Welcome Home...THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

iKnife Collector

The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

Divine Excess — The Ultimate EDC Key Ring

My learned wife lambasts me for this, but amid much wailing and gnashing of teeth my buddies earnestly entreat me to add a small kitchen sink ... now that would be cool !!

First we see the typical day's equipment for the humble key ring. You will note that items are arrayed in sub-modules on 1in diameter split rings, and are then attached to the red carabiner. Each module can be detached for use if required. Immediately, easily and without disturbing the other items. The red GEAR carabiner is attached to the black SUSPENSION carabiner from which the key ring is hung. Thus you NEVER spill your stuff while attaching it. This is a critical point of this gear carry system. First the typical keyring:

Second is the three most essential rings:
Knife+Light+Compass
The indispensible Opinel #2
Keys (yeah ... the actual keyring)

Third comes the tool set:
A cheapo Chinese multi-tool (mainly for pliers)
A venerable, large Wegner SAK
A USAF Magnesium + Firestick
My Vietnam era P-38 Can Opener (that's three of them ... chow is king):

Fourth comes the essential stuff for measuring, marking and reading the fine print. How many times have you needed a little tape measure, or a good marker, or a magnifying glass? I have mine:

Fifth we live in an internet world, don't we? I carry more software than half the countries on Earth, and a free 80 Gigabytes to make a copy of all your, and your, and your stuff. Then I have my medications. Don't laugh at old people — you'll need more luck than you have now to make it. Then I have a big capsule of secret stuff. Maybe enough "L-Pills" for everyone in the room, or maybe Altoids:

Sixth but not actually last I have two items essential to any gentleman's wardrobe. An extra pistol and a little anvil. Go figure:

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andy Voelkle "AxeMan" on January 31, 2010 at 15:22

I have several Rough Ryders I've used for two years. The two blade all stainless Melon Knife, small blade micro serrated for cutting BBQ, is one I carry and have given a dozen to buddies who like them too. Just got for $12 each the Abalone Toenail and the 6-Blade Stockman. It makes me cry that America can't make a high quality knife for a price you can have one in very pocket and give them to friends. The equivalent knives here, if there are any, are 10x the price and no better at all.

Nothing makes me laugh harder than someone talking steel with a box-queen knife that never even cut the collector-BS haze. Use the Rough Ryder. When it begins to dull, sharpen it.

Permalink Reply by Andy Voelkle "AxeMan" on January 31, 2010 at 16:45

$12 shipped on ebay the RR898 6-blade Stockman
As heavy and well made as any knife you will find

and another, a first, a toenail you can actually use,
$12 shipped from ebay
the plastic simulated (looks good) Abalone Toenail

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on February 1, 2010 at 23:48

Thanks Swampfox.
Like Andy says , Rough Riders are a very good user knife. My standard EDC whittler is almost as good as a standard CASE whittler, at 1/5 the cost. Some of the RR blades are a bit thinner than other production blades though. They're not collectors quality knives, but as an every day user, they fit the bill.
The Rough Rider line is owned by Smokey Mountain Knife Works. You can find them there, or if you are a dealer, or know one, go to Blue Ridge Knives (Which is a partner to SMKW). You can, as Andy does, shop e-bay. I've got a friend that sells them at the local flea market, check there too.

Permalink Reply by Andy Voelkle "AxeMan" on February 2, 2010 at 3:40

Great to know, JJ because I gave away my 14'th Melon Knife to a good buddy, and can't find one on ebay, so I can check the source. That little honey has a 100% length micro serrated blade that will cut up a browned outside cut piece of brisket so smoothly that the host thinks he didn't really burn it. I love the outside cut, and made big social points a couple of times by eating it smooth as a Sunday roast.

For melon and BBQ eaters, it's the RR745 and it's currently $6.99 + shipping at Smokey Mountain Knife Works http://www.smkw.com/ search for it.

Permalink Reply by Jeremi Lett on May 18, 2010 at 4:54

At Sonorandesertknives.com, they sell CUSTOM SCRIMSHAW Rough Rider knives.The art work is absolutely stunning.If the site doesn't have those pictured,contact Leopold the owner/dealer.