Archive | September, 2018

The EDC Tool Roll: Klein Tools Electrician’s Scissors

The EDC Tool Roll is a feature on Jerking the Trigger in which we profile various every day carry worthy tools. The tools shown aren’t multi-tools but rather real tools, that by virtue of their compact size, light weight, usefulness, or unique functionality, can find a place in any range kit, emergency kit, or every day carry bag.

Feel free to comment on the tools that you carry so we can all learn! The discussion on these posts has been very valuable so far.


JTT reader Trent R. suggested that I take a look at the Klein Tools Electrician’s Scissors for The EDC Tool Roll and I absolutely agree with him. They are great scissors. In fact, I already owned a pair that I’ve been using for years!

We’ve already covered two other pairs of scissors in this series – Victorinox SwissCard Scissors and SLIP-N-SNIP Folding Scissors. Both of those scissors give up some size and functionality in favor of being easy to carry. That isn’t really the case with the Klein Tools Electrician’s Scissors which are still compact and will fit in any EDC Tool Roll but are more tool-like and functional like full size scissors.

These scissors are billed as an electrician’s tools but really they are just solid all-around scissors. I find that they fit well in adult sized hands and cut well. They are ground with thicker edges than some scissors so that they can be used to cut wire and other tough materials without damage. Klein Tools also takes care to very slightly blunt the tips of these so that the point is very robust.

I have a few older, US and European made scissors that I received from my grandfather and these USA made Klein Tools Electrician’s Scissors remind me of those in build quality. They have forged steel construction with a nickle plated finish. The screw hinge is adjustable but not removable so the scissors can not be taken apart. You have to love that companies like Klein Tools are still forging tools in the USA.

These have been my go-to workshop scissors for years and they often find their way into my range bag as well. I use them for cutting tape into target pasters (or pasters into smaller pasters). They are also great for cutting cardboard boxes to shape for use with my target stands or cutting cardboard to shape for targets like the KBATs from Kit Badger. They are the perfect size for tons of applications like these when you want performance like full size scissors but space is at a premium. These offer something close to full size performance and compact ease of carry.

Where to Buy:

I have the model 2100-5 which lacks the wire stripping notches but has the scraper/file on the backs of the blades. The price varies but sometime the model with notches (2100-7) actually costs a little bit less. You can probably find these at a local home improvement store or electric supply house. They are quite common. If you are like me, they are already in your tool chest waiting to be added to your EDC Tool Roll!

Klein Tools Electrician’s Scissors on Amazon

Alternatives from Previous Reviews:

Victorinox SwissCard Scissors

Original SLIP-N-SNIP Folding Scissors


See all the reviews for previous tools organized by type: The EDC Tool Roll

Do you have scissors that you prefer or another tool recommendation that fits The EDC Tool Roll? Tell us about it in the comments below or drop us a line on the Contact page.

Forward Assists – Necessary, Unnecessary, or Disaster Waiting to Happen?

The AR-15’s forward assist has long been a topic of debate among shooters. Some shooters seem to think it is absolutely necessary. Some think it’s unnecessary or even dangerous.

On one hand, I get the arguments for the user of the forward assist for administrative functions like cleaning up after a “press check” or for the sake of reliability since it gives the ability to chamber a round that otherwise did not chamber on its own. On the other hand, the other side says you probably shouldn’t chamber a round that wouldn’t chamber on its own and there is already an assist built into the AR-15’s bolt carrier (the chamfered cut that allows the shooter to push the bolt forward with their thumb).

I understand both sides and occupy the middle ground, generally considering a forward assist to be nice to have but not necessary. Honestly, I don’t really think about it much unless I am rifle shopping/building.

Recently, I came across a post on AR15.com that adds a new wrinkle to the old argument. It highlights a few cases (some documented, some anecdotal) of forward assists breaking (or at least the forward assist roll pin). As you might imagine, having the forward assist pawl running around inside your AR-15 action is not good for your rifle with issues ranging from stoppages to cracked upper receivers! Read the thread here: AR15.com

Where do you stand on the AR-15’s forward assist?

Modern Arms MA-Bar Patch

I always look forward to the patch releases at Modern Arms. They always manage to pack some incredible detail into their embroidered moral patch designs.

Their upcoming MA-Bar patch looks like the iconic Ka-Bar USMC Fighting Knife. It features some impressive detail from the highlights that give depth to the blade grinds and fuller, to varied colors of stacked leather washers, and even the chamfer cut in the leather washers near the guard.

Modern Arms patches often sell out quickly so you will want to stay tuned to ModernArms.net for more details.

PHLster Gen 2 TDI Fightworthy Sheath Upgrade

There have been a number of changes to the Ka-Bar TDI Law Enforcement Knife over the years. This knife remains an absolute bargain when it comes to self-defense knives but things like thickness and even the shape of the primary bevel have seen changes throughout long time production of this knife. Most aftermarket TDI sheaths do not account for these changes in their design which can lead to poor fit and performance.

PHLster has updated their TDI Fightworthy Sheath to include dual tension adjustments. These adjustments should let the sheath offer better performance across all of the available TDI production variations. I do not know of another TDI sheath on the market with adjustable retention.

PHLsterHolsters.com

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