Drago Tracker Backpack Mini Review

I just purchased the Drago Tracker Backpack after retiring a North Face Yavapai that served me well for more than 12 years.  I was initially going to stick with the new version of the Yavapai, but the Drago Tracker seemed to be more versatile, especially as an extended Day Pack.  With the Molle webbing, I like having the ability to expand the pack beyond the 4 main compartments.  In the photo you can see that I have added two H2O pouches and a 6.6 pouch  (with blue carabiners) which I was able to get on sale from 5.11 Tactical.  This pack is hydration pack compatible, so is able to carry plenty of water now.  The OD Green Drago pack and the OD Green 5.11 pouches are a perfect match and the material are very similar.

The pack is made of 600 Denier polyester and appears to be well made.  I believe it will take a beating very well; and, that's important since I'd like this pack to last as long as the North Face.  On this particular outing, the pack was loaded with only 15lbs. of gear and was very comfortable to carry.  In fact, I was surprised how noticeably more comfortable it was compared to the North Face.  Due to the way this pack is made, there are ways to distribute the weight of gear and equipment evenly.  I believe that this bag has enough capacity with the way I have it currently configured, for it to easily be an overnight or 2 night pack.  Definitely with the number of attachment points, and even internal pouches, this is a versatile pack.  What I really like about the Drago Tracker Pack is that I can now stow all of my items systematically, so that each item can be stored in its own location.  I couldn't necessarily do that with the North Face.

Since it hasn't been thoroughly field tested at this point, I haven't decided for sure  if it's a favorite pack; but, it certainly has a lot of potential.  ~Keep it Sharp.

Sanrenmu 710 - Limited Quantities For Sale

**Knives are No Longer Available for Sale**

Sanrenmu 710 in Black and Silver

Back in June of this year I did a review of the Sanrenmu 710 folding knife.  You can read the review here: Sanrenmu 710-The Perfect Pocket EDC.  I continue to carry this knife on a regular basis because it is such an excellent knife; I'm confident that you too will find that it is the Perfect Pocket EDC.  I have been so pleased by this knife that I recently acquired 22 brand new Sanrenmu 710 knives; 11 each in Black and Silver.  I know that you can very easily find a cheaper price from other sources, however, you will most likely have to wait several weeks for your shipment to arrive.  But...  If you want one now, I have these knives available for $14.99 including immediate free shipping (USA Domestic only).  So why wait?  The price isn't unreasonable, the gift giving season is pressing upon us and if you order now you'll have the knife in just a few days.  These would make a great gift, stocking stuffer or personal purchase. Supplies are very limited, so don't miss out on this opportunity! I expect that these will go fast so send me a comment with your email address, full mailing address, and which color you want and the quantity so that I can verify the inventory.  I'll then send you a PayPal Invoice for payment.  After all of the knives have sold, I'll post an update.  ~Keep it Sharp.

Enzo Trapper Knife Review

Back in March of this year I purchased an Enzo Trapper Knife kit from Curtis at Omaha Knife.  This was a straight forward knife kit that turned out exceptionally well.  The knife purchased was in O1 steel with Curly Birch handles.  While I never got around to posting pictures of the completed project, the Blue Ridge Survival Blog header has had a picture of this very knife.   I’ve been so impressed by this knife, I ordered and received my second Enzo Trapper earlier this week. 

Specifications:

Blade:  Full tang O1 tool steel with Scandinavian Grind– The Trapper is also available at Omaha Knife in D2 (both Scandi and Flat Grind), and 12c27 Stainless.  I have no doubt that D2 and 12c27 are excellent steels, especially since the Enzo brand represents high quality.  I purchased the O1 because I find it works well for me; I like the carbon steel and in terms of quality, ease of sharpening and edge retention the O1 steel has performed flawlessly.  From the factory this blade arrives hair popping sharp.  This type of grind lends itself especially well to bushcrafting tasks and is one of the simplest edges to sharpen.

The Trapper in Curly Birch was the first
acquisition.

Overall Length:  8 1/4” from tip to heel.  Blade length is 3 3/4".  Blade thickness is 1/8”.

Handle Material/Scales:  Burgundy Linen Micarta

Sheath:  The leather sheath is excellent and of very high quality.  The leather used to form the sheath is thick and comes with a dangler.  

Putting it all together...

As I said, this is a straight forward kit.  The kit was packed very well from Omaha Knife with the contents having the blade, handle material, corby brass bolts and a leather sheath.  The customer service from Omaha Knife is excellent.  I ordered the knife on Sunday and received it Wednesday.  I consider that very fast since the order could not get processed until Monday morning at the earliest. 

The scales that I 
ordered came pre-formed and pre-drilled, so the handle material is simply epoxied to the handle end of the blade, bolted and clamped.  The epoxy that I used is T-88 Structural Epoxy and it has a cure time of about 24 hours.    The next day after the epoxy cured, a Dremel tool was used to remove as much of the excess length from the brass bolts as possible.  I then used a small file to finish the brass pins flush with the handle.  The Dremel was also used to remove the excess handle material so that it's flush with the tang; I then followed up with 400 grit sandpaper on the handle material to smooth everything and round sharp corners.  Boiled Linseed Oil was then put on the handle and allowed to dry overnight.  Even with the Micarta handles, the Boiled Linseed Oil worked well.  Since this knife has the Micarta handle, I intend for this to be my primary workhorse.  I know all of this seems over simplified, but it really is a very straight forward knife kit.  I’ve been very pleased by the overall results and it’s satisfying to have built such a high quality knife.  This is a great weekend project that won’t take all weekend, so I highly recommend it.   ~Keep it Sharp.

Becker BK14 Neck Knife-Survival Kit

Whether I go out on a back woods camping trip or a simple day hike, I think about being prepared for the possibility that I might be out longer than intended.  So anticipating the challenges associated with spending a few more hours, an additional overnight or even a few more days, should be part of our physical and mental preparation. 

With that in mind I think along the lines of Shelter, Water, Fire, Signaling, Navigation and Food.  One of the basic kits that I carry is a Becker Bk-14 Neck Knife to accomplish this philosophy of survival.  By utilizing ranger bands (or bicycle inner tube) it is simple to create a personal survival kit.  Here is what is in my kit:

Shelter:  With a personal survival kit such as this, whatever clothing we have on would be considered our basic shelter.  Hopefully we have dressed appropriately to anticipate the season and any changes in the weather.  

Water:  I’ve included a Plastic 1-gallon storage bag.  This can be used to retrieve or collect water in multiple ways.  I always carry a water bottle so even if it becomes necessary to treat the water by boiling; a plastic bottle will do.  

Fire: The fire steel and Vaseline charged cotton ball (in tin foil) will easily initiate a fire.   Of course the Becker knife is excellent for making feather sticks and processing wood to build the fire.  

Signaling:  A small proton light and signaling mirror meets this requirement.  The signaling mirror is made from an aluminum can and has been highly polished. 

Navigation:  A simple button compass will provide the means for navigation in the general direction to safety.  




Food:  Fishing line and a fly from my fly-fishing gear will provide the means for food if I’m near a stream.  Included is a safety pin, just in cases I need to use live bait. 

The para-cord used around the neck and the knife handle provides for about 10 feet of cordage which can be used for a number of items including fishing and trapping.  All in all a very basic, concise and lightweight kit that has a survival form factor that will facilitate success when necessary.  ~Keep it Sharp.

Knife Review of Sanrenmu 710 - The Perfect Pocket EDC

For the past few weeks, I have been trying to find the perfect folding knife that conveys function and style; and one that is easy to pocket for everyday carry (EDC) whether in my suit or on the trail.  While I know that no folding knife is perfect; at least for me, I believe I have found one that most certainly meets the requirements.  So, let me introduce to you the Sanrenmu -SRM 710 Pocket Folder.

Specifications:

Blade-8cr13MOV 57 HRC

Satin Polished Stainless Steel

Lanyard Hole

Razor Sharp

Thumb Studs Opening

Stainless Steel Pocket Clip 

Open- 6 1/2"

Weight- 3.25 oz.

Ease of Deployment – Deploying the blade is accomplished with one hand.  Out of the box, deploying the blade was stiff and slow.  However, after adding a touch of silicone lubricant to the pivot point and flipping the blade about 50 times, the deployment is now lightning fast and very smooth.   The stainless clip is particularly functional and easy to slip onto the front pocket of a pair of dress pants or jeans.  I’ve read that some have used the pocket clip as a money clip.  The blade is secured by a frame lock while in the deployed position with no blade play whatsoever.

Ease of Getting a Sharp Edge – I found the blade edge to be sharp out of the box; however, with the use of a Japanese waterstone and Leather strop, I was able to get a super sharp edge.  I prefer a convex edge on my knives; and this was easily accomplished with my sharpening setup.  The steel on this blade is quite incredible; in fact, I was able to get the edge to straight razor sharpness; where I was able to perform the hanging hair test successfully.  (See Video Below).  The  8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade is an excellent steel and it is amazingly reliable.  The edge retention is simply superb.

Edge Retention – Edge retention is always a concern for me because I want a blade that will be able to hold the edge throughout the day while being used in a variety of tasks.  With this particular blade I was able to create several feather sticks with little to no effect on the blade.  The edge developed no nicks or chips; nor was there any edge roll.  Even after cutting the feather sticks, the edge was able to slice through a piece of paper without getting hung up.

Style/Comfort – I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder; however, I really appreciate the aesthetics of this knife.  The combination of weight and size makes this knife especially comfortable to hold while doing routine tasks.  The overall look and satin finish of the frame presents a classic style whether in a suit or out in the woods.   The overall design, coupled with the sharp blade provided comfort as I worked on the feather sticks.  The rounded edges of the frame made it so that hotspots were virtually unnoticeable.

The Sanrenmu 710 is available in a Satin Polished Stainless steel, Black TiNi Finish with Laser Etching. and a Camouflage pattern. Having reviewed the Sanrenmu 707 folding knife previously, I must say that I am impressed with the quality of both of these knives. Quality and economy go a long way, especially these days; and with these knives, there is no lacking in both function and style.  I'm pleased to say that the SRM-710 is now my everyday carry..  ~ Keep it Sharp.

My Everyday Carry Load

Keeping things light and simple has been the driving principle in my philosophy of everyday carry.  As you can see, I attempt to carry only the essentials.  Whether in a suit at work, or in jeans/shorts when not at work, this has been my typical load for several years.  Of course, individual items will be switched out from time to time.  So here's what I'm carrying today:

• Glock 26 - Extremely comfortable to carry IWB and most important; a very concealable, reliable and accurate companion.
• Timex Expedition Chronograph - Stylish and Bold.  I love this watch, especially since it was a gift from my kids.
• Esterbrook J Fountain Pen - A vintage pen that is more than 60 years old.  I have several vintage fountain pens that I rotate routinely, but this is definitely a favorite.
• Moleskine Softcover Notebook (not pictured) - This has been, by far one of the best notebooks I have ever used.  The Private Reserve ink I use with my fountain pens works exceptionally well with the paper. 
• Black Leather Wallet by Stafford - Nothing fancy here, except to say that this particular wallet  wears well and has improved with age.
• SRM (Sanrenmu) 710 Knife - I just started carrying this knife and have found it to be perfect whether wearing a suit or in other attire.  I've been able to get the edge on this super crazy sharp.  I will most likely post a review on this knife in the next couple of weeks.
• Motorolo Droid 4 - I very much like the Android platform.  This is a recent acquisition; switching from the HTC Incredible.  So far I've been satisfied with the change. 
• Braided Lanyard with Keys - On the ring is a Victorinox Classic and Fenix E01Light.

Perhaps in another post I will comment on the content of my two ready bags that I keep in the car at all times.  In the meantime ~Keep it Sharp.