Being a dog owner in Texas can be tough. It seems like every bit of green stuff has thorns, spikes, stickers, or burrs. I've taken out burrs from our dogs paws before using the little classic tweezers with no problem. Today I had a problem.
Our dog, Abby, a 5 year old Australian Shepherd, feels the need to investigate scents, and is duty bound to chase squirrels back up the trees where they belong. Who knows what evil can happen if too many squirrels can get on the ground at one time. Today, Abby ran over to chase an offending evil squirrel back up a tree and got a burr up between her paw pads. Not in the bottom of the paw pad, but up between the pads. Nothing is ever easy with Abby, but it is what it is.
I could reach the offending burr with the tweezers, but they didn't have the strength to grab the burr with enough grasp to pull out from between the pads. It would flex and slip off, breaking off a bit of the cluster each time. Pondering it for a bit, I took out the Leatherman squirt I've been carrying for 7 years now or so, and using the little spring loaded pliers, got a good hold on the burr, and got it out. Abby was grateful and ran off in search of more squirrels. Not learning from experience, I fear that Abby is not as smart as Australian shepherds are supposed to be, or maybe she's just not the brightest bulb in the chandelier as far as the breed standard goes.
I've always been in conflict over the Leatheman, as I love the SAK's so much, and the squirt has very often replaced the 58mm SAk in my daily use. In spirit of StuntDouble's self imposed challenge, I had replaced my dedicated knife, an Opinel, with a Victorinox waiter. A minimum SAK, I think after today, the waiter will be replaced with the alox bantam. I've been carrying the 84mm waiter for the longer blade, to give me a blade capable of slicing a sandwich in half, or when a bit more blade is needed. The alox bantam is about the size of a sick of gum, and drops in a pocket and disappears until needed. I had always liked having the toothpick and tweezers at hand, but after today, I found that the small pliers of the squirt can be used as fine forceps.
I thought I'd miss the nail file of the 58mm, but I've found by experience that the smooth side of the squirt file makes a decent nail file. The cut file leaves a smoother nail than the rough file of the classic.
So far, I have not missed having a dedicated knife on me, but the tools of a multitool have been indispensable in living in the real world. A knife is nice, but most often I have to cut something, a 1 1/2 inch blade opens my packages, mail, cuts twine, and with a 84mm SAK, I do have a longer blade on hand if need be. With only a few dedicated pocket knives left in my possession, I'm now wondering if I need even them. As a reformed knife nut, are they just an old habit at this point?
Our dog, Abby, a 5 year old Australian Shepherd, feels the need to investigate scents, and is duty bound to chase squirrels back up the trees where they belong. Who knows what evil can happen if too many squirrels can get on the ground at one time. Today, Abby ran over to chase an offending evil squirrel back up a tree and got a burr up between her paw pads. Not in the bottom of the paw pad, but up between the pads. Nothing is ever easy with Abby, but it is what it is.
I could reach the offending burr with the tweezers, but they didn't have the strength to grab the burr with enough grasp to pull out from between the pads. It would flex and slip off, breaking off a bit of the cluster each time. Pondering it for a bit, I took out the Leatherman squirt I've been carrying for 7 years now or so, and using the little spring loaded pliers, got a good hold on the burr, and got it out. Abby was grateful and ran off in search of more squirrels. Not learning from experience, I fear that Abby is not as smart as Australian shepherds are supposed to be, or maybe she's just not the brightest bulb in the chandelier as far as the breed standard goes.
I've always been in conflict over the Leatheman, as I love the SAK's so much, and the squirt has very often replaced the 58mm SAk in my daily use. In spirit of StuntDouble's self imposed challenge, I had replaced my dedicated knife, an Opinel, with a Victorinox waiter. A minimum SAK, I think after today, the waiter will be replaced with the alox bantam. I've been carrying the 84mm waiter for the longer blade, to give me a blade capable of slicing a sandwich in half, or when a bit more blade is needed. The alox bantam is about the size of a sick of gum, and drops in a pocket and disappears until needed. I had always liked having the toothpick and tweezers at hand, but after today, I found that the small pliers of the squirt can be used as fine forceps.
I thought I'd miss the nail file of the 58mm, but I've found by experience that the smooth side of the squirt file makes a decent nail file. The cut file leaves a smoother nail than the rough file of the classic.
So far, I have not missed having a dedicated knife on me, but the tools of a multitool have been indispensable in living in the real world. A knife is nice, but most often I have to cut something, a 1 1/2 inch blade opens my packages, mail, cuts twine, and with a 84mm SAK, I do have a longer blade on hand if need be. With only a few dedicated pocket knives left in my possession, I'm now wondering if I need even them. As a reformed knife nut, are they just an old habit at this point?