Modern Vespa

I haven't ever carried a knife until my BIL passed away. My wife asked me (while she was packing up things to bring back across the country) if there was anything of Richard's I wanted. There wasn't especially, but I've always liked to keep personal items around. This little Kershaw is the only pocket knife I've ever carried, and I feel naked without it now.

Thanks, Rich.

It has piqued my interest as well.

Looks like it here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016KHW2W

It's the Gerber E.A.B. Pocket knife (original). Amazon has it for $17. Looks like there is a Lite version now for $14.

https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-EAB-Pocket-Knife-22-41830/dp/B0016KHW2W

You need a Phillips to remove a small screw that locks the blade in. It's a two second job provided you don't drop the screw…

It's a fine utility knife, but in that category I strongly prefer the WorkPro Folding Utility Knife, which does not need any tools to change the blade.

The WorkPro is also slimmer, cheaper, and has a better button-style blade lock instead of a frame lock.

(I've owned several of both).

I've been doing research on it. I'm definitely going to get one.

It also works as a money clip so I can replace that and it won't hardly be any more bulk in my pocket.

I found that you can replace the blade screw with a knurled thumb stud which allows tool free blade changes and easier opening. It costs 2/3 the price of the knife but I think it's worth it.

Also the knife works better with extra thick blades. Stanley 11-931.

The price is starting to add up but still not too bad.

All this talk about utility knives reminds me of the one I used to carry in my back pocket every day in middle school. For legitimate reasons. I had a woodcarving class in 7th grade and there was never any question that a bunch of 12 year olds were walking around the school campus with potentially deadly weapons in their pockets. It was a different time. I won't date myself, but suffice it to say I was playing Yars' Revenge a lot on the Atari 2600 about the same time.



For the record, that is the Stanley model 10-049

Looking at it from the outside now, a Gen X childhood was both magical and terrifying. I'm surprised so many of us survived.

This.

That does sound pretty good.

The wWorkPro sure beats the EAB on price. The EAB with the thumb stud and the thicker blades is approaching $50 and I can get 3 workpros for $18.

The EAB is about 1/2 inch shorter when folded but if you say the WorkPro is slimmer that helps.

The extra length would probably help when using it.

The main difference is that the WorkPro is stamped steel instead of machined aluminum -- so it's not as "nice" as the Gerber, but it is surprisingly well made for the cost, and the blade locking mechanism is precise and robust. Yep. The WorkPro is slimmer and longer, which (I think) makes it easier to use while actually cutting. The Gerber is a little bit stubby.

But honestly, both are good pocket utility knives, two of the best on the market around that price point.

That's a good memory. We had a 2600 and Yars' Revenge . My mom used to play it when taking breaks from home chores. She'd tell us we could play when her avatar ran out of lives. That almost never happened. My sister and I went and played in the woods nearby or rode our bikes to the farm stand in the next town over for penny candy. That which does not kill you only makes you stronger.

Comes in other colors, too:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PGY3KSD

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMHS3959

My brother has a coffee cup that says
"Gen-X : Raised On Hose Water And Neglect"

I want it.

I have owned, for a few years, a Gerber folder, small enough to fit in a Jean watch pocket. And a couple Opinel #8s that appeared from I know not.
Recently I bought a medium, single blade Alox Swiss Army folder to replace one I lost years ago, then bought a large single blade Alox SA, because it was yellow.
I use the small Gerber. One of the Opinels sits in the toolbox I don't use, and the SA folders sit on my desk. I like the Gerber because I can hold the blade, flick my wrist and the body almost locks. It will, one day.

Harbor Freight to the rescue with a twelve buck replacement for my deceased folding knife, and it has ambidextrous blade flipping out knobby things for whipping the blade into battery...and that's not all!

This baby also has a seatbelt cutter in the aluminum handle, as well as a window buster pointy thing in the handle butt.

By coincidence, I received my James Brand "Palmer" utility slider via post just a few minutes ago:

Most of the James knives are a bit - Ha! - out of my budget for a tool, but that one is easily approachable. Especially in yellow. :drool:

I can't tell you how many times I and the other members of my school's JROTC rifle team trooped through the hallways and piled into a school district bus or van carrying our rifles and shooting jackets.

You Gen X kids were downright coddled, I tell ya. 😝

might be fine clipped to the outside of a pocket but when in the pocket the window break point would bother the crap out of me poking me. Also the seat belt cutter I know would catch somehow and cut my pockets.

I am a fan of normal style knives and like my older leatherman single blade. The have some nice new ones though.

Probably true, but I never carry the knife on my belt, or in my pocket. I keep it in my little 'overnight zipper bag' when I'm traveling, along with hairbrush, razor, meds, stuff like that. I use it the most often in the evening in my hotel rooms when wrangling soon-to-be microwaved dinner packages, stupid crap like that.

Got mine today.

w00t! Hope you like them!

Seems good so far but there was a third one that was defective. Hoping for a replacement.

Oh, weird!

The spring wasn't seated correctly. You have to push to get it closed and sometimes it pops open spontaneously.

I tried to see if I could get I it back in the intended groove but no soap. I scratched the body trying.

Sorry to hear that. I have probably around 6 of these floating around the house, and haven't had any issues. Hope the others make up for it.

Recently a motorsport friend posted a video regarding seatbelt cutters and window smashers, required in (road) rally competition cars here. He noted a couple of things;
1. It has to be accessible - even if the car is upside down and you're hanging in the belts.
2. Cutting the belts isn't a simple little pull across the webbing, it requires some force. Admittedly these were competition harnesses, but I'm sure a normal belt won't "just cut".
3. If you have to smash a window, do the side glass as modern windscreens are very hard to get out of the opening.

That's my public service announcement for today.