]

I haven’t tried modifying one to sit lower, but seems possible to me while apart. Big ‘maybe’ to do it in situ.

[BPRoberts]

Thanks for taking a look. It's not a problem, per se, just one of those things that feels wrong. I guess I'll see how much, if at all, it bothers me over the course of the month and go from there.

[SteveP]

My pair of Champions is ready!

I have a (mostly) matching set, like a brace of fine dueling pistols.

Very cool!
 

[kamakiri]

Thanks for taking a look. It's not a problem, per se, just one of those things that feels wrong. I guess I'll see how much, if at all, it bothers me over the course of the month and go from there.

  You’re welcome.  Having the old style for about 33 years before getting one of the new ones also led me to think ‘something feels wrong’ about them. Functionally, they’re shorter and stubbier toward the tang so their reach isn’t as good into deep recessed screw holes like for some electronics. They also don’t fit smaller 0 or 1 sized screws as well. Came up with a mod/fix for that posted somewhere in this forum not too long ago.

Here:
kamakiri’s fix for the newer/short in-line Phillips

[hsherzfeld]

Let’s get things started!

Day 1
Used my Champion to access Thin Mints.

[kamakiri]

kamakiri - Day 1

I love my old, original 1984 Champion!

The new bevel style gray mag is how I know it was produced after the ‘84 100th Anniversary Champions…which had the last of the non-beveled gray mags. The fact that this knife was gifted to me mid-year in ‘84 authenticates it’s production in early ‘84.

Got things kicked off with some rivet inspections and reviewing an example of some re-peening and rounding work.

[Alan K.]

Day 01
Starting the Challenge of Champions while finishing up the Combo Edge challenge. I haven't used my Champion in some time and about broke my thumb nail opening the Phillips driver and the magnifying lens for this picture.  I guess it needs a bath in mineral oil.

[Fireman]

DAY 1  In this corner, we have my Champion.  I bought this around the turn of the century.  Here it is compared to my more favorite Handyman, showing off the fluted corkscrew, and flaunting its add on grip scales.  I thought it would add some traction, and it does, but I haven't found it to be better than the scales themselves.

[GA1dad]

Let’s get things started!

Day 1
Used my Champion to access Thin Mints.

Shoot yeah,,,, can't think of a better use!!!




Looks like we're off to a good start!! Great pictures everyone!!

[BPRoberts]

Day 1

Using the pen to take notes in The Green Mile for grad school.

Tools Used

Pen- Note taking

Tools Remaining
Tweezers, Toothpick, Pin, Keyring, Large Blade, Small Blade, Metal File, Metal Saw, Nail Cleaner, Wood Saw, Ruler, Fishscaler, Hook Disgorger, Scissors, Inline Phillips, Mag Glass, Bottle Opener, Flat Driver, Wire Stripper, Can Opener, Small Phillips, Corkscrew, Eyeglass Driver, Reamer, Hook, Technician's Screwdriver, Chisel

[GA1dad]

Challenge of Champions - Day 1 of 30

I get to check off two features of the Champion today. Last year the cork end cap of a favorite fishing rod fell off while fishing. I tossed it in the tackle box to be repaired at a later date. Now that spring is teasing us, it is time to repair it. The surface to be glued was quite smooth, so I used the fish scaler to score and roughen up the surface and hopefully create a stronger bond.  When I went to roughen the rod side, I realized that the shaft was protruding from the cork handle a good bit and probably was the reason the end cap came loose to begin with. Since I had the Champion in hand, I used the metal file to remove some material from the shaft and ensure the two surfaces would achieve a strong bond.

Champion C
1- Large blade                                  13- Small blade
2- Corkscrew                                    14- Can opener
3- Small screwdriver                        15- Cap lifter
4- Screwdriver                                  16- Wire stripper
5- Reamer                                        17- Scissors
6- Phillips screwdriver                      18- Magnifying glass
7- Wood saw                                    19- Fish scaler check
8- Hook disgorger                             20- Ruler
9- Nail file                                          21- Metal file check
10- Nail cleaner                                22- Metal saw
11- Fine screwdriver                         23- Keyring
12- Tweezers                                    24- Toothpick

[GA1dad]

Day 1

Using the pen to take notes in The Green Mile for grad school.

Tools Used

Pen- Note taking

Tools Remaining
Tweezers, Toothpick, Pin, Keyring, Large Blade, Small Blade, Metal File, Metal Saw, Nail Cleaner, Wood Saw, Ruler, Fishscaler, Hook Disgorger, Scissors, Inline Phillips, Mag Glass, Bottle Opener, Flat Driver, Wire Stripper, Can Opener, Small Phillips, Corkscrew, Eyeglass Driver, Reamer, Hook, Technician's Screwdriver, Chisel

Nice! I need to get a pen worked into my EDC.

[BPRoberts]

Nice! I need to get a pen worked into my EDC.

It's the number one reason I don't EDC my alox knives. I could (and probably should) get keychain pen or something, but having it right there in the scales is so convenient.

[GA1dad]

It's the number one reason I don't EDC my alox knives. I could (and probably should) get keychain pen or something, but having it right there in the scales is so convenient.

Yeah,,,, I am a fan of the toothpick and tweezers. I love having them with me. But I recently acquired an Alox Cadet and I really like it as an EDC. An alox Cadet with toothpick, tweezers and a pocket clip would be pretty ideal for me. Of course most days I carry a traditional slipjoint, so in reality I need an independent ink pen. I've thought about getting a Fisher Space Pen, but I'm not ready to commit.

[hsherzfeld]

I've carried a black Fisher space pen for years, long before I found out about SAK plus scales and their pens. So my SAK pens rarely get used.

[Alan K.]

Yeah,,,, I am a fan of the toothpick and tweezers. I love having them with me. But I recently acquired an Alox Cadet and I really like it as an EDC. An alox Cadet with toothpick, tweezers and a pocket clip would be pretty ideal for me. Of course most days I carry a traditional slipjoint, so in reality I need an independent ink pen. I've thought about getting a Fisher Space Pen, but I'm not ready to commit.

Who says you need slotted scales to carry the T&T?  You could sew your own pocket scabbard to hold and protect your alox Cadet and a space pen and also have slots for the T&T.  McStitchy made a couple that seem to have worked out.

[GA1dad]

Who says you need slotted scales to carry the T&T?  You could sew your own pocket scabbard to hold and protect your alox Cadet and a space pen and also have slots for the T&T.  McStitchy made a couple that seem to have worked out.

You are correct, of course. I never really embraced the pocket scabbard thing. I've carried belt scabbards with a few slots before, but never really cared for them either. I tend to strictly use my pockets. I'm not much of a keychain person either,, can't stand the bulk. I used to keep a placker type toothpick in my wallet,,, but haven't in a while.

[kamakiri]

Nice uses fellow Champions!

Minor day 1 update:

Mail call duty and light box breakdown and used the metal saw and files to assist with some mod work. 38 year old tool still has some teeth. Making some incompatible parts work nicely together.

[Jackpine54]

Great first day posts awl!

Day 1

My champion and sheath. I got this one in 1985 I think, been a while and I've slept since then. Today I used the can opener to free some green beans for supper.

KIMG1711.jpg (Filesize: 119.8 KB)

[SteveP]

Day 1

Kicking things off with my '83 Champion, my first ever SAK.

Not a very exciting start to the challenge as I used it for some nail maintenance - scissors and file.

Sure feels like the file has more "bite" than the ones on my Swiss Champs. It has a cross-cut pattern, but different than the one on my Champs, all of which are pre-stainless steel file. Nothing on SAKWiki about the earlier cross-cut pattern.

[kamakiri]

Day 1

Kicking things off with my '83 Champion, my first ever SAK.

Not a very exciting start to the challenge as I used it for some nail maintenance - scissors and file.

Sure feels like the file has more "bite" than the ones on my Swiss Champs. It has a cross-cut pattern, but different than the one on my Champs, all of which are pre-stainless steel file. Nothing on SAKWiki about the earlier cross-cut pattern.

Hard to say for me if it is or not. Mine has performed well over the years it was used most. But I’ve gone thru more mid-late ‘90s (usually date coded ‘95-‘96) Troubleshooters.  Those saws got heavily used and swapped out, so I can’t say objectively if they’re not as good or durable as our originals. Just gonna remain suspect for now. I might never really know, because I’m starting to primarily use newer stainless ones more and am starting to convert what I can for the users to those saws…including some 84mm.

[GA1dad]

Great uses everyone!

[hsherzfeld]

Nice uses fellow Champions!

Minor day 1 update:

Mail call duty and light box breakdown and used the metal saw and files to assist with some mod work. 38 year old tool still has some teeth. Making some incompatible parts work nicely together.

Isn’t that SAK cannibalism?

[Alan K.]

Day 02
I gave the Champion a generous application of mineral oil and all of the implements are now easy enough to open.  I'm not sure of the year of my Champion but I have the grey magnifier, cross cut file, and the saw is very aggressive and sharp.

[hsherzfeld]

Day 02
I removed a staple using the can opener.

[kamakiri]

Isn’t that SAK cannibalism?

Maybe. 

 

[kamakiri]

kamakiri - Day 2

Changed to the Champion Plus today. Used the Stainless Saw which I’ve generally come to prefer for shaping nickel silver. Used it to clean up the snipped off key ring lug for a mod in progress.

 

Also did mail haul duty. Bunch of stuff to cut open from this USPS bin.

EDIT:
Minor added task
Used Plastic Magnifier to inspect some mod work on a Troubleshooter since I can’t use it…mod it more!