SOG Tactical Tomahawk Review

The SOG Tactical Tomahawk is a useful tool for the outdoors.  It is a compact axe, pick, or hammer.  As one might expect, you can use this for anything that a normal hatchet would be used for.  I have use the Tomahawk for cutting kindling, hammering in tent stakes, and removing stuck in the ground rocks.  Even though it is called "tactical," I use it for more practical uses.  I now leave it in with my camping equipment.  No longer do I have to have a separate hammer and hatchet.  It has held up well to everything I have thrown at it. The head is still tightly affixed to the handle and the edge is still relatively sharp. It might possibly be well suited for backpacking also.

The Tomahawk comes with a nylon sheath (basically a cover for the head of the tomahawk).

Specifications:

• Overall Length: 15.75”
• Head Length: 8.25”
• Edge Length: 2.75”
• Weight: 24.0 oz

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:  Versatile utility tool.

Target Market: Anyone who needs a hatchet, hammer, or combo utility tool.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• 420 Stainless Steel
• Hardcased black coating
• Nylon carry sheath
• Fiberglass reinforced nylon handle
• Side hammer checkering
• Heavy-duty bolts and a steel ferrule for stability

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  Hopefully you like Black, because that is what you get.

What others are saying? "A good little tool. When i first picked up my tact. Hawk i was surprised by the weight. I had expected it to be much heavier".  Darlynn from SOG website

"Perfect for Backpacking.  I use it to cut firewood, dig holes, driving tent stakes, pulling tent stakes (see the holes in the blade? perfect!)".  Zaskoda on Amazon

Price Point:

• MSRP = $64.25
• Retail =  $29.99

I need it now! Availability:  Amazon, Brownells, or maybe your local gun store.

Our Rating:  

+-Utility +-Size +-Lightweight +-Strong +-Comes with a sheath +-Price

Score: 7.5 Good

Chad’s Favorite Link:  U.S. Tactical Supply

Lone Wolf Dist Glock Magazine Disassembly Tool Review

Last week, Zack, from Lone Wolf Distributors, and formerly of Gun Guy Radio, posted on Lone Wolf’s Facebook seeking two people to review a new tool from them. I jumped on it and got the tool.

The Lone Wolf Dist Glock Magazine Disassembly Tool is an insanely simple tool designed to disassemble any of Glock’s magazines, including the new .380. The way it works, you simply slide the tool onto the baseplate. There are three slots that correspond with each size magazine(9mm/.40/.357/45GAP, 45/10mm, and .380). There are also two holes that correspond to the different mags. They are engraved with “Small”, for the .380, and “Large”, for everything else. Once you insert the mag, you push your Glock Tool(or any stiff punch) through the correct hole, and it depresses the mag plate button. Once that’s done, place the tool with the magazine oriented “bullets-forward” onto a hard surface, and push the mag body down. The tool holds the plate, while you slide the body off of it. When you pull the tool off, you can place your thumb over the baseplate, to catch the spring, and slide it the rest of the way off. It’s really that simple, or maybe even simpler than I just made it sound.

Lone Wolf posted this video to show the operation. There’s no sound, but it’s incredibly simple.

The review sample I received was aluminum “in the white”, but the final product will be black anodized. They also told me that you can have them custom engraved, if you’d like. They are also offering it as a package with the Glock Tool, for those people that got a Gen 4, lost their tool, or just want an extra.

Bottom line, if you own a single Glock magazine, you’ll want this tool!

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: This tool makes Glock magazines effortless to disassemble.

Target Market: ALL Glock owners

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• Solid aluminum
• Fits all Glock magazines
• Simple disassembly of mags

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: The tool is only available in black, at this time.

What others are saying?: “Does save some time and aggravation especially if you're taking apart a lot of mags all at once.” - Hank Strange

Price Point:

• MSRP = $14.95 (tool only)
• MSRP = $24.90 (with Glock tool)

I need it now! Availability: At this time, the Magazine Disassembly tool is only available directly from Lone Wolf Dist.

Our Rating:

+-Effortless magazine disassembly +-Compatible with all Glock mags +-Solid aluminum

Score: 9.5

Leatherman Wave Review

The Leatherman Wave is considered a full-size multi-tool, but at 4” overall length when closed, it’s more of a medium tool. It is Leatherman’s most popular tool, and I can see why. I chose it based on the types of tools that it comes with. The pliers are good and they have wire cutters and a hard-wire cutter in the pivot of the pliers. The hard-wire cutters help with cutting thick wire or smaller nails without damaging the finer wire cutters. I would personally prefer replaceable wire cutters, but these are permanent. There is a very good can opener that doubles as a bottle opener. At the base of the can opener, there is a somewhat sharpened “V” that is used for stripping wire. One of the selling points for me was the screwdriver bit holder. The holder uses a full-size bit, but what Leatherman did was shave off the sides to slim down the bit. They will fit into a full ¼” bit driver. The bit supplied is reversible with a Philips on one side and a flat-head on the other. Other bits are available for purchase. The scissors are decent, but could be better if they were slightly longer. There is also a small bit holder that holds a proprietary precision screwdriver. It is perfect for those fine screws on eyeglasses and is reversible for Phillips and flat-head. The last interior tool is a large flat-head driver that can double as a light-duty pry-bar. Another large selling point for me was the accessibility of the knives, saw and file from the outside, while the tool is closed. The knives came from the factory very sharp and I have yet to need to sharpen them. Granted, I don’t use the blades very often, as also carry a pocket knife that I will usually use first. One feature I appreciate is that the Wave has separate straight and serrated blades. I rarely use a serrated blade, so I prefer it being separate.  However with that being said, the serrations are great. They aren’t the sharp/pointy serrations you usually see, but more of a smooth serration that doesn't snag on rope and fabric. There is a very good wood saw that can shred through small branches rather quickly. The wood/metal file is very handy and on the reverse of it is a fine, diamond-coated file. After owning this tool for over a year and a half, I would definitely recommend it to anyone. There are a few accessories I would suggest getting alongside the tool. It comes with a MOLLE pouch(for the black) or a belt pouch(for the silver) that has room for spare bits. You can purchase a 40-piece bit set that contains more Phillips, flat-head, hex and even Torx driver heads. I also recommend the bit extender. It slips into the bit holder and extends your driver 3.25 inches and allows you to use any full-size, ¼” driver bit. One last note is that I just, upon writing this review, found out that there is a hidden (very well hidden) lanyard loop inside one of the handles. I never knew it was there, but it is really easy to deploy if you want it, but out of the way if you don’t.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:  Some what compact tool packed with tools and features. 

Target Market: The handy-person type that wants a good variety of tools to be always with you. 

FNBs:

Key Features

• 17 tools
• Sturdy design
• Relatively small

Key Benefits

• Blades accessible while closed
• Changeable driver bits
• All tools lock

Tools Included

• Needlenose pliers
• Regular Pliers
• Hard-wire Cutters
• Wire Cutters
• Wire stripper
• Knife
• Serrated Knife
• Saw
• Spring-action Scissors
• Ruler
• Can Opener
• Bottle Opener
• Wood/Metal File
• Diamond Coated File
• Large Bit Driver
• Small Bit Driver
• Medium Screwdriver 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  Mine is the Black Oxide version and there is also a Polished Stainless version.

 What others are saying?:  “It is a very well designed mid-range multi-tool that packs a lot of functionality into a compact and non-encumbering size.”  -ToolGuyd 

Price point: 

• MSRP = $99.20 - $111.30
• Retail = Black-$69.99   Silver-$57.22

 I need it now! Availability:  The Leatherman Wave is available from many retailers including Amazon and Wal-Mart. 

Our Rating:

+ Sturdy design + Well thought out tools + Separate straight and serrated knives + Sharp knives

- Non-replaceable wire cutters - Wire cutters are kind of soft and I could see them becoming damaged, if used heavily - The lanyard loop was a little too hidden, but once found was pretty apparent

 Score: 8.5