MadBob's Jackknife

[AngryHatter]

Anyone use one?
I would love to have a set that I could hang from my belt etc.
I could leave my box behind 50% of the time? Win.

I just wonder whether they are useful or just a nice looking idea?

[RDC-1]

They look neat but I bought one of those Credit Card sets. I was quite surprised at how sturdy they are.

It\s amazing the extra little things we pick up, which we probably don't need but are neat to show off.

[AngryHatter]

MadBob deserves a shout out for the customer service he provides.

I ordered the jackknife and then later after I completed the order decided to get the extra picks for it.
I realized I paid the shipping fee twice so I sent him a message and promptly received a reply - he had put in a refund for the second shipping fee.

I really like his wrenches, I expect I'll like this but whether I can make real use of it remains to be seen.
I'll update this after I receive it and take it to work.

Kudos for some real customer service.

[AngryHatter]

Just received it today. 9 days from the U.K. to my door in southern California.

It is smaller than I expected. More a pocket knife. 2 3/4 inches end to end when folded closed; 5 inches when opened.

It is well made and finished like MadBob's wrenches - smooth and polished. His moniker etched on the side.
I also got the extra picks for it.
The extra picks are a nice addition but somewhat of a hassle to swap out. You have to open a knurled brass knob, remove the picks you wish by sliding them up and out of the handle and then replace with the others.
I figure you select your best set once and leave the rest in the box.
The jackknife come with a twisted tension wrench that fits within the spring for the handle.

Naturally I had to try it out so I grabbed a 6 stack mortise on the desk and opened it in seconds. The feel of the hook alone was enough feedback for me to determine which stacks were set and manipulate the lock quickly.
It felt very solid, no play as I worked the lock. I have "solid" one piece picks that flex more than this.

Generally I place my right thumb under the shaft of the pick to provide upward pressure. There are some picks that tend to cut into my thumb if I use them repeatedly.
This felt smoother and fatter - more meat for my finger...less cutting into me. It opened the lock fast enough to not make any impression on my finger at all.

As an everyday tool I have no idea how it will hold up. I will carry this in my pocket now and report when I have more information to share.
But my initial impression is another winner for MadBob.

[AngryHatter]

I used it twice in the past week. I would have used it more often but I forgot I was carrying it.

It works well for what it is. I still use a ToK wrench and not the included one.

If you have an affinity for things handmade, then this will fit the bill - perfectly.
There are plenty of examples of a "person made this and not a machine."

I once bought a set of handmade glasses. My wife complained that some glasses leaned to the left and some to the right. Those slight imperfections were to be celebrated as far as I was concerned. They did not affect the usage of the glasses in any way. But they did enhance the human touch.

This has many signs of handmade and none interfere with its function.

It is advertised as a good beginners set. I'd argue it is a good set for someone looking to manipulate locks easily without carrying your tackle box everywhere.
If you wear a tool belt, this is a great addition.

[AngryHatter]