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Echo Niner Camera Strap

By on February 29, 2012 in EDC, Tactical Gear

Last time I checked cameras still cost a whole mess of money. For some, their camera is also their livelihood. So why would anyone trust just any old camera strap to keep your camera around your neck? You shouldn’t.

Echo Niner (E9) makes what they call the E9 Camera Strap. If you spend much time around rifles and tactical gear you will recognize many of the materials used in these Camera Straps. They use 1.25″ heavy nylon sling webbing and then line it with rubberized grip enhancing material. There are 2 side release buckles that can be used to release the Camera Strap quickly or to create a shorter hand strap configuration. The E9 Camera Strap can be easily adjusted on the fly by just pulling the strap tail and the attachment points are constructed from MilSpec 5-50 Parachute Cord.

The E9 Camera Strap is built to withstand the rigors of combat photography. It can certainly stand up to a weekend warrior’s family trip to the zoo. Check out the E9 Camera Strap on ENiner.com.

NukoTools Titanium GBi

By on February 25, 2012 in EDC, Reviews, Survival

Titanium makes just about anything better. That is scientific fact. It is certainly true with the NukoTools GBi.

You may remember the cute little GBi that I reviewed a while back. The old version was made from G-10 which is a very good material for this application given its light weight, non-magnetic nature, and extreme durability. This new version is made from an equally well suited material – titanium. Titanium is also very lightweight (though it is a bit heavier than the G-10), non magnetic, and extremely durable.

NukoTools Heat Colored Ti GBi (subject of this review)

If you read the previous review, you know that the GBi is a discreet self defense tool. It looks like a funny little smiley face but functions like a flesh tearing, bone bruising, eye gouging set of two finger “knuckles”. The new Ti version is about 1/4″ thick (slightly thinner than the original G-10 version) and features larger “eye” holes which improves the comfort and fit for me.

NukoTools has made a few versions of these. I have a heat colored version for review. The most recent versions have been stone washed and left raw or slightly heat colored. The heat coloring on my example is striking. It is mostly a very deep purple with some blue, green, and even orange in the right light. It gives this GBi a very distinctive look that is also completely unique from any other GBi. No two heat colored GBis will be alike.

Original NukoTools G-10 GBi (from the previous review)

The cuts on this earlier Ti version that I have are a bit rough in places. The eye holes are smoothed enough to be comfortable but the teeth cuts are a bit jagged in places (which isn’t really a bad thing considering their purpose). The newer stone washed versions have corrected this roughness.

The best thing about the GBi is just how discreet it really is. It isn’t unusual for people to comment about how cute my keychain is without ever realizing what it actually is. That is exactly how NukoTools intended it to be. This tool works.

Check out the NukoTools website or email nukotools@gmail.com for purchasing information. Be advised, these tools are handmade in small batches so they may not be available all the time.

Multitasker Series 2X

By on February 24, 2012 in EDC, Guns, Knives, Tactical Gear, Tactics and Training

I fell in love with the Multitasker Series 2 last year. Since I received it, I haven’t been to the range without it and I use it at home frequently when working on my ARs (and other things). I guess that I was so absorbed in my Series 2 that I forgot to mention that the Series 2X is now available.

The Multitasker Series 2X offers several great improvements over the Series 2. The most noticeable of which are the new larger and beefier jaws. The Series 2 had really fine teeth that were very grippy, but not necessarily the best for gripping items with large angular surfaces like large bolts. The Series 2X has teeth that would make a T-Rex jealous. These will definitely grip just about anything you can throw at them. The wire cutters have also been improved which is saying a lot because they were already pretty darn good.

The Series 2X also features a new pivot design. The Series 2 ball bearing pivot has been replaced with a self lubricating hybrid pivot design that is bull strong and very smooth.

The melonite coating of the Series 2 has been replaced with a more durable PVD or Titanium Nitride coating. This new coating will offer increased wear resistance versus the melonite treatment that was used originally.

Glock shooters will find the 2X to be more useful. It will come with a 3/32″ punch attachment that replaces the cleaning pick that was found on the Series 2 (except for the Brownells models which will still feature the cleaning pick). Many Glock shooters will know that a 3/32″ punch is basically the only tool needed to detail strip a Glock down to small parts.

The Series 2X is a worthy successor to the Series 2. Get all the latest Multitasker information at MultitaskerTools.com and at the Multitasker Tools Facebook Page. You can purchase your own Multitasker Series 2X from TacStrike.

You can also check out the earlier Series 2 at Brownells.

Gryphon M-10 Utility-Boot Knife from Cutlery Shoppe

By on February 24, 2012 in EDC, Knives, Survival

The Gryphon M-10 is generally considered to be one of the greatest compact self defense knives of all time. It is a true classic that for several years was unavailable for purchase unless you could find a used one. A few weeks ago, I was lamenting the M-10 that I lost years ago when a friend told me that they were being sold again by the Cutlery Shoppe.

Not only is the M-10 available once again, the Cutlery Shoppe has made this classic Bob Terzuola design better than ever. Previous versions utilized ATS-34 or AUS-8 steel (I had an ATS-34 version), both of which are fine steels for a knife like this. However, this new iteration features VG-10 steel which is easily my favorite stainless steel (and I don’t even really like stainless steels). VG-10 may be outclassed in edge retention by some modern super steels, but it is no slouch and it is extremely easy to sharpen. Like the original, the blade is 4″ long and 3/16″ thick.

The new version also features a DLC black finish on the blade to cut down on glare. It has been my experience that DLC is a great coating for knives if you have to have a coating. It holds up well to wear and isn’t as thick and pasty as some coatings.

The best thing about the new version is the sheath. Many people try to carry fixed blade self-defense knives only to be turned off by how difficult or uncomfortable they are to carry. Most knives comes with sheaths that are nothing more than an afterthought. The Gryphon M-10 comes with a concealex (kydex) sheath system designed my Mike Sastre of River City Sheaths that offers nearly endless configuration options. My favorite way to carry a knife like this is inside the waistband on my weak side with the handle in toward my center line. This allows easy access with either hand and translates well to handgun retention techniques. Many people are surprised at just how comfortable and easy it is to carry an 8″ long knife once they have experienced a decent sheath.

Thankfully, all of the M-10’s best features are intact. The grippy, well contoured zytel handle is still the same as the original. This handle is part of what makes the M-10 great. It locks the hand in place without favoring any one grip. It also features just enough of a double guard to keep your fingers off the blade without getting your way during certain types of cuts. The well designed blade is still intact as well. It may be 3/16″ thick but the aggressive grinds keep the blade feeling light and lively with a very acute tip.

If you spend just a few moments with one of these knives in your hand or on your belt, you will see why the Gryphon M-10 is so well regarded. I am thrilled that they are back on the market and hope to pick one up soon for a full review.

Check out the Gryphon M-10 on CutleryShoppe.com.

Bogota Titan-Mini and Bogota-Flats from SerePick

By on February 21, 2012 in EDC, Survival, Tactical Gear

Lock bypassing is a valuable, challenging, and mind opening skill. Nothing will shatter a false sense of security faster than seeing how fast a lock can fall to a skilled hand (this is usually accompanied with the additional realization that most criminals will kick in your door or break a window to gain even faster entry to your private space than they could by picking a lock). When it comes to tools that build lock bypassing skill quickly and easily, I am a huge fan of SerePick and their line of Bogota Toolsets. Now, that line up is expanding to include 2 new items: the Bogota Titan-Mini Entry Toolset and the Bogota-Flats Basic Toolset.

Bogota Titan-Mini Entry Toolset

The Bogota Entry Toolsets are unparalleled in their ease of use, portability, and discreet concealability. You can read the past reviews of Bogota Stainless Entry Toolset, Bogota Titan Entry Toolset, and SerePick Executive Kit for more background on these tools.

At just 2″ long, the Bogota Titan-Mini Entry Toolset is the most compact, portable, and concealable Bogota Entry Toolset yet. Like the full size Bogota Titan Entry Toolset (3″ long), they are made from titanium to reduce their magnetic signature. The Mini features the same proven size and shape of the picking surfaces but the handle has been reduced in length to make the set more compact.

SerePick Bogota-Flats Basic Toolset

If traditional “popsicle stick” handled pick sets are more your speed, then the Bogota-Flats Basic Toolset is for you. The minimalist handles on the Bogota Entry Toolsets are great for keeping things compact and working as a tensioner, but when it comes to delicate picking some people prefer the feel and dexterity of a full size handle. The Bogota-Flats Basic Toolset comes with 4 pieces: Bogota Triple Rake, Single Hook, Shallow Hook, and a tensioner.

You can purchase your own Bogota Toolsets on SerePick.com. Stay tuned for reviews of both new items.

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