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SOG
Spec Elite I
An Essential Tool...
The National Park Service lists a folding knife as one of the ten essential items everyone should carry while hiking or camping in our national parks. We certainly agree. The value of a good knife in a wilderness environment can hardly be overstated. Building shelter, making a fire, cooking and countless other camp chores are made much easier with the aid of a sharp edge.
Thoughtfully Designed...
The Spec Elite I is a robust folding knife built to take the rigors of everyday use in the outdoors. When you pull the Spec I out of the box for the first time, you immediately notice the solid feel of a well engineered tool. It’s a fairly sizable knife with a blade length of 4 inches, perfect for outdoor use but a little too much for everyday carry.
Chief among the features of this unique knife is the particularly strong Arc-Lock locking mechanism. Lab testing confirmed that the lock can successfully withstand 1000 lbs. of force. This is, of course, an important safety feature under normal use. And even more so if you should find yourself in a survival situation and have to subject the blade to extreme use. The Spec Elite easily handled the forceful tasks of splitting, shaving and cutting wood and remained quite manageable for more delicate jobs.
The AUS 8 stainless steel blade is designed with a slightly recurved main edge and a drop point. Its .135” thickness confirms that it is designed for hard use in the outdoors. Dual thumbstuds allow easy blade deployment with either hand. The blade has a satin finish with a ridged thumb rest just aft of the thumbstuds.
One of the more distinctive features is the handle design. The blade stows almost entirely within the handle when closed, creating a streamlined appearance and providing an extra measure of security. The textured Zytel handle has stainless steel liners, a reversible pocket clip, a lanyard hole and a partially open back that facilitates easy cleaning and prevents debris build-up.
In Conclusion
Safe, smooth, solid and moderately priced, the Spec Elite I occupies the sweet spot within the hierarchy of folding knives. It has the strength, quality and design features of a much more expensive knife without the high price. The Spec Elite I is a good choice for hikers, campers, hunters or anyone who wants the confidence of knowing they have a quality folding knife while in the outdoors.
See the SOG Spec Elite I product page for more information.
Price: $129.95
Email this page to a friendSURVIVAL STRESSES
If you find yourself in a survival situation, the most important thing to remember is what not to do - don’t panic. If you allow panic to take control of you, it will take your ability to make intelligent decisions and greatly reduce your chances for survival. The result of panic is often a cumulative one as each mistake leads to the next one, making the situation worse and worse.
S.T.O.P.
The simplest way to keep panic at bay is to STOP.
S - Stop: Take a deep breath, sit down and calm yourself. Acknowledge the situation you are in and clear your mind so you can focus on finding a solution.
T - Think: Don’t do anything until you have thought it through. Acting rashly can lead to making your situation worse instead of better. Always evaluate your actions in relation to how they will help accomplish your survival plan.
O - Observe: Assess your current situation, your needs and your options. Inventory what you have brought with you, what your environment has to offer and what each person in the situation can contribute.
P - Plan: Now you must prioritize your needs and decide upon a systematic plan that uses what is available to meet those needs, using the least amount of time and energy. Once you have a plan, stick with it. Only make adjustments to it if they are necessary because of changing circumstances.
RULES OF 3
An easy way to remember your general priorities in a surival situation is the rules of three.
You can survive without oxygen or with major bleeding for 3 minutes
You can survive exposure to extreme cold or heat for 3 hours
You can survive without water for 3 days
You can survive without food for 3 weeks
This is an easy way to remember that, in most survival situations, the order of your priorities are first aid, shelter, fire, water and signaling. Most people are rescued before food becomes a critical priority.
© 2008 LifeView Outdoors