I learned the hard way not to carry my Victorinox SwissTool in the pouch on my belt in my office. And ours is a casual workplace, where jeans are the norm, so a belt sheath shouldn't have looked out of place. I was summoned into my manager's office and told that when I walked into the lunchroom earlier in the day, that one of the women felt threatened when she thought I had a knife on my belt. Never mind that I didn't approach this woman or even get within 100 feet of her and the tool was covered up in the nylon sheath. I had to sit in my manager's office and talk to human resources and explain why I was carrying a 'weapon' at work. I thought I was going to be fired. After assuring my manager that this was a tool that happened to have a knife blade in it, they told me if I would take it home and not bring it back, I would be in compliance with the 'no weapon policy' of our workplace and there would be no further problem. I did so, but only after explaining that several other employees had similar multitools on their belts or desks, but to no avail. I was a 'threatening' employee! I learned several months later that this was a personal vendetta from another employee that had prompted this woman to complain about me -- this person was trying to get me fired but was unsuccessful. And all during that several month period that my multitool sat at home, I still noticed other employees having theirs with no problem or complaint. I asked one of them why he was allowed to have one and I got in trouble -- he explained that he carries it in his pocket and not in the sheath, if it's not seen, someone can't complain about it. So that is the procedure I use now, no sheath, and nobody knows I have it. Never mind that your basic cell phone case looks just like a nylon sheath for a multitool and most employees have those, oh well. Such is life in the corporate world.

I cant imagine what it's like to work in an environment like that though I will (unfortunatly) be soon. Anyway, I finally got my pocket clip and it is working out very well. Don't have to carry it on my belt but it sits much more comfortably than when just tossed in my pocket without the clip. I am very pleased.

There's nothing you can do about personal vendettas. Especially when the rules are used against you. The rules are spelled out in black and white. If someone points out that you are violating those rules, The Powers That Be must act.

The economy is doing alright. Unless you really like the job or the company, I would advise you to look for another job. Even if the person trying to get you fired ends up leaving or getting fired themselves, that little chat you had about your "weapon" is now part of your permanent record.

Even if they said it was informal or off the record, nothing is ever really off the record, especially if a formal complaint is made. A paper trial must be made in case charges are ever filed or it becomes a court case.

In other words, you are marked man. You may be passed over for promotions. You may be the first to be laid off during the next slump. It is not fair, but no one ever said office politics was fair. Office politics is merely another form of warfare.

The woman that tried to get me fired has since been fired as she got caught on camera in the middle of a sex sandwich with another female employee and a man that wasn't even supposed to be in the building. Human resources assured me that a complaint was not filed against me, but it is no doubt still in my record.

Sounds like she got what she deserved. Too bad you had to suffer before she was let go. These days, even though our office is very relaxed, I make a deliberate attempt to fly way under the radar.

For instance, a few possible clients AKA strategic partners are visiting our office. I don't work FOR the company AT which I work. I'm a satellite employee of a company in another state. This arrangement works fairly well.

I was not specifically told to dress up from our normal blue jeans, but I will. A nice short sleeve shirt (given the weather), khakis, and a pair of real shoes. No low-hikers, my favorite footwear.

I will also be gearing down a bit. My SwissChamp will not be on my belt, but will ride in my shoulder bag that day. No SureFire E1e on my belt in a Victorinox belt pouch. That will also go into my shoulder bag.

I will clip my SureFire E2e inside my front pocket next to my wallet. You can't see the clip unless you're looking for it. Also, I have a Ripoff pouch that fits my Inova X5-T perfectly. That will ride on my belt, along with my mobile phone. So I will have only two items on my belt that day, one light and one phone.

I will have my beloved Victorninox Midnite MiniChamp II in my pockets along with its best friend, my Spyderco Jester. Those two make a perfect duo. Perfectly capable and yet PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. friendly, too.

-- Craig

The few times someone has said something to me about working with a knife (Usually my 4? Cold Steel Tanto Bladed Lock back) I just smile at them and say yea that?s why I pulled out the small knife to work with in here. They don?t know if I?m kidding or not but I just grin at them like I pulled their leg good and instead of looking stupid they usually laugh like they understand they had a joke played on them and go on about their business.
Most of the sheep are afraid of the sheepdog?s teeth so I keep them hidden by carrying cases that look like eyeglass cases, PDA cases, cell phone cases or camera cases. Every one knows if it says Nikon on the out side of the case it can only contain a camera there is no other possible thing or things that would fit in a case like that.
<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You carry 3 lights? Youre afraid of the dark aren't you? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

How did you know ??? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Na, but there is no such thing as too much light !! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


Let's see...
My EDC (I have to answer that post too, one of those days...) today was, as far as lights are concerned :
- 1 white Photon III, hanging from belt pouch ;
- 1 white Photon (not a typo, a second one), attached to my keyring, in my vest pocket ;
- 1 red Freedom Photon, also hanging from belt pouch ;
- 1 Nuwa? QIII, in my belt pouch ;
- 1 Surefire 6P, in a sheath, on my belt
- 1 Inova T1, in a small sheath, outside my Maxpedition Condor backpack ;
- 1 Inova 24/7, inside the Condor backpack ;

I guess that's it .... <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Might be a bit too much ..?...
I will leave the T1 at home (or replace it with a T2 when I receive it ... in a few days ... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />). The QIII is enough.

I will also get the 24/7 out of the Condor.
OTOH, Doug's PSK is in the backpack... so, an Inova 24/7 is a natural complement ... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


As for multi-tool carry, my Leatherman PST II is on my belt, in its sheath and is used very often. If the blade was a bit better, I would use it more often (instead of opening my RSK - sometimes a bit too large and frightening for some people...).
(I work in an office environment, mainly installing mid-range computers)

How do you like the Nuwaii QIII? I'm thinking of giving a few as gifts (as inexpensive Luxeon EDC lights for non-flashaholics), but I haven't seen one myself.

It says "water resistant"... I'd feel better with a depth rating. Is it just splash proof, or can you dunk it in a few feet of water and it's still ok?

I have not tested if it's really waterproof.
Should I put it in a water pail ?

I wanted a LED light, to complement the Surefire 6P (LED durability + longer runtime + less powerfull output + same CR123 battery) and my Photons.
I also wanted to buy a few, but only got one, the last the vendor had in stock... too bad. They are too expensive in France...