TOURNIQUETS

This is the ETQ (Everyday Carry Tourniquet) by Snake Staff Systems. This product quickly caught my attention. The ETQ is made in the USA, it is 65% smaller than the industry standard and is designed to be carried every day on your person. While I consider the CAT Tourniquet to be the gold standard in this category, I am always happy to see innovative products hit the market.

The size and bulk of a CAT tourniquet makes it difficult to carry on body. I keep one close by in my bag, but I never actually have it on my person. Should I be separated from my bag, I’m SOL. Statistics show you’re more likely to use a tourniquet than a pistol. Yet I hardly know anyone that regularly carries one. Ease of carry has been one of many hurdles, and Snake Staff Systems is providing a solution. This is a product that’s small enough to attach to your keyring. If you can carry a pistol on your hip every day, you no longer have an excuse for not carrying a tourniquet. Buy one, carry one.

Another draw is it’s ability to tighten down to a 1 inch diameter. This makes the ETQ an ideal trauma response product to use with small children. As a parent of a one year old, I’ve been searching for a product to keep on hand for my kid. The ETQ fits the bill. Considering all possibilities of application, I strongly believe elementary and middle schools should begin to stock these and have them on hand.

Now, in spite of how good I feel about this product, I will continue to carry my CAT tourniquet in my pack. The ETQ has a lot to prove. This is now an extra item I have to carry, but as we all know, two is one and one is none. Buy a tourniquet. Buy American.

SEAF

For the past couple of years, I have rotated between three knives for EDC. The Emerson Knives Roadhouse Mini, the Emerson Knives CQC7 Mini, and the Black Scout Survival TUSK Karambit. The knife laws in NYC prohibit folding knives that lock, and they prohibit any knife longer than four inches. I have carried the Emerson folding knives fully aware of the repercussions. However, for the sake of simplicity I have decided to move away from folding knives to fixed blades. If a knife is needed for defense, I do not want to waste precious moments opening one. Even for trained individuals, the need to draw and open a knife presents a risk for failure. A fixed blade lends it self to gross motor skills and can be deployed without additional measures. I will continue to use my Emerson knives in some capacity, but I no longer want to be dependent on a folding knife for defensive action. To fill this role along with the TUSK Karambit, I have acquired the SEAF from Forward Observations Group. It is designed by medically retired Navy Seal, Wolf Forty.

The SEAF is a fixed blade, 8 inches in overall length, with 4 inches of blade length. The knife is made from CPM 154 steel, not to be confused with 154CM. The difference is in the CPM production process. CPM 154 provides greater edge retention and higher corrosion resistance than 154CM. It has a Rockwell hardness of 60, and the knife weighs in at 3.8oz without the sheath. Outstanding specs aside, of fundamental importance is the design. With the knife in hand, the ergonomics blows me away. Dagger up or dagger down, my grip on the knife feels equally secure.

The dual grip capabilities of the SEAF remind me of two other popular knives on the market. The Dynamis Blade by Dynamis Alliance and the Darter designed by Haley Strategic and produced by Toor Knives. While those are great knives in their own respect, I find the SEAF to be the superior option. The Dynamis and Darter seem more regulated to fighting and defensive action. While still maintaining its qualities as a fighting knife, the spear point architecture of the SEAF provides more of a belly to allow for easier cutting and slicing than the other knives.

Wolf Forty has also designed a second knife, called the SEAF Jr., which maintains the qualities of the full sized SEAF, just smaller in stature. The knife has a 3.5 inch blade and is designed for everyday carry. The SEAF Jr. was actually first released last year, and produced by Half Face Blades. Another release of the SEAF Jr. will be happening in the next week or so. I think it would be awesome if different knife makers work with Wolf Forty to produce their own iteration of the SEAF. Time will tell. I am very happy with mine. Based on your own needs, I highly recommend picking up either the full size SEAF or the Jr. Be sure to follow Wolf Forty on Instagram and keep an eye on Forward Observations Group for future releases.

Prometheus Writes Alpha Executive Pen

I have carried and used the Prometheus Writes Ti Alpha Executive Pen for nearly six years. It happened to go missing last October, and what I thought was lost, I found nearly nine months later hanging from a thread of an old summer jacket. Boy, was I delighted. The Alpha Executive Pen was designed by California-based designer and fabricator, Jason Hui of Prometheus Lights. Like Jason, as a consumer, I have always had a desire to buy things that I know I can depend on and that I know will last. Buy once, cry once. However, even more so, I appreciate a product where it is self evident that the designer truly cares about his craft.

Jason Hui has extensive knowledge and experience in design strategy, product development, and industrial technology. Although, he is better known for his innovative work in the flashlight market, the Alpha Executive pen is a prime example of his capabilities.

This particular pen is crafted from Grade 2 Titanium and is designed to accept Mont Blanc Fineliner and Rollerball refills only. Some have reservations about this, as these refills are expensive, and don’t last as long as some other popular refills. However, as someone who is constantly writing and jotting things down, the Mont Blanc refills are just a joy to use. The Rollerball refill is as smooth as silk, and will provide crisp dark lines. The Fineliner, provides a distinctive writing experience. It features a felt tip, which can recede if too much pressure is applied, therefore, protecting the tip from being damaged.

The body of the pen is essentially three pieces not including the screw and clip. There are no springs or other internal components as the Mont Blanc refill screws directly into the housing. Given the pen is made from Titanium, it can and will soak up damage. The tumbled finish easily hides any scratches received. I have carried my pen daily since 2013. It has shared pocket space with keys, knives, and flashlights. As you can see from the photos, the pen is still in pristine condition.

As my pen is the Kickstarter version, Jason has made a few minor changes to the design since 2013. The current iteration is crafted from Grade 5 Titanium, which is stronger and more abrasion resistant than the Grade 2. The Kickstarter version is completely sterile and features no maker’s mark whatsoever. The current iteration will feature a maker's mark on the brass screw which holds the clip in place. Other than that, the design is the exactly same. In addition to Titanium, the pen can also be machined from Aluminum, Brass, or Copper.

Now, I’ll be honest, these pens are not cheap. I purchased mine through the Kickstarter campaign for $120. In six years the price for the Titanium Alpha has risen to $250. However, the copper, brass, and aluminum pens are cheaper (and in that order). These pens are machined in Jason’s shop and, therefore, are made right here in the USA. So, expect to pay a premium. This is by far the best pen I’ve ever owned. The weight, balance, and the use of Mont Blanc refills provide an extremely gratifying writing experience. If you’re looking for a new option for daily carry, I strongly recommend you hop on over to www.darksucks.com and pick one up.