A Retail Find

  Every once in a while, I impulse buy.  The other day, I saw a blister pack for True Utility Knives made by/sold by Alliance Consumer Group.  The knife kit donates a dollar to DAV for every kit sold.  DAV stands for Disabled American Veterans; more on them later.  The kit has a waterproof case, a dog tag bottle opener, a knife, and mini-tool.  You might be able to sell me an empty box to help veterans so it came home with me.

The dog tag is a bottle opener with a short ball chain.  Since I can be a sissy even with twist-off caps, that's welcome. 

Bottle Opener/ Dog Tag

The mini-tool is, well, let’s just say having a tool is better than having no tool.  The mini-blade is sharp enough to casually cut me. 

Didn't even know I cut myself

The scissors are spring-loaded to open and cut paper and the occasional thread.  I'm trying to figure out what to make of the curved hook blade.  Is it for cutting line?  Opening seams?  I'm sure I'll find a use sooner or later.

Mini-tool

A bottle opener is built into the handle, and I've already given it a test spin around the bar.  It opens beer bottles just fine!

Closed, the knife is 4.25 inches long.  The 2.9-inch blade is flipper-activated and made from 7CR17MOV stainless steel.  This is a fortified version of 440A.  The fortification?  Vanadium.  Here's the meat of the steel analysis:

Carbon 0.6-0.7%,  Chromium 16-17%,  Molybdenum  0.5-0.6%, Vanadium 0.1% or less.  There’s a smattering of trace elements.

Not a bad little knife for what it is

7CR17MOV has been described as good steel with acceptable edge retention for the price.  Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but isn’t that what most good products give us?  Acceptable performance for the money.

The blade is a straight-back pattern with a high saber grind.  A slight false edge gives the blade a finished look.  There's no opening stud or nail nick.  While you can pinch the blade out, you'll find the flipper works very well.  I didn’t find any burs, misalignments, or other quality issues.

The blade is as sharp as I want right out of the box.  I thought about trying to touch it up, but it's a good edge just as it comes.

The blade rides between two brass spacers, and I'm adding a drop of oil on each.  The clip isn't reversible but is set up for tip-up right-hand carry.  Impressively, the knife uses two steel liners to give the knife strength.  The metal lanyard hole is well done as well.

Brown polymer grips complete the knife.

The Kit

I see this knife as a working man's friend.  You could use it to score sheetrock, but there are much better products for that.  It will sharpen a pencil, cut open a blister pack open packing boxes and, most importantly, it is a great knife to lend that moocher who either fails to return anything or breaks it.

I may trim a little of the foam out of the water-tight box and store the knife and mini-tool with a flashlight in the back of my truck.  You never know.

But you can know about DAV.  According to Charity Navigator, they are a 501(c)(4) charity with a four-star rating.  They report DAV uses 85% of their income to help veterans. 

It's one thing to help with hospitalization, rehab, or prosthesis fitting, but they still have to reenter the world.  But when some vets walk out the door, they walk the wire alone.  All too often, they need help getting to the doctors, filing paperwork, and rejoining society.

DAV has provided 19 million rides to medical appointments, submitted 12 million claims for assistance for vets, and has helped over 168,000 vets find jobs. 

Knife, mini-pliers and a bottle opener What more do you want?

Oh, hell, it seems my computer screen is blowing dust in my eyes again.