I scribble a lot about knives (and other gear) on MTJS. After so many years and so much steel accumulated, this "hobby" has brought forth some interesting conundrums. We talk a lot about value, us gear aficionados. We have this idea that value is the perfect balance between performance and price, but I found after so many years that, really, you never do reach knife nirvana. There is always ...
Best Lock Picking Practice Locks for Each Experience Level
Lock picking is one of the few hobbies I have that is truly useful in my everyday life. Sure, knowing how to sharpen knives to a mirror edge or start a fire using raw materials is (in my opinion) important, but in my day to day 21st century life, knowing how to bypass locks has come in handy more often. Recently, my grandmother, with whom I am very close, locked her keys in her shed. I wrote about ...
First, Second, or Third Degree Burns? The 3 Degrees Of Ouch
Do I have third degree burns? Growing up as a curious child, I found myself a victim to the nasty side of heat on a few occasions, something I am sure most reading this will be able to relate to. Whenever dealing with these heat-related accidents, the term "third degree burn" always stuck in my mind. It seems to me that the term "third degree burn" has become an all-encompassing catch term for ...
July 2017 EDC Pocket Dump
Elise missed me pipe smoking. Not a fan of the vaping, so here I go. Everyday Carry Pocket Dump Pipe Tool Generic Czech I know that the IM Corona Old Boy has its own tools built in, but honestly, I never use them unless I'm walking around. Just too damn fiddly. Ash Tray This was my grandmother's. I used it growing up when I was a smoker (I know, I know). She actually gave it to me this ...
7 Steps to Take Immediately After an Emergency Situation Ends
Every emergency situation has the opportunity to be a learning experience. I don't care if you've planned for the situation well, if you've gone through a similar situation before, or if you're more prepared than 99% of the population would have been - each and every time you go through an emergency situation, when it's over, you should time to look back and assess to see what can be improved for ...
Review Roundup: Quartermaster, Baladeo, Boker, & Tops Knives
After I published my process for reviewing knives, some of you wanted me to do some quick reviews on the blades I own, but for various reasons, are undeserving of a full review. These are quick and dirty overviews and I 100% gloss over some of the aspects. I picked four blades out at random and if this proves popular, I'll do it on a semi-regular basis so you can get a general "look" at some ...