I’ve been carrying a bandana or handkerchief in my back pocket for years. They are such an indispensable item for me that I am tempted to put this in The EDC Tool Roll series. I can dry my hands when the restroom is out of paper towels, wipe my brow, blow my nose, keep sun off my neck, keep my phone’s screen dry when playing Pokemon Go with the kids in the rain, and so on.
I used to just buy whatever was hanging on a peg at the local big box store. Those cheap bandanas would shrink badly, bleed color when washed, and often they seemed to just flat refuse to absorb anything. Fortunately, a local clothing shop near me carries Hav-A-Hank brand and I was able to give them a try.
These are better than any bandana I’ve had before. First, they are made in the USA which you won’t find in any discount big box store. Second, the cotton they use is more crisp and absorbant which I really like. The size is great at 22″ square, they well for back pocket carry, and they do not seem to shrink as much as cheap bandanas. These are just better than anything else I have tried.
I am able to find them locally for $1.25 each. If you can’t find them locally, they can be found in bulk at retailers like Amazon: Hav-A-Hank on Amazon.com (affiliate link).
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.
This little bit driver/socket combination tool is sold under a variety of names like Alltrade and Powerbuilt. At $10-12, it also happens to be one of the biggest bargains in history of The EDC Tool Roll.
As far as I can tell, this tool has one of those crazy names meant more to maximize keywords more than roll off the tongue. So, I will refer to it as the Alltrade or just the ratchet.
The Alltrade doesn’t look that different from a standard 1/4″ drive, stubby ratchet unless you pay careful attention to the lever side which contains a surprise addition – a 1/4″ bit holder. That’s right. The Alltrade can accept 1/4″ sockets on one side and standard 1/4″ shank driver bits on the other.
It is reversible via a lever and sports a reasonably fine 72 tooth mechanism. The surface finish on the chrome vanadium steel, chrome, and knurling are also surprisingly well done for the price. It fits well in the hand and, more importantly for The EDC Tool Roll, fits well in a pocket-sized tool roll.
The Alltrade becomes even more useful if you carry it with a 1/4″ shank bit extension which you probably already have laying around. It really functions best as a driver if you can treat it more like a t-handle driver by using an extension. The amount of functionality that this tool packs into a small space and a small price is really impressive.
While this does fit in a pocket tool kit, it should be noted that it is a bit chunky and heavy compared to some options. Something like the VIM Tools or Prestacyle ratchets that we have covered in the past can do the same thing with less weight but they might not fill the hand as well as this Alltrade offering and they cost more. The bottom line here is that the Alltrade is a bargain and it is something I use a lot.
Where to Buy:
I don’t think you will find these locally. Alltrade/Powerbuilt seems to be one of those Amazon-only brands that proliferate that retail giant. SO, if you are interested, Amazon is probably your only option: Alltrade/Powerbuilt Ratchet & Driver
I’ve been wearing a Harry’s Holsters Singleton since April of 2020. When I first started wearing it, it was with the intention of completing a review. Sometime around 4 months in… I realized I was wearing it by choice. I have other holsters for the G-17 I carry in the Singleton but they have been gathering dust.
Overview
The Singleton is a compact kydex IWB holster that serves as a sort of modular base for building your ideal holster. At its core, it is a kydex body that is made of two sections held together with eyelets near the trigger guard only leaving the sight track essentially open to allow a variety of sighting options. It also comes with the excellent Discreet Carry Concepts Monoblock Clip for 1.5″ belts.
The Singleton can also accept a number of accessories that can be purchased a la carte. This includes a neoprene wedge kit and the Dark Wing. It is also compatible with most other quality wings if you want to source your own.
This holster is completely ambidextrous, allowing the user to easily swap the Monoblock clip to either side for left or right side use.
Observations from Use
I purchased my Singleton for a Glock 17 and added all the optional accessories. Harry’s Holsters also included a clever prototype wing for me to check out that I may write more about in a future article.
In my time with the Singleton, I have used it for both regular IWB and AIWB carry. I initially set it up with just the Monoblock Clip for use as an IWB holster just behind the point of my hip. I found it to be comfortable in this role in large part due to the very compact size.
After that experiment, I began experimenting with a configuration that would work for my preferred AIWB carry position. This involved testing both the prototype wing, the Dark Wing, and various wedge setups with the Harry’s Holsters wedge kit. I found that both wings worked well and that I preferred to use them with a wedge pad. I added thread-locker to the hardware and this configuration is how I’ve worn it since the end of May.
The holster body itself is very compact and clever in its construction. It provides full coverage for the handgun including protection for the magazine release. It is made of two halves that are only joined by the trigger guard like you might find in a “minimalist” style holster. If you know kydex, you know the trigger guard is typically where a holster interfaces with gun that it holds providing the retention. By joining the halves near the retention point, Harry’s Holsters has created a holster that can provide consistent retention and a near infinitely accommodating sight track that is still very compact. It also provides plenty of clearance for most optics. It’s a clever design that works.
The holster body is set up for the Monoblock Clip. It is easy to use, easy to don and doff, and will never come off your belt until you intend. This clip setup allows for quite a bit of cant adjustment (20 degrees) right at the clip and can even be carried without a belt. Discreet Carry Concepts clips are game changers.
The wedge kit that is offered as an option works well for me. It includes everything you need including two different sized wedges so you can tailor how the Singleton carries to your preference. Harry’s Holsters warns that the wedge kit may be too small for the full sized holsters but I found it to be perfect. If you are planning on using this holster for AIWB carry, I recommend it. You can probably skip it for IWB carry nearer to the hip.
The Dark Wing is a great holster wing. It does a great job of turning the butt of the gun in toward the wearer which I find to be a must-have for AIWB carry. If you want to source your own wing, the eyelet spacing is industry standard and will fit pretty much any wing worth having.
The Singleton conceals very well in a variety of carry methods and it exhibits very good quality – crisp molding, excellent blocking to ensure a smooth draw and positive retention, and well-finished edges. The retention level is set perfectly from Harry’s Holsters with no need to adjust.
If I could change something, I would ask Harry’s Holsters to lean even further into their compact design and reduce the flared portion of the holster that protects the wearer from the sights. This area seems like it could be much more compact which would further reduce the footprint of this already compact holster. The good news is they have already done this. The Singleton Gen 3 holster body reduces this area significantly.
Wrap Up
The Singleton is a compact holster that is designed with flexibility in mind. It’s affordable and is designed to accept a host of proven accessories that let the holster grow or adapt with you. It’s the holster I choose to wear.
I carry a fixed blade knife daily – usually an Amtac Blades Northman or Magnus. Those knives can be a little out of place in some settings. This is why I like the idea of the Public Knife and I am always on the lookout for truly great small knives. I think I landed on one, maybe the best one, in the Civivi Knives Baby Banter.
Overview
The Baby Banter was designed by Ben Peterson of internet knife guy and all-around nice guy fame. It is made in China by Civivi with their typical attention to detail and excellent quality.
Blade Length: 2.4″ (61 mm)
Overall Length: 5.5″ (139.7 mm)
Closed Length: 3.1″ (78.7 mm)
Weight: 1.99 oz (56.48 g)
Blade Steel: Nitro V (59 – 61 HRC)
Blade Shape: Drop point
Blade Grind: Flat
Lock Type: Liner Lock
Pocket Clip: deep carry, right/left hand, tip up, stainless steel
Thumbstud: Titanium
Handle material: G10
Observations from Use
My time with this knife has been a lot of fun. I initially purchased the blue G-10 version and carried it for about 2 months. During that time, my 12-year-old frequently made it known that she wanted one just like it. So, I bought myself the purple version and put the blue one in her stocking for Christmas. So, its safe to say I, or we, love this knife.
I don’t want to get bogged down in all the knife nerd details so I will focus instead on what makes this knife a joy to use. One of the more important features in this vein is the finger choil. I typically do not like large choils except on a small knife like this because a well-executed finger choil can create a knife that is both very compact but still provide a full grip. The choil is key to making the Baby Banter small enough for 5th pocket carry and large enough to do real work.
Ben Peterson and Civivi obviously didn’t forget that knives are supposed to cut things because the little Nitro-V steel blade in the Baby Banter cuts like a laser. It has all three of the holy trinity of cutting attributes – thin blade stock, a tall primary grind, and it is thin behind the edge. These knives are laser-sharp out of the box and it is easy to keep them that way thanks to excellent cutting geometry.
The action on these little knives is excellent out of the box and only gets better with time. This shouldn’t come as a surprise if you have handled other Civivi knives. Civivi nailed the detent tension and ball bearing pivot on these, making them a joy to flick open.
The pocket clip is also excellent. It carries deep and offers great retention. It also has a very flat design that you barely notice when you are actually cutting.
Overall, the Baby Banter feels very good in my hand thanks to the well-designed choil. It is more hand-filling than you would ever expect from a knife this small. It is comfortable to use… but I could have been just a bit better. The butt of the knife is somewhat square and in some grips, this portion of the knife is against the palm of the user. This design is visually attractive and consistent with the design language of the larger We Knives Banter but a bit more gradual rounding here could make the knife more comfortable overall. In the end, this is a small nit-pick since the knife is very ergonomic as is.
Wrap Up
I’ll go out on a limb and say the Baby Banter is currently the best “little big knife” on the market.
It does a fine job of balancing quality with value, compact size with hand filling performance, and stylish design with ergonomics. It’s fun to fidget with, fun to cut with, and even fun to look at. At less than $60 shipped, this is a winner.
I received a Vulpes Training Mini Native Trainer for Christmas and I love it. It really captures my imagination and it is, frankly, just cool. Chances are, they make something that will capture your imagination as well or maybe something that you need to add to your training rotation.
Mini Native “Trainer”
Vulpes Training handmakes a variety of trainers for edged weapon training. These trainers have more realistic handling and weight than many other lighter trainers. They also make several items like their Native line (Micro, Mini, and Large) which are actually impact weapons. These items are hand cut and ground from 3/4″ thick polymer making them nearly indestructible.
If they don’t have what you are looking for, they may be able to work with you on a custom project. I find that they are actually surprisingly reasonably priced given the quality and handmade mature of these items.
