I apologize if this is the wrong subforum; however, since all the pocket-knife and multi-tool related threads seem to be here, here is where I am posting.
I'm looking for recommendations for a minimalist (small, lightweight, few moving parts) multi tool to put on my keyring and carry in my front trouser pocket. I've found the following ones which I like the look of:
The Machine Era Multi
and
the Keyport MOCA
Of the two above tools, I like the design. But I haven't been able to find detailed reviews from users. As to the Machine Era Multi, I'm worried about the flat-headed screwdriver being sharp enough to tear up my pocket. As to the Keyport MOCA, I'm mainly concerned about how well the functions work just on my keyring (not in the Keyport Pivot, which it is designed to fit into). Anyone here have either of these?
Let me give a little background regarding how I arrived at my decision to go with a keyring multi-tool. For years, I've carried a solid steel one-hand open pocket knife with a 3.5" blade. The thing is solid and weighs around 4.16 ounces, and about 4.5" closed. I don't really notice it. Usually. It's a good, solid knife and over the years, I've used it for various tasks. I have used it is a pry-bar and a staple-remover very successfully. Less successfully, I've used it to turn flat-head screws, Phillips screws, eyeglass screws, and (least successfully, actually resulting in a minor injury) as a bottle opener. Those functions I just listed are things I try to use my knife for often enough that I realized I'd much prefer to have extra tools on my knife dedicated to these functions.
My first thought was that there has to be a Swiss Army Knife that will do the trick. Usually, however, I find that SAK's have too many tools; I really only need screwdrivers (flat, Phillips, and preferably a jewelry-sized one), a bottle opener, a locking blade, and the ability to open the knife one-handed (I really like that function on my current EDC knife; that's why I've carried it for the last decade). Yet, you'd be surprised how difficult it is to find such a knife. After extensive research, I had almost decided on the Centurion. It had everything I was looking for except blade that can be opened one-handed. There were some very similar knives that did have one-hand open versions, but they had an extra layer making the knife thicker and heavier: the One-handed Trekker, and the One-handed Parachutist. Both of these tools had a serrated main blade, which does not interest me. I'd almost talked myself into the Parachutist (I could see myself using the belt-cutter more often than a saw), but found it had been discontinued.
It should not be this hard to find what I want, especially when I'm this close.
But then I had a realization. I remembered seeing this Swiss-Tech Utility Key years ago. It actually contains all the functions that I would like, and I could carry such a tool on my keyring while I continue to carry a regular pocket knife. I would have stopped there, but the Utility Key has a blade, which means I couldn't take it through security, which means I wouldn't keep it on my main keyring because comes with me through security checkpoints at government buildings multiple times a week. While it's easy to leave my pocket knife in my car, I don't want to be constantly removing my tool from and reattaching it to my keyring. Also, I'm tired of having to be without some kind of tool with a cutting edge when I fly, so I'd like a tool that can do light duty cutting (opening envelopes, packages), but will also make it past the TSA. So my search began again, this time for multi-tools. I'd prefer as few moving parts as possible.
So, to recap, I want a tool, ideally, that will do the following:
-Pry things like staples paint-can lids, etc
-turn flat-head and phillips-head screws
-open boxes/packages
-open bottles
-turn a screw in a pair of glasses
The above features are the only types of things I regularly encounter that I get frustrated not having a tool for.
I can live without a jeweler's screw driver since I can usually use the tip of my knife blade in a pinch. An incorporated ruler is also a nice feature, but not vital.
The following features are also necessary:
-TSA compliant
-small enough to carry on my keyring without adding noticeable bulk
-will not tear up my pocket
Does anyone here have a tool they like that might be what I'm looking for?
Thanks in advance.
I'm looking for recommendations for a minimalist (small, lightweight, few moving parts) multi tool to put on my keyring and carry in my front trouser pocket. I've found the following ones which I like the look of:
The Machine Era Multi
and
the Keyport MOCA
Of the two above tools, I like the design. But I haven't been able to find detailed reviews from users. As to the Machine Era Multi, I'm worried about the flat-headed screwdriver being sharp enough to tear up my pocket. As to the Keyport MOCA, I'm mainly concerned about how well the functions work just on my keyring (not in the Keyport Pivot, which it is designed to fit into). Anyone here have either of these?
Let me give a little background regarding how I arrived at my decision to go with a keyring multi-tool. For years, I've carried a solid steel one-hand open pocket knife with a 3.5" blade. The thing is solid and weighs around 4.16 ounces, and about 4.5" closed. I don't really notice it. Usually. It's a good, solid knife and over the years, I've used it for various tasks. I have used it is a pry-bar and a staple-remover very successfully. Less successfully, I've used it to turn flat-head screws, Phillips screws, eyeglass screws, and (least successfully, actually resulting in a minor injury) as a bottle opener. Those functions I just listed are things I try to use my knife for often enough that I realized I'd much prefer to have extra tools on my knife dedicated to these functions.
My first thought was that there has to be a Swiss Army Knife that will do the trick. Usually, however, I find that SAK's have too many tools; I really only need screwdrivers (flat, Phillips, and preferably a jewelry-sized one), a bottle opener, a locking blade, and the ability to open the knife one-handed (I really like that function on my current EDC knife; that's why I've carried it for the last decade). Yet, you'd be surprised how difficult it is to find such a knife. After extensive research, I had almost decided on the Centurion. It had everything I was looking for except blade that can be opened one-handed. There were some very similar knives that did have one-hand open versions, but they had an extra layer making the knife thicker and heavier: the One-handed Trekker, and the One-handed Parachutist. Both of these tools had a serrated main blade, which does not interest me. I'd almost talked myself into the Parachutist (I could see myself using the belt-cutter more often than a saw), but found it had been discontinued.
It should not be this hard to find what I want, especially when I'm this close.
But then I had a realization. I remembered seeing this Swiss-Tech Utility Key years ago. It actually contains all the functions that I would like, and I could carry such a tool on my keyring while I continue to carry a regular pocket knife. I would have stopped there, but the Utility Key has a blade, which means I couldn't take it through security, which means I wouldn't keep it on my main keyring because comes with me through security checkpoints at government buildings multiple times a week. While it's easy to leave my pocket knife in my car, I don't want to be constantly removing my tool from and reattaching it to my keyring. Also, I'm tired of having to be without some kind of tool with a cutting edge when I fly, so I'd like a tool that can do light duty cutting (opening envelopes, packages), but will also make it past the TSA. So my search began again, this time for multi-tools. I'd prefer as few moving parts as possible.
So, to recap, I want a tool, ideally, that will do the following:
-Pry things like staples paint-can lids, etc
-turn flat-head and phillips-head screws
-open boxes/packages
-open bottles
-turn a screw in a pair of glasses
The above features are the only types of things I regularly encounter that I get frustrated not having a tool for.
I can live without a jeweler's screw driver since I can usually use the tip of my knife blade in a pinch. An incorporated ruler is also a nice feature, but not vital.
The following features are also necessary:
-TSA compliant
-small enough to carry on my keyring without adding noticeable bulk
-will not tear up my pocket
Does anyone here have a tool they like that might be what I'm looking for?
Thanks in advance.
