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The Survival Knife in your Pocket – Cold Steel Pendleton Mini Hunter

By on November 7, 2022 in Bargain or Just Cheap?, EDC, Knives, Outdoor Gear, Preparedness, Reviews, Survival

I owned a Cold Steel Pendleton Mini Hunter years ago. I never really did much with the one I used to own because I didn’t have a sheath that made it very practical to carry but the knife itself was excellent. I thought of it as a paring knife on steroids which is to say it was an excellent utility knife that was quite stout.

Fast forward to earlier this year when I was looking for a knife with some basic requirements – stainless, large and stout enough to baton sticks of a reasonable diameter for fire making, small enough to EDC, and with a 90-degree spine. The idea was that, when coupled with a Swiss Army Knife (with saw) and a ferro rod/lighter, it would be the foundation of a sort of EDC-able survival kit. Surprisingly, this was difficult to find in a relatively affordable production knife which drove me back to the Pendleton Mini Hunter. It not only fits this niche but I found that it has become extremely affordable. I purchased one for just $35.

The knife itself is excellent. The flat ground AUS-10A blade is 3″ long and .130″ thick at the spine which is quite stout. It features a drop point blade shape that has a distal taper to the tip rendering a strong but useful point. The handle is molded rubber that allows a four-finger grip (though it is narrow) and is comfortable to use even when cold thanks to the lack of exposed tang. It has a small guard that is unobtrusive and the 90-degree spine throws sparks like a champ.

In use, it really does feel like the most useful paring knife if your kitchen but 10X as durable. It may not sound like it initially, but that is supposed to be high praise. It can cut your apple for lunch, trim a thread, dress your deer, or start a fire in challenging conditions which is pretty impressive for a knife that costs $35, weighs 2 ounces, and is exceedingly easy to carry… as long as you spend a bit more money on sheaths.

When it comes to sheaths, there are a ton of options. I can only speak to the two I’ve tried. The first is a KSF (Knives Ship Free) Pocono Pocket Sheath. This leather pouch sits gracefully in your front or back pocket and has room to carry a ferro rod (which I do) in addition to the knife.

The sheath second option, a kydex sheath from RK Kydex, is probably the better option considering the versatility, availability, and affordability. I set mine up with a single snap loop which makes it easy to carry on my belt, as a neck knife, or in the pocket. I had this sheath in days, the quality is excellent, and I only paid $28 for it which is very affordable compared to most of the market. I highly recommend these sheaths.

The combination of the Cold Steel Pendleton Mini Hunter and the RK Custom Kydex Sheath was perfect for fleshing out my pocket survival knife idea. It is on my belt as I type this. I think this knife would make a great addition to anyone’s kit or a great gift.

Links to the products above:

Cold Steel Pendleton Mini Hunter AUS10A

Cold Steel Pendelton Mini Hunter 3V (upgraded steel)

KSF Pocono Pocket Sheath

RK Custom Kydex Sheath

The above URLs may be affiliate links.

The EDC Tool Roll: Knipex Pliers Wrench (86 04 100)

By on October 31, 2022 in EDC, Reviews, The EDC Tool Roll

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.

If you have been following The EDC Tool Roll for a while, you’ll know that I am a big fan of the Knipex Pliers Wrench. They might be my favorite tool. I’ve used the 5″ version as part of my EDC and range bag toolkit for years. Several months ago, I picked up the new 4″ version for testing as well. Since that time, the 86 04 100 Pliers Wrench has lived in my fifth pocket.

The new 4″ version is focused on the EDC market much like the 4″ version of the Cobra Pliers that Knipex rolled out earlier. They offer several key differences from their larger counterparts in addition to their smaller size. They lack the iconic red rubber grips on the handle which makes taking them in and out of a pocket easier. They also have slightly slimmer jaws and a sliding mechanism that does not require a button press to adjust the opening of the jaws. All of these changes are well-suited for a smaller overall tool meant to be easy to carry.

Speaking of adjusting the opening of the jaws… Like all other Pliers Wrench iterations, these things offer a massive range of adjustment allowing them to be used on larger fasteners than you might expect – up to a 3/4″ nut comfortably (or even just a bit larger if you push your luck).

Size and features aside, these are basically as functional as their larger counterparts. They offer a tight grip on the fastener that only gets tighter as you pull the tool through the arc of its motion. The faux ratcheting effect that makes these so darn handy is also intact making these a reasonable replacement for a ratchet set in some cases.

At this point, you may be wondering what you are giving up with this new smaller version. They definitely lack a bit of leverage compared to larger versions and the checkered handle, while grippy, is not as comfortable to use as the red rubber-dipped larger variants. For those reasons, I definitely prefer this in a pocket-carry role. If you are going to carry them in an EDC Bag or Range Bag, go with the 5″ version.

Where to Buy:

I don’t have a source for Knipex Tools locally (and probably never will) so I buy all of mine online, usually from Amazon: Knipex Pliers Wrench 86 04 100 on Amazon

Previously Reviewed Alternatives:

  1. Channellock 804 4.5″ Adjustable Wrench
  2. Knipex Pliers Wrench (86 03 125)
  3. Lobster UM24SS Shorty Adjustable Wrench

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

Do you have a 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.

The above URLs may be affiliate links.

Sosby Blades Wedge – A Mini Review and Customer Service Story

By on October 17, 2022 in EDC, Knives

I purchased a Sosby Blades Wedge almost two years ago. It is an excellent knife that pulls off being both very compact and very hand-filling. The handle locks into the hand via a generous choil and works in any grip which can be achieved directly out of the well-designed sheath. The design of the blade places the needle-like tip exactly where it should be for piercing. This knife is a compact, self-defense powerhouse with decent utility.

There was just one small problem… I purchased my Wedge secondhand and the previous owner decided to give it what appeared to be a Worksharp edge. It was well polished and sharp but it looked like they lingered too long in one spot because there was an inward curve to the edge. I don’t mean something like a graceful recurve or hawksbill-style edge… it was like a shallow angle. This made it just about impossible to lay the edge down on a stone for sharpening.

I contacted Sosby Blades asking if I could pay to have the edge reground and was totally open about having purchased the knife secondhand. Sosby Blades was concerned that too much stock had already been removed which would change the intended geometry of the knife so rather than letting me pay for a repair, they offered to replace the knife at no cost. Needless to say, I was impressed.

Sosby Blades is a custom maker that releases knives in batches. They have stock right now on some of their most popular knives. Check out their website: https://sosbyblades.com/

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