Multitool: Thoughts?

[Crewdawg445]

Try sourcing your own gear. No need in spending $ on things you can easily create yourself.

However if your in to dropping $ then by all means do so.

Making your own gear will give you a greater appreciation for the hobby and self gratification all while learning valuable skills that are all but lost in todays mail order world...

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Please don’t judge me. I’m not so handy at making things, and just want to get shooting in a period correct manner.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Please don’t judge me. I’m not so handy at making things, and just want to get shooting in a period correct manner.

Not judging you at all. Just suggesting making yer own things is, to me, part of the whole idea of learning to appreciate the ways of the past. 'stuff' ye make for yerself might not always be pretty but often it is suited to yer own needs and there is a sense of satisfaction from doing it yerself. I once bought a knife at ronny, then sitting in my lodge on a rainy night I was feeling sorry for myself because I had no sheath for it and was bored. So, I dug in my bag of 'stuff' found some scrap leather, an awl and some twine and made a sheath. Crude and ugly but a good serviceable sheath. I'm proud of that little project and enjoyed a peaceful evening in my lodge out of the elements. To me, that is a big part of why we participate in this entire avocation. Do it yerself. Do yer own thang and enjoy. :v

 

[Artificer]

Smokey,

I don't find the price of this item objectionable because I'm sure it is a quality made tool and being for a very low volume market, it is not worthwhile to make it on a more industrial scale to make it cheaper.

Please understand I can only refer to my experience with added "picks" on a couple different types of repro tools. Personally I don't like them because if your hands are sweaty or cold, it seems like the darn picks "get away from me" and I get stuck by them in the hand.

I don't see the reasoning of having to hope my grip holds the pick away from stabbing my hand while I'm concentrating on using the "turnscrew" (period name for a screwdriver) correctly so I don't bugger up the screw slot and turn the screw as I need.

Nothing wrong with not being very handy and wanting to buy something period correct and useful. This could be a problem with this tool, BTW, because if the turnscrew blade tips don't fit the screw slots in your gun, that means you will need to thin them down or file open the screw slots on the heads of the screws.

You DO need some kind turnscrew or other tool in your shot pouch to tighten loosen at least the top jaw screw on your lock and it seems at least a one blade turnscrew is mentioned often enough and especially found so often in the archeological record, that it had to have been a common tool.

Personally, I would want a turnscrew that fit both the top jaw screw slot correctly and also fits the side plate screw slots correctly, but many if not most of those screw slots are different on modern repro locks.

In your case, I would recommend using modern screwdrivers until you come across repro period ones that you can actually try on your lock screw slots and test that they fit the screw slots correctly, or have someone else make or modify a tool specifically for your lock screws.

Gus

 

[Elnathan]

Please don’t judge me. I’m not so handy at making things, and just want to get shooting in a period correct manner.

If I'm filling in the gaps correctly, you don't have any kids and will be receiving pulling in quite a bit of money in the near future in the form of overseas pay...Time and money are both resources, and if money is less of a problem than time I can't see why buying something instead of making it yourself should be a bad thing. Our ancestors didn't make everything themselves by a long shot, romanticism to the contrary, and someone has to keep the specialist artisans employed after all.

Having said that, if your experience in Afghanistan is anything like my brother's 9 months over there five or six years back you will find that Hajji is reluctant to come out and play and that there really isn't much to occupy your time. Might not be a bad idea to bring along a couple balls of yarn or a pocketknife and a couple blocks of wood, and learn to fingerweave or whittle or some other craft that is easily portable craft as a more rewarding way of fighting boredom than video games and pictures of immodest young women.

 

[Artificer]

Smokey,

I realize that in Afghanistan your priorities will be 1. Mail and/or electronic correspondence if available 2. Sleep, 3. Water 4. Food and 5. Maintaining Gear; but perhaps you can help work with others who may be able to teach you some hand skills you may not have? Like Elnathan mentioned, it will help with the boredom.

Please keep your wits about you, be safe and come back home for more ML adventures.

Gus

 

[Crewdawg445]

Please don’t judge me. I’m not so handy at making things, and just want to get shooting in a period correct manner.

Not sure how you think I'm judging you but certainly not doing so, just merely a suggestion my friend.

I've been to Afghanistan three times, you'll have plenty of time to ponder and think upon those skill sets. Certainly use your free time off duty to read about such things. You'll be very surprised what your capabilities can be if you just give it a go.

In the meantime time, off topic but your heading to a country that IMO is naturally beautiful, depending on were you'll be stationed of course! Joking aside one of my favorite things were the mountains and clear skys. Being able to get away from the "stress" is highly recommended. For me I loved to sit in a lawn chair and just stare at the mountains, and read! Also, keep a open mind and learn about the local culture. Despite what you see and hear 90% of the locals are very caring, sweet and humble. Realize their culture is completely different than ours, I urge you to make the effort to learn some of theirs. The locals will see you making the efforts to do so and will be tickled to death! Best of luck to you, from one service brother to another.

 

[rickystl]

I have one. The tip is soft steel. The turn screw blades are tapered to better fit the screw slots on my Brown Bess. The notch works great as a nibbler to restore the edge of dull flint.

I agree. Bought one about 5 weeks ago. The best part is that notch to nibble the edge of the flint. You can take off as little or as much as you want. Only used it once so far, but seems to work well.

Rick

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thank you! I’m going to try to learn the culture for sure, very interesting. I will be in a mountainous area (minding OPSEC here lol) and will be extremely grateful for the cold weather there, as I’ve been without a true winter for about two years now.

I suppose I do need to try and create more things! I’m just rather clumsy at it! :redface:

 

[Crewdawg445]

Absolutely, OPSEC is key!!! Lol, well certainly make the best of it. Many people I've been deployed with have an inferior mindset to those we have encountered. WE are the foreigners on THEIR land. You'll meet many good individuals from the local area if you get the chance that is. Keep a open mind and let the good outweigh the bad and... it's COLD there in winter at nights but you'll welcome it.

Stay froggy, stay sharp and keep one in the chamber! You'll have fun, many people back home never get to see the real side of things and for that, you indeed will have memories that last a lifetime. :hatsoff:

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Awesome! I’m really excited. I’d love to take up whittling. My grandpa who was in WW2 did it and made some real neat things from ivory and whale’s bones.

 

[Crewdawg445]

There ya go! Take it up while your there, keep your mind occupied! You'll likely go nuts if you don't.

I'll be honest, after three trips I don't envy you! Lol, having a family changes your perspective on such things. Wouldn't change the memories good and bad for anything though! Enough off topic talk... we are going to get in trouble! :grin:

 

[azmntman]

I realize that in Afghanistan your priorities will be 1. Getting home SAFE :thumbsup:

Take a few (10-20) flints to practice on :idunno: Maybe a local gun nut will see ya and offer advise from around te globe Afterall I hear they used flintlocks quite a bit in ousting the Russinas decades ago :rotf: