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Diminutive Dog Tag Knife

I recently came across a Dog Tag Knife that intrigued me. It’s diminutive size was actually one of the attracting features. Simplicity was another. The possibility of good blade steel was a plus. A price of <$10.oo cinched it. I ordered one.

It arrived sharp ..but.. I got it sharper.

The ease of disassembly enhanced that process.

There’s a thrust bearing on the top side of the blade. There’s a circular cavity machined into the blade that the thrust bearing nests into. That was also a selling feature for me.

Its diminutive size allows pocket carry .. in the watch pocket of my jeans. Very convenient.

It would also reside quite nicely on a keychain.

The blade does not lock ..however.. it is held quite firmly in place with the framelock’s detent ball.

I’ve found .. it’s like carrying around a single edge razor blade .. with an enclosing handle. Rather nice.

Its construction is .. simple & sturdy. The blade steel is good. The ease of disassembly .. a plus.

The downside. The domed washer is mild steel ..&.. was in direct contact with the thrust bearing. The thrust bearing immediately cut a groove in the mild steel & was the source of a “rough” opening & closing. Just like the feeling when a bearing starts going bad. The resultant “drag” forces caused the pivot screw to turn & loosen itself in short order. It's not that visible now because I resurfaced the domed washer ..but.. there was a deep groove cut into the washer apparent upon initial disassembly.

I added a 0.5” OD oilite washer between the thrust bearing & the domed mild steel washer. The ID of the oilite washer is such that it is a press fit over the pivot pin. The OD is such that the thrust bearing is completely covered & just enough of the washer is visible to enhance the knife’s aesthetic value. Adding the oilite washer eliminated the pivot screw loosening & eliminated the “rough” feeling when opening & closing the blade. End of problem.

Most would likely find this knife too small to be useful. I ..however.. draw an analogy with a single edge razor blade .. it’s really nice having access to one ALL the time. And .. it fits in my watch pocket.

!! . All good .. for me . !!

Enjoy

D ale

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on January 26, 2017 at 17:25

Actually having this (modified as you did), on my key chain would be great ! I can see many uses, the best of these, opening boxes. I am always amazed at the amount of items we get in boxes. Food, plant seeds, medications. All of these could ship for less in manila envelopes with no damage to the product, yet they come to us in boxes taped with something from the third planet of Pluto that cannot possible be taken off, it has to be cut.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on January 27, 2017 at 16:13

Opening boxes is what I had in mind too when I first saw it, Jan.

It's proven its value there. Again, I've found it akin to having access to a single edge razor blade ..minus the fragility of a thin razor blade.

...and...

Packaging .. don't even get me started.

!.ARGH.!

I swear .. we once received something in a box larger than 12" X 12" X 6" ...&... the object inside was a 2" X 3" cylinder. Drives me to distraction.

And your reference to tape from the far side of the galaxy is profoundly accurate. Where exactly do they get that schtuff ? I'd like to purchase some. I could wrap the handle of my machete with it & never have a problem again .. no matter what abuse the knife underwent.

!.ARGH.!

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on January 27, 2017 at 16:37

Had one of these on my watch list, for a while now. Thanks for the review.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on January 27, 2017 at 19:27

JJ .. I do recommend the knife ..BUT.. be sure to read the "fine print".

There's a model being marketed in the $ 3~6 range. The blade steel is simply specified as "steel" & no rating of hardness is even mentioned. !!! Beware !!!

Yet another model specifies 9Cr18MoV in the header ..but.. 420 stainless in the fine print & no mention of temper. AND .. they have it listed @ $13.39 !?!

Another model specifies 5Cr13Mov (that's poor kitchen cutlery, imo) tempered to 57~ 58 HRC in the $ 11~13 range.

There's also a model specifying 9cr18MoV tempered to 57~58 HRC that runs in the $ 14~16 range.

The unit pictured here is the one specifying D2 .. obviously. They specify the temper @ 59 HRC. It's in the $ 8~10 range.

I choose the vendor that had the wherewithall to include pics of the thrust bearing. I pd $ 9.46 .. that vendor currently lists it as "Out of Stock". I would expect all w/ the D2 etch & same blade grind to be the same.

NOTE: The "cutting edge" of the one I've in hand measures 0.850". The blade measures about 1.25" from the center of the pivot to the tip of the blade. 1.54" end~end. I just compared them .. my dog tag measures 2.003" l X 1.123" w X 0.030 thick @ the rim. The knife measures 1.734" l X 1.006" w X 0.228" thick @ "backspring". It's 0.455" t @ the pivot & 0.205" t for just the blade & frame. It's outside dimensions are slightly smaller than a military issue dog tag ..&.. it's built like a tank.

And then .. there's the model specifying M390 blade steel tempered to a specified 62 HRC .. it's listed @ $ 40 & up.

There's subtle differences in the blade grind between most models.

Without the addition of the 1/2" oilite washer .. you'll be forever tightening the pivot screw.

Search "dog tag knife".

SMKW is marketing Spyderco's models .. CPM S30V blade steel (temper not listed) & titanium frame. It would stand to reason .. their stated blade length of 1.25" is measured from the pivot pt to the tip of the blade. I noted their low cost model is not a true framelock. Spyderco's are made in Taiwan & slightly higher priced.

Again, JJ .. I do recommend the knife. Keep your wits about you when ordering.

D ale

J.J. Smith III said:

Had one of these on my watch list, for a while now. Thanks for the review.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on January 28, 2017 at 14:20

... and I finally located a hardness spec for Spyderco's model.

Strangly enough .. Spyderco does not list this spec on their site .. that I could find.

Two other sites specify the temper as 60 +/- 1 HRC.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on January 28, 2017 at 18:09

It appears the models using 9cr18MoV blade steel do not have thrust bearings.

!! . Not so good . !!

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on January 28, 2017 at 18:57

funny, such a small knife and fairly simple build, with so many different variables

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on January 30, 2017 at 15:17

Some of the "fun" of purchasing sight unseen direct from China. One REALLY has to read the fine print.

Buying knives .. I've not been cheated. *

A few occasions .. I've been disappointed.

... BUT ...

When I went back & reread the original sales listing .. I'd received what they stated.

A good rule of thumb is the basic .. "If it seems too good to be true .. it probably is."

... AND ...

I've learned to pay attn when reviewing the listing.

Re: Knives. Very good quality can be had ..as can.. very poor quality. Scrutinize the sales pics. Read EVERY word of the listing. Keep you wits about you. There exist very few listings for traditional slipjoints. As expected .. the prices are great.

I just accept a ..realistically.. no warranty policy. i.e. I'm not going to return it to China .. really. And .. go into it knowing that. Prices vary ..so.. I compare. Then .. I get a single unit for evaluation.

I've experienced very consistent quality. If I find a unit that I consider good quality for the $ .. I'm inclined to purchase more of the same for friends & family. When I receive one that's bad .. I check the orig sales listing & write it off to experience. Note: most knife purchases are in the $ 10 ~ 40 range .. $20 being nominal.

Would you believe .. it all started because autos were so hard to acquire for the longest time ..but.. not direct from China.

* I no longer purchase ANY electronics.

Jan Carter said: