Law School Graduation Pocket Dump

I received my J.D. this past Saturday and, naturally, had a couple things on my person.

A significantly slimmed version of my usual but with a few outliers...

• Wallet;
• Victorinox Summit XLT Chronograph;
• Droid X (hopefully upgrading to something new soon);
• Spyderco Para-Military2;
• Tassel; and
• J.D.

 

Spyderco Para-Military2 - Unboxing and Initial Impressions

A box arrived in the mail today.  I absolutely love boxes.

Earlier last week I was browsing the internet, as usual, and discovered that Amazon.com had a wonderful offer on the Spyderco Para-Military2.  I casually mentioned this fact to my girlfriend, Megan, and minutes later I received an email confirming an order.  Unintended, unexpected, and incredibly appreciated.

Unboxing

Over-packaging 101

As a quick aside, Amazon seems to have an obsession with over-boxing things.  They use far larger boxes than one might assume was necessary.  Perhaps my comprehension of shipping methodology is lacking...

In any event, the Para-Military2 is packaged in a little cardboard box with Spyderco logo embellishments.  Typical knife packaging for a not-so-typical knife.

Included in the box is a short pamphlet delineating the changes made between the classic version and the updated second version of the knife.  Also included in the box is, of course, the Spyderco Para-Military2.

Initial Impressions

This is my first Spyderco knife.  I've heard exceptional things about their knives but haven't had the pleasure of owning one, until now.

The first thing I noticed was the weight of the knife.  I expected it to be a bit heavier.  I must say that the lighter weight is a pleasant surprise.  After tossing it in my pocket and running some errands it was clear that the knife is going to all but disappear when clipped to my pocket.

I really like the aggressive texture on the G-10 handles.  They're very non-slip but not to the point of discomfort.  The jimping on the spine of the knife and the finger choil is a nice touch.

Golden, Colorado U.S.A. Earth; nice touch...

As I said, this is my first Spyderco.  As such, I don't have any prior experience with Sypyderco's trademark hole (although, from a legal perspective I wonder if it could be challenged alleging that it's a functional feature that hasn't acquired a strong enough secondary meaning to be eligible for trademark protection; that's beside the point, though).  From my brief experience with it I am exceptionally impressed.  It facilitates a very quick opening.

The Para-Military2 employs a compression lock.  It's a bit new for me, though, as it unlocks on the back of the knife, as opposed to the front, where one finds most liner and frame locks (encompassing most of my collection, currently).  This allows the user to close the knife without putting fingers in front of the blade.  Great design, in my opinion.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that simply disengaging the liner lock while the knife is in a slightly vertical position causes the blade to gracefully swing closed.  I love it.

The liner locking mechanism on the Para-Military2

The blade shape is pretty.  It's a nice departure from the "traditional" shape to which I have become accustomed.  It has a great point and sufficient belly for great slicing, as far as I can tell.

The Para-Military2's blade is ground from CPM-S30V steel.  S30V screams high-end.  It's a fantastic blade steel and the Para-Military2 is the first knife I'll own that's constructed from it.

The pocket clip is capable of being mounted for tip up or tip down, left or right side carry.  Straight out of the box I unscrewed it and mounted the clip for tip up right side carry.  I always carry a knife in my right front pocket and prefer tip up carry for reasons I won't get into here (I keep saying that I won't get into something here, I should start getting into it somewhere else, I think).

The Para-Military2 features a sizable lanyard hole.  I don't think I'll be using it anytime soon, but it's there if I ever want to attach something.

I really look forward to carrying this knife.  It's going straight into my pocket and isn't likely to be replaced in the near or distant future.  It's in the review pipeline behind a bunch of other things - keep on the lookout.

Flashlight Review System

In evaluating flashlights I'll be using a ten category, twenty point system.  Each category will be evaluated and scored between zero and two; zero being absolute failure, one being adequate / average, and two being exceptional.  As always, I'll try to explain, as carefully as possible, my rationale for assessing a particular score to a category.

The categories are as follows:

Design Concept

Pretty things, pretty things, pretty things.  If the flashlight looks good, sports clean lines and is unadorned with useless crap it will score well here.

Materials

Most flashlights I own are constructed of machined aluminum.  Aluminum is great.  However, there are other materials, possibly better or possibly worse, from which flashlights are constructed.  With flashlights, the material from which the lens is constructed is exceptionally important.  Durability and weight are the primary considerations here.

Fit of Parts

How well do the parts fit together?  Are there wiggles, rattles, or other undesirables?

Output

Just how bright is the flashlight (measured in lumen).  Higher outputs aren't necessarily better.  Rather, achieving the correct balance of output to other variables (e.g., intended use, flashlight size, battery type, etc.).

Also, having a single well-balanced output isn't determinative either.  Having various output levels available, and having those output levels harmonize with one another (i.e., having two output levels, one of 200 lumen and another of 250 would be far from ideal), makes a light far more well-rounded.

Runtime

How long the flashlight can maintain useful light output.  Most LED flashlights have a digitally regulated discharge meaning that the flashlight circuitry maintains the selected brightness as long as it possibly can.  This means that the flashlight's brightness won't slowly diminish with use.  However, it also means that when the batteries die the flashlight is dead; there isn't any possibility of squeezing a few seconds of useful light out of a practically dead battery as you could try with an old Maglite.  Some flashlights have a "warning" system which is indicates when the power is almost depleted.

When it comes to runtime, obviously the longer the better (at a given output).  The ability to use juice efficiently is incredibly necessary in a good flashlight.

Beam Pattern and Quality

Beam patterns are typically described in two ways: flood and throw.  Flood is dispersing light evenly across a wide area while throw is the ability to focus useful light at a distance.  Finding a good metric for flood is rather difficult.  Throw, however, is typically measured in meters.

Often, lights have to trade off between flood or throw.  Some types of lights are designed to achieve a certain result while others seek to maintain a useful balance between the two.  Alternatively, a light can be designed to adjust between various patterns (using aspheric lenses and user-adjustable focus).

The best way for me to evaluate beam pattern is to look at the purpose of the light.  If it's designed for everyday carry and general use then a decent balance is wonderful.

Beam quality measures the uniformity of the beam pattern.  Any beam has two components: a hotspot (the bright center of the beam) and the spill (the dimmer corona).  High quality beams will typically diffuse softly from hotspot to spill.  Any inconsistencies in the beam will be noted here.

User Interface

User interface can make or break a light.  If it's difficult to use it's typically not worth using.  Most LED lights have multiple discharge levels and they each feature some method of switching between the various options.  A great user interface is easy to use and facilitates arriving at the desired output level quickly and efficiently.

Grip

How comfortable is the light to hold and use in the hand?  I use my flashlights in one of two ways, typically: a hammer grip or a cigar grip.  The ability to comfortably use these two grip methods and successfully operate the light is imperative.

Here, I'll also discuss a bit of hands-free use.  Sometimes it's necessary to use a flashlight and both your hands.  These sorts of tasks require a flashlight which is designed to stay put in a certain position.  Often, flashlights have features which prevent rolling and facilitate tail-standing.  While lights don't necessarily have to sport these features to be useful, having the option available is always great.

This category will be predominantly scored on grip with hands-free use a secondary discussion not bearing too heavily on the category score.

Carry Method

How is the light designed to be carried?  Many lights feature a pocket clip.  Some lights are small enough to hang around the neck or sit comfortably in the bottom of a pocket.  Depending on how the light retails (e.g., with or without a pocket clip, lanyard, etc.) I'll evaluate and discuss how the carry method suits the light and whether it's functional and effective.

In the event that there's a light that's clearly not intended for carry on one's person I'll evaluate it based on how I would typically carry the light (e.g., in a backpack).

Carry Comfort

I'm principally looking at carrying a light everyday in a pocket and how comfortable the light is in that role.  I'll be sure to explore and explain any other carry methods that might prove useful.  If the light can't be comfortably and conveniently carried on my person in a way that I would feel comfortable stepping out the door the flashlight will receive a zero.

Rotring 600 Fountain Pen Review Updated

I'm slowly updating the first few reviews I posted so they will comport with the updated review outlines based on a 10 category, 20 point method.

In any event, I updated the first writing instrument review I posted - the review for the rOtring 600 fountain pen - such that it will comply with the updated method.  The score hasn't changed and much of the content is the same but it will be far easier to compare reviews.

It is available here, if anyone feels compelled to look at the new format as applied.

Anyway, here's a fancy picture of the 600 juxtaposed with a cup of tea and a pile of work.

Zebra F-701 Review

I've seen the Zebra F-701 in plenty of pocket dumps in various corners of the internet.  It seemed to be a relatively well-liked pen so, being me, I decided to pick one up on a recent trip to Staples.

The F-701 is relatively inexpensive as far as I'm concerned.  I paid about $7.00 for it from Staples and imagine that's about the going rate in brick and mortar stores.  Online it's typically less expensive; it is, for example, available on JetPens.com for $5.30.

Of course, I'm using the review system for writing instruments found here to evaluate this pen.

Materials:  2

The exterior of the F-701 is predominantly stainless steel.  I say "exterior" because the core of the barrel is plastic.  A few places have touted the F-701 as a poor man's tactical pen only to be berated by comments disparaging the plastic core and two-part barrel section.  I don't hold much (or any) stock in "tactical pens" so this revelation isn't too disappointing.

In any event, the F-701 is constructed from durable materials.  I haven't encountered any problems in terms of durability and don't expect to, either.

Fit:  1

There aren't any fit problems with the pen; everything is fits together well and doesn't shift when writing or otherwise.

The pocket clip can rotate a slight bit, most likely due to its design.  It's not something that is noticeable unless you're deliberately fiddling with it, but is annoying nonetheless.

Mechanism:  1

The F-701 uses a click-type mechanism.  Zebra calls it a "soft-clicking mechanism."  As far as I've read it's intended to be quieter than other click-type mechanisms.  It is a bit quieter than other pens that I have in my drawer but it's not incredibly quiet.  If you desperately need a quiet pen you should probably consider something other than a click-type mechanism.

Truth be told, I find the "soft-clicking mechanism" a bit muddy; it doesn't have as crisp of a click as I might prefer.  The mechanism has gotten better with use but straight out of the package I wasn't the biggest fan.

The plunger does return to the upright position when the point is extended.  As I've said in the past, I love this feature in click-type pens.

Line:  1

The F-701 retails with a 0.7mm cartridge.  It performs as expected.  It doesn't drag or skip.  I always find myself wanting more from a ballpoint, though.  I can't seem to find one that exceeds my expectations.

Writing Comfort:  2

Compared to the Parker Jotter this pen is far better.  The F-701's grip section doesn't taper, resulting in a consistent hold regardless of where my fingers land.  Also, the F-701's grip has relatively aggressive knurling, a feature I have come to appreciate.  The knurling facilitates a great non-slip grip and I find the texture to be rather pleasant.

Design Concept:  1

While it's a nice looking pen I do believe it's a bit little clunky.  I don't understand why Zebra chose to use a brushed stainless barrel and a glossy pocket clip; I think it would have been a much better choice to maintain the brushed look throughout.  Also, the point of the pen has a series of interesting bevel choices.  While one or two tapered sections would typically suffice, Zebra chose to reduce the diameter in six distinct steps.

Markings and Insignia:  2

The barrel of the pen is absent any markings.  The pocket clip features a small font reading "ZEBRA" and a larger, slightly italicized font with the pen's model designation, "F-701."  The terminus of the pen just below the plunger reads "INDONESIA," the manufacturing origin.

I appreciate the minimalist style Zebra has adopted with respect to branding the F-701.  It's nice to see a cheaper pen without a ton of intrusive markings.

Carry Method:  2

The F-701 uses a traditional pocket clip that's fastened to the very top of the barrel.  Due to its placement only the plunger and a very small portion of the pen body sticks out above the top of a pocket (just over half an inch, by my measure).

The deep carry facilitated by the placement of the pocket clip is a great asset to the F-701.  Deep carry means greater comfort and less snagging.  Also important to note is the fact that the F-701 isn't difficult to retrieve from the pocket; the plunger and pocket clip are more than enough to get a good purchase on the pen.

Carry Durability:  2

The stainless steel construction surely contributes to the F-701's durability in a pocket.  The barrel isn't likely to suffer any significant damage during normal carry.  The clip itself is also robust; it hasn't lost tension in the time I have been carrying the pen.

Carry Comfort:  2

The F-701 isn't uncomfortable to carry.  It sits well in a pocket and doesn't shift its place.  Short of that, there isn't much to say about this particular pen...

Total:  16/20

In the grand scheme of things, this pen is a great value.  For under $10.00 you're getting quite a bit of pen.  The F-701 is probably a better value than the Parker Jotter (despite the 1 point discrepancy, the Jotter having received a 17/20 due to a slightly better mechanism; although, it seems as if the soft-click isn't too terrible compared to the Jotter's mechanism).

There are also a bunch of end-user modifications that can enhance the usefulness of the pen.  There is, for example, a method of installing a Fisher pressurized ink cartridge into the F-701.  Roughly the same system is described at Gear Journal where they also discuss installing the all-metal click-type mechanism from an F-402 into the F-701.

If you're looking for a pen that's better than the cheap ones you've been dragging around but don't want to break the bank, the F-701 would be a great start.

< 101 - It's "Everyday Carry," not "Everyday Use"

The phrase “everyday carry” is simple, referring to the the carrying of various objects on one’s person everyday.

However, some critics seem to think that things shouldn’t be carried unless they’re actually used everyday.  They suggest that if it’s not always useful it shouldn’t take up pocket space.

It’s an interesting idea but, ultimately, lacking merit.

Everyone carries a bunch of things that they won’t necessarily use on any given day.  They carry things that they might need.

Go ahead, empty your pockets.  I’ll wait.  I guarantee at least half of what you carried around today you didn’t actually use...

Svord Peasant Knife Review

I picked up the Svord Peasant Knife on a whim a few weeks back.  It seemed like something that would be worth having and I find friction folders intriguing

I unboxed it here and posted some initial photos of its original configuration.

I added a pocket clip made from scrap steel and a lanyard from paracord.  I'm evaluating the knife as if it didn't have a pocket clip as that is how it originally arrived in my hands.

Of course, I'm using the review template found here.

Blade Material:  1


Apparently the blade is fabricated from Sandvik L6 steel.  L6 is a high-carbon tool steel.  From what I've read it's pretty robust in terms of edge retention and the like.  However, it's not "stainless."  It will rust easily if not cared for.  And, of course, you are consistently touching the blade with your fingers - the oils that you're depositing on the blade don't do it well.

In my limited experience with it (trying to clean up the edge and sharpening it after use a few times) it hasn't been too difficult to work with.  It's quite possible to get an incredibly sharp edge out of the L6 and the steel holds onto it for quite a while.

Fit of Parts:  1

The PK uses a very simple design which requires a bit of play between the handle sections to function properly.  I adjusted my PK a bit, loosening the rear screw (so the blade isn't held as tight when it's closed) and kept the other two screws a bit tighter (so the blade "locks" up with a bit more force).  In doing this the bottom of the handle is a bit more "loose" than it otherwise could be but, if I were to tighten that screw down it would inhibit deployment of the blade far too much.

That said, the hardware doesn't fit as tightly as it could.  The pivot screw, for example, has a bit of play that doesn't contribute to the functionality of the joint.

Blade Shape:  2

The PK sports something in between a straight-back and a drop-point blade.  In terms of an EDC blade, I think this sort of blade shape is among the best available.  It has sufficient belly and a nice taper to the point.

The spine of the knife has a consistent thickness down the whole of the blade.

The plain edge is something that I'm growing increasingly fond of in an EDC blade; I do not intend to purchase any more partially serrated blades for reasons too lengthy to discuss here.

Blade Grind:  0

Using what could be be described as a flat grind, the blade of the PK maintains a relatively consistent width down the spine and tapers down to the edge.  This makes the majority of the blade robust and should contribute to durability.  It's evident that the grind isn't perfectly consistent when comparing one side to another.  This isn't necessarily detrimental to the performance of the knife and does seem to add to the peasant-like character that Svord is aiming to achieve.

Moreover, the edge that was on the blade from the factory was a bit off-centered.  This isn't too annoying but is going to take a bit of time to clean up.

While I do believe the "humble" intent of the designers influenced the blade and edge grind I can't help but assess a zero in this category.  The same look could have been accomplished without sacrificing a precise grind.

Mechanism: 1

The PK is a friction-folder meaning there is no locking mechanism, per se; the blade stays open and closed as a result of friction between the handle sections and the blade.  Friction-folders are gaining popularity in many places as a result of legislatures attempting to regulate criminal behavior by banning locking knives.  Efficacy of such bans aside, the friction-folder is and should be a timeless design.

It's profoundly simple yet yields a remarkably sturdy "lock up," for lack of a better term.  It's not infallible but it's certainly strong and safe enough for most everyday uses.  Gripping the knife by the handle only enhances the safety of the blade as your hand is placing pressure on the tang, preventing the blade from closing.

The "middle screw," as it were, operates to prevent the knife from opening "too far," causing the tang to be buried between the handle sections, and also prevents the blade from closing "too far," which would cause the very tip of the knife to engage with the bottom screw.  In that regard, this is a very well thought design.

With that in mind, the design can be a bit troublesome.  If, as I have, the handle sections are loosened enough to facilitate relatively easy opening the knife is prone to opening slightly during carry.  Of course, if I tighten down the system to prevent it from opening slightly in the pocket it becomes far more difficult to open and close.  In that regard, it could be slightly better.

Design Concept:  1

It's a noble design using the nothing more than the most fundamental aspects of a folding knife.

It's a great little design for everyday utility use.  It's also relatively benign-looking; it's not a knife which is going to engender tons of odd looks because it's "overly tactical" or has a blade profile which looks incredibly aggressive.  In that respect, it's a good design for everyday carry because it won't raise too many eyebrows.

Grip:  1

The design of the handle strongly reminds me of a jalapeno.

I try to choke up as much on the blade as I can which places the wider portion of the handle behind my index and middle fingers.  This gives me a decent bit of control over the blade.

The grip isn't particularly comfortable; the slim aluminum handles are probably the least comfortable of the various styles available (the other two being molded polypropylene and wood).  That said, it's not more uncomfortable than other folders I've handled.

Deployment Method:  1

I've seen a bunch of different methods to open this knife one-handed.  All of them are somewhat clunky.  That said, you don't have to open it with one hand.  Sure, the ability to open a knife with one hand is a great feature but it's not a make-or-break element.

My preferred method of deployment for the PK has been resting the bottom of the handle in the palm of my left hand, wrapping my thumb over the bottom of the handle, and applying torque to the tang with my right hand.  I close the knife in much the same manner, but with torque applied to the spine of the blade.

I have no problem opening and closing this knife.  If you adjust the tension of the screws you can make to easier or more difficult to open.

If you desperately need a knife that you can easily operate one-handed, this isn't the blade for you.

Carry Method:  1

As it comes, the PK doesn't have a pocket clip.  It'll settle to the bottom of whatever pocket you put it in, for better or worse.  In the jeans I consistently wear the tang of the PK still protrudes slightly from the top of my pocket when it has settled to the bottom.  This is convenient, assuming your pockets are the same depth as mine.

There is a lanyard hole on the end of the tang.  This would allow you to loop a piece of paracord or leather through it, make a fancy looking knot  knot befitting a peasant, and retrieve the knife from deeper pockets using the lanyard.  This method is certainly effective and makes the PK rather easy to keep accessible.

Carry Comfort:  2

This knife is slim.  With the aluminum handles, the thickest part of the knife is the blade itself.  It practically disappears in a pocket.  Also important to note, it's lightweight.  When I've carried it it's practically unnoticeable.  Due to its slim width it doesn't print too much either; were it not for the lanyard it would be nearly imperceptible to the casual passerby.

One concern with the PK is, as mentioned, the possibility that it will open slightly in the pocket.  This can be prevented by tightening the hardware.  I don't feel that I can really dock points because of the tension I was running the hardware at, so I'm just avoiding the problem with respect to carry comfort.


Total:  11/20

The Svord Peasant Knife is neat.  It has been exceptionally fun and incredibly easy to play around with.  If you're willing to give this guy the attention it's a great blade for the price.  I do plan to purchase another with a polypropylene handle and perhaps the wood version, too; hey, for under 20 bucks it's absolutely worth it.

In any event, I'm not planning to keep it in my pocket; I'll stick to my smaller locking folders for the most part.  On the off chance that I'm compelled into a jurisdiction that frowns on locking folders I'll toss it in my pocket but short of that I'll just keep it around for the occasional task.