JJ’s Knife Kit from Garrett Wade is a nifty build it yourself kit for little ones aged 4-7. Kids always want what their parents have, so this is a safe way to let them feel like they have a grown up tool. These kits come with pre-cut and pre-drilled pieces of Oak or Cherry depending on the style. Even though they are supposed to be for kids, I’d like to have one too They are priced from $11.75 – $22.50.

Filed in categories: Do-It-Yourself, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: DIY, Knives, Spotlight Gadgets

Do-it-yourself pocket knife building kit for kids originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 5, 2010 at 10:02 am.

Here’s a nifty gadget for your gear bag. It’s a replica of a hobo knife from the early 1900′s. This one from W.R. Case has a bone handle with a knife, spoon and a fork with a can opener. It’s pretty expensive at around $80 or so at various online retailers. However, I did find some more reasonably priced versions at Budk.com that are worth checking out.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Knives, Outdoor, Spotlight Gadgets

Hobo knives – For chowing on the go originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 15, 2009 at 4:09 pm.

Have you ever seen a knife like this one? It’s the Van Hoy Snap Lock from CRKT. It features a very unusual opening and locking mechanism. If the included belt clip isn’t installed, the stainless steel blade can rotate 360 degrees. If one of the clips is installed (you can attach it to either side of the handle), the blade can rotate 180 degrees. You can get one for $59.99. What is the most unusual pocket knife that you’ve seen?

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Knives, Spotlight Gadgets

Steampunk pocket knife – Van Hoy Snap Lock originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2009 at 10:05 am.

This knife from SOG Group (Special Operations Group) offers three wire stripping features from fine multi strand all the way up to cable. There is a stripper bar for wire sizes of 12-24, an adjustable spring-loaded UTP/wire stripper in the back, and hole stripper that uses the main blade. You can get one from Garrett Wade for $59.95.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Knives, Spotlight Gadgets

Pocket knife for electricians – SOG Kilowatt originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 19, 2009 at 9:55 pm.

I’ve had a thing for pocket knives ever since discovering my Dad’s small collection in his jewelry box as a kid. You know how some kids like to snoop around in their parents stuff when they’re not home? Yeah, I was one of those kids… I was fascinated by the different shapes and sizes of pocket knives that he had and ever since then, I’ve kept an eye out for interesting small knives to add to my own collection. Today I want to tell you about two such knives from Spyderco.

The Ladybug (Left) and Cricket (Right) are small keychain sized knives. The Ladybug is probably marketed towards women given the Purple color of its handle. The Cricket is more unisex.

Both are locking blade style knives with non-serrated blades.

Ladybug

Spyderco’s smallest lightweight knife is the Ladybug. The blade is made of VG-10 stainless steel and the handle is made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon. The Ladybug weighs in at only 0.6 of an ounce (16.4 grams).

Length overall 4 3/8″ (111 mm) blade length 1 15/16″ (49 mm) blade steel VG-10
Length closed 2 7/16″ (62 mm) cutting edge 1 11/16″ (43 mm) weight .6oz (18 g)
Hole diameter 3/16″ (5 mm) blade thickness 5/64″ (2 mm) handle material FRN

I love the size and feel of this little knife. It’s so light, that you’ll barely notice it on your keychain.

The blade folds open and locks in place without any effort. The molded finger grips on the handle and serrated thumb rest make holding and using this knife very comfortable. I really can’t find anything to complain about with the Ladybug, other than the fact that if you would drop it in the mud, it might be difficult to clean the dirt out of all the crevices in the handle. That said, an old toothbrush would probably do the trick.

The Ladybug is $44.95

Cricket

The Cricket is a more robust knife than the Ladybug. Although thin and small, it weighs quite a bit more since it is made stainless steel.

Length overall 4 9/16″ (116 mm) blade length 1 7/8″ (47.5 mm) blade steel VG-10
Length closed 2 3/4″ (70 mm) cutting edge 1 3/4″ (44mm) weight 1.75 oz (49.5 g)
Hole diameter 7/16″ (11 mm) blade thickness 5/64″ (2 mm) handle material Stainless Steel

When closed, the Cricket takes on an oval shape. As you can see from the image above, the back side of the knife has the perfect surface for logo or personal message engraving.

The other side of the knife has a strong metal clip and the blade locking mechanism. Unlike the Ladybug which has the lock release on the spine of the handle, the release on the Cricket is built into the liner / grip.

In the image above, you can see that the blade lock has been activated. To unlock the blade, you have to press the liner up with your thumb to allow the blade to fold shut. It’s not quite as easy and effortless as a traditional lock release on the spine.

The blade shape of this knife reminds me of a bird’s beak. The S shaped blade is wide and large. Holding the knife is comfortable even though the handle is made of steel. The rounded shape and beveled edges keeps the handle from digging into your palm.

The Cricket is $94.95.

Of the two knives, the Ladybug is my favorite due to its size, easy opening / closing and price. That said, both knives are well made and should provide years of cutting service.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Knives

Spyderco Ladybug and Cricket Pocket Knives Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 23, 2009 at 3:14 pm.

Here’s a nice looking pocket knife from Garrett Wade that combines 2 stainless steel blades with a 6″ folding precision rule graduated in 64ths, as well as a metric scale. It’s 3/8″ thick, weighs 0.8 oz. and folds to a length of 3″.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Knives, Spotlight Gadgets, Tools

Combination pocket knife and ruler originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 17, 2009 at 10:30 am.

If your gadget tastes lean more toward the utilitarian, you may be happy to learn that Gerber, famous for their knives and multi-tools (and not baby food), have added a number of new items to their multi-tool family, including the Crucial multi-tool and the Curve keychain tool.  The Crucial (pictured) is a butterfly-opening pocketable tool available in green or silver, whereas the Curve loses the Multi-Plier in exchange for being just the right size for a keychain.  The built-in caribiner on both tools doubles as a bottle opener, for when you’re really and truly roughing it.

The Curve is available now, and the Crucial should be available September 15th.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Knives, Multi-tool, Spotlight Gadgets, Tools

Gerber announces Crucial multi-tool originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 13, 2009 at 3:00 pm.

The Spyderco Byrdrench is unlike any multi-tool that I’ve seen before. The tool’s housing is two stainless halves that join creating slip joint pliers (with a large or small bite) on one end and an adjustable 9/16” crescent wrench on the opposite end. Other tools include a knife, file, hole starter and a bit housing that can accept any standard 1/4″ sized bit including Allen and Torx® wrenches. Four screwdriver bits are included. It has a price tag of $129.95.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Knives, Multi-tool, Spotlight Gadgets

Multi-tool with a wrench – Spyderco Byrdrench originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 5, 2009 at 12:25 pm.

The Spyderco Firebyrd combines three tools into one pocket sized device. You get a cutting blade, a lighter and a bottle opener. It has a notch-joint (non-locking) drop-point blade that opens/closes one-handedly. Its hollow aluminum handle holds a standard-sized lighter (not included) with peek-a-boo cutouts revealing the lighter inside.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Knives, Spotlight Gadgets

Pocket knife / lighter combo – Spyderco Firebyrd originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 2, 2009 at 2:11 pm.

Here’s a gadget for all you crafters out there. Instead of using an Xacto or razor blade to cut shapes from paper, there’s the slice Precision Cutter from designer Karim Rashid. The tip is a never-rust ceramic blade that lasts longer than steel and stays sharp forever. It never needs sharpening.

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Crafts, Knives, Spotlight Gadgets

slice Precision Cutter – Cut stuff with style originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 19, 2009 at 4:53 pm.