Take an object. Paint it OD green or a camouflage pattern. Call it 'tactical' and Ranger or SEAL or SF or .... well, you get the picture ... put it in the hands of a steroid-pumped gay swimsuit model wearing BDUs and scowling at the camera and you can charge about 50% more for it selling it to mall ninjas and killer-thriller wanna bes.

Take that same object out into a forest with a good foot of soft duff at dusk and drop it. Spend the next four hours on your hands and knees digging through the duff trying to find your widget.

Some things I understand. Young bucks are insecure and feel the need to look more competent and manly by associating themselves with macho male figures. Most overlook the simple fact that the best way to look unmanly and incompetent is to trying too hard to look competent and macho.

Some things I don't. Who in their right mind buys a camouflage wallet. Or camouflage flashlight. I see them for sale but I don't understand. Is the wallet for those who don't want to be seen paying the check? Won't that camouflage pattern on the flashlight sort of be wasted when it is on? And counterproductive when it is off and you need it?

On a practical level there may be some disadvantage to a tool being too shiny. Down here in Florida with the stronger sun shiny tools can be annoying and potentially dangerous as they flash and blind you. Nothing like being twelve stories up on a scaffold and getting dazzled to the point you have to close your eyes.

Usually wear, tear and a bit of dirt is enough to keep the shine down on most things. Lacking that bead blasting would work. Any good gun shop can put a matte finish on it. Parkerizing, browning or any of the newer coatings would do it.