Sharps: For the move

Over the weeks and weeks it took us to execute our household move, hundreds of times I reached for a folding knife or a multi-tool. Since the bulk of my sharps were packed away, only three saw duty.

Most often I pulled a Victorinox Farmer from my pocket -- no surprise to regular readers. From cutting cardboard and tape to removing a handful of wood screws securing a dinner bell to a door frame, this knife was unremarkably competent at everything I asked it to do.

If I have one complaint, it's that it takes two hands to open the Farmer -- but that's picking nits. Truth is, I could've unpacked a Bundeswehr or a new Soldier if I'd really wanted a one-hander. The bottom line is that the humble Farmer turned in a predictably solid performance.

I got up one morning a few weeks ago knowing that I'd be pulling a lot of RG-59 cable from the joists in our old house, and a multi-tool seemed right for that job. I clipped a SOG Paratool to my belt -- not my first choice, but it happened to be the only multi-tool that wasn't already buried in a box -- and headed down to the basement.

It didn't take long before I wished that I'd gone digging for my Leatherman Wave instead. The SOG's pliers proved plenty capable of twist-breaking dozens of cable ties and snipping the occasional wire, but whenever I needed to deploy a knife blade or a screwdriver tool, I was reminded how bloody inconvenient (and borderline unsafe) the Paratool is. I really want to love the American-made SOG, but I can't.

Note to self: Either sell the Paratool or pack it away.

I'm going to mention my new Benchmade 551 Griptilian here, even though I've been using it for less than a week. This is one excellent folder -- solid, sharp, smooth, well-designed and comfortable. Especially at its price ($63 street), in my opinion the made-in-USA Griptilian deserves consideration as a truly great knife.

No, my big orange Grip doesn't sport pliers and it can't turn screws. All the same, it's earned a place in my EDC rotation. It's a keeper.

I did, by the way, think about carrying and using a small fixed-blade during the move but decided against it. Maybe next time.

As for when "next time" might be, if it's a hundred years before we move again, it'll be too soon.

Ravelings

Self-described independents (36%) now outnumber both Democrats (35%) and Republicans (23%), according to a study released yesterday by The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. The GOP continues to hemorrhage allegiance in every way imaginable and, adding insult to partisan injury, accounting for independent "leaners" widens the gap from 35%-23% to 53%-36%.

I recommend downloading a pdf of the full report here. Its 165 pages are chock-full of fascinating snapshots, trends and analysis -- no one does this kind of stuff better than Pew.

Pres. Barack Obama gave a fine speech on national security yesterday, but he should've stopped short of characterizing the very existence of Gitmo as a recruiting tool for terrorists -- that, in my opinion, was one bridge too far. Dick Cheney followed with a predictably cranky rebuttal -- best summed up as, "I'm right and you suck" -- which served only to make this President look even more like the right guy for the job.

Draining the Guantanamo Bay swamp, whether it happens sooner or later, ultimately will mean bringing current Gitmo detainees onto U.S. soil, into U.S. supermax prisons. No argument I've heard opposing the transfer (collusion, escape, etc.) passes the laugh test, much less the smell test. We're simply seeing the latest example of NIMBY -- "not in my back yard" -- and nothing more.

Even as I support all necessary and lawful efforts to fight terrorism -- and I do -- I also must acknowledge that there will be prisoners and there likely will be trials. My patriotism instructs me to accept a citizen's share of the risk of defending my country, and if that means incarcerating suspected terrorists in my back yard, then so be it. If we need to build more or more secure prisons to hold them (which would cost money, by the way), then let's get on with it.

On September 11, 2001, we learned that we no longer live on an island, and yet many Americans continue to act as if the fight against terrorism can be kept conveniently beyond our borders and out of our sight. That attitude, exemplified by NIMBY, is naive and, in my view, something less than patriotic.

The Nissan Cube might just be the ugliest car I've ever seen, replacing the Pontiac Aztec at the top (or bottom) of my personal list. In case you haven't seen the itsy-bitsy Cube, it looks like a Scion xB (which is pretty fugly itself) that was left out in the sun and started to melt. It's wretched.

If these things catch on, I'm packing up the wife and spawns and we're moving to Montana -- the Apocalypse is coming.

General Motors is expected to be shepherded into bankruptcy next week. Although the Obama administration is trying to tamp-down the rumors, some reports say that under the plan GM would get another $30 billion from the government (from taxpayers, that is). It's important to grasp two truths: 1) in or out of bankruptcy, GM no longer is a viable commercial enterprise; and 2) a GM bankruptcy would deal a brutal, disastrous blow to our economy.

There's no silver lining here, no reason for optimism, informed or otherwise. We can stop kidding ourselves -- this will be bad.

Sharps is a recurring theme here on KintlaLake Blog, so it shouldn't surprise regular readers that the only item on my Father's Day wish list is a knife -- a plain-edge Benchmade 551 Griptilian, either in orange or OD. Griptilian folders are solid, American-made knives, widely regarded as some of the best values out there.

I'm on my best behavior, my fingers firmly crossed.

Speaking of Griptilians, the one I'd really like to get my hands on is a 552, otherwise known as the RSK Mk1. It's the result of a collaboration with Doug Ritter of Equipped To Survive, a classic example of making a good design even better. And even though it's a good bit more expensive than a 551 ($118 street vs. $65), the Mk1 is still surprisingly affordable.

Visitors to our national parks soon will be allowed to carry concealed weapons, given a valid state concealed-carry permit. Ordinarily, Mrs. KintlaLake and I loathe eleventh-hour amendments to unrelated legislation -- Congress approved the concealed-carry provision this week as part of a bill reforming the credit-card industry -- but in this case we'll gladly make an exception.

For everyone who supports the Second Amendment and believes in individual citizens' right to personal defense, this is a satisfying win.

My community's Memorial Day parade will take place at 9am on Monday morning. I'll be there, rain or shine, and I suggest that everyone reading this blog do the same in their communities.

Remembering our nation's fallen warriors is what this holiday is all about. As a free People, we should consider it our solemn obligation to honor those who sacrificed their lives for Liberty.

Update: Benchmade 551 Griptilian

The more I use my new Benchmade 551 Griptilian, the more I like it. The only time that I haven't had it clipped to my pocket recently was while attending a school function with our younger spawn last night.

The knife wasn't quite perfect right out of the box, however.


The orange-handled Grip came with a steep bevel and a surprisingly toothy edge. It was plenty sharp enough for my moving purposes -- I'd call it a "utility edge" -- but it was considerably cruder than what I'm accustomed to seeing from Spyderco or SOG, for example, or even from humble Victorinox.

Now I could've returned the knife to Benchmade, taking advantage of the company's "LifeSharp" service. Instead, I decided to tackle the job myself. I wasn't interested in re-profiling the edge -- I wanted only to refine it more to my liking.

First, I tacked a strip of 1500-grit wet-dry sandpaper to a mousepad and drew the blade across the abrasive surface about two dozen times. I followed with 2000-grit paper, and by the time I'd finished the edge was shiny and the "shoulders" of the bevel had been eased -- a good start at taking the flat-ground Benchmade in the direction of a convex edge (which it'll become over time).

Finally, I stropped the edge on the back side of an old leather belt (no compound) 'til it would push-cut newsprint easily.

Benefitting from 30 minutes of careful attention, my big Grip now has the kind of edge that I prefer -- easy to maintain and serviceably keen but not at all fragile. Regular stropping should be all that's necessary to keep it that way.

Sharps: A good edge gets rolled

I'm still trying to sort out how I feel about Tuesday afternoon's news release from Benchmade:

Benchmade Knife Company Acquires Lone Wolf Knives
Acquisition Brings Breadth and Variety to Benchmade...

I'm glad for Benchmade, a solid company that has every reason to be proud of its success. Thing is, I'd developed an affection for Lone Wolf -- both the company and its products.

Early this year I had the pleasure of interviewing Lone Wolf Knives boss Jim Wehrs for a short-term project I was doing. His enthusiasm for the business intrigued me and his commitment to quality won my admiration. Not long afterward I bought one of his Eagle Talon "Double-Action" automatics.

To say that I'm thrilled with the knife is an understatement. Its blade is CPM-S30V stainless steel, the scales fiberglass-reinforced nylon. Pivot and lock are Swiss-watch precise. I love that it can be opened either via the auto mechanism or manually with the thumb stud.

The Eagle Talon auto is the perfect size for EDC (where the law permits). For comparison, I photographed it (ironically, perhaps) next to my Benchmade 556 Mini-Griptilian.

Anyway, back to the acquisition. I carry a Griptilian every single day and have no complaints, but when I heard that big Benchmade had swallowed much smaller Lone Wolf it gave me pause.

Even without knowing details about Lone Wolf's prospects or its financial condition, I'm saddened to see it absorbed by a larger competitor. I'm somewhat consoled, I guess, that at least it became part of another American knifemaker. I'll be interested to see what Benchmade does with the brand.

Sharps: His & hers EDC folders

Mrs. KintlaLake and I, together nearly six years now, are fortunate to share many interests. Our individual approaches to life are by no means identical, but we complement each other well.

When choosing a folding knife for everyday carry, each of us favors a mid-size Benchmade -- me a 556 Mini Griptilian, she a 585 Mini Barrage. Both are solid, relatively affordable and American-made. In terms of quality, utility and durability, neither gives ground to knives costing two or three times more.

My wife prefers the Mini Barrage's spring-assist -- convenient, sure, but in her male-dominated workplace, every time she snaps the 585 to open a box or cut a wire, she gains a smidgen of cred.

I'm content with my less-flashy (yet easily flickable) Mini Griptilian.

The missus and I also differ on how (and how often) we maintain our knives. I strop mine on a pant leg after each use and on a leather belt at the end of each day. She, ignoring my example, tends to work hers until it's hopelessly dull.

This morning I found her Mini Barrage on her dresser, the blade gummed-up with packing-tape residue, unable to even draw-cut paper. I could've taken advantage of Benchmade's LifeSharp℠ warranty service, but instead I spent an hour with sandpaper, stropping compound and bare leather, coaxing the edge back to respectability.

When I presented the result to my wife, she got a stern (but kind-hearted) lecture -- and I got a hug.

EDC revisited

Assembling an array of EDC tools is a process, not an event. My personal choices have evolved (and will continue to evolve) as my awareness, needs and abilities change.

A Palm Pre Plus and a Victorinox Farmer are holdovers, for good reason -- they work. Another phone will replace the Pre in due course but the Farmer, which lives in a leather pocket sleeve, is a keeper.

I still carry a light on my key ring (I'm constantly amazed at how often I use it) but I replaced the cheap squeezer with a Fenix E01. I did audition two other single-AAA lights -- neither holds a candle (you should pardon the expression) to the little Fenix.

An iTP EOS A3 proved less than durable and a Mag-Lite Solitaire, while American-made and sturdy as hell, is almost laughably dim compared to LEDs. The E01, in contrast, is bright and stout. It stays.

A wristwatch is an indispensable EDC item, one that I haven't mentioned 'til now. Not long ago I picked up a Casio AMW330D-1AV Dive Chrono in stainless steel, and it's well on its way to becoming my favorite watch -- ever. It's everything I ask a watch to be -- analog, accurate, water-resistant, readable (even in low light), rugged and inexpensive (less than a hundred bucks).

When I got my concealed-carry license in April, I knew that my Glock 19 would become my EDC handgun. Just how I'd carry it was far less certain.

After some experimentation I've settled on a Kydex Comp-Tac Two O'Clock IWB holster. Appendix carry isn't for everyone, I know, and (depending on how I'm dressed) I often carry the G19 at 4 o'clock in a leather OWB rig, but right now I'm liking the Two O'Clock -- a lot.

Because two is one and one is none, I carry a spare 15-round mag, weak-side, in a simple Fobus paddle magazine pouch. My defensive round: Cor-Bon 115gr JHP +P.

I'll wrap this snapshot of my EDC inventory with the plain-edge Benchmade 556 Mini-Griptilian I've been toting since July. I bought it (somewhat impulsively) at a cozy gun shop over in Morgantown and, having come to love the full-size 551 already, the Mini held no surprises -- same great knife, downsized for more convenient EDC.

But do you need it?

I know what you're thinking.

Please, not another post about his orange Griptilian.

Relax, click on that photo and look closely -- it's a new Benchmade 551, this time fitted with blades of "highly corrosion-resistant" X-15 T.N stainless steel. Otherwise, it appears to be essentially identical to other 551 Griptilians.

What surprises me most about the 551-H2O is the price -- $120, just 20 bucks more than the 154CM version. A quick check of street prices seems to indicate that the increase in MSRP translates into a $13 bump (to about $76) in the real world. Not bad.

In concept, this looks like a good upgrade, certainly a bargain. Obviously, I don't need one -- but do you?

I guess that depends.

Forget claims of collectability and the intangible CDI factor. It's like this: if you're in the habit of using a folding knife around salt water, then you might benefit from the 551-H20's additional resistance to corrosion, so go for it.

For us landlubbers, though, Benchmade's 154CM variant probably is plenty cool enough.

Every Monster energy drink I've ever tried reminds me, in one way or another, of cough syrup. And like most medicine, Monster is overpriced and, when used as directed, does the job.

It kicks my ass, every time.

Still, I have a hard time justifying the price tag -- or I did, until the Java Monster line was introduced.

I like all eight flavors, but by far my favorite is Russian Java Monster. Not only does it taste all grown up, it puts me in the mood to clean baseboards and ceiling fans and the clear plastic that covers the speedometer on my truck and -- hey Sparky, wanna go play in the creek? What day is it, anyway?

Let's face it, you want a jolt like that every now and then. But really now, do you need it?

Of course you do. Now quit stalling and just hold the ladder while I...

Just visiting

It's been difficult being away from this blog for the last few days, but our household move leaves me little spare time. I've been back on my computer (which is still at the dry house) since early this morning, all of that time spent on a consulting assignment -- a very good thing, and great fun besides.

The move itself is going well enough. We're almost to the point where we need a truck, maybe two -- one with strong-backed movers for a few heavy items, another for big chunks we can schlep out ourselves. That'll happen over the next two or three weekends.

In the midst of semi-organized chaos, yesterday was a four-knife day.

First, my bargain-basement Spyderco Endura II came back from its factory visit with a fresh edge. I also now have a pair of brand-new Barkies to review -- a Gunny handled in California Buckeye burl and a Custom Micro Drop Point in black canvas Micarta with red liners. And I got word that my long-awaited Father's Day present -- a Benchmade 551 Griptilian in orange -- probably will be here by the end of this week or the beginning of next.

So all is well, to say the least, but resuming my near-daily posting is about a week away.