Need a locking folder w/ phillips and bottle opener

Z

zimm

Joined
Nov 17, 2005
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16
I'm a Navy pilot. I carry a benchmade small griptillion clipped into my chest pocket. I hardly notice it's there and it works great.

I really need something to carry a phillips with me. We get popped out fasteners on the helicopter all the time- and having a phillips while pre-flighting is very important. We're not allowed to carry "tools" per the regulations, but a folding knife is ok.

A bottle opener wouldn't hurt for happy hour either.

The only thing I've found that's close is the Swiss army one hand german army
http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Pages/Product.aspx?category=outdoor&product=54876&
Unsure of the quality though. And there's wenger with a clip but only has a phillips, no bottle opener.
Something about the size of my small griptillion would be perfect.

Any knives out there with a phillips bit?
 
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Look at Leatherman offerings.I'm not sure of specifics,but they are making quality folders now.I think they have one you might like.
 
I don't know about the Ranger series, but as far as the regular locking Wengers, I've never seen one that couldn't be folded by finger pressure (and I've had a lot of them). The locks are horrible.

If you can have a multi-tool, that might be a good option. There's also the Buck X-tract and the CRKT Zilla-Tool. Kershaw makes a carabiner knife with a screwdriver and bottle opener. Leatherman makes a couple of knives (not multi-tools) with screwdrivers.
 
This one looks nice too- a little smaller and lighter

http://www.leatherman.com/products/knives/e302-e303/default.asp

I did a little comparison to my mini and full size Benchmade griptilian which are some of the lightest knives I've owned:

model length folded weight
griptilian 4.62 3.25oz
k503x 4.5 7.2!!

mini griptilian 3.9 2.6
e303 3.875 3.9
e307x 3.875 4.2
c305 3.88 3.92

So it looks like the e303 is the winner for me. I don't need the removable bits- more pieces to loose. I just wish we could see if it's any thinner than the models with bit driver.
 
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zimm said:
I just wish we could see if it's any thinner than the models with bit driver.
Click to expand...

Probably not much. Leatherman's bit drivers are very slim. Keep in mind the steel difference. The e303 is 420HC. The original one you posted is 154cm.

The e307x is only slightly heavier then the e303, and you get a much better steel.
 
Another option might be the Spyderco Byrd Wrench or even the Byrd Harp if you can carry it.
 
The Leatherman 303 would have been my first recommendation. I bought a combo on sale (301 & Micra-tool) and up to that point had never looked at Leatherman knives. The knife was a good intro for me to their knife products; when the budget allows, I'm getting a couple more.

Having the dedicated phillips driver is nice. From my time in the navy, late 1980's, small loose bits would be a huge no-no, due to the threat of F.O.D.

For phillips screws, I use the can opener on my Huntsman - the tip is designed for #2 phillips, and works okay for some #1's as well. The blade doesn't lock though.

thx - cpr

ps - F.O.D. = Foreign Object Damage. (It's amazing what one of those little itty-bitty bits could do to a jet turbine.)
 
zimm said:
This one looks nice too- a little smaller and lighter

http://www.leatherman.com/products/knives/e302-e303/default.asp

I did a little comparison to my mini and full size Benchmade griptilian which are some of the lightest knives I've owned:

model length folded weight
griptilian 4.62 3.25oz
k503x 4.5 7.2!!

mini griptilian 3.9 2.6
e303 3.875 3.9
e307x 3.875 4.2
c305 3.88 3.92

So it looks like the e303 is the winner for me. I don't need the removable bits- more pieces to loose. I just wish we could see if it's any thinner than the models with bit driver.
Click to expand...

I took a look at the K series. It's decent enough and has a 154CM blade. The blade itself, opens pretty solid, but is right-hand only it that matters to you. The screwdriver bits are held simply by the handle rubber molding. I don't know about longtime wear effects.

The E series is less than half the price of the K series stuff.

Oh and thank you for your service.
 
How about the Victorinox Trekker? It has a locking main blade and a locking screw driver/cap lifter w/ a phillips on the back side. I own one , not a bad knife, I just don't like the European type serrations at the front of the blade. The lock on the blade is a liner lock.
VictorinoxTrekerOneHandOpener.jpg
 
Well the leatherman E307X showed up this weekend. I like the features, but it's too thick to stay clipped to my chest pocket. The bit storage in the handle has two bumps that dig into my chest- and that's just sitting still. Once a survival vest is strapped on, then a 5 point harness, it's going to be too uncomfortable.

I even went from my mini-griptillian to my full size griptillian benchmade and it fits just fine in my chest pocket- narrow and smooth sided. Right now the Leatherman is in my leg pocket, but I can see it's going to be too blocky and heavy for everyday carry.

I also got a leatherman skeletool CX this weekend. Great piece of gear. In fact I'm using it for everyday carry with civilian clothes instead of my knife.

So I might just keep the benchmade and look for a little phillips/bottle opener tool.

How come I can't post photos?
 
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zimm said:
How come I can't post photos?
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You have to be a paying member to host photos on the server. You can can post pictures from another server or one of those free image hosting sites.
 
victorinox is a more prominent comapny i think theyre stuff is better too id get a ranger off ebay or from victorinox itself take your pick
 
Well I fixed the problem. At the store today I saw the E303X and it doesn't have the protruding handles to hold bits. It's nice and smooth. I picked it up for $36. Fits great in my flight suit pocket, gives me a beer bottle opener and a phillips with no loose bits (FOD hazard). I put the 307 in my glovebox of the car until I think of something better to do with it.

I'll try out the photo bucket thing.- Doh- the navy blocked it. I'll have to try from home.
 
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I'd suggest the SAK Vic Adventurer model. It is my current favorite. Nice blade for cutting, phillips head, bottle and can opener, tooth pick, and twizzers. It is in my pocket most days.
 
If what you got turns out to be lacking or someone else wants something like you described, the SAK Locksmith is a great choice.

Andy
 
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