Clean Knife

[Murgatroy]

My job has me in some pretty unsavory things. Things that outside of work and gloves, you just don't want to handle your tools if you don't have to. For many years I have carried a Kershaw Tanto Blur semi-serrated knife. It is a great knife, that I got at a great price second hand. I have filed the tip down to create a prying tool, which I use daily. For some, the idea might be cringeworthy, but as I use it daily, it made sense to me in my work environment.

 

Using it daily, it is now considered a 'dirty' knife. Meaning it is not safe for common household chores. This leads to not having a 'clean' knife for EDC when not at work. 

 

I have a Benchmade Type 44 that I have carried for a couple of decades (up until it was retired for the Blur,) however, given that the knife is literally irreplaceable, I needed a new knife. I set out today to buy one, and I had been considering just grabbing another Kershaw Blur. To the point of adding it to my cart on Amazon at least three times before changing my mind. I was at Cabelas perusing the Benchmade offerings when for a rare occasion, someone offered some help at the knife counter. I asked to see a Mini-Barrage in the satin finish. It was over.

 

The form factor is close enough, assisted opening from a thumbstud. Closing is obviously different, and it is only able to be carried tip up. So I changed the orientation on my Blur to keep commonality, but I will have to reteach myself to draw from tip up. Overall, it snaps open with serious authority, it razor sharp, and being a Benchmade, I know it is a solid knife.

 

Here are the two of them together along with my EDC 'clean' flashlight.

 

[MP5_Rizzo]

Good choices there in my opinion.  More info on the flashlight please.

[Murgatroy]

It is a 5.11 Tactical light I picked up at Academy for $20. I needed a small form factor light to fit in my pocket. It feeds off of two AAA batteries. I have a pair of Ozark Trail lights from Wal-Mart, and honestly, I swear by them. However I don't always remember to grab one of those from the truck, and my phone is not the handiest of lights. The light is similar sized to my knives and fits flat in a pocket.

 

The Ozark Trial lights, which I CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD ABOUT are priced at ~$20 a pop and are not suitable for pocket carry, but at four and six AA batteries, with a 350 and 600 lumens output respectively, I love them. They are aluminum and have taken a serious beating. Dropped down flights of stairs, hit by machines, etc, and they still work like a clock. 

http://www.511tactical.com/tpt-edc-flashlight.html

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Flashlight-350-Lumens/49840409

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Flashlight-600-Lumens/51053343

Edited September 6, 2017 by Murgatroy
Edited to add links

[1fast4by]

Massive fan of the Barrage... I own one with G10 grips in S30V

 

 

Edited September 6, 2017 by 1fast4by
pixors

[peejman]

10 hours ago, Murgatroy said:

It is a 5.11 Tactical light I picked up at Academy for $20. I needed a small form factor light to fit in my pocket. It feeds off of two AAA batteries. I have a pair of Ozark Trail lights from Wal-Mart, and honestly, I swear by them. However I don't always remember to grab one of those from the truck, and my phone is not the handiest of lights. The light is similar sized to my knives and fits flat in a pocket.

 

The Ozark Trial lights, which I CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD ABOUT are priced at ~$20 a pop and are not suitable for pocket carry, but at four and six AA batteries, with a 350 and 600 lumens output respectively, I love them. They are aluminum and have taken a serious beating. Dropped down flights of stairs, hit by machines, etc, and they still work like a clock. 

http://www.511tactical.com/tpt-edc-flashlight.html

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Flashlight-350-Lumens/49840409

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Flashlight-600-Lumens/51053343

A bunch of the inspectors at work have switched from Streamlights to  Ozark Trail. They work almost as well, and you can have 2 back-ups and a big package of batteries for the same money.