We send out knives, they send back heartfelt thanks. I think we've gotten the best part of the deal.
News on the Hobbit Hole knife front:
First, I talked to our supplier, and he also has 600+ CRKT 5710s. That's the serrated-blade version of our knife. We sent out about ten before finding out that knives with serrated blades can't be mailed to APOs/FPOs.
I'll be buying the 5710s, and use them for mailing to troops still in conus, and anyone else who wants a Hobbit Hole knife. The plain-blade 5700s will be reserved for mailing overseas. This will make the thousand 5700s "last longer", although I pray we never have to get to the point where we bought them all up.
So anybody out there that would like a matching serrated-blade Hobbit Hole knife, this will be your chance to get one at cost.
On a more neepish note, I've changed my knife prep procedure again. Now all studs and screws get treated with Loctite Green, rather than Loctite Blue. Green is a very thin, high-strength glue that creeps into tightened threads through capillary action. Even the blade stud and stop stud get the "green" treatment now, along with a verification of tightness. I've found a couple of those just a tad loose.
The two screws on the back, which are almost always shamelessly loose, are backed out a half turn, then green Loctite applied to them, before tightening. I had to completely remove the screw, apply the blue Locite, and them retighten. During that time, the tiny screws sometimes went walkabout, and I've had to say a few fervent prayers to St Barbara (patron saint of gunsmiths, armorers, and redlegs) to find the little buggers. Now it's quicker with Green, and they are never totally removed.
The blue Loctite is supposed to be "medium strength" and removable with normal tools, while "green" is permanent, high-strength, and can only be loosened by heat.
My tests showed that at the scale of these tiny screws, both performed the same way. The screws cannot be safely torqued to more than 7.5 inch-pounds because of the danger of the wrench mangling the hexagonal hole.
So now all four screws are treated with green Loctite, and all checked for proper tightness. And the process now takes less time, and no dropped screws.
Sorry to inflict all this neepery on you, but you all have a vested interest in the project, due to your generous support and participation.
Wonderful neepery Winmag!
"Neepery" you say, I say excellent presentation. Didn't know there was different strengths of loctite, the one I have is fairly old. Seems to last a long time.
If you run short of the plain blade version, mine is available for exchange if you need it. I haven't been cutting braided steel cable with mine like G'nad has. Better it go to one of the troops.
Cool enough for Gypsy girl's walkabout.
BBL
Way cool, Mister Mag. Interesting info.
Evenin' all! :-) Finally here. [sip]
Hey Mr. E: I saw the logo of the USS Texas... and now I'm cornfused. I know of a USS Texas that's a CGN (Missile Cruiser). I wouldn't suppose that they'd give the same name to two currently commissioned ships... does this mean that the cruiser was decomm'ed? Hmmm...
Be as neepish as you must my friend. Thanks for the report and the good work you do.
mmmmmmm.... neepery and Loctite Green...
good werk sir...
When we were in San Juan, Puerto Rico back in 1985, I went out to El Morro, the castle/fort at the head of the harbor. There was a gun emplacement that was named 'Santa Barbara'. I didn't know, until we returned home, why it was named that. I thought that was cool!
I don't mind your neepery! If I send my HH knife back to you, can you pleasae give it the Loctite treatment? I think I got mine before the looseness of the screws thing was discovered.