Tag: weapons

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Product Review – Fat Lazy Cat Knives (hint, they’re neither fat nor lazy)

An assortment of G10 implements from FLC Knives.

FLC knives are pretty interesting…

I haven’t, to this point, dipped my toes into the waters of G10 implements.  After doing some training down south of the border, I was introduced to G10 tools.  Strong, non-metallic, non-magnetic, very light-weight and can be fashioned into almost any shape, I was properly intrigued.  I reached out to Dave at Fat Lazy Cat Knives , just outside of Toronto, and read up on his materials, production processes and available models.

For those who don’t know what G10 is (like I didn’t) here is the explanation from Wikipedia:

G10 is a high-pressure fiberglass laminate, a kind of composite material.[1] It is created by stacking multiple layers of glass cloth, soaking in epoxy resin, and compressing the resulting material under heat until the epoxy cures.[2][3] It is manufactured in flat sheets, most often a few millimeters thick.

G10 is very similar to Micarta and carbon fiber laminates, because they are all resin-based laminates, except that the base material used is glass cloth. G10 is the toughest of the glass fiber resin laminates and therefore the most commonly used.

Dave and I chatted for a while and I arranged a small batch purchase to test and play around with.  That was a few months ago.  I have now had an opportunity to poke things with these sharps and I am very impressed with their durability, sharpness and craftsmanship.

As I can only speak to the models I have tried I will say that I received prompt, courteous service, fast shipping and nicely packaged products.

I received as follows:

  • Get Off Me Tool (GOMT) No. 6 in G10, stubby, offset, with Kydex sheath
  • GOMT No. 4 (ventilator)
  • GOMT No. 1 (Synthetic, Slim) with Kydex carrier
  • “Hatchlings” (both thick and thin profiles)
  • Cool stickers. (Thanks Dave!)

Immediately out of the box I noticed a few things:

  1. SHARP points on all (good thing they come in protective tubing)
  2. Very lightweight.  I’d equate them to a pen.
  3. Sturdy, durable and smooth.
  4. The jute twine which furnishes the handles is comfortable and epoxied to hold the cordage in place.  It works well.

Though I have yet to test them in an organic medium, they easily penetrate several layers of cardboard and towels.  The points seem sturdy (none have broken yet, but again, no organic medium testing yet) and maintain their sharp points even after several uses.

The box testing I did (the photos in this entry are not all-inclusive) showed no damage to the points, an easy grip and to-the-grip penetration.  The GOMT No. 6 even managed to cut the box (with the point) several times without noticeable resistance and maintain its integrity.

Get Off Me Tool (GOMT) No. 6 (left) and a Hatchling.
Small size. Comfortable grip.

 

No resistance or deformation of the point.
No problem.
Cuts just like a metal knife through cardboard.
Strong point. Very sharp. Easily field sharpened on concrete.
VERY sharp point.

As you can see, the G10 penetrated with ease and there was no damage to any of the points.  The ergonomics worked quite well and felt comfortable in the hand – easy to hold and manipulate.  They can even be re-sharpened on concrete in a pinch!

To see some more, check out some YouTube videos of other testing of FLC Knives:

Get Off Me Tool #4 – Durability

Hatchling 2.1 – Organic Medium

All told, the implements made by FLC Knives are top-notch quality.  I am very happy with my purchase and do not hesitate to recommend them to others.  Just be careful, they’re pointy.

Till next time, stay safe and stay crafty.

 

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Review: RAIDOPS Defense Gear – Fighting Frog & Delta

RAIDOPS is a South Korean company which designs and distributes a variety of personal defence gear, knives and accessories made to very high quality specifications.  A high percentage of their products are made from titanium, enabling a solid product with a low magnetic footprint and low weight.  Their designs are also very practical and low-profile, giving them a minimalistic appearance and also the ability to be carried through many non-permissive environments without undue attention.  

I purchased two personal defence products to try out a little while back – the Delta (one of several designs) and the Fighting Frog.  They arrived very quickly direct from South Korea to Toronto and came as below.  

(Quarter for scale)

RAIDOPS Delta and Fighting Frog

Upon taking each one out of their small boxes, I was surprised at how light they were.  The titanium was indeed very light and very strong.  The small ball-chain they came with felt heavier than the items themselves.

After handling each one, I was also very happy with the ergonomics.  Both were very comfortable to hold and use.  

They are intended to be used as impact weapons.  Held between the index and middle fingers of a closed fist to facilitate acute damage to an assailant (See below).

Fighting Frog impact weapon, in-grip.

Small, light, but VERY sturdy.  And no pain when hitting a tree, so a person should be just fine.  By the way, it took some chunks out of the tree (I didn’t have my phone for pics at the time – sorry!) so I can only imagine what it could do to a person.

Small yet strong.

Though their prices may be a bit steep ($48 USD for the Fighting Frog and $40 USD for the Delta) it isn’t too out of line with similar weight titanium products.

You can even double them and jewelry in non-permissive environments and you’ll still have an accessible impact weapon if needed.  Here I am wearing it overtop my Triple Aught Design Tradecraft Shirt for a better view.

The Delta as jewelry.

Again, lightweight, low-profile and easily worn in more non-permissive environments.  No issues to wear in a Canadian context, as at that point, it’s a fashion statement.

One thing I may look at, is the collection of RAIDOPS finger spinners.  This is essentially a fidget toy that is made of titanium but doubles as an impact weapon.  Here is an example.  Though somewhat pricey ($110 USD) I may consider getting one.  

At the end of the day, the strength, low weight, comfortable ergonomics and durability of the Delta and Fighting Frog make them effective and reliable.  I recommend checking them out.

Stay Safe.  Stay Crafty.