11/13/13
11/12/13
You Don't Need That Many Knives
I mentioned the idea a while back that "you don't need that many knives."
I wanted to elaborate a bit...
The underlying theory of the everyday carry discipline, at least as far as I can manage to define it, is the belief that having a selection of tools on one's person is more beneficial than not. The ability to solve a variety of problems with the things in your pockets being the primary rationale. Naturally, it is impossible, or at least impractical, to carry tools to solve every problem that might arise. As such, tools which have a broad usefulness are often selected over those of a more specific purpose. For this reason, we often see knives, multi-tools, flashlights, pen and paper, and other such things of exceptionally broad utility. These items can be employed in a wide variety of ways to solve a wide variety of problems.
Importantly, an EDC kit also reflects the problems one believes may be encountered on any given day. It is in that individual thread that we see a variety of items of specific utility; a bicycle commuter may carry a patch kit, a photographer may have a lens pen, someone with severe allergies would carry an EpiPen, and so on and so forth.
That said, one of the most prevalent items found in everyday carry kits is a knife. Manifest in many different forms, ranging from keychain sized Swiss Army Knives to fixed blades with everything in between, knives play an incredibly important part in the EDC discipline.
Taking my data merely from the variety of pocket dump posts in various corners of the internet, I have come to the conclusion, as previously mentioned, that there are some people who carry too many knives absent a discernible purpose. They have taken "two is one and one is none" to an unrecognizable extreme. Multiple full-size folders in the same pair of pants as a Swiss Army Knife and a multi-tool. It's absurd!
Why? Diminishing return. A concept suggesting that with each additional unit the utility derived from that unit diminishes; additionally, the utility of all units decreases. Applied here, the utility of a knife is high. That single blade can be used for a great number of things to solve a great number of problems. A second blade is not as useful as the first. Now the two knives are both slightly less useful. One will be used, at most, 50% of the time. The same follows for all subsequent knives; they each become slightly more useless as additional knives are carried.
Furthermore, minimalism is paramount. Too many are infected by the disease of too much stuff. Yes, gear is cool but bulky pockets are not.
In most instances carrying more than one knife is simply unnecessary.
I wanted to elaborate a bit...
The underlying theory of the everyday carry discipline, at least as far as I can manage to define it, is the belief that having a selection of tools on one's person is more beneficial than not. The ability to solve a variety of problems with the things in your pockets being the primary rationale. Naturally, it is impossible, or at least impractical, to carry tools to solve every problem that might arise. As such, tools which have a broad usefulness are often selected over those of a more specific purpose. For this reason, we often see knives, multi-tools, flashlights, pen and paper, and other such things of exceptionally broad utility. These items can be employed in a wide variety of ways to solve a wide variety of problems.
Importantly, an EDC kit also reflects the problems one believes may be encountered on any given day. It is in that individual thread that we see a variety of items of specific utility; a bicycle commuter may carry a patch kit, a photographer may have a lens pen, someone with severe allergies would carry an EpiPen, and so on and so forth.
That said, one of the most prevalent items found in everyday carry kits is a knife. Manifest in many different forms, ranging from keychain sized Swiss Army Knives to fixed blades with everything in between, knives play an incredibly important part in the EDC discipline.
Taking my data merely from the variety of pocket dump posts in various corners of the internet, I have come to the conclusion, as previously mentioned, that there are some people who carry too many knives absent a discernible purpose. They have taken "two is one and one is none" to an unrecognizable extreme. Multiple full-size folders in the same pair of pants as a Swiss Army Knife and a multi-tool. It's absurd!
Why? Diminishing return. A concept suggesting that with each additional unit the utility derived from that unit diminishes; additionally, the utility of all units decreases. Applied here, the utility of a knife is high. That single blade can be used for a great number of things to solve a great number of problems. A second blade is not as useful as the first. Now the two knives are both slightly less useful. One will be used, at most, 50% of the time. The same follows for all subsequent knives; they each become slightly more useless as additional knives are carried.
Furthermore, minimalism is paramount. Too many are infected by the disease of too much stuff. Yes, gear is cool but bulky pockets are not.
In most instances carrying more than one knife is simply unnecessary.
11/10/13
Hiatus?
Keeping myself honest. I'll be putting my nose to the proverbial grindstone to craft more and better content in the near future...
I've been carrying a Spyderco PM2, a Nitecore EX11.2, a Field Notes Expedition series notebook, a rOtring 600 ballpoint, CountyComm's full-size Pilot Watch, and my hand-crafted steel wallet contraption.
It works.
I've been carrying a Spyderco PM2, a Nitecore EX11.2, a Field Notes Expedition series notebook, a rOtring 600 ballpoint, CountyComm's full-size Pilot Watch, and my hand-crafted steel wallet contraption.
It works.
7/14/13
7/12/13
< 101 - You Don't Need That Many Knives
Chances are you've come across a photo of someone's alleged everyday carry and thought, "why does this guy (or gal) carry so many knives?"
It happens to me frequently. I'll come across someone who apparently carries three, four, or more knives on their person.
That simply strikes me as absurd. I can't fathom a reason to EDC more than two knives; it seems like an under-thought extension of "two is one, one is none."
The EDC discipline should be bounded by utility and utility is bounded by diminishing return. It's simple: carry more knives, lose utility with each additional knife.
It happens to me frequently. I'll come across someone who apparently carries three, four, or more knives on their person.
That simply strikes me as absurd. I can't fathom a reason to EDC more than two knives; it seems like an under-thought extension of "two is one, one is none."
The EDC discipline should be bounded by utility and utility is bounded by diminishing return. It's simple: carry more knives, lose utility with each additional knife.
7/10/13
rOtring 600 Ballpoint Pen Review
A while back I picked up some Field Notes Expedition notebooks and became quite enthralled with their essentially indestructible nature. The Expedition achieves this unprecedented durability through the use of a synthetic paper that, while incredibly robust, is a bit finicky when it comes to writing upon it. The paper accepts pencil and some inks. Through trial and error I found a number of solutions but remained disappointed with my choice of writing instrument.
The easiest and most prolific ink solution is the Fisher Space Pen refill; with its Parker style adapter the cartridge can fit into the wide variety of pens that accept the Parker refill, leaving options relatively wide open. The trouble is this: while carrying around a Stainless Parker Jotter or other such widely available pen can certainly work it's just not exciting.
In an effort to find a solution a bit more my style I began searching for refills compatible with my rOtring 600 rollerball that has been lying around unused. My hope was that I could find something that would be compatible with both the Expedition's synthetic paper and my rOtring rollerball.
Instead, I quickly discovered that the rOtring 600 ballpoint pens were designed around the Parker style refills. Being quite content with the Fisher Space Pen refills I had been using I found a reasonable deal on a rOtring 600 ballpoint and hoped for the best. I paid approximately $75.00 for the first one I picked up and about $60.00 for a second on eBay. A simple search will yield quite a few results.
To be brief, the rOtring 600 ballpoint is nothing short of excellent and has been an excellent companion in the weeks it has been in my pocket.
As always, I'm utilizing my writing instrument review template found here.
Materials: 2/2
The 600 ballpoint's body is all metal. This lends to a nice feel in-hand and enhances the user experience.
I greatly prefer all-metal pens as I don't find the additional weight troublesome (when compared to plastic pens) , even when carrying the pen daily. From a construction, durability, and comfort standpoint the all-metal construction is superb.
Fit: 2/2
The barrel of the 600 screws together just above the grip section. It mounts together quite well without any wiggle or other such annoyance.
Mechanism: 2/2
The 600 uses a standard Parker style click mechanism. It is well-constructed and fits within my idea of how click-type mechanisms should work on pens. The pressure required to click the pen is relatively firm and the plunger springs upward to its tallest position when the point is deployed.
Line: 2/2
The rOtring ink cartridge that was bundled with the pen (they are still available either through third party retailers or directly from rOtring) has a nice blue hue and lays down an excellent, smooth line. For the purposes of scoring this category here, I must give the pen a 2, despite the fact that I am not using the rOtring cartridge.
Unfortunately, as much as I like the rOtring cartridge, the ink does not work very well with the Expedition series of Field Notes notebooks. As such, I am running the Fisher Space Pen refill predominantly. The Fisher refill leaves a bit to be desired as it is a bit inconsistent. This, however, does not detract from the 600 as it is designed to be.
Writing Comfort: 2/2
I very much like the design of the grip section of the later 600 series (I don't have any experience with the knurled grip sections of earlier models, perhaps in time I'll pick one up). The smooth grip area is comfortable and the slight flare toward the point of the pen gives excellent tactile feedback as to where your fingers are on the grip and allows for precise control without slipping down the whole grip.
Design Concept: 2/2
It is no secret that I absolutely love the 600 series from a design perspective. The design is clean without unnecessary and ultimately annoying flourishes.
Markings and Insignia: 2/2
The rOtring logo is present on the pocket clip and their red ring adorns the top of the barrel. Short of these markings the pen is clean. It's understated and beautiful.
Carry Method: 2/2
A sturdy pocket clip towards the top of the barrel facilitates pocket carry.
Carry Durability: 1/2
The sturdiness of an all-metal pen like the 600 is unprecedented when it comes to carry durability. You're not going to encounter any stress fractures as you might in a plastic pen and an all-metal clip isn't going to fail if you accidentally scrape it against something.
The one thing that prevents a two in this category is the fact that the 600, as with many other click-type pens, has a tendency to open in the pocket if your movement depresses the plunger. In my time carrying the pen thus far I have had a few instances where I have pulled the pen out and found that it had been riding in my pocket with the point deployed. Due to the fact that it's a ballpoint there is limited inking of my pocket (a fact that is further aided by the fact that I'm running a Fisher refill as opposed to a gel or other type of ink). However, it's an annoyance that has resulted in my checking of the pen occasionally to verify that it's not in fact open.
Carry Comfort: 2/2
The 600 is quite comfortable to carry. The ballpoint is slightly slimmer than the other models in the line (the rollerball and fountain pen, for example, are slightly thicker in the barrel). It's not a bulky pen and the weight isn't noticeable.
Total: 19/20
Without reservation I would recommend the rOtring 600 ballpoint to anyone looking for a great everyday carry writing instrument. Its elegant design features coupled with robust construction and versatile Parker-type refill compatibility are unprecedented in the writing world and make the rOtring 600 ballpoint an excellent addition to any pocket.
The easiest and most prolific ink solution is the Fisher Space Pen refill; with its Parker style adapter the cartridge can fit into the wide variety of pens that accept the Parker refill, leaving options relatively wide open. The trouble is this: while carrying around a Stainless Parker Jotter or other such widely available pen can certainly work it's just not exciting.
In an effort to find a solution a bit more my style I began searching for refills compatible with my rOtring 600 rollerball that has been lying around unused. My hope was that I could find something that would be compatible with both the Expedition's synthetic paper and my rOtring rollerball.
Instead, I quickly discovered that the rOtring 600 ballpoint pens were designed around the Parker style refills. Being quite content with the Fisher Space Pen refills I had been using I found a reasonable deal on a rOtring 600 ballpoint and hoped for the best. I paid approximately $75.00 for the first one I picked up and about $60.00 for a second on eBay. A simple search will yield quite a few results.
To be brief, the rOtring 600 ballpoint is nothing short of excellent and has been an excellent companion in the weeks it has been in my pocket.
As always, I'm utilizing my writing instrument review template found here.
Materials: 2/2
The 600 ballpoint's body is all metal. This lends to a nice feel in-hand and enhances the user experience.
I greatly prefer all-metal pens as I don't find the additional weight troublesome (when compared to plastic pens) , even when carrying the pen daily. From a construction, durability, and comfort standpoint the all-metal construction is superb.
Fit: 2/2
The barrel of the 600 screws together just above the grip section. It mounts together quite well without any wiggle or other such annoyance.
Mechanism: 2/2
The 600 uses a standard Parker style click mechanism. It is well-constructed and fits within my idea of how click-type mechanisms should work on pens. The pressure required to click the pen is relatively firm and the plunger springs upward to its tallest position when the point is deployed.
Line: 2/2
The rOtring ink cartridge that was bundled with the pen (they are still available either through third party retailers or directly from rOtring) has a nice blue hue and lays down an excellent, smooth line. For the purposes of scoring this category here, I must give the pen a 2, despite the fact that I am not using the rOtring cartridge.
Unfortunately, as much as I like the rOtring cartridge, the ink does not work very well with the Expedition series of Field Notes notebooks. As such, I am running the Fisher Space Pen refill predominantly. The Fisher refill leaves a bit to be desired as it is a bit inconsistent. This, however, does not detract from the 600 as it is designed to be.
Writing Comfort: 2/2
I very much like the design of the grip section of the later 600 series (I don't have any experience with the knurled grip sections of earlier models, perhaps in time I'll pick one up). The smooth grip area is comfortable and the slight flare toward the point of the pen gives excellent tactile feedback as to where your fingers are on the grip and allows for precise control without slipping down the whole grip.
Design Concept: 2/2
It is no secret that I absolutely love the 600 series from a design perspective. The design is clean without unnecessary and ultimately annoying flourishes.
Markings and Insignia: 2/2
The rOtring logo is present on the pocket clip and their red ring adorns the top of the barrel. Short of these markings the pen is clean. It's understated and beautiful.
Carry Method: 2/2
A sturdy pocket clip towards the top of the barrel facilitates pocket carry.
Carry Durability: 1/2
The sturdiness of an all-metal pen like the 600 is unprecedented when it comes to carry durability. You're not going to encounter any stress fractures as you might in a plastic pen and an all-metal clip isn't going to fail if you accidentally scrape it against something.
The one thing that prevents a two in this category is the fact that the 600, as with many other click-type pens, has a tendency to open in the pocket if your movement depresses the plunger. In my time carrying the pen thus far I have had a few instances where I have pulled the pen out and found that it had been riding in my pocket with the point deployed. Due to the fact that it's a ballpoint there is limited inking of my pocket (a fact that is further aided by the fact that I'm running a Fisher refill as opposed to a gel or other type of ink). However, it's an annoyance that has resulted in my checking of the pen occasionally to verify that it's not in fact open.
Carry Comfort: 2/2
The 600 is quite comfortable to carry. The ballpoint is slightly slimmer than the other models in the line (the rollerball and fountain pen, for example, are slightly thicker in the barrel). It's not a bulky pen and the weight isn't noticeable.
Total: 19/20
Without reservation I would recommend the rOtring 600 ballpoint to anyone looking for a great everyday carry writing instrument. Its elegant design features coupled with robust construction and versatile Parker-type refill compatibility are unprecedented in the writing world and make the rOtring 600 ballpoint an excellent addition to any pocket.
3/24/13
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