An interesting observation, when swapping blades on a couple of Flashes

ohmyheckinslc

ohmyheckinslc

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It was a dark and stormy night...
Isn't that how great stories begin? Then I shouldn't really be beginning this that way... Since it's NO great story. (pardon my camera phone quality pics)

So, there I was, this weekend, swapping blades on a couple of Sog Flash II knives that I've had floating around for a while. One was a Zytel handled "Contractor Grade" from Lowes (satin finish, serrated), and the other was an Alumin(i)um handled model with black blade and serrations. I've always really liked the Alumin(i)um handle, but never cared for the blade because the tip is ground very thin...and that just isn't my thing. :barf: The Zytel/Satin model was ground thicker, so I was always more comfy using it. One day, I decided to swap blades... And what do I find...

The Zytel handled model, had one of those magnetic "inventory control tags" embeded inside the scale...

fs1.jpg


This seemed a little "Big Brother"ish to me... Did you guys ever see "Spartan"? Remember how that guy hides a tracking device inside of the hero's knife? :cool:

Here's another pic post-removal.

fs2.jpg


Anyway, the swap went well. The new Alumin(i)um handled satin/serrated model works flawlessly (though the pivot screw head was so soft, it became stripped pretty easily, and I had to use a needle-nose plier to tighten it up... The new stylish black handle, black serrated blade, model is a little quirky, (the lock only engages half-way when opening, requiring an additional thumb-flick to lock it up... I may have to massage it a little.).

fs3.jpg



The spring was a little tricky, but other than that, the surgeries went pretty smoothly with the above mentioned caveats. I understand that SOG's discontinuing, or has discontinued, the Alumin(i)um model, (heard through the rumor mill). If true, it's a sad sad thing... this is a great knife, give it a few tweaks... (Start with .20 inch thick blade stock, and a stronger spring (due to the heavier blade) and a better (tougher) pivot screw, and I'll love SOG long time... :D
 
"The Zytel handled model, had one of those magnetic "inventory control tags" embeded inside the scale... "

I'll be damned, I got all paranoid after reading this post, so I checked my Flash II, and sure enough, inventory control tag right there. I was able to pull it out with some tweezers. I had actually seen it there before, but did not make the connection. I wonder if all Flash II's have this? I bought mine off eBay, but have seen them sold at Lowes.

"The new stylish black handle, black serrated blade, model is a little quirky, (the lock only engages half-way when opening, requiring an additional thumb-flick to lock it up... I may have to massage it a little.). "

It's the screw above the pivot screw. If it's too tight, it won't let the arclock engage properly.
 
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I would think that only the knives that are sold at hardware stores would have the magnetic strip in it. Was it sold in a box or a blister pack?
 
*Smacks head with open palm* I just realized something.

The last 2 times I went to Lowe's, I set the alarm off leaving the store. The 1st time, nobody said anything, so I just shrugged my shoulders, and went along my way. The 2nd time, the lady pulled me aside and checked my bags. She shrugged her shoulders, and thought maybe it was the remote unlock on my keychain....

Guess which knife I was wearing both times.....?

Thanks for the informative post ohmyheck!
 
How bizarre...maybe Chris can chime in and let us know why the control tags are in there.
 
Yes, those were done for Lowe's as a loss prevention measure. That is about all I can share about it.
 
Hi ohmyheckinslc -

Cool - I did not even know that they made the al handled ones.

I like the black / black version too - good idea!

Thanks for the pics.

best regards -

mqqn
 
mqqn said:
Hi ohmyheckinslc -

Cool - I did not even know that they made the al handled ones.

I like the black / black version too - good idea!

Thanks for the pics.

best regards -

mqqn
Click to expand...


Yeah buddy. It was an interesting little project. I'm finding myself, more and more, drawn to knives that I've modded (or had professionally modded) in some fashion, making them more unique and more suitable to my own tastes.
 
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