The jackknife Challenge

pipedreams308

pipedreams308

Joined
Jul 29, 2006
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I thought it might be fun and informative to challenge myself to a major change in my EDC lineup. For this week (Monday-Friday) I will leave my usual EDC knives at home and tote the "jackknife trio": a Peanut, Craftsman 4-way keychain screwdriver, and a P-38.

My usual EDC knives include a Victorinox Soldier and the Slippie-o'-the-Day (often a Northwoods Scagel, Case Lg. Copperhead, S&M Harness Jack or Case Lg. Stockman). Heck, sometimes I even add a one-hander of some sort or another.

A few facts about me: Male, 38, Married, 3 kids, first grandchild due in about 7 weeks. I am a nurse in primary care pediatrics. Very involved in the Masonic fraternity. Ride BMW motorcycles. Hunt, fish, camp and hike. Knife-knut since age 5. I hate peanuts. :D

Work shouldn't be too much of a problem blade-wise, but I am afraid I'll miss the SAK's tools. After work...we'll see!

I'll update the thread at least once a day and post final thought at week's end. I'll try to get some pics up, too.

Here we go...My EDC tools for the week:

100_0698.jpg


Peanut is Tru-Sharp in Pocket Worn red bone.

Wish me luck!!!

Todd
 
Nice challenge. I've seriously contemplated doing this too, but I don't have a Sears 4 way screwdriver. Have tried looking online, but the shipping costs were absolutely horrendous, considering the size of the thing.

Oh and good luck.
 
I think you may be suprised at all of the things that can be done with that little Peanut as long as you keep it sharp. The Peanut has never been a real favorite of mine but I do have the exact same one as you that sometimes goes to Church with me. It has always done whatever I asked of it.
 
Awesome. I had my dad's 4-way screwdriver that he had since he was a kid, but I lost it. Been meaning to replace it. Just lost my CV peanut about a month ago. Still got my P-38!
Once I source another peanut and 4-way screwdriver, I'm in!
 
Do one thing to the sears 4-way to start with; they are like the screw drivers on a sak, too polished and slightly rounded. I like to use a large mill file to make sure the working edges of the drivers are good and crisp and square. Otherwise they slide out of a screw too easy.

The only thing I used to miss on my sak's was a bottle opener, as I like Corona's. But my son taught me how to use my Bic lighter, or even a folded up dollar bill or house key to open a beer. Once I knew alternate methods to get my beer open, that made it a lot easier to go without my old sak.
 
jackknife said:
But my son taught me how to use my Bic lighter, or even a folded up dollar bill or house key to open a beer. Once I knew alternate methods to get my beer open, that made it a lot easier to go without my old sak.
Click to expand...

Interested in the Bic Lighter and dollar bill tricks to open a longneck. :confused:
 
Been using the "Jackknife" challenge combo for a few years now, except I replaced the Peanut with my Buck Solo. It truly is all you need for your day to day chores. I was going to say good luck, pipedreams, but you really won't need it. You are pretty much carrying a SAK with this set up, so you'll be right at home. I, also, recommend the filing of the four way. Those rounded drivers are frustrating. I also filed the smallest screwdriver down on the sides just a bit so it fits into phillips head screws as well. Also make a good scraper and bottle opener when using the Bic Method.
Have fun.
 
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jackknife said:
Do one thing to the sears 4-way to start with; they are like the screw drivers on a sak, too polished and slightly rounded. I like to use a large mill file to make sure the working edges of the drivers are good and crisp and square. Otherwise they slide out of a screw too easy.

The only thing I used to miss on my sak's was a bottle opener, as I like Corona's. But my son taught me how to use my Bic lighter, or even a folded up dollar bill or house key to open a beer. Once I knew alternate methods to get my beer open, that made it a lot easier to go without my old sak.
Click to expand...

I'll square-up the drivers. I do the same on my SAKs.

I won't really miss the bottle opener...I don't need it for the cap on Maker's Mark. :D

I'm leaving for work. Wish me luck!!!
 
Good luck to you!
That exact trio(except my 'nut is green) has been part of my EDC for over a year... even with a multitool and another knife on me or within reach, the 'nut and p-38 etc still get 99% of the use... Can't fix perfection.

Some memories for me, the 4 way I have was given by a old friend I've not heard from for a while, out of the 'don't go without it" from his 4x4 mud truck. And the p-38 I have was issued to my brother in 'Nam in the 60s... its survived more than I ever hope to see.

I also have a victorinox 4 way driver thats identical to the craftsman, except it has two philips drivers on it, and its about 2/3 the diameter of the craftsman ones- reaaaal small to carry and I've never needed it, buts its nice to have the small phillips there for the IF factor.

G.
 
Good luck, Todd. Keep us posted. This is an interesting subject.

For about the past 10 days I've been carrying a Vic Soldier and a Case Tiny Wharncliffe Trapper (2 3/8" closed). How many times in that 10 days did I use the Vic? Once, and that was the screwdriver/bottle opener to pry the lid off a can of cocoa. How many times did I use the Tiny Trapper? Didn't keep a count, but dozens of times for sure.
 
I'm at lunch.

Used the Peanut to open a couple of letters and trimmed a wild thread.

I used the 4-way to change out a light switch cover to a more kid friendly model:

photo.jpg


The 4-way worked fine.
 
Sounds like a fun challenge. I'm sure the peanut will do whatever you need it to. The thing I like better about the SAK is that the can opener won't come open in your pocket and stick you in the hand or leg like the p-38 will. It's also easier to use the screwdriver with more of a handle. The 4-way is better for small screws though.

thawk said:
Interested in the Bic Lighter and dollar bill tricks to open a longneck. :confused:
Click to expand...

It's really simple. You just wrap your hand around the neck under the cap and use a lighter, folded up bill, another beer bottle, or anything else to lever it off against the top of your index finger. There are plenty of videos on youtube showing how it's done.
 
yup, that's pretty much it. When you wrap your hand in a tight hammer grip around the bottle, make sure your index finger is right up to the neck of the bottle, because it's going to be the pivot point of whatever lever you use to pry off the cap. Your finger is the fulcrum. The Bic lighter, or tightly folded up dollar bil is the lever.

Yeah, I sure am glad my kid leaned something really usful for that college education we paid for.:rolleyes:
 
I am presently in Cambodia and had to check what ever knife I wanted. I picked 2 Taylor made Schrades (yuck) 194OT for my backpocket, a 18OT for my pocket and an old Vic Tinker.
Seems to be working fine, used the small knife most so far.
 
coyote711 said:
Good luck, Todd. Keep us posted. This is an interesting subject.

For about the past 10 days I've been carrying a Vic Soldier and a Case Tiny Wharncliffe Trapper (2 3/8" closed). How many times in that 10 days did I use the Vic? Once, and that was the screwdriver/bottle opener to pry the lid off a can of cocoa. How many times did I use the Tiny Trapper? Didn't keep a count, but dozens of times for sure.
Click to expand...

That's been my experiance for the most part. carrying a sak or scout knife, I used the knife blade a lot more than the tools. Getting 'older' it seems to me that plastic packaging is getting tougher to tear or rip open. Last time Karen and I flew, we were on a Southwest flight to Florida, and they gave us those little packs of mixed nuts and a pony size can of coke. Niether I nor Karen could rip open the plastic bag. I had to use my P-38, that the security had not taken notice of, to ripopen the pack.

To me, a small sharp blade is used more that a tool of some sort.
 
jackknife said:
The only thing I used to miss on my sak's was a bottle opener, as I like Corona's. But my son taught me how to use my Bic lighter, or even a folded up dollar bill or house key to open a beer.
Click to expand...

This is like using a key to gouge open a package. Sure, it works, but how primitive. :D
 
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