Pens & Flashlights

Spyderco Leaf Storm

2010-04-30T18:28:00.003-04:00

Surefire AZ2

2010-04-30T18:10:00.002-04:00

Please click on pic for full image.

Aurora Optima

2010-04-01T08:27:00.008-04:00

Click for full view.

I sat on my wallet for the longest time when it came to buying this pen. So, when I turned forty this year I decided to splurge on myself. I also couldn’t wait any longer as the prices on these pens have been creeping up and up. With the weak American dollar and the price of gold going up it was time to buy seeing that the prices on these very popular Aurora pens are not going to go down anytime soon.

The Aurora Optima needs no introduction on this forum. It is a very beautiful pen and it’s definitely going to be a pen in the Aurora line, along with the 88, as a staple in the company’s product offerings.

The beauty of this pen is not only the aesthetics but the function of it’s size. When posted, it is a pen that is comfortable, well balanced and light. Even writing with it un-posted the pen doesn’t “feel” small since it maintains the thickness of a larger pen.
The extra fine nib on my Optima has a similar but ever so slightly thinner down stroke compared to my Aurora 88 fine nib with a definite difference in line width on the side strokes. There is however a more noticeable difference between the Fine and Extra Fine using Aurora inks.

The newer Slovina made Sheaffer Skip blue and blue/black inks are not only well matched with the Aurora piston fillers, it made me say good-by to my Waterman inks!! Aurora blue is still tops and not as “watery” on some papers like, high quality bonds, when compared to the Skrip inks. If you own an Aurora, Sheaffer Skrip should be at the top of your must try list.

The best way to describe the Aurora EF line width, is that dependent on the ink you use it pretty much falls in between the Aurora fine and Namiki VP Fine.

Namiki Vanishing Point

2010-01-15T16:15:00.002-05:00

Chrome / Gun Metal Gray / Black Carbonesque

All three very beautiful and very affordable pens.

Click on photos for full view.

Sigma 18-50mm EX DC f2.8 Macro Lens

2010-01-07T07:25:00.002-05:00

This lens is an insane improvement over the kit lens.

A must buy!!!!!

Click on pics for full view.

Pilot Custom 74 Demonstrator

2009-11-16T11:40:00.003-05:00

Please click on pictures for full view.

Bamboo / Custom 823 / Custom 74

Sailor Pro Gear XF

2009-07-10T10:12:00.002-04:00

Please click on pics for full view

Benchmade Limited Run Sequel 707 Green D2

2009-07-10T09:53:00.003-04:00

Awesome knife from Knifeworks.com

Please click on pics for full view.

Pilot Custom 823

2009-04-22T13:06:00.006-04:00

After no new pen purchases in a long time, the announcement of the 823 this month finally arriving in the States was definitely going to be my next purchase. At close to $300 street price, it’s not a cheap pen, but with its beautiful filler system, huge ink capacity and smooth fine nib, it was very evident that this pen is ahead leaps and bounds over other piston filled pens in the same price range and even higher.

Please click on pics for full view.

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Surefire A2 Aviator

2009-04-21T12:36:00.003-04:00

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Surefire E2D Xenon Light

2009-01-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

For the last couple of years I have “seen the light” of LED’s in general go from blue tint novelty items to actual bright “in your face” white lights. Still for the sake of our military and some specialty law enforcement there are xenon lights like the Surefire E2D.

The E series xenon Surefires are still very popular incandescent lights not only from what I have personally seen at both Cabela’s and L.L. Bean flying off the shelves but for the use of IR in the field which, an LED is not adapt.

Out of the box the Surefire E2D has a bright white xenon light which, is the whitest light
out of all my 6V lithium powered lights. Not only that, it has the longest run time vs. lumens of any of the other 6V xenon Surefires that I own. This includes the few Lumens Factory P60 (6V) drop-ins that I have which are not that impressive at all but the LF E2A is the only aftermarket bulb that I have seen that actually makes a noticeable improvement in a 6V lithium powered Surefire.

The E2D has 70 minutes of run time, outstanding bright white light and probably the best throw for 1” dia. incan. Also, the E2D has more throw than some LED counterparts out there that cost the same or more than the E2D.

It’s hard to tell anyone that a flashlight is worth $100 but this one is worth the money on top of a lifetime warranty.

Spyderco T-Mag

2009-01-04T11:57:00.000-05:00

One of the best to come out of the Colorado company. Unfortunately one of the last US made Spyderco's we will see in the near future with this quality of blade along with carbon fiber trimmings. All carbon fiber knives from Spyderco now come out of Japan or Taiwan.

I like my bike frames hand built with specialty drawn aluminum tubes all done in Italy.

I like my cigars that use wrapper leaves grown on a certain family farm in Honduras.

And, when buying a knife from an American company in the price range of the T-Mag I prefer that the knife be made in America. Fortunately for me I am able to own this American made T-Mag. Unfortunately probably the last of this kind of American made knife from Spyderco.

PentagonLight X3 9 Volt Xenon

2008-12-15T11:18:00.000-05:00

Awesome thrower! More pics are coming.

Surefire C2 / PL X3 / Surefire E2D

Nice deep dish OP reflector. The X3 trashes my C2/Lumens Factory EO-6 combo in both whiter light and throw.

Benchmade Mini Dejavoo

2008-04-27T22:33:00.000-04:00

S30V, G10, Lanyard Hole, Titanium locking liner, All screw construction, US made and $100!!!

I would like to see Spyderco do this without supporting overseas jobs.

Surefire 6P w/Upgrades

2008-04-27T22:12:00.000-04:00

- Surefire 6P Xenon

- Lighthound Tactical Bezel

- 170 Lumen "Premium Plus" BOGUSA LED Drop-In

Total paid…..$113.

The Surefire 6P is no slouch in fit and finish. Same top notch quality as the C2.

Here you can see the deeper reflector design of the Bug Out Drop-In.

Very nice Light Hound aluminum head with stainless tactical bezel.

Al Mar S.L.B.

2008-04-13T16:02:00.000-04:00

Awesome little knife!!! It's also my new money clip. Absolutely perfect in both form and function. Tip Down Carry. Made in Japan. Very high quality all around. A+ in sharpness right out of the box.

Picked it up from Bug Out Gear USA at the Durham, CT 2008 Gun Swap. Thank You BOGUSA.

This micarta handled knife is a definite alternative to the current almite coated Spyderco Co-pilot.

Solid locking. Easy, smooth and quick "action". Thumb stud well knurled for something so small. No "play" what-so-ever. Well designed and placed grooved finger choils.

My Swiss Made 8" Brown & Sharpe Dial Caliper reads:

2.88" Closed
4.71" Open
1.80" Blade
1.60" Approx. cutting Edge
0.39" x 1.08" Handle (Thickness x Height)
0.56" Total Thickness (Handle with clip)
2.10" Clip Length

Sunny morning, antique workbench, Nikon D50, Bogen tripod and fluid head. Aperture priority at ISO 200.

Al Mar SLB next to the Spyderco UKPK.

Spyderco UK Pen Knife "Orange" and Salt I

2008-03-09T12:47:00.000-04:00

Both knives are relatively the same size yet completely different in design and function. I love the clean look of the UKPK the most! The Salt I will be my daily user...the UK Pen Knife is just to nice to use right now.

Aurora Talentum

2008-03-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

Awesome and a very reliable pen!!

Surefire C2 LED Upgrade

2008-02-29T23:45:00.000-05:00

C2 with Xenon bulb. Nice tight hot spot for an incan but short run time.

After with new LED. Much brighter and whiter and still a tight hot spot!

Spyderco Ladybug 3

2008-02-25T10:33:00.000-05:00

My first Spyderco!!!!

Surefire C2 Xenon

2008-02-19T10:33:00.000-05:00

This C2 Centurion from Surefire is by far one of the best lights I own.

Aurora 88

2008-02-11T09:51:00.000-05:00

My Workhorse.

Visconti Midi/Maxi Tortoise

2008-02-05T10:50:00.000-05:00

Conklin Nozac and Aurora

2008-01-21T19:15:00.000-05:00

Surefire E1L

2008-01-21T19:09:00.000-05:00

D-mini and E1L

2008-01-21T19:05:00.000-05:00

Sinn 103 St Sa Chronograph

2008-01-19T21:40:00.000-05:00

LumaPower LM33

2008-01-19T07:57:00.000-05:00

Namiki Bamboo

2008-01-18T22:05:00.000-05:00