Archive | The EDC Tool Roll

The EDC Tool Roll: Channellock 424 and Tekton 37521

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.


This week’s installment of the The EDC Tool Roll was supposed to feature the Channellock 424 4.5″ Pliers but a last minute challenger emerged, the Tekton 375215 5″ Pliers, that is similar enough to feature them both at the same time. Thank you to reader Tim S. for the recommendation on the Tektons!

Both the Channellock 424 and Tekton 37521 are made in the USA, both carry lifetime warranties, and both are adjustable tongue and groove pliers with similarly shaped jaws. The Channellocks will set you back about $10-12 and the Tektons cost a little less at $8-9. The Tektons are slight larger anyway you measure them and have an adjustable pivot unlike the Channellocks.

I have been a Channellock user as long as I have been a tool user but, of these two pliers, I prefer the Tekton. It’s slightly longer and wider handle is more comfortable. It’s jaws are slightly larger and the teeth are set to work with the direction of force. Best of all, the adjustable pivot means I can adjust for the slop that will inevitably develop with pliers like these.

I’ve used both of these pliers in my range bag and EDC kit for all kinds of things. They can be used for the intended purpose but I have also used them for pulling webbing through a tight triglide, holding a peel washer while I heat it with a lighter during a muzzle device installation, and setting the initial tightness of MLOK nuts.

Either of these pliers could be a more affordably priced alternative to the Knipex Cobras that we profiled previously though neither will truly measure up. If you want the absolute smallest and lightest option, the Channellock 424 may suit you. However, the Tekton 37521 is only slightly larger but much more usable in my opinion.

Where to buy: Channellock tools are carried at a number of home improvement box stores and smaller hardware stores. The best selections of Tekton tools seem to be found online. I bought my first 424s at a plumbing supply store years ago and the most recent set (shown) at Amazon. I also purchased the Tektons at Amazon.

Channellock 424 on Amazon

Tekton 37521 on Amazon

Alternatives: Irwin and others make 4.5″-5″ pliers that are very similar. My preferred 5″ pliers is the Knipex Cobra that has already been featured. Stay tuned for a side by side comparison of all these options.

Do you have compact adjustable pliers that you prefer? Tell us about it below.

The EDC Tool Roll: Screwpop Utility Knife 2.0

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.


It’s thin. It’s light. It cuts and opens bottles. It’s dirt cheap and it never needs to be sharpened…

Screwpop’s makes an entire line of keychain tools but the pick of the litter is their Utility Knife. This wafer thin utility blade holder is barely larger than a stick of gum but it has more features than standard sized utility knives.

The Screwpop Utility Knife features a lever lock that retains the blade inside the holder and allows you to set the amount of blade that protrudes from the holder by locking it into the notches on the spine of standard utility blades (the use of standard blades is a huge positive for this tool). It also has a small magnet that allows you to stick the Utility Knife to a ferrous surface and serves to keep the blade from rattling a bit. This handy little widget also features a bottle opener that can be used when the blade is retracted.

I have purchased a few of these over the years. I keep one in my pocket because it works well with the “public knife” concept that we have discussed on this blog before. I also tend to keep one in my EDC tool kit. I carry a knife everyday but there are a lot things I would rather cut with a disposable blade than my favorite EDC knife. Thanks to its small and thin form factor, it fits The EDC Tool Roll easily.

Where to Buy: The Screwpop Utility Knife can sometimes be found in big box stores and you will likely save as much as a dollar by buying it locally if you can find one. The good news is that even if you can’t find them locally several online retailers have them and they are cheap. I bought my last two on Amazon because I can’t find them locally here.

Screwpop Utility Knife on Amazon

Alternatives: If you are looking for a high class alternative, the Rexford Knives RUT is an amazing little tool.

Do you have an EDC-sized Utility Knife that you prefer? Do you have another tool you think we should know about? Tell us about it below.

The EDC Tool Roll: Channellock 804 4.5″ Adjustable Wrench

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.


Channellock’s 804 4.5″ Adjustable Wrench is probably the easiest to carry adjustable wrench I own. It is only 4.5″ long but is also very slim overall making it easy to drop in your pocket. It only ways about 2 ounces so it is an easy addition to any compact tool roll.

Channellock 804 shown with 1911 mag for scale

The 804 can be opened wide enough to handle the 9/16″ diameter found on common 3/8″ nuts and bolts. If you are metrically inclined, it can handle a 15mm nut/bolt. It may be small but it will take care of a lot common fasteners.

The quality is excellent. It is drop forged with machined flats. The laser markings seem resilient and they are easy to read. The i-beam style handle makes it small, tough, and comfortable to hold.

This wrench will inevitiably be compared to the two previous adjustable wrenches features on The EDC Tool Roll – the Lobster UM24 and the Knipex Pliers Wrench. I’ll post a comparison of the three soon. The Lobster and Knipex both open wider but they are also more expensive, heavier, and larger. So, the 804 may not be as versatile as the others but it earns a place in my EDC Tool Roll for its compact size and lightweight.

Where to buy: I have only been able to find the larger Channellock Adjustable Wrenches locally. I purchased my Channellock 804 on Amazon. They even have a “tactical” black oxide finish version in the Channellock 804N.

Alternatives:

Do you have a compact adjustable wrench that you prefer? Tell us about it below.

The EDC Tool Roll: Triple Seven Gear Micro Kit

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.


We’ve spent time talking about some tools. It’s about time we started talking about the tool roll.

Contents listed at end of post…

I use a Micro Kit from Triple Seven Gear as my EDC Tool Roll. I’ve used Triple Seven Gear products going all the way back to their original Mini Kit Mk-7 and own at least one of everything they make (and several of a few products).

The Micro Kit is ideal for me because the size is just right – small enough to carry but big enough to fit what I need. It is compact enough to fit in a coat pocket, back pocket of jeans, or even some front pockets. It does not require a large cargo pocket to be carried. In spite of that compact size, the Micro Kit can pack and organize a lot of tools.

It folds to about 4″ x 6″ when closed and can be secured with a simple elastic loop. I like that there are no zippers or hook and loop to limit how I stuff the pouch. When open, it lays completely flat and gives good visibility to the tools contained inside. I can even turn it “inside-out” so that it fits in my pocket but still offers access to the tools.

The elastic loops can fit a variety of tools and anything that does fit well in the loops can be stashed in one of the pockets. The clear vinyl window is particularly useful for stashing small items that you want to be able to see.

You can check out the Micro Kit (or Mini Kit Mk-7 if you need a larger version) at Triple Seven Gear.

Do you have an EDC-capable tool organizer that you prefer or have you made your own? Tell us about it below.


Contents in the image above:

The EDC Tool Roll: Knipex Pliers Wrench (86 03 125)

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.


Knipex Pliers Wrenches might be my favorite tool in my tool chest and my EDC Tool Roll. I say this not only because of how well they work but because of how clever they are. What I mean is, I really like how they work but I love the idea of them too!

Knipex Pliers Wrench (right) shown with Cobra Pliers (left).

If you can imagine adjustable pliers that have been retooled with some engineering magic to have parallel opening jaws, you have the idea of the Pliers Wrench. They open and close like pliers but have the flat, parallel opening jaws of a wrench. The result is a tool that can “ratchet” by simply loosening your grip, has very fine adjustability, lets you easily control the pressure on the fastener with your grip, and can handle much larger fasteners than similarly sized adjustable wrenches.

These parallel jaws allow other uses like straightening sheet metal. They can also be used to push in roll pins and work especially well on stubborn pins like the bolt catch roll pin on an AR-15 lower receiver. You just place the Pliers Wrench over the pin and squeeze your grip to push it into place.

I own 3 different sizes of the Pliers Wrench but the one I carry daily is the 5″ version (86 03 125). It is the same size as the Knipex Cobra Pliers that I also carry and between the two of them, I can get a lot done. This tool is surprisingly small but it can be adjusted wide enough to turn 7/8″ diameter fasteners.

One thing that makes the 5″ version especially well suited to everyday carry or range bag use is how thin the jaws are. The tool itself is extremely stout but the jaws taper to just less than 1/8″ thick at the tips. This makes it easy to get on the smaller nuts and bolts often found on optics mounts or other gear.

I purchased my 5″ Knipex Pliers Wrench (86 03 125) at Amazon. I have found the larger sizes locally at places like Sears Hardware but never the 5″ version so I had to purchase online.

For a lower priced alternative adjustable wrench that is compact but still handles larger fasteners, check out the Lobster Shorty. We will eventually post some comparisons of a few options in a later installment of The EDC Tool Roll.

Do you have a compact adjustable wrench that you prefer? Tell us about it below.

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