Items of Interest

Hey guys just a quick update today on some items that I find interesting.


TEC ACCESSORIES GLOW FOB

If you've read my review on the tec accessories glow fob, you would realise I'm a fan of this piece of keychain jewellery. It is now available in a few different flavours from various sources.

Merkava, has the glow fob available with tritium preinstalled, available in a range of tritium colours. This is a good option if you couldn't be bothered doing the tritium installation yourself.

Product link: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?258245-Merkava-TEC-A3-amp-TEC-S3-Tritium-Fobs-Mission-Ready!-Unlike-any-you-have-ever-seen!

EDCF forums store has the normal GITD fob, but available with a special cerakote coating. This special coating is meant to be hardy and scratch resistant, and is available in different colours. Colours include: black, orange, olive green, tan, burnt bronze.

 Product link: http://www.jsburlys.com/index.php?app=ecom&ns=catshow&ref=tecaccessories

Photo of Orange Cerakote Tec Accessories Glow Fob (borrowed from EDCF store)

FOURSEVENS PREON P0

This is a new AAA flashlight, just released from foursevens at the SHOT show. What interests me about this light is the size and cost. It is very small, and claims to be the the smallest current regulated flashlight around. The DQG tiny II is pretty comparable in size, however the DQG tiny II is currently out of stock and unavailable.

The Preon P0, only has two light levels; 0.25 lumens and 25 lumens. The beam is a very floody beam. It's relatively cheap in price costing only $25USD. If you are interested in reading more about Preon P0, there is a thread on it at candlepowerforums:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?330740-Foursevens-Preon-P0

Product link: http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=297_332&products_id=2846




SWISSBIANCO ALOX RAMBLER

Once again another product that I've reviewed and am a fan of. Swissbianco has a new run of the silver alox ramblers.



I have to say I'm tempted to buy another one of these, as a back-up in case I lose my current one. (I probably won't because I need to say my pennies for other gadgets)

I'm particularly a fan of the silver alox, because I feel it wears better. Overtime, annodisation will tend to wear off on the scales, but since these scales are silver the wear does not show up as easily.


MBI CORE TI - TITANIUM FLASHLIGHT PENDANT

I've previously mentioned the MBI torpedo, a AAA light which aims to provide 500+ lumens. This light is still in the works, but another product the maker is working on is a titanium pendant light.  It's a dogtag shaped flashlight designed to be worn as a pendant.  Here the thread on candlepowerfourms:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?324606-MBI-Core-Ti-%28world-s-thinnest-%29-Titanium-Flashlight-Pendant-%28work-in-progress%29

Photos borrowed from the candlepowerforums thread

Alox Victorinox Rambler Review

ALOX VICTORINOX RAMBLER (FROM SWISS BIANCO)

 SPECIFICATIONS:

The alox victorinox rambler is swiss army knife (SAK) that has the follow features:

-Small blade
-Scissors
-Nail file with screwdriver tip
-Bottle opener with magnetic Phillips screwdriver tip & wire stripper
-Key ring attachment

Length:  58 mm
Width:  19.5 mm
Height:  6.5mm

The traditional rambler from victorinox has plastic 'cellidor' scales.  This alox rambler has aluminium oxide (or alox) metal scales.  These alox scales are thinner and more resistant to chemicals, than the cellidor scales.  However, the alox rambler forgoes the tweezers and toothpick that the traditional cellidor version includes.

The alox rambler is a limited edition SAK assembled for Swiss Bianco, a knife maker who seems to have special connections with victorinox.  Victorinox themselves do not offer the alox rambler, though they do produce and sell an alox version of their 'classic' SAK.


ASSESSMENT OF THE RAMBLER'S FEATURES:

There's not much to say about the small blade in the rambler; is pretty much what you would expect from a small SAK.  The working edge of the knife is approximately 34mm in length.  I sharpened it up a little bit, and it slices through paper and cardboard with ease.

The scissor are acceptable, they are small but they do a decent job of cutting.  I feel the scissors on something like the leatherman squirt are a little larger and easier to use, but the trade off would be increased size and weight.

This is a personal thing, but given a choice I would prefer to have something else in place of the scissors.  I feel the knife can cut most things that the scissor would cut.  YMMV (your mileage may vary), I suppose its easier to cut circular shapes with the scissors instead of the knife.

The bottle opener, phillips screwdriver and wire stripper are all combined in the same pull-out tool.  I have yet to use the wire stripper, I can not comment on how it performs.

I find the bottle opener works better than some of the other tools I have reviewed (e.g. the Swisstech Utilikey and True Utility Keytool).  You are able to get decent leverage with the handle, and there are no sharp edges that will cut your hand.  I usually find you do have to pry open the bottle at two points to lift up the cap.

I feel one of the best thing about this tool is the phillips screwdriver.  Surprisingly it can fit into quite a wide range of phillips screws, from small ones that are found in electronics, to the larger ones that are just generally used.  I find the tip of the phillips screwdriver can be a little too large for the extra small screws found in some eye glasses.  Do note, the tip of the phillips screwdriver is magnetic.  This can be useful for picking up smaller screws.

Included in the victorinox rambler is a nail file with a flat head screwdriver at the tip.  The flat head screwdriver will also fit in some phillips screws as well.  The nail file does its job, but I feel it would be more efficient if the texture were more coarse.

CONCLUSIONS:

On the whole, the victorinox rambler is handy SAK to have.  It has currently replaced my Swisstech Utilikey + Spyderco Bug combo, which I usually have on my keychain.  It is a little heavier than the utilikey and spyderco bug, however I do feel offers better functionality.  The tools in the rambler are more accessible and easier to use.

Swisstech Utilikey, Orange Alox Rambler, Silver Alox Rambler, Spyderco Bug

Personally, I prefer the look and feel of the alox scales over the traditional 'cellidor' rambler.  If you require the tooth pick or tweezers, perhaps the traditional rambler is for you (it is also easier to buy).  For my uses, the loss of these two items is not a big deal.

Note the alox scales are thinner than the usual cellidor scales found on the rambler.  There is no room for the toothpick and tweezers though.

 This run of alox ramblers is currently over.  If you want to acquire one, you may need to look at the second hand market.  I have heard rumours that Swiss Bianco plans on doing another run of the alox ramblers, in red and silver colours.  I would recommend signing up to his newsletter, as this is where he usual announces these special runs.

Other SAKs to consider:

If you don't mind slight added thickness, available in the traditional victorinox range; there is the manager (has a pen) and midnite manager (has a pen and small red LED light) . These are basically the same as the rambler, but have different tools contained in the cellidor scales.

LINKS:
Swissbianco website:   http://www.swissbianco.com/
Victorinox website with traditional rambler:  http://www.victorinox.com/product/1/100/1001/1109/0.6363



MORE PICTURES:


CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES FROM PREVIOUS POST

 

Alox Rambler Pictures

I just got these in the mail!  I will try to do a review after Christmas, but here are some photos for now.

Click on the photo, if you want higher resolution.

Hope you enjoy, have a merry xmas!