EDC Archives - Page 2 of 2 - True North Tradecraft

Posted on January 21, 2018November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft — 2 Comments

Tactikey Review

I recently discovered a new self-defence product – Tactikey.

Tactikey is an upgrade on an old-school, low-tech means of self-defence. The old “punch them with your keys” technique, except with some modern upgrades.

The product itself is a small (1 x 1.75 x 0.5 in), lightweight (6.5 g) and strong (TPE 110 Composite material) designed to ergonomically accept a standard Kwikset house key and give it a platform to use as an impact weapon. This design is helpful in reducing injury to the defender’s hand while allowing the transference of force through the key point to the assailant’s soft tissues.

The combination of supporting grip and solid metal point is surprisingly effective and protects the user from injury well, unlike an un-shrouded key being used for the same thing.

When I received my package of a few Tactikeys and was caught by several positive things:

VERY light
VERY small
VERY easy to add to your key ring
Usable in non-permissive environments and will likely not raise any red flags if inspected by authorities
Allow the key to be used for it’s intended function AND as a self-defence implement and;
Comes in your choice of Blaze Orange, Hot Pink or Carbon Black.
Inexpensive (as of this writing – going for $9.99 ea with free US Shipping)
Full details from website available here.

Along with the personalized note from them, I immediately equipped my Tactikey and went to work playing around with it.

I found that holding it was comfortable. The finish on the grip was soft and smooth but didn’t slip.

It intuitively holds well between the fingers and stays solid when striking.

I had access to a building site where walls were being replaced and took a few jabs at drywall and lathe & plaster. The results were good (see below).

I was able to make holes in both mediums without pain or injury to my hand. The regular (un-sharpened key) penetrated both types of walls with relative ease making me feel confident that it could cause trauma to soft tissue on a hostile human target.

Repeated strikes had no issue with penetration.

As it is a simple piece of plastic, Tactikey can go anywhere a set of keys can go and will always be ready as an added force multiplier if you should need it. I have added this to my Every Day Carry (EDC) as it is useful, lightweight, practical and effective. Along with the other items I carry, I feel it is a wise investment and doesn’t add bulk of weight to your setup.

Although I haven’t had the opportunity to hit a person with it at this point, I’ll be sure to update this post with those results, should they occur. That said, punching holes in drywall happened very easily and I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of a hit with one of these.

Tactikey also has a fantastic return policy on it’s product (from their website):

“30 Day 110% Return Policy – Purchase with Confidence.
We at Tactikey work tirelessly to develop the world’s most unique and efficient EDC products that will help you achieve well-being and safety. We believe in our products so much that we stand behind them with a no hassle, no questions asked, satisfaction guarantee 110% return policy. If you purchase any Tactikey product on our website Tactikey.com and you are not satisfied, return it within 30 days for a 110% refund. The guarantee is applicable to all purchases made from Tacktikey.com only and does not cover Tacktikey retailers. Retail purchases will be handled by the particular retail store’s return policy. That is our commitment at Tactikey to you our customers.”

Instructions on the use of Tactikey can also be found on their website here.

The one and only downside with Tactikey is that it is only compatible with Kwikset key blanks at the moment. If your house key or other keys on your ring are not of this kind, they may not fit properly. That said, Tactikey is working on different formats for several other major key manufacturers (like Schlage and Yale) and customers will be able to choose which works for them. In the grand scheme, this isn’t a big deal. They will come out with others soon and, really, I’d sooner have a dedicated defensive key (a blank, sharpened) than my primary house key. If you do hit something or someone and bend it, you may have issues using your key after. Not to mention if you lose it in a fight, buddy will have your house key. I’d sooner have a non-key. I used an old, out of commission Kwikset key I had laying around for my test & carry key to ensure that doesn’t happen. I will pick up a Kwikset blank and sharpen it with a file for primary EDC use in the coming days to ensure I have it the way I want it. You can pick up a Kwikset blank from anywhere that cuts keys (Home Depot, local hardware stores, shoe repair places, etc) and just ask them for one. Again, not a big deal right now as you’re best off to go with a dedicated key or key blank for this particular use.

Have a look at their website, check them out on social media and feel free to pick one up for yourself and maybe some family members. For the money, I thinks it’s a great deal and you get something solid and useful. I really like it and I bet you will too.

Till next time, stay safe and stay crafty.

Posted on December 31, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Delta 2 Alpha – The Accent Series

The Accent Series.

By Delta 2 Alpha Design

A little while ago I received a mail call containing a sample of the Accent Series from Delta2Alpha Design. To read my review of the previous generation of tools, go here.

The Accent Series is their newest offering of upgraded versions of The MARK, The LOLLY and The MiK.

The new tools are delivered in three colours (crimson, blaze orange or day-glow green), clad in a robust carbon fibre skin.

They are all incredibly versatile and even more durable than their previous versions. I found the carbon fibre skin to be more resistant to scratches and abrasions than the earlier version of polymer tools.

I have used the Lolly for opening paint cans when I find myself without a screwdriver. It’s handy to carry in my 5th jeans pocket.

On a recent visit to Ottawa, I found myself in a Tim Hortons for a morning coffee. The floor was covered in melt and slushy runoff from the recent snow. Thankfully, I had my Accent Series MARK in my bag (perfect for non-permissive environments like government buildings) and ensured my bag and its contents were well out of he muck.

No dirty, wet Tim Hortons floor for me and my stuff!

The MiK can be used as the MARK can, but with smaller applications. I do like how it can hold up your phone, hang your bag (or purse) or coat – perfect for bathrooms. It can also easily fit into the fifth pocket of your jeans for concealment and easy access.

From the Delta 2 Alpha website:

TheMARK: Offers a convenient way to keep your jacket or bag off of the floor bathrooms when traveling (or everyday life) when there isn’t a hook. It can also be used as a tablet stand.

TheMiK:  Fits conveniently on your keys, and is used a hands free way to prop up your phone. This comes in handy whether you are trying to do a video chat, or just kill sometime watching cat videos (No Judgement).

TheLolly: Can go right next to TheMiK on your keychain. TheLolly is a light duty pocket scraper, and prybar. It has be referred to as a “Fingernail Saver”. It also offers a ¼” bit driver and the key ring slot can be used to drive the Leatherman multi-tool brand bits.

*Each package includes one (1) of TheMARK, TheMiK, and TheLolly; They are sold as matched sets*

All things considered, I feel that Delta 2 Alpha scored a big win with improving an already-sturdy and reliable design with their Accent Series of polymer tools. I’m very happy with them and equip myself with at least one on a daily basis as they are lightweight, practical and come in handy in a variety of ways.

You can order yours here on their website.

Till next time, stay crafty.

Posted on November 19, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Staying Safe in Crowds

As the holiday season approaches, we will invariably be heading out more often to places rife with people. Be it for shopping, get-togethers, enjoying a crisp winter walk or seeing a festive event, the holiday season brings more and more people out for all these reasons and more.

Large groups of people gathered together tend to cause problems relating to safety and security. They increase the risk of conflict between people in those large groups, they make inviting targets for those who would wish to cause harm (i.e. bad guys) and the larger the group of people in a building, the more difficult and time-consuming it is to get those people out safely, especially under panic.

Examples of these would be as follows: anytime there is one last toy of a particular kind and a fight breaks out; fights over parking spots at malls, etc. These types of events may or may not be directly involving you, but have the potential to rope you in if you’re not paying attention. Another is an active shooter (such as the Jane Creba shooting in Toronto) where something like gang violence occurs and innocent bystanders are caught in the middle. And then there are times when a machete-wielding lunatic attacks random shoppers, or some fanatic decides to plough down people walking down the street with a truck. And then there’s fire. Nothing nefarious, but deadly nonetheless. They happen. Use all your senses to stay aware. None of these are predictable in a useful sense for someone heading out for a day of shopping at the mall. They just happen.

For the interactions that escalate, I would recommend to let it go. Is some hot-head nut case really worth that parking spot? Likely not. However, this doesn’t mean I advocate not protecting yourself if someone attacks you.

For the rest, they are “black swan events” which you have to deal with as they unfold.

Here are my thoughts on how to increase your chances of survival in crowded locations in times of danger.

Keep an eye open for viable exits: as you enter malls, concert halls or crowded public spaces, keep an eye on ways out. Be it a fire or an attack, having a pre-planned escape route can save valuable seconds getting out and saving yourself and likely others. Better yet, if you’re there a while, hang out near the exits. You’ll be better positioned to get out should something happen. Also, if in a mall, take the stairs instead of the escalators. If you have to move in a hurry you have a better position to move from as those on the escalator are trapped in the chute.
Exits, exits everywhere! Keep an eye open.
Keep moving: Staying still doesn’t help you much in a time of crisis. If you’re still, you’re an easy target, you’re not moving away from danger and you’re not able to affect change to your circumstance, thus handing all the control to others (i.e. bad guys). Move towards an exit, move to cover, move to a fire extinguisher…just MOVE! Be a difficult target. Movement is Life. In large crowds, most people will attempt to exit the way they came in. This can cause a stampede-like effect where people get trampled and crushed. A wave of humanity which is large and panicked cannot be forced. Instead, take the better approach and aim for one of your pre-scouted exits instead.
In the case of an active shooter – TAKE COVER: That’s right. as you move, move from one place of cover to another until you exit and create time and distance between you and the threat. Cover is something that offers ballistic protection (i.e. protection from bullets). This is cement and concrete. Furniture, vehicles and the like don’t provide adequate protection from bullets. Stone, rock, thick steel and cement do. Look for pillars, walls and the like to save you.
Hide behind concrete.
Be aware of your surroundings: Use all of your senses. If a fire breaks out, you’ll likely have an indication before you see it because of smell. Move to an exit. When in a crowd, get a sense of the general “feel” of the environment. Stay at the edges of crowds. Look for people who don’t look or “feel” like they belong in the same group. Situational Awareness is your early warning system for something bad happening. It’s not meant to cultivate paranoia, it’s meant to cultivate awareness for whats going on around you so you have a chance to ACT before being acted upon.
Keep your head on a swivel.
Keep Essentials on you: Your personal Every-Day-Carry should be on you at all times. A small knife, multi-tool, lock picks, lighter, cash, cell phone (charged), mini flashlight, some cordage, etc. can help you get out of a tough situation should you need it.

To sum up remember these key points:

Be Aware (of your environment)
Be prepared (with a viable EDC setup)
Identify Exits (note escape routes)
Keep Moving (movement is life)
Take Cover (behind concrete or stone)
Better yet, order online and stay home.

In closing, before you head out, switch on. Enjoy yourself and have fun, but always remember that by being aware you are fore-warned and fore-armed. Always have an escape plan.

Be safe. Stay crafty.

Posted on July 1, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Safety in Crowds and During Events

Happy 150th Canada!

Today we will look at how to be a bit safer when attending large events and being in crowds. As we all head out for the festivities this weekend, we will find ourselves in large crowds. Most people don’t think about what can go wrong in such an environment and are focused on the strong Canadian beer and flood of Canadian Pride. But if something does turn the tide of the crowd, it can easily go from a fun time to a deadly mob. A fire, a terrorist attack, active shooter…all can turn the tide quickly. A stampede of people trying to get out of a night club, or a park that is fenced-in can result in injuries and death as the mob moves. The panic that a real or perceived event causes is enough for people to take leave of their faculties and just charge.

So, how do you give yourself the edge in situations like this?

Maintain Situational Awareness: Keep your wits about you and observe your surroundings. Identify the baseline of the crowd. How does it move? What is the average behaviour? Is there anyone moving against the grain, or seems out of place? Is there someone that doesn’t seem to fit? Try to identify these things by putting your phone away and actively scanning your surroundings. That doesn’t mean you should be afraid, just aware and in-tune.
Take Note of Changes: Look for and identify specific examples of “off” behaviour outside of the norm or baseline. Like the one person wearing wearing a Hawaiian shirt at a funeral. Also, try and get a “feel” for the mood of the crowd and react to its changes. If things suddenly go from fun and festive to uneasy and twitchy, get moving towards an pre-determined exit.
Pre-Identify Exits and Escape Routes: As you arrive to a crowded area or event, take mental note of your evacuation options. If everyone is coming in through a particular gate or door, look for other options. Are there emergency and fire doors off to the side? Are there windows? Stairwells? Employee doors with “Authorized Personnel Only” signs? Maybe walk by some of those doors to ensure they aren’t chained or bolted and that they are viable options. Check for a window you might be able to break to get out. Most of the crowd will head back the way it came if it decides to stampede. Alternate exit options will give you a better chance of getting out faster and intact.
Cover & Concealment: Look for spots that provide cover (ballistic protection from projectiles and shrapnel) and concealment (obscuring you from view). If something goes down (like an active assailant begins shooting or stabbing people) and the exit isn’t an option, your next best thing is taking cover to protect yourself.
Get Moving!: If something begins or you feel it might, get moving. Get to the edges of the crowd or to a wall and make your way to one of the pre-scouted exits you had selected. Use the crowd momentum and relative direction to funnel you towards your target, moving forcefully in a diagonal path. You can’t fight the crowd, but you can use it to your advantage.
Carry the Right Gear: Make sure you tailor your on-person equipment to be viable for the environment. A small knife and/or multi-tool, bandana, water bottle, lighter, metal-bodied pen and possibly lock picks. Dress appropriately and ensure you have the necessary tools to support your escape plan.
MOVE! If it’s go-time, move. Don’t hesitate, just get moving. Act in a decisive manner and get to your objective.

Additional point to keep in mind:

Stay to the edges of the room or crowd;
Keep panic in check, and;
If you want to ensure you minimize the risk, DON’T BE THERE! Watch the event on TV. You can’t be harmed if you’re not there.

Don’t forget..if you SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING! Let a police officer or security know if you see something wrong. They’re likely better equipped to deal with it than you are.

Till next time, have fun, stay vigilant and of course, stay crafty.

Happy Canada 150!

Posted on June 23, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Every Day Carry – My Take

So, here we are. A pretty vast topic with a bazillion opinions on what is right and what isn’t.

For the uninitiated, Every Day Carry, or EDC for short, is a collection of items which you carry on your person at all times (every day) to expand your level of preparedness and resilience in your daily activities and also to provide an edge in unforeseen situations. This doesn’t always have to be a life-or-death catastrophe. It can be something as simple as needing emergency cash, or cut packaging, but if you don’t have simple, quality, accessible tools for such things, you’d be at a disadvantage. In a graver scenario, if catastrophe strikes and you’re unprepared, you’ll be less-likely to weather the storm. Either way, you should always have an escape plan.

In a larger sense, your EDC is only a small part of a larger personal resilience plan, however, I’ll write separate posts for vehicle, office, home and emergency kits later on. Right now, lets start at the most basic.

At the end of the day, I believe in three principles to follow when developing and gearing-up your Every Day Carry (EDC).

FLEXIBILE: Is your kit adaptable to changing conditions? Can it be scaled-up/down as needed?
EFFECTIVE: Are these items useful for multiple scenarios?
APPROPRIATE: Will this be too much to carry, too attention-grabbing, or are the pieces of low quality and will fail you in your time of need? Is it appropriate for your environment (Toronto, ON versus Manatoulin Island, versus Dallas, TX)? Carrying a gun in Toronto is far different than Dallas, or in the woods of Manatoulin versus a courthouse in Toronto.

A publication I recently read listed the appropriate EDC of a security-conscious individual as this:

Cell or Smartphone
Concealed carry handgun (WTF?!)
Extra magazine (again, WTF?!)
Flashlight
Folding knife
Lighter
Pen & Paper
Multi-tool
Money
Watch

That said, you’ll notice that concealed carry handgun(!) is on the list, as well as an extra magazine. Now, that may fly in the US, but anywhere in Canada, you’ll be looking at jail time with that load-out. Most of the rest on the list is pretty good, but again, assessing your daily EDC with the 3 Principles mentioned above should allow you to ensure your one step ahead of a problem. Learn unarmed self-defence, use a steel-barrelled pen and a low-profile impact weapon of you need, but for the love of all that is imagined holy, don’t carry a gun around in Canada unless you want the cops after you.

Here is a picture of some of what I carry on me on a daily basis in Toronto, Canada.

The above include:

Fisher Space Pen (writes consistently, small size)
Mini Bic lighter
Tiny USB key
Subway tokens (never know when you might need to abandon your car).
RAT-1 foldint knife (not “tactical” looking, just a simple, sharp, disposable blade).
Band-Aids (because you never know if you or someone else would need one.
Lock picks (several sets, because you just never know).
Diamond wire rod (again, because you never know).
Cash (because cash is king, and you might need a slice of pizza sometime).
Low-pro clip wallet

I also carry a few more things not in the picture, such as:

1-2 steel-barrelled pens (Like Zebra or Parker) *not tactical-looking.
Tiny Inconspicuous Handcuff Key (because unlawful restraint wouldn’t customarily be conveniently timed).
2-3 6′ lengths of Kevlar/Technora cordage
B.A.T. Coin (by Covert Products Group – read my review here.)
Key chain with my keys (No JI, I won’t post a picture of them
Anything else the day may call for based on my quick intel-dump before I leave – such as weather, traffic, events/protests in the city, etc…
Tiny LED flashlight (review soon…)
The Lolly (from Delta2Alpha.com )

I do also ALWAYS wear a watch and will have my phone with me 99% of the time. (in a dire emergency, I can always barter or pawn my watch for some cash and still have my phone for comms).

I love my watch. Titanium, lightweight, atomic and solar, compass and barometer and more.

For my daily purposes, there won’t be a gun involved in any way and multi-tools are too bulky for my activities. Canadian laws would make me a SWAT-team call-out for a pistol, so that’s kinda off the table.

As a matter of course, I carry lock picks. I’ve received several shocked and troubled looks from people should they find out about this, thinking I’m a burglar or something nefarious, but the simple fact is that I strictly adhere to lock picking ethics (read more about it here) and have used them to either help others (with permission, opened a car door for a guy who locked himself out in a blizzard with the car running – I saw it happen) or myself (lost the key to my bike lock) and only would use them to save a life in a dire circumstance. Otherwise, they’re just tools used for the sport of Locksport. I feel that, in an emergency, sometimes salvation is behind a locked door. Better to make amends later when you’re safe, than not have the chance.

If you want an opportunity to learn how to pick locks, check out this amazing opportunity in Toronto in July 2017. Details HERE!!!

I feel that this load out works for me, for my lifestyle, in Toronto, most of the time. Thankfully it is scalable, can be augmented with things from my car. (As mentioned above, I’ll be doing a piece on other EDC/kits at a later time) I also like that it is near-zero visibility thanks to the clip wallet and my spread placement across my person.

The great thing about EDC is that it’s a wide-open topic with huge on-going debates. I prefer to focus on adjusting mine to my needs and environment (Toronto, Canada) while adhering to the 3 principles I mentioned and looking for new ways to make it more concealed and admissible into non-permissive environments.

The bottom line is this:

Keep some things on you wherever you go that will help you out of a jam if things get tough.

By following those 3 principles and investing in decent equipment, you’ll be miles ahead of the masses who only have their phone when things go sideways.

In the meantime, keep modifying, keep testing, keep improving.

Till next time, stay crafty.

Posted on June 16, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Product Review – TheLolly by Delta 2 Alpha Design

I recently received a pair of tools – TheLolly – from our good friends over at Delta 2 Alpha and have gone about the process of playing with it and seeing what it can do.

***Note, I have both the Lollys – one “Predator Clear” and the other “Phantom Grey” coloured – however, I used only the “Phantom Grey” coloured one for better contrast in the photos.***

Here is what it looks like:

On their website, Delta 2 Alpha describes it thus:

"TheLolly is one of the most low profile, last ditch tools of its type on the market today. Due to its design it boasts a variety of carry options.

TheLolly was developed as a “Fingernail Saver” pocket pry-bar (light duty), and scraper (light duty) that will be less likely to leave scratch marks on glass, metal, and wood, it also features a 1/4″ bit driver. It has been laser cut from Cast Acrylic, a material that is only a few steps down from the canopy of a Tomcat.

The slot combined with our unique Ratchet-Teeth allows for an easy on off, but when twisted 90° (as it would be when held flat against the body) it acts as a cloth grabber for the elastic in undergarments and trousers.
*we haven’t seen the Ratchet Teeth done before, if you have please let us know so we can credit that person".

TheLolly is about the size of a standard house key. It had a lanyard hole, a driver/hex bit hole, the attachment “ratchet tooth” slot, and of course, the chisel tip. It makes for an interesting little tool as it is made from acrylic.

What I like about this design is first and foremost, it’s small. It’s small and non-metallic, making it an ideal EDC (Every-Day Carry) item, even in various non-permissive environments.

The edges are smooth, except for the points on the chisel tip, which are surprisingly sharp. The lanyard hole will easily accept standard kevlar or 550-paracord to create a lanyard. The ratchet tooth area grabs clothing well and is easy to manipulate into concealable places. The inside of my TAD (Triple Aught Design Recon Shorts – in Deception) allowed easy and un-noticed concealment.

I suppose the sharp points on the Lolly are effective enough to puncture or cut certain materials (like packaging, for instance) and to be used for light scraping duties.

An additional use for TheLolly is as a last-ditch impact weapon. Like a key, it can be held in the hand in multiple ways and used to strike an aggressor. Here are some examples:

In the bottom of the fist, like the tiniest ice pick in the world.

To be clear, I didn’t test its durability in a strike, so I am not sure what kind of punishment the acrylic can take in the even you were to strike someone, nor do I know if TheLolly would shatter in your hand and cut you in the even you would use it. That said, it does feel solid, and even so much so that I drove a screw into a window casement to try out the bit/hex function:

Using a standard driver bit with a standard screw, the acrylic Lolly did not bend nor break in the process.

Like the caption above states, the Lolly did not bend nor break nor seem to strain in any way during this process. I was pleasantly surprised by this. It gave great leverage and got the job done. The bit fit perfectly.

All in all, TheLolly seems like a great little addition to your EDC kit, car kit, or travel load-out. It’s acrylic, looks like a key and is non-threatening in appearance. For the $15 bucks, it’s a great deal.

And Delta 2 Alpha is a Canadian company run by some really great bros doing some really great stuff, so check them out at http://delta2alpha.com

And if you’re really interested, the great guys at Delta 2 Alpha have graciously donated a few Lollys to be door prizes during our Covert Entry Concepts Course being offered in Toronto in July! Check it out here!

Till next time, stay safe, stay crafty.

Posted on May 25, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Review: The BAT Coin by Covert Products Group

A while back I came across a Kickstarter campaign for the BAT (Bring Anywhere Tool) Coin from Covert Products Group. https://www.covertproductsgroup.com They were just starting off about a year about and when I read through the campaign details, I was intrigued. They had designed a “10-in-1” tool that was small, lightweight, inexpensive, useful and capable of carriage through airports and other non-permissive environments. So I supported the campaign, if for no other reason to see if what they had designed was worth having.

Having recently received my lot of coins, I began to carry and test them. I am pretty impressed with this little guy. BATs go for about $25 USD each on the CPG website and I also received a sticker and morale patch along with it. Fast shipping. Nothing to complain about.

From their website, here are the BAT Coin features:

1) Modified Phillips head screwdriver with three prongs so the BAT lays flat in your pocket

2) Safe, semi-sharp captured edge for opening boxes

3) Scribe point or hole punch

4) Small-gauge wire stripper

5) Fire-steel scraper (use it with any ferro rod survival fire starter, Swedish firesteel or similar item)

6) Flat head screwdriver

7) Serrated fire-steel scraper (throws sparks well)

8) 3M SOLAS reflective sticker you can attach to the back for emergency signaling, or leave if off for stealth carry

9) Friction saw that can cut through zip ties or cordage without cutting you

10) Bottle opener

Features of the BAT (Bring-Anywhere-Tool) Coin from Covert Products Group. A nice little addition to your EDC.

(Picture from https://www.covertproductsgroup.com/products/b-a-t-coin-bring-anywhere-tool )

I look at it as a minimalist, last-ditch or tertiary backup to my regular Every Day Carry (EDC) but because it is both innocuous and concealable, not to mention relatively effective, I am happy to have and carry it.

The BAT Coin came with it’s little case, SOLAS sticker inside, CPG sticker and morale patch. (Quarter for scale.)

For something so small, I’d thought maybe they’re reaching a bit, however, upon using it here and there, though it may not be an equivalent to a full-sized tool times ten, it does manage to do each job fairly well, especially in a pinch. I would recommend, as CPG does, to use something like a key ring to give you extra leverage to open bottle caps as the diminutive size of the BAT makes it hard to get enough leverage.

The BAT is made out of stainless steel and has a nice finish to it. It is small, lies flat and is about the size of a Canadian twoonie (The Canadian $2 coin for those of you who don’t know). As it is smaller than any other tool and is not intrinsically disallowed, both CATSA and the TSA allow it with you through security at airports.

I’d recommend the BAT Coin to anyone who would like to have a little something to add to their EDC that will add some functionality without bulk and the added bonus of being as inconspicuous as loose change. I will also keep an eye on CPG for future product developments and releases.

Stay Safe. Stay Crafty.