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Two Good to Get Lost in the Shuffle

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February 06, 2013

Two Good to Get Lost in the Shuffle

By David E. Petzal

One of the problems with something the size of the SHOT Show (This year’s set another record for size.) is that a great many deserving but non-glamorous items get lost in the herd. Here are two that deserve your attention and your money.

One of my greatest regrets as I shuffle off this mortal coil is that I’ve kept poor records of my hunting trips, or no records. If you’d like to end up at the end of the trail in better shape, record-wise, I suggest you get hold of Rite in the Rain’s Big Game Journal Kit. This weatherproof spiral-binder pad (and they are weatherproof, too, by God; I’ve used RiR pads for years) has listings for 35 items of information plus a blank reverse for any random intel you care to include. It’s called a Kit because the package consists of the pad, a write-anywhere pen, and an attractive ballistic nylon carrier to keep everything together. The Kit weights next to nothing, takes up very little space, and lists for $35.76. Or you can just get the pad by itself, which is $7.95.

Victorinox is one of the two principal makers of Swiss Army Knives, and the one whose stuff I prefer. Usually, I have a dozen of their knives lurking in various locations, and here is another that will probably join the pack soon. It’s called the Outdoorsman Folding Blade with Pouch, and is, as far as I can tell, the company’s first tactical knife. It’s a one-hand-opening lockblade with a stainless 4-inch blade and an excellent, highly ergonomic handle. There are no bells or whistles; it’s just a very useful, very high quality knife that can do most anything. The point, as befitting a tactical knife, is centered on the blade which makes it handy for stabbing, but it could also gut a deer with the same aplomb. With an OD or black nylon belt pouch, it’s around $80 and will be released in April.

 

 

Comments (17)

Top Rated
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from Happy Myles wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

Lack of keeping good diaries is also one of my greatest regrets. I start each trip with the best of intentions and invariably become a slacker after the first couple of days. Revisiting my drawer full of uncompleted booklets, am always surprised to read of interesting events long forgotten, and am sorry of the many more events and adventures I'll never recall, or leave record for my grandchildren who may never have similar opportunities . My excuse is usually am too tired or the light is too poor in the evening. The real truth usually is enjoying a sundowner telling stories around the campfire.
I like the idea of the waterproof paper. The dimensions appear to be about six by four, am I close?

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from tygh98 wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

I bought some of their pads last week. Still waiting for them to show up. Taking and keeping accurate hunting and outdoors data is why I made the purchase. Many an older hunter have often told me to take good notes, to improve my hunting and my memories of the good times.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

I can recall almost every shot I ever took at a game animal - minus waterfowl... Or at least I think I do until my son corrects me on the size, points, year, hunt etc. Great idea. Almost too late I guess. My only son was with me most of the hunts anyway. C'est la vie

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Ol Krusty wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

An accurate, daily journal is something that everyone should try to keep. I have found that if I can do that, the hunts get penned in there as well.
I had the privledge of wandering the hills for a few hours with my grandpa who's 86 years old, and loved every minute of it. He told me about this deer he shot here, or how damn hard it was growing up in the depression, and how he lied about his age so he could enlist in the military during WWII. Luckily he kept a journal and one day I'll be able to read it. It's something I look forward to, and hope I can pass on to my posterity.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from O Garcia wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

John Wooters has died. I thought I'd mention that. He worked for a different publishing house, of course, but a great loss for all gun nuts. Great, "sobering" writer, loved simple, 1-inch scopes with normal sized objective lenses, gave realistic assessments of whizbang cartridges.
(Although he was also a fan of the 7mm Remington Magnum and pushed the concept of zeroing for Maximum Point Blank Range in his columns.)

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from RJ Arena wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

sorry for the multiple posts, after i submitted my post this site would not load and locked up my computer, I had to re-start.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Happy Myles wrote 18 weeks 2 days ago

A good friend and great hunter religiously keeps a diary. He uses a tablet made for surveyors or engineers, I can't remember which, the paper is waterproof and fits in a shirt pocket and is graph lined. Using the graph paper he is able to keep his diary in writing, and use the graph squares to aid in creating maps, or help draw pictures to scale. A good idea idea, huh?

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from O Garcia wrote 18 weeks 2 days ago

Difference between Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army knives? The Victorinox knife blades are s-h-a-r-p. Not something you'd expect from products produced in millions.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Harold wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

I just replaced my old butchering knives with a set from Victorinox and I was too was suprised how sharp they were.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Harold wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

I forgot to mention that I have been journaling since 1983. Just do my hunting and fishing trips. It really jogs your memory after almost 30 years and brings the memories back sharp and clear. I would heartily recommend any young outdoors-person to do this. Many years later you'll be glad you did.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Pray- hunt-work wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

We exclusively use Victorinox knives on the lobster boat here in Maine. They have a sharp edge, and are a great tool. They have kept alot of sternmen from going overboard.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Trapper Vic wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

Have owned a butchershop for over 40 years. Do not use anything else but Victorinox. Easy to sharpen and good to hold an edge. I will own one of these when they hit the market.you bett=cha

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Giggidy-Giggidy wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

The Victorinox looks nice, but where's the bottle opener and other gadgets? I love mine, I feel naked without it. I'm glad to see other people enthusiastic about theirs also. Of all the tools I own, this is by far the best.

As far as keeping a journal about my hunts, that would just be evidence that I'm lying about the thurdy-point buck and other exploits.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from HammerGun wrote 18 weeks 2 hours ago

Does the knife have a pocket clip? I always have a SAK in my back pocket and a locking folder clipped in front.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Longbeard wrote 17 weeks 5 days ago

My problem with keeping hunting journals is that I always end up writing multiple pages each day, which takes a long time. Too much time at the end of the day when I should be sleeping for the next day's hunt. I even made forms so I could easily include basic details like location, date, weather. Do any of you who do or have kept journals have suggestions on how to cut down?

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from AJMcClure wrote 17 weeks 5 days ago

I was taking some field notes in a tree stand when the rustling of a sheet of paper spooked a buck sneaking up behind me, now I focus on living in the now and honing my awareness. Cheers to the future.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from deadeyedick wrote 17 weeks 1 day ago

The only records I keep are in my head and I can recall them anytime I want so I have no need for a written log. the only records I keep are in my reloading area and I do not reload outside so I have no need for it there either. But for those guys that do like to keep records or journals it seem like a fine product.
I must own upwards of a 30 knives and really do not need anymore, but again for someone looking for a good knife that one would fit the bill

0 Good Comment? | | Report

Post a Comment

from Happy Myles wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

Lack of keeping good diaries is also one of my greatest regrets. I start each trip with the best of intentions and invariably become a slacker after the first couple of days. Revisiting my drawer full of uncompleted booklets, am always surprised to read of interesting events long forgotten, and am sorry of the many more events and adventures I'll never recall, or leave record for my grandchildren who may never have similar opportunities . My excuse is usually am too tired or the light is too poor in the evening. The real truth usually is enjoying a sundowner telling stories around the campfire.
I like the idea of the waterproof paper. The dimensions appear to be about six by four, am I close?

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Happy Myles wrote 18 weeks 2 days ago

A good friend and great hunter religiously keeps a diary. He uses a tablet made for surveyors or engineers, I can't remember which, the paper is waterproof and fits in a shirt pocket and is graph lined. Using the graph paper he is able to keep his diary in writing, and use the graph squares to aid in creating maps, or help draw pictures to scale. A good idea idea, huh?

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from tygh98 wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

I bought some of their pads last week. Still waiting for them to show up. Taking and keeping accurate hunting and outdoors data is why I made the purchase. Many an older hunter have often told me to take good notes, to improve my hunting and my memories of the good times.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

I can recall almost every shot I ever took at a game animal - minus waterfowl... Or at least I think I do until my son corrects me on the size, points, year, hunt etc. Great idea. Almost too late I guess. My only son was with me most of the hunts anyway. C'est la vie

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Ol Krusty wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

An accurate, daily journal is something that everyone should try to keep. I have found that if I can do that, the hunts get penned in there as well.
I had the privledge of wandering the hills for a few hours with my grandpa who's 86 years old, and loved every minute of it. He told me about this deer he shot here, or how damn hard it was growing up in the depression, and how he lied about his age so he could enlist in the military during WWII. Luckily he kept a journal and one day I'll be able to read it. It's something I look forward to, and hope I can pass on to my posterity.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from O Garcia wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

John Wooters has died. I thought I'd mention that. He worked for a different publishing house, of course, but a great loss for all gun nuts. Great, "sobering" writer, loved simple, 1-inch scopes with normal sized objective lenses, gave realistic assessments of whizbang cartridges.
(Although he was also a fan of the 7mm Remington Magnum and pushed the concept of zeroing for Maximum Point Blank Range in his columns.)

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from RJ Arena wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

sorry for the multiple posts, after i submitted my post this site would not load and locked up my computer, I had to re-start.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from O Garcia wrote 18 weeks 2 days ago

Difference between Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army knives? The Victorinox knife blades are s-h-a-r-p. Not something you'd expect from products produced in millions.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Harold wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

I just replaced my old butchering knives with a set from Victorinox and I was too was suprised how sharp they were.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Harold wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

I forgot to mention that I have been journaling since 1983. Just do my hunting and fishing trips. It really jogs your memory after almost 30 years and brings the memories back sharp and clear. I would heartily recommend any young outdoors-person to do this. Many years later you'll be glad you did.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Pray- hunt-work wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

We exclusively use Victorinox knives on the lobster boat here in Maine. They have a sharp edge, and are a great tool. They have kept alot of sternmen from going overboard.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Trapper Vic wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

Have owned a butchershop for over 40 years. Do not use anything else but Victorinox. Easy to sharpen and good to hold an edge. I will own one of these when they hit the market.you bett=cha

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Giggidy-Giggidy wrote 18 weeks 1 day ago

The Victorinox looks nice, but where's the bottle opener and other gadgets? I love mine, I feel naked without it. I'm glad to see other people enthusiastic about theirs also. Of all the tools I own, this is by far the best.

As far as keeping a journal about my hunts, that would just be evidence that I'm lying about the thurdy-point buck and other exploits.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from HammerGun wrote 18 weeks 2 hours ago

Does the knife have a pocket clip? I always have a SAK in my back pocket and a locking folder clipped in front.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Longbeard wrote 17 weeks 5 days ago

My problem with keeping hunting journals is that I always end up writing multiple pages each day, which takes a long time. Too much time at the end of the day when I should be sleeping for the next day's hunt. I even made forms so I could easily include basic details like location, date, weather. Do any of you who do or have kept journals have suggestions on how to cut down?

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from AJMcClure wrote 17 weeks 5 days ago

I was taking some field notes in a tree stand when the rustling of a sheet of paper spooked a buck sneaking up behind me, now I focus on living in the now and honing my awareness. Cheers to the future.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from deadeyedick wrote 17 weeks 1 day ago

The only records I keep are in my head and I can recall them anytime I want so I have no need for a written log. the only records I keep are in my reloading area and I do not reload outside so I have no need for it there either. But for those guys that do like to keep records or journals it seem like a fine product.
I must own upwards of a 30 knives and really do not need anymore, but again for someone looking for a good knife that one would fit the bill

0 Good Comment? | | Report

Post a Comment

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