There are many, many overdone field knife sharpeners on the market but very few that I would consider carrying regularly. That is why I love my USA-made, easy-to-carry Hewlett Two-Sided Diamond Sharpeners with medium (600) and fine (1800) grits. I have had a couple of these knocking around for years now. It might be the most versatile, easiest-to-carry, field sharpener I own.
These diamond plates are the right size – small enough to carry in their included sleeve and large enough to actually work. They are just under 4″ long, 1.25″ wide, and just about 1/16″ thick. They weigh just over 1 ounce.
I rarely use the medium side but it is coarse enough to get some mild reprofiling done in the field should you take some chips out of an edge. The fine side is all I usually need to touch up an edge before finishing with a quick strop.
I have even used mine to strike a ferro rod and scrape tinder like fat wood thanks to the crisp edges on the plate. It isn’t meant for that and I am sure it isn’t good for it… but it works.
The EDC Tool Roll is a feature on Jerking the Trigger in which we profile various everyday-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 everyday 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.
I have covered a lot of ratchet/driver tools on The EDC Tool Roll and the Klein Tools 65200 has become a favorite. I have carried this one but I also reach for it quite a bit for projects at home and it all comes down to few key features.
The most obvious feature that sets the 65200 apart from every other ratchet I have reviewed is the inclusion of a large ring. The ring allows you to turn the ratchet with just a finger which acts somewhat like an extension giving you some additional reach and leverage. It could also be used to clip or dummy-cord the 65200 to yourself or your gear. I find myself using it a lot.
Klein Tools also designed an excellent finger-turning ring for this tool. If you have ever tried to start a screw with one of these ratchets, you know that it can take a few turns before there is enough friction on the fastener for the ratcheting mechanism to work well. The finger ring is useful for hand-turning fasteners to start them and this one works well thanks to its easy-to-grip texture and large diameter.
I also like the included bit holder. It is more compact than most, holding just 5 bits. I guess some people may wish they could carry more bits but I like how small this holder is and find myself using it with other tools!
Finally, Klein Tools includes a 1/4″ socket adapter with this kit. It seems odd to point this out but it is actually somewhat unusual. I appreciate that this is included because I am often having to buy one separately for other similar ratchets.
As I said, this is among my favorite ratchets but I should point out that the 65200 is chunkier than many similar offerings. Also, as handy as I find the ring, it might make it more difficult to store in some kits. If you need the most compact option, this likely isn’t it.
Where to Buy:
You may actually be able to find these if you have a local source of Klein Tools. Home Depot carries it in some stores as part of a larger tool kit which may be useful to some. Otherwise, these are extremely affordable on Amazon which is where I bought mine: Klein Tools 65200 on Amazon
I purchased a SOG Tellus FLK a while back because I couldn’t resist what appeared to be a very good deal for a large folding knife. I was also intrigued by its surprisingly lightweight given its size and the way SOG executed the frame-lock (more on this later).
SOG states that the Tellus FLK is an “outdoor workhorse,” which is certainly the vibe I get from this knife. The blade shape, size, and overall feel in the hand remind me a lot of past Zero Tolerance/Rick Hinderer collaboration knives and that is a complement. The knife feels like it is ready to work thanks to SOG’s design choices.
The first thing I noticed about the Tellus FLK is its weight. Now, I am not saying this is a lightweight knife but it one of those knives that messes with your head a bit. When you pick this up, you expect it to feel much heavier than it does. It feels very light for its size. This is thanks to SOG’s choice to mill out very large voids in the liners and likely the use of polymer for several parts of the knife including the scales, backspacer, and even the thumb studs.
Those polymer thumb studs are actually very comfortable to use and the blade deploys easily when using them. In fact, I greatly prefer them to the flipper tab that this knife also includes.
The scales have diagonal, grooved texture that offers a ton of grip without being aggressive or hard on your pockets. They are relatively thick and well-contoured. The polymer scales are affixed to the steel liners via internal, nested screws. SOG also chose to affix a small section of scale to liner-turned-frame-lock which improves the comfort in this area. This is the kind of innovative thing that can and should be done with polymer handles!
The 440C used in the Tellus FLK’s broad, drop point blade is easy to resharpen and seems relatively tough. The height of the blade, coupled with a nearly full-height flat grind allows the blade to really thin out behind the edge. This knife cuts better than a lot of knives with even thinner stock thanks to this cutting geometry. It is impressive in this regard.
The pocket clip is reversible and offers a ton of clearance for pockets with chunkier fabrics. The position is somewhat low on the knife which, for me at least, allows it to fall in a comfortable part of my grip rather than being way out toward the edge of my hand.
The blade locks up solidly though there is some slight side-to-side play which is typical for larger bladed folders with ball-bearing pivots.
All of that sounds pretty good (and it is) but there are a few design choices that leave me scratching my head. First, I am little confused by the use of a ball-bearing pivot given the “outdoor workhorse” intentions of the Tellus FLK. Boring old PB washers would like stand up to fouling more readily and might have even been cheaper. Second, the pivot screws on this knife are fairly large but they went with a T6 driver… and that fits kind of loose. Be careful when adjusting the pivot on this knife. Again, different hardware might have made more sense for this design.
Wrap Up
This knife offers a combination of features that make it very attractive at the price: standout ergonomics, tough stainless steel, great cutting geometry, and multiple deployment methods. It is also significantly larger than a lot of knives in this price range and that is worth something if you need a larger knife for your application.
I like the Tellus FLK so much that I could see choosing this over other classic, low-cost work knives like the RAT 1 just based on just how much knife you get for the money. I’m impressed.
I purchased the SOG Tellus FLK with my own money, from Amazon: SOG Tellus FLK
Gypsy EDC, an excellent knife and sheath maker based out of Idaho, recently posted a tip that makes removing DCC clip equipped items like sheaths and holsters from your clothing much easier. This tip makes use of a credit card to shim the clip, allowing it to slide off your clothing almost effortlessly. This may be especially useful for shorter DCC clips or those with limited grip strength.
See the tip in action on the Gypsy EDC Instagram page: GypsyEDC Instagram.
You’ve probably spent a fair amount of time wondering what Kit Badger smells like. Well… good news. Now, you not only don’t have to wonder anymore, but you can also smell just like him thanks to Lox and Company Badger Balm.
Seriously though, this stuff smells good and can be used a TON of different ways in the outdoors… or just day-to-day.
