Father’s Day is coming: how can we show our appreciation?
by John C. Krull
Gun Week Production Manager
June has rolled around again and with it comes that time of year when we honor and show our special appreciation to our fathers, for all they have given us and taught us.
Let’s get right into it with a couple of fine lighting systems from Coast (PO Box 5821, Dept. GWK, Portland, OR 97228; phone: 800-426-5858; on-line: coastportland.com). Coast was started by Henry W. Brands in Portland, OR, back in 1919 with Coast Cutlery Company. Today Coast’s inventory varies with products made in Germany, Switzerland, China and Japan. They market not only knives under their name but also distribute other product lines.
From Coast we have two lanterns to present to you. The first is their E-Lantern. The “E” seems to stand for emergencies in either indoor or outdoor use. This unit is 10.5 inches tall not including the handle, and is 5 inches in diameter at the base. It operates on 4 D-size batteries (which are included) with a battery life of between 107 and 160 hours. Alkaline batteries are recommended. An unusual feature is the battery meter on the front of the body. It changes from green to yellow to red as the power of the batteries is consumed. The E-Lantern is light, with the newest LED bulbs, and is much safer than propane or liquid fuel lanterns. The LED will generate 76 lumens of light. The batteries will last about five times longer with the LEDs compared to the older technology of florescent bulbs. This lantern can be used without danger of fire, burns or carbon dioxide poisoning. Be sure to never mix types of batteries, or old and new batteries. The bulb will last for 100,000 hours, so there will never be any bulbs or mantels to replace.
Besides all of the above features, I especially like the lantern handle and the hanging hook. It seems that every aspect of this lantern was really well thought out. The E-Lantern has a retail price of $70.
Personal Light
The second Coast E-Lantern is their personal LED lantern. This baby is much smaller and operates on 4 AA batteries, which are also included. Surprisingly, this little unit puts out 45 lumens. It has many of the same features of its bigger brother as far as safety and lighting. It’s very compact at 6 inches in height, with a base of 2˚ inches, and weighs just 12 ounces with the batteries installed. I see this unit as ideal for tent camping—just hang it in the middle of your tent without worry of nylon meltdown. The switch has a dimming feature that will cycle from light to dark while the on/off button is pushed.
With either of these lanterns you don’t have to worry about finding a match to get them lit. The smaller lantern does have a handle on it, but not the nice hanging hook like the bigger lantern. The suggested retail price for the smaller light is $31.50. I suggest you go online and see all the other lights in the Coast line. Either of these lanterns will come in quite handy in an emergency.
Puma
Puma Knives are a brand that is distributed by Coast. Most of you should know about Puma with their almost 250-year history of German knife-making. Anyone who has read my articles in the past knows that I am very concerned about emergency preparedness. The Puma knife that I’m presenting to you has features not often found on most other knives, but that’s what makes it great as an emergency knife.
This Puma is 8.25 inches when open and just 5 inches closed and weighs 5 ounces. There are 5 variations in the PFR (Police, Fire & Rescue) series. They have a model with a spear-point blade. Also available are rounded blades plus clip point, blunt tip and tanto blade styles. Each has a seat belt or web cutter at the rear end of the knife. This is meant to be used with the knife in the closed position.
Glass Breaking
A feature that I wish every knife had is a carbide tip stud on the end of the knife. Its purpose is for breaking glass. Anyone who has intentionally tried to break an automobile windshield will find it isn’t at all easy to do. You need to know the proper method and need a tool like this knife with the carbide tip to assist you.
There is a lanyard hole if you wish to attach one. On some knives I like to add a lanyard, on others I choose not to. There is a pocket clip that isn’t reversible. This is a liner lock knife, but this one is different from any others I have seen. It has a button to push to unlock the knife for closing. The handles are made of aircraft aluminum with an anti-slip inlay. From the pictures in the catalog all the stainless blades are partially serrated. They are ice-hardened for a more durable blade, and some styles feature a black powder coating. The suggested retail price is $100. There is a built in thumb stud that will allow one-handed opening from either side. The only feature that I’d like to see added to this knife is a spring-assist opening. I don’t know if that is a feature that Puma offers in any of their lines. Check out the full line of Puma and Coast knives. I’m sure one or more will tickle your father’s fancy.
The next item is from Brunton (2255 Brunton Ct., Dept. GWK, Riverton, WY 82501; phone: 307-857-4700; on-line: brunton.com). I am prejudiced, and I admit it. Brunton is one of the companies that I am biased in favor of. I have never reviewed a bad product from these people. They all work as well as, if not better, than portrayed. If they do fail, most of their products have an excellent guarantee to back them up. I would bet that in many cases if a Brunton product does fail, that it was the fault of the user and not the product.
Brunton Optics
Brunton has now ventured into the optics arena. There is a great rifle scope that I will be reviewing later this year, but for today I am going to tell you about the Echo 10-30x21 Zoom Monocular. When space is a factor, this monocular can fill the need. The Echo is 4˘ inches in length with a 1˘-inch diameter. It weighs 3.5 ounces with the lanyard. There are so many times when I’d like to get a closer look at something but hadn’t wanted to carry a big, heavy pair of binoculars. The Echo will let you take a closer look, and closer, and closer. It zooms from 10-power up to 30-power.
The binocular has a retail price of $50. If you want to mount the Echo on a tripod you can do it. Included with the monocular is the lanyard and also a belt carrying case and a lens cloth. This product won the “Best of Adventure” for 2008 from National Geographic Adventure magazine. I suggest you check out all the other optics on Brunton’s website.
For 86 years Great Neck (165 East 2nd St., Dept. GWK, Mineola, NY 11501; phone: 800-457-0600; on-line: Sheffield-tools.com) has been making quality tools. Sheffield is a one of their brands that has many products that appeal to the hunter/fisher/outdoor types.
It seems that today everyone is making multi-tools, but they aren’t really any different than the next guy’s. Sheffield customizes their multi-tools for a certain need. The one I’m presenting to you today is the Angler. You get a multi-tool with features most needed by a fisherman. This tool has 17 different tools. The one that you see right away is the extra long needle nose pliers. They are spring loaded for ease of use and have three fishing line splicers and wire cutters built into the pliers. Other functional tools are a fish scaler, a hook remover, a 2˚-inch ruler and a hard file. You also get a pair of 3-inch scissors, a 3-inch fillet knife blade, a hook sharpener, a soft file, a ˘-inch slotted screwdriver with a bottle opener, and a #0 Phillips screwdriver. That’s not all. Also there is a 1/8-inch slotted screwdriver with a can opener, and an awl.
All the tools lock into place for safe use. It comes with a black and gray belt carrying case. The Angler Multi-tool is $28.99 plus $4.99 shipping at Amazon.com. Check out all the tools at the Sheffield website. There is also a feature that will give you the name of a store near you, or some items can be purchased at Amazon.com.
GreatLITE
GreatLITE is another brand name of Great Neck. As the name says they have some great lights, and flashlights. This is a rechargeable light that is really meant for a car or truck. The way to charge it is by plugging it into the 12 volt cigarette lighter. Do cars have those any more?
It is a LED flashlight that is 10 times brighter than other LEDs. It has a continuous run time of 3 hours. When it needs charging you can do that in just 20 minutes. It automatically stops charging when the charge is full. To protect the plug unit while in use, there is a long cap that screws over the plug. In the butt of the cap is a compass. I was surprised to find out that I was wrong about where north is in conjunction to my house.
This light is 6˘ inches long and weighs just 5 ounces with the cap on. I wonder does it weigh less when the battery is discharged? Duh! The retail price of this flashlight is $29.99. Check out all the other flashlights on the GreatLITE website.
Surefire (18300 Mount Baldy Cir., Dept. GWK, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; phone: 800-828-8809; on-line: surefire.com) is a name that goes with me everywhere I go. I have carried a Surefire flashlight with me for years now, ever since Black Hills Ammo had first given me one years ago. Since that time, I have written about hand-held lights, pistol mounted lights and even have Surefire lights on both my AR and my 870 Tactical shotgun.
Something new from Surefire’s edged weapons division are four different knife styles. Two are fixed, and two are folding versions. All have great features for civilians, military or police.
Delta Knife
We were sent one of the Delta Fixed-Blade Combat/Utility Knives. This knife has many features that make it well worth owning. The overall length is 9 inches with a 3.9 blade. You know how certain products just feel right. The Delta feels right. It weighs 5.6 ounces by itself or 8.5 ounces with the injection molded sheath. It is coated with a rust-proofing to resist corrosion.
The top features a seat belt cutter that will cut webbing, belts or parachute cord. Another feature is the wire/flex-cuff cutter. This cutter is built right into the knife and will cut wire up to 12 gauge.
The finger guard also serves as a flathead screwdriver. The frame incorporates a self-seating wrench, for nuts ˚-inch down to 13/64-inch. The grips are Micarta and cover the steel grip tang for secure hold.
I think this is the most expensive gift idea that I am offering as a suggestion this year, but the knife is really worth it. Once you have gotten a feel for it, you will agree that the Surefire Delta’s price of $249 is worth every penny. Check out the rest of Surefire’s knives on their website and be sure to take the time to look at their line of flashlights.
Blackhawk
Blackhawk (6160 Commander Parkway, Dept. GWK, Norfolk, VA 23502; phone: 800-694-5263; on-line: blackhawk.com) has in just a very short time made a real name for itself in the marketplace. It seems that any shooting event that I attend lately there will be several people in Warrior Wear, so I had to find out what there was to this.
Polo Shirts
The Warrior Wear Cotton Polo Shirt has classic styling with contemporary features. Great for wear in the field, on the range or in the office. Some features are: 100% cotton; piqué knit; flat-knit ribbed collar with anti-roll inserts; a hidden button placket with durable rubberized buttons; a hanging loop on placket can be used to hang sunglasses or other items, and a media player pocket on the upper-left shoulder features a button hole for cord routing underneath collar and can also be buttoned down to secure valuable items. The suggested retail for the Cotton Polo Shirt is $39.99 with six colors available including black, navy, white and gray. You’ve got to try one of these. They are as comfortable as you would ever want.
Next is another shirt; this is the Warrior Wear Tactical Shirt. I really hate it when people call something tactical. It seems the word has become so overused, but in this case it seems to apply. The Tactical Shirt has more pockets than you will know what to do with. The one that I really like is the hidden pocket that is on the front tail of the shirt and is completely hidden when tucked in.
Other features include: wrinkle, fade and stain resistance on 100% cotton with durable triple stitched seams. You also get anti-roll collar inserts with hidden collar stays; a hidden pen pocket; a concealed chest pocket (behind the right breast pocket); a cord tab to hang your sunglasses on; roomy gusseted chest pockets; Melamine buttons the won’t crack or melt; a media player pocket on the upper left shoulder; cord-style roll-up sleeve tabs; a hidden cell phone pocket, and vented holes on back with soft mesh lining on the inner collar yoke.
The best part about these shirts is that they feel right and look good. You can move around and aren’t inhibited by the shirt itself. Just like the polo shirts they come in several colors. The Warrior Wear tactical shirts have a suggested retail price of $49.95.
Tactical Pants
Blackhawk’s Warrior Wear Tactical Pants are something else! They have more features in them than any other pants I have ever seen. In order to do the features true justice in my description, I’m going to present them just as they appear on the website.
The Tactical pants are durable, wrinkle, fade, and stain resistant 8.5 ounce cotton canvas; with double layering in the seat and knees for increased wear and protection; the crotch gusset allows increased movement; extra-wide reinforced belt loops that will accommodate Blackhawk CQB Rigger Belt (and other belts up to 1.75-inches wide). They have hidden expandable waistband slides to increase waist size by up to 4 inches. They have rubber grip strips in the waistband to keep your shirt tucked in during extreme maneuvers; I really like this feature.
Additionally there is a 550 cord loop on front waistband which allows attachment of carabiners and other items, and a hidden zipper pocket behind the right hand pocket keeps valuable items secured. There are “angle-cut” hand pockets that have flat edges for proper placement and orientation of knives, pens, etc. Each leg has an easy-access, top-opening mag pouch, and large top-opening cargo pockets on each leg with elastic webbing inside to secure and properly orient up to three magazines, flashlights or other equipment. The zippered rear hip pocket keeps your wallet secure, out of the way, and separate from the large rear pockets. There is S.T.R.I.K.E.™ webbing for Blackhawk modular attachments above the large rear slash pockets, and they have reinforced hems on leg cuffs and hand pockets to increase durability in “high-wear” areas. The Warrior Wear Tactical Pants have a retail price of $49.95. Be sure to see all the other gear and equipment on Blackhawk’s website.
That’s the end of the suggestions for this year. I hope I have given you some practical and affordable ideas on what you might want to get Dad this year.
Remember that when you talk with any of these manufacturers to tell them that John at Gun Week sent you. Happy Fathers’ Day!
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