Benchmade 909BK Stryker Review (First Impressions)

Initial Impressions: I really like this tanto blade profile more than others, it is not as steep compared to the Cold Steel tanto blade profile. I have wanted a tanto for a while but this is the first one that I liked enough to spend the money on it.

The lock and blade pivot feels a little rough, my Griptilian was like that when I first had it as well. I have no doubts that it will smooth out very quickly as I manipulate and play with the knife all day. It has a deep carry pocket clip which I really like, though the standard Benchmade clip would have been fine as well. The edge is what you would expect from a Benchmade knife out of the box. That means its very sharp. The g-10 scales are very grippy. I think they are medium-high traction. I think I will sand a bit underneath the pocket clip though.

Perfect blade centering, lock-up is perfect up and down with only a tiny bit of side to side wiggle. The knife fits well in my hand, for reference I don't have large hands, I wear medium sized mechanix gloves. Blade deployment is quick and smooth. The steel liners are heavily skeletonized, each liner has three big holes drilled in it for weight reduction. The liners are very thin as well.

I am excited to use this blade heavily over the summer in my hiking, camping and shooting adventures. I intend on bringing this folder with me to Uganda if I go in August.

There is hope and redemption in Africa

When I think about who I am or who I have been in the past, I don't like it.  Who I am hates who I have been. 

One reason why I am so concerned about African development is because I love Africa, I love the people in Africa.  When you live there for two years that will happen to anyone who has a bit of a heart.  I want to help and enable people who cannot help themselves.  That can bring them hope and change.  Real hope, for a better future for them and their children.  Change, that improves their lives and improves their government, and their nation. 

But perhaps in my adventure and my work to bring hope to them, I can bring some hope and redemption to my own life.  Maybe I will still dislike who I was in the past but there can be hope for my future. 

I am looking for redemption in helping others.  Maybe that makes me a selfish ass.  That probably depends on the lens through which you view the world. 

Go to China, Teach English?

I graduate from university next year. 

I don't know what I want to do with my life.  I applied for internships and jobs but I haven't heard anything back yet, other than rejection. 

I am considering going to China to teach English.  I am not the best at English, I don't know the rules that well, I only know how to speak it. 

Maybe I should go teach English over there.  It would probably be a great experience. 

Review of the Leatherman Style PS: Retain Self Sufficency When Flying

Last week I finally got my hands on a Leatherman Style PS.  I am really excited for it. 

This is Leatherman's attempt to make a TSA compliant pocket or key chain tool.  I think they did a very good job at this.

It consists of a spring loaded pliers along with a wire cutter.  Honestly I would probably never use the wire cutter.  This is a light duty multi-tool.

The file doubles as a flat-head screwdriver.  The tweezers is decent.  The scissors is a nice little scissors.  I have no complaints about it.  The carabiner  that attaches the tool to your keys is also a bottle opener or cap lifter.  I tested it on Saturday, it worked, but it didn't work great.  If this is all you have then it will do the job but there are better tools. 

I didn't have any problems taking it through the security at the airport.  I decided to keep it on my keys and leave it in my jacket pocket when it went through the x-ray machine.  I figured that if they had a problem with it then I would address the fact that it has no blade and meets their regulations.  But you never know with TSA they can make whatever rules they want on the spot.   

Leatherman notes that on their website that they had problems with security at two airports.  One in South Africa and one in Southern China.  I will keep carrying mine while I fly and as part of my EDC. 

If you have another multi-tool then you should use it, but if you are flying and this is all you have its pretty darn good.  I would recommend it to people who fly often, especially if they want to retain a little bit of self sufficiency.  

New knife thoughts

I have the itch for a new knife. 

Benchmade Mini Griptilian- I bought one of these back in 2007 and I carried it almost exclusively until I went to South Africa in 2008.  It is a great little knife.  I have nothing but praise to give it.  But my Dad started using mine while I was gone and now it is his.

Kershaw Skyline- I always hear good things about this knife.  Nutnfancy and a lot of other Youtube reviewers really like it for a nice, light EDC blade.  I like the flipper design.

Kershaw Thermite- I really like knives that are designed based on Rick Hinderer ideas.  The Thermite is a $35 Hinderer design which really appeals to me as a good looking, tough EDC blade. 

Kershaw Knockout- Crocket20 really digs this knife, I held it once and I also really like it.  It just hasn't excited me enough to pick one up yet. 

Spyderco Stretch ZDP-189-  I love Spyderco blades and the Stretch is no exception, it just looks good.  Plus I want to try out ZDP-189.

Spyderco Caly series (3 or 3.5) - I love the leaf style blade and wire clip.  These knives just look awesome and I am sure they would fit into my system very well.

Emerson CQC-7- I have always thought that Emerson blades look cool.  I really like the idea of the wave opener.  It just looks like a tough, no nonsense blade that I can do anything with. 

Zero Tolerance 0566- I cannot wait until this knife comes out in the United States.  I owned a Zero Tolerance 0561 and I recently sold it just because I didn't carry it enough.  This one is smaller and I think it will be more useful. 

Selling my possesions to go to Africa

What if I sold my guns, sold my bike, sold my knives, extra back packs, and maybe even my car and I went to Africa and traveled.  I could have a once in a lifetime experience. 

I thought about this and wrote it all down in my Moleskine journal. 

The most expensive part would be the plane ticket and a car if I rented one.  After that, food and and lodging wouldn't be that expensive, would it?

Benchmade 940 Osborne: EDC Beauty

I am a Spyderco enthusiast.  But my first quality knife was a Benchmade Mini Griptilian.  I still own Benchmade knives but Spyderco has supplanted their dominance in my collection.

That said the Benchmade 940 Osborne is a beautiful and 100% capable EDC blade.

Looks-  The 940 is a classic looking blade.  It is slim and it is beautifully proportioned.  The green scales and purple titanium back spacer looks great.  If you buy this knife I think the satin finished blade is the way to go.  In my opinion it looks the best with the green and purple.  The green aluminum handles will wear, get chips in them and look AWESOME!  I like character in a knife and as you use this knife over time it will only look more cool.  

Ergonomics- The handle is thin and fits very well in hand.  There is almost no traction from jimping or the scales but I consider this to be more of a gentlemen EDC blade and that is fine, in this intended purpose.  The pocket clip is the same great Benchmade design that is on so many of their knives.  When you put this knife in your pocket it stays there.  The reverse tanto blade is incredibly functional especially for EDC tasks.

While the blade is functional I do prefer a little more belly in my knives.  One reason why I like the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 so much is the almost constant belly.  But the tip is far stronger than many other blades this size. I prefer the Spydie Hole opening method, but the Benchmade thumb studs are some of the best I have seen. 

Durability-S30V steel is a great knife steel, it retains a good edge, has good rust resistance.  At least I have never had a problem with rust on any of my S30V blades.  It is a bit harder to sharpen and get it back to where it was before you used it. 

Value- This knife is a little more expensive.  That is the name of the game.  It is a US produced knife made out of quality materials.  Aluminum, titanium, and S30V.  None of these are super cheap.  Well the aluminum might be but the S30V is an expensive, premium steel.  You are getting a quality blade for what I think is a fair price although it is higher than other knives in this size.

Rating-For daily and Gentleman's EDC I give this knife a 9/10