Key chain knife fans, just got my micro recon. What else is good?

John A. Larsen said:
I had a Schrade Little Bear (?) that I kept on my key chain ring so long it wore thru the bail. Sent it back to Schrade and they repaired it. Started traveling a lot and got to be a pain taking it off my key chain every time I flew, so now it is my knife drawer. John
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As I've gotten older, my dislike for that sort of thing has grown with my dislike of fiddling with split rings. So I did something about it.

Here is an EDC pic from a couple of weeks ago. You can see my key-ring set-up. This kind of titanium "ring" is inexpensive and available in a few different shapes and sizes. It's as easy as unscrewing a little piece of knurled brass. I got some packs of two differently sized titanium split rings and put them on a bunch of different gear. Now I can quickly swap in or out whatever I need on a given day. Of course, most days still end up with the same lazy choice. 😜

PLIOOZl.jpg
 
Victorinox 58mm SD Classic (Pen blade, fingernail file/small screwdriver, spring loaded scissors. Tweezers and toothpick stored in the covers, except the ALOX version), Signature (same blades and tools as the Classic, but replaces the toothpick with a retractable ballpoint pen. AFAIK only blue ink is available.) Mini Champ (see picture) has all the current 58mm tools and blades. Again, a retractable ballpoint takes the place of the toothpick. However, you can replace the weak tweezers with the toothpick on both the Signature and Mini Champ.View attachment 1820798
 
afishhunter said:
Mini Champ
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This is cool. Somehow, I wasn't aware of this model. It looks similar in overall size to the Leatherman Squirt. I imagine it's a tad lighter. I'd be curious to see some comparisons between those two choices in a key-ring role.

BTW, how do those tiny pens hold up? Is there ever an issue with leaking?
 
Chronovore said:
This is cool. Somehow, I wasn't aware of this model. It looks similar in overall size to the Leatherman Squirt. I imagine it's a tad lighter. I'd be curious to see some comparisons between those two choices in a key-ring role.

BTW, how do those tiny pens hold up? Is there ever an issue with leaking?
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I've had both and for the last 7 or 8 years the Leatherman squirt has been my keychain multitool. A little heavier than the 58mm mini champ, but a lot more mission capability built into it. The small pliers/wire cutters and heavier duty screw driver push it over the top compared with he small Victorinox. And on the squirt, the knife blade is a better cutter with a chisel grind that gets shaving sharp and cuts deeper than the Victorinox blade. The squirt has a boxier feel in hand, lending to better grip over the small SAK. No tweezers but the pliers serve as small forceps.

With the squirt, I no longer carry a small SAK, and I was a die hard SAK fan. But the squirt is just a wider range tool.
 
jackknife said:
I've had both and for the last 7 or 8 years the Leatherman squirt has been my keychain multitool. A little heavier than the 58mm mini champ, but a lot more mission capability built into it. The small pliers/wire cutters and heavier duty screw driver push it over the top compared with he small Victorinox. And on the squirt, the knife blade is a better cutter with a chisel grind that gets shaving sharp and cuts deeper than the Victorinox blade. The squirt has a boxier feel in hand, lending to better grip over the small SAK. No tweezers but the pliers serve as small forceps.

With the squirt, I no longer carry a small SAK, and I was a die hard SAK fan. But the squirt is just a wider range tool.
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Does the Squirt ever end up folding open on the key ring?
 
Chronovore said:
Does the Squirt ever end up folding open on the key ring?
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No, not by itself.

To explain, I sat down in a metal bench that was like a lattice work of metal strips like a woven metal. The keyring that was hanging loose outside my pocket hung down and the squirt moved down through the bench surface and when I went to get up, it snagged me and pulled open the squirt pliers. Unusual, because I usually clip the carabiner on my left side belt loop and tuck the hanging keyring with my squirt, Fenix E01, dog whistle and Bison capsule of aspirin in case of vapor lock and arthritis pain, inside the left pocket. That time I was neglectful and it snagged. That was the only time the squirt hung up. Now I'm more careful with metal lattice work patio furniture and metal benches in the park. Dangling keyring gets tucked into pocket to hang there out of sight and snagging.
 
Chronovore said:
This is cool. Somehow, I wasn't aware of this model. It looks similar in overall size to the Leatherman Squirt. I imagine it's a tad lighter. I'd be curious to see some comparisons between those two choices in a key-ring role.

BTW, how do those tiny pens hold up? Is there ever an issue with leaking?
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I carried the same Signature for about 10 years. I didn't use the pen much. The original cartridge/refill was still writing(!!) when I used it as part of the trade for the Mini Champ. It never leaked. I doubt the Mini Champ, which uses the same ink cartridge/refill will leak.
They are great if/when you forget/"misplace" your primary pen or it dies ... so long as blue ink will work. Aside from signatures, my employer preferred black ink for inventory and other reports. Blue ink doesn't (or didn't back then, anyway) copy or scan very well.
 
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Actually, it feels pretty good. It has a light plastic/polycarbonate body. The opening is smooth, but it's a $25 knife, so it's perfectly adequate. Small, light, and strong. Unlike the Spyderco Salt 2, which broke down after two months.
 
Brules1 said:
What is this?
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Looks like a Chris Reeve Umfaan. Lots of pics and side-by-sides with other CRKs here:

The Chris Reeve Knives Umfaan ........ A Small Review

The Chris Reeve Knives Umfaan............. What can I say about this little guy....? Well, I have had chances to get one a few times over the years. I was usually looking for others or had just purchased another CRK when one popped up, so was short on funds, etc. I finally scored one...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
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