EDC Prybars

Posted by: Craig

EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 12:51 AM

Who carries at least one prybar as part of your EDC gear?

What make/model do you carry and how/where do you carry it?

I carry a Stanley Wonderbar II in my kit and a Pocketwrench II in my jeans pocket.

I'll throw in that I also carry leather driver gloves as part of my EDC. I pull them on when I feel the need to deploy one of my prybars.

-- Craig
Posted by: pipedreams

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 01:21 AM

I carry a Vaughan mini in my work bag and a pocketwrench II in my pocket on the weekends.

todd
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 03:04 AM

I have a small one in my desk, a medium one (24" maybe) in my truck, and a full size heavy bar in my storm shelter. I carry the little one in my pocket if I think I'm going to need it for work, but in general I do not EDC it.
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 03:28 AM

Its not edc, but I have one of those 30' monsters for rescue work. Cheap and nice to have

TRO
Posted by: frenchy

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 09:54 AM

EDC Prybars ???? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

For me, a prybar is a crowbar and I can't image myself wandering in the city with a crowbar pointing out of my pant pocket !! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
So I decided to find an illustration on the net, for the tools you mentionned.
I disregarded Google's advice to search for "stanley wonderbra" <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> instead of "wonderbar" and finally found a stanley retailler web site, with pictures.
It gives a 7" length for that tool, but no weight. Have you assessed it ?

And is such a short prybar effective ?

Another question : it's often problematic to EDC a knife in an office environment, without being called a terrorist ; wouldn't EDCing a prybar would make you look like a burglar ?? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

TIA
Posted by: Craig

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 11:58 AM

Quote:
I carry a Vaughan mini in my work bag and a pocketwrench II in my pocket on the weekends.


How comfortably does the pocketwrench II sit in your jeans? It usually resides in my back pocket, but with one pair of jeans, it's plain uncomfortable.

I had to attach the pocketwrench to a snaphook which is attached to my belt via a leather snaploop. The pocketwrench simply hangs within the confines of my front pocket while my belt takes the weight.

-- Craig
Posted by: Craig

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 12:28 PM

Quote:
For me, a prybar is a crowbar and I can't image myself wandering in the city with a crowbar pointing out of my pant pocket !!


Make sure it does not point out of your pocket. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The Stanley Wonderbar II is, indeed, seven inches long. That's the shortest I could find and the longest that would fit easily into my shoulder bag.

Seven inches would not be as effective as a longer prybar. A seven-inch prybar, however is better than no prybar in an emergency.

Quote:
Another question : it's often problematic to EDC a knife in an office environment, without being called a terrorist ; wouldn't EDCing a prybar would make you look like a burglar ??


Don't let anyone know you carry a prybar. Don't make a show of it. Don't deploy it unless you REALLY need to use it. Keep it in your kit.

We had an occasion in my office where a prybar was sorely needed. We needed to remove some old, swollen batteries from their stands. Being swollen, they would no longer slide. People were whacking then with everything from shoes to staplers.

I pulled out my Stanley Wonderbar II, handed it to the guys working on the batteries, and our troubles were over. They raved about it and said they didn't know the office had one. I said the office didn't. I did. They know me and laughed about it and thanked me. When they were done, I put the prybar back in my shoulder bag, where it remains.

If I need to use a blade, I use the smallest one necessary for the job. I don't pull out my Blade Tech Mouse Lite to open mail. I use the letter opener or I rip the envelopes open.

-- Craig
Posted by: Walkabout

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 01:18 PM

Hi,

I carry a Peter Atwood Prybaby on my little "PSK Keychain" (along with a Wenger Peizo lighter, Ritter mini-grip, 10X Bausch and Lomb magnifier, Leatherman Squirt P4, safety pin, Sliver Gripper tweezers [lots of ticks here], an Arc-AAA, and about 10 feet of paracord in a braid. I've also added a little roll of duct tape, wrapped around a nail:





I also have a bit of a larger "bug-out bar" that he makes, although mine doesn't look like the one on his site now; mine has a 90 degree bend on one end, like a mini crowbar.

Walkabout
Posted by: brian

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 03:10 PM

My EDC Pry Bar



I had one, put lots of wear and tear on it. Traded it for a larger version of the same knife, never carried the larger one, came to my senses, traded the larger version for a smaller version identical to the one I had originally (minus the wear and tear) and now I'm happy again. Yes I do carry it. Have it with me at my desk right now (tucked away discretely of course). <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: Craig

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 05:18 PM

Tucked away discretely and carefully, I hope. Looks like you could slice your own leg off with it.
Posted by: Craig

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 05:19 PM

Nice keychain. Well done.

-- Craig
Posted by: wolf

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 06:38 PM

Could you give some more information re: these knives please?
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 08:35 PM

I, too, carry the Vaughan mini in my Proteus...



M
Posted by: groo

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 09:33 PM

Looks like a Chris Reeve Shadow.

Posted by: brian

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 10:33 PM

Yep. Its the Shadow III. The Shadow IV is the one I tried that was way too big for EDC so I went back to the Shadow III and I'm loving it. www.chrisreeve.com It's also my backup kit when in the woods as the handle contains a few necessities.
Posted by: pipedreams

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/20/05 11:22 PM

Craig-
It's pretty comfortable in the watch pocket of my jeans. I occasionally carry it tucked behind my Wave in it's sheath.

todd
Posted by: Craig

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/21/05 01:22 AM

Cool rig. I'm slightly jealous. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: brian

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/21/05 05:09 AM

What compass is that... and is that an ArcAAA?
Posted by: Walkabout

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/21/05 05:20 AM

Hi,

It's actually not a compass but a small magnifying glass (for fire starting, taking out splinters, etc... my eyes are getting old!).

Yes...the flashlight is an Arc AAA
Posted by: Trusbx

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/21/05 07:12 AM

Would the strong crate opener on the swisstool qualify as a EDC prybar....?

Posted by: brandtb

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/25/05 07:25 PM

Just ordered one of thes [img]http://www.duluthtrading.com/items/35264.asp[/img] e for my backpack.
Posted by: SheepDog

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/25/05 11:12 PM

The little Wonderbars can be very effective you can jamb or hammer them in somewhere and then stand on them with your boots. They can be bent almost straight if you put enough pressure on them. Even if you can only catch one side of the claw it will still take that kind of punishment for a while without breaking. I have seen a 200lbs guy stand on one bending it flat to the floor many times. They can and will be broken this way sooner or later but are cheap to replace and can get into places nothing else can.
I carry a 24-inch Ti Bar in my truck a 24-inch steel bar in my car and keep two 36-inch bars and a 48-inch bar around the house. My tool bag in the truck usually has several sized smallish bars or hive tools etc. that come in handy.
Posted by: Craig

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/26/05 03:37 PM

I found the item, but the image link in your post does not function.
Posted by: Milestand

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/26/05 04:31 PM

The Japanese Cat's Paw is my favorite of this type of tool - the 6" model is quite effective for it's size and it's 4oz. weight...

<img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

(PS: Okay, I'd been hoping to figure it out on my own, but I give up - what does E.D.C. stand for?)
Posted by: Craig

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/26/05 06:09 PM

EDC means Every Day Carry. Something you carry on your person or in your kit every day. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig
Posted by: Milestand

Re: EDC Prybars - 05/26/05 07:13 PM

Quote:
TeacherRO

Its not edc, but I have one of those 30' monsters for rescue work. Cheap and nice to have

TRO


Wow - 30' ! What in the world do you lift with one of those "monsters"? You must be a fan of Archimedes!

("Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." -Archimedes, Pappus of Alexandria)
Posted by: JohnN

Re: EDC Prybars - 09/09/05 06:58 PM


In addition to the titanium claw bar (cool) there are some cool pry tools from Peter Atwood:

Basic Prybaby

Titanium Prybaby

Micro Bug Out Bar

Bug Out Bar

-john
Posted by: groo

Re: EDC Prybars - 09/09/05 07:04 PM

The colors for the Ti Prybaby are awesome. I wish I could get my Sebenza scales done like that...
Posted by: JohnN

Re: EDC Prybars - 09/09/05 07:10 PM

I think you might be able to find someone who will do it for you. Look through the Chris Reeve Forum on Bladeforums. Certainly I recall someone doing the Ti coloring of slabs of a Sebbie. Maybe not as wild, but I wouldn't give up hope.

-john
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: EDC Prybars - 09/09/05 07:17 PM

Just cut loose on them with a torch. Good practice is on Ti sporks.
Posted by: groo

Re: EDC Prybars - 09/09/05 07:19 PM

How's he getting the pattern on there? What's he using for a mask?
Posted by: adam

Duluth Ti Claw Bar - 09/09/05 07:49 PM

I'm not sure what value these have. They are basically nail pullers and they appear to be designed for nails used in nail guns. These nails have smaller heads than regular common nails. Well any way just throwing out the question since I feel that you really would want to be able to pry apart something with these small bars. This type of bar is really a nail puller and do to the configuration of the claw ends you'd have a hard time prying apart anything. Now if you had a hammer and needed to remove some nails well you'd be set.

Just an observation.

Adam
Posted by: JohnN

Re: Duluth Ti Claw Bar - 09/09/05 08:06 PM


I think the main point is the ones I listed are solid enough to pry with and are small and light enough to carry in a pocket, bag or purse. While if we are ever trapped in a fire or earthquake, we might wish to have a full sized Hooligan bar handy, even the small ones would be awkward to carry due to shape and weight.

For what it's worth, I have a "real" 3' crow bar in a duffle under my desk at work (earthquake/fire). But that only helps if I'm at my desk.

-john
Posted by: JohnN

Re: EDC Prybars - 09/09/05 08:10 PM

Quote:
Just cut loose on them with a torch. Good practice is on Ti sporks.


I have never done this or read up on doing Ti flame coloring, so I'm not sure how much you have to heat the metal, but a thing to be careful about is that parts of the Sebbie are specially heat treated. I understand the business part where it locks the blade is hardened and the "spring" is treated to make sure it does it's job.

-john
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: EDC Prybars - 09/10/05 12:30 AM

John, it does not take much heat at all, but in truth and reality I was joking. I would never do that to my Sebbie.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: EDC Prybars - 09/11/05 01:45 PM

Well i havent read this entire post......but the cats paw is similiar to an item called the Exhumer by Dead On /tools......its a great carpentry tool............in my opinion an excellent tool, but for anytype of use than prying nails its a little small esp. for particular survival situations, but otherwise I LOVE IT! I got mine at the local LOWE'S hardware chain.
Posted by: JohnN

Re: EDC Prybars - 09/21/05 07:13 AM

Quote:
Bug Out Bar


FWIW, I was very close to ordering this 6" pry bar for my Fatboy. The size works out because the Fatboy is only 6" tall.

However, I just got my shipment notice for my Maxpedition Jumbo which is 9". I stopped by my local hardware chain (Lowes) and picked up a fairly lightwight 9" bar.

Hopefully it fits well, bit it looks like a pretty good tool (better than the Bug Out Bar) and was only $13 (the Bug Out Bar is $70). It has the same shape as the Ti bar I mentioned, above - just smaller and steel instead of Ti.

So, it looks like the Bug Out Bar is about as big of a pry tool as you can fit into a Fatboy, but the 9" bar should fit in the Jumbo.

-john