USB Swiss Army Knife

finno writes "The Register has a heads-up on a new Swiss Army knife by Victorinox. As the article says, 'Given that you can buy a Victorinox Swiss Army Knive with just about every gadget known to man, from horse-hoof awl to Hubble Space Telescope lens polisher, it's no real surprise that the company - in association with flash memory outfit Swissbit - is now offering cutting tools plus USB flash memory stick.' In my home state of New South Wales, it is illegal to be carrying a knife without a reasonable excuse such as 'the lawful pursuit of the person's occupation'. I got me a reasonable excuse now!"

Comments

A flashdrive that security will take away.

[oneiros27]

For some reason, that just doesn't seem practical in the long run, if you ever have to go through a security checkpoint, such as airports, courthouses, whatever. 'Well, I tried smuggling the data in, but they took it away.' 'They found it?' 'No, they didn't like the knife'.

But I want to know why the SwissFlame isn't allowed for sale in the US.

http://www.victorinox.com/newsite/en/news/news_swi ss_flame.htm

Knife Repository

[4of12]

My Swiss Army Knife is with me constantly because it's so useful. Had it for years. I've lost the toothpick and the spring in the scissors, but it's still indispensible.

So, with the recent crackdown in the USA on small scale implements of terrorism such as nail clippers, I try to remember to put my knife in the glove compartment before a flight.

I forgot once. And I sure didn't want to give away my knife. The TSA inspectors must have 10 million pocket knives by now. What to do before getting in line for the security scan?

I found an fake potted plant in an isolated corner of the airport and hid the knife under some bark chips.

When I came back 3-4 days later I just picked it up on the way out.

From the picture

[jandrese]

Did anybody notice the _other_ tools on this knife. There's the standard blade, good for cutting zip ties, opening boxes, and peeling off stubborn labels in a pinch. Scissors, which are generally useful, and a nail file, which I thought only showed up on the really big knives and the ones aimed at women. Where is the phillips head screwdriver, or even the flathead screwdriver? Actually, some knives have a nice snap on toolset that works quite well. IMHO, if you're going to stick a USB stick on a knife, it should have the following additional tools:

1. Blade -- Every knife needs one. A combination large and small blade is nice but not necessary on this knife
2. Scissors -- From cutting down labels to just about anything else, the Scissors are mandatory
3. Phillips head screwdriver -- Or replace this with the socket set
4. Flathead screwdriver -- Or replace this with the socket set
5. Inanimate carbon-steel rod -- In place of the useless tweezers, for ejecting stubborn CDs or rebooting PDAs
6. Micro-flashlight -- Built into the case, a small white LED bulb at one end is activated by pressing on a certain spot on the handle. The battery is stored in the case. I don't think any knife has this yet, but I know I've wanted it for ages. The light switch should be a toggle, so you don't have to keep holding it down while you're working.

That's all I'm looking for in a knife. I'd pay $100 for one like that, especially if they called it the Geekman.

Re:What kind of idiot legislature...

[ajs318]

You think that's bad? In the UK, you can't even buy safety razor blades {eg. Gillette sensor type, which can't make a cut more than 1mm. deep without serious modding, the process of which is likely to cut you} if you're under 16, but you can be expelled from school for not shaving!

Clearly the law was meant to stop kids buying cut-throat razor blades, but it's still a bit idiotic. And if they want knives, they will just steal them.

Re:Leatherman

[(trb001)]

All of us in college used it for this purpose...i worked tech support (think rigging lights and speakers, not ethernet) in college for the university union, and we all carried leathermans or schrades (my personal favorite). At the parties after shows, people would yank out their multitools for all sorts of useful stuff...roach clips, shotgunning beers, etc.

--trb