Gadget #5: CK&T compact cutter

Our next gadget is a little gem that can take the place of much larger bolt cutters usually found in breaching kits. It’s the Cutter’s Knife and Tool compact fence and cable cutter.

As the label says, it will cut fencing, barbed wire, and aircraft-type cable up to 5/32 diameter. It will not cut hardened steel like drill rod or piano wire.

It’s not much bigger than the Hobbit Hole pocket knife, and fits neatly in a pocket or pouch. I’ve tried it on large nails, which are not hardened, and it works as advertised. It’s quick, quiet, and takes little effort.

The secret is the cutting head, which has a unique pivot that puts the pivot point inside the wire, close to the outer edge. This provides tremendous leverage with short handles. The cutting action works on opening, rather than closing, the handles. When not in use, the handles are locked together, making the unit quiet and rattle-proof.

As usual, quality does not come cheap, and this gadget is in the $40 category. But it’s light and small, and can come in handy if you have to cut through chain link fence, aircraft cable, or mild steel chain. As such, it should have appeal for infantry.

Again, as with all other items in our Hobbit Hole gadget department, these cutters will go to the first service member that asks for them.

Add comment November 12th, 2005

Gadget #4: Performance Systems products

The next two items will be of interest to combat medics, and troops who might venture into cold or wet climates.

First is the Performance Systems survival blanket. It’s like the common Mylar “space blanket”, but with some important added features. It comes vacuum-packed, and is about the size of a brick. The military versions are OD green on the outside, and silver on the inside.

When opened (I don’t want to open it, because it looks like it would be impossible to repack), the blanket is pulled sideways to open up the internal baffles that increase the insulation of the blanket to the equivalent of three regular wool blankets. This is how it looks in cross section:

There is also an adhesive strip along the edge to seal the blanket to itself once the casualty in placed in the middle and wrapped up. The survival blanket has a Nato Stock Number (NSN) of 6532-01-524-6932, which means it may be able to be ordered through military supply channels.

The survival vest is constructed in the same way, but is designed to protect the head and body, while still allowing free use of arms.

It’s smaller than the blanket, and can be carried in any large pocket or pouch on a soldier. It has no NSN, so it’s strictly buy-it-yourself.

Performance Systems makes a wide array of emergency medical gear for use by combat medics. These two items seem worthwhile, along with a similar sleeping bag, not shown.

The only drawback is the price, about $39 (street price) per item. But if it can save a life, it’s money well spent. There have been times when I would have gladly spent $40 to keep myself warm and dry while out in the boonies.

Again, both the survival blanket and survival vest will go to the first trooper (medics and pilots seem to be good candidates) who asks for them.

Add comment November 11th, 2005

Gadget #3: Ka-Bar TDI law enforcement knife

I have to admit, this one is a bit weird, and probably does not fit in with the Hobbit Hole’s support mission. But I was so intrigued by the concept, I just had to order one so I could review it.

The TDI is designed as a last-ditch weapon for police. It’s intended to be worn on the pants belt on the side opposite the handgun, and drawn with the “off” hand. With the equipment belt on, the knife is hidden, except for a little bit of handle. The sheath can be adjusted to be worn on either right or left side.

It’s a small blade when compared to the regular Hobbit Hole folding knife, but it looks like it can live up to its advertised purpose.

I have no idea if this knife would be of use to our troops, but as with all our Hobbit Hole Gadgets, the first troop emailing me asking for the knife will receive it. I’d be fascinated to hear to what use it would be put.

1 comment November 9th, 2005

Hobbit Hole gadget department

While most of my time is spent buying, preparing, and mailing knives, I have also evaluated, and sometimes shipped to the troops, other helpful items. These are mostly “special requests” such as restraint cutters, GMRS radios, Quikclot, and “Israeli” bandages.

I also buy, with my own money, single items to “evaluate”. To pass my evaluation, the item must first work as advertised, and second, be “neat”.

I have a backlog of “neat gadgets” that have gotten the Hobbit Hole seal of approval. As time goes by, they will be featured here.

The first is the Spec-Ops brand light sheath. It’s shaped like a pistol mag pouch, but is designed to hold a high-intensity white-light flashlight.

It has a PAL strap on the back for attachment to MOLLE equipment like the IBA.
While most night operations require red or subdued lights, there is also the need for a blinding white light at times. That’s what these high-intensity compact flashlights come in. And you need a place to put them, so that’s why there’s a sheath.

The Spec-Ops is different in that it has a piece of NVG-friendly blue-green plastic sewn in to the bottom of the sheath. With the flashlight turned on inside the sheath, a faint blue-green light shines out the bottom. The grommet hole provides a slightly brighter spot in the center. This gives you a light source compatible with night vision gear. The sheath is available in tan, OD green, and black. Tan is probably a popular color right now.

I had to play exposure tricks to get the image to come out at all, since it is really quite subdued, but the gadget works as advertised. So it is a winner of our Hobbit Hole gadget award.

And now for an important announcement about Hobbit Hole gadgets:

The first Soldier or Marine who sees this, and wants it, can have it by submitting an email request to our webmaster. (Sorry, the flashlight itself is not included.) If enough people want it, we will add the item to our “product line”.

I’ll be posting more gadget reports, and gadgets up for grabs, as time goes by. This light sheath is just the first, to get things started.

Add comment November 5th, 2005

Hobbit Hole gadget #2: Pelican infrared flasher

American military operations often take place at night, with our troops using NVGs, or night vision gear. The idea is to let the night hide our troops, while stripping away the cover of the enemy.

Sometimes, however, our forces need to make themselves visible at night, at least to other friendly forces. One aid in identification is the “glint patch” worn on the uniform. The patch reflects infrared light so other NVG users know you are there.

But this is a passive device, and depends on someone illuminating you, as well as the patch being in the proper location to be illuminated. There may also be a need for an “active” device that can be used to mark a person or object, so other troops can spot it in the infrared without having to search for it to illuminate a reflector.

Pelican, maker of dive lights and those bomb-proof waterproof equipment/weapons cases, has developed a small, inexpensive IR flashing light for that purpose.

It runs on two watch batteries, and is turned on by screwing down the clear plastic cap, and turned off by loosening the cap at least two turns. The flasher has two kinds of clips, and a split ring, to enable it to be hooked to almost anything or anyone.

The device is about the size of a “giant” gumball, and is water-resistant. It’s shown here with a Hobbit Hole folding knife for comparison.

I got out my NVGs, darkened the basement, and tried out the flasher. It provides a bright, but not blinding, flash in the infrared range at a rate of about two a second. This should be slow enough that nobody flying overhead could mistake it for muzzle flash from an automatic weapon.

The device needs to be deployed with care for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, to invisibly mark something, under the assumption that the bad guys won’t see it.

And since the light is invisible to the naked eye, you need NVGs to verify that it is off AND on. You want to make certain that the batteries are working, and that it flashes, and also that when you turn it off, it REALLY is off.

This is a simple device for a very complex and serious situation. As such, it has to be deployed with care, and always verfied that it’s doing what you want done.

And as with other Hobbit Hole gadgets, the Pelican IR strobe is available to the first servicemember that requests it. If a sufficient demand develops, the IR flasher will be promoted from “gadget” to “regular inventory” here at the Hobbit Hole.

Add comment October 19th, 2005