The only flaw here is they were constantly bugging me to borrow my EDC stuff, be it a flashlight, a pocketknife, a set of pliers, or other things
Co-worker #1 was the first to cave, he bought himself a couple of those cheap "Harbour Freight" style half-watt 1 AA flashlights, kept one at his desk, one in his pocket, handy for peering into the darkened innards of laser printers
He also brought in a couple of his old knives, an old TL-29 (IIRC) electricians knife and an old Camillus stockman, which I used the Sharpmaker to put a decent utility edge on, he now has a flashlight and at least one knife on him at all times, and understands how useful they are....
...I'd prefer he carry a better knife (Spydie, of course ; ) ) and flashlight, but it's a starting point for him, given time, I'm sure I can wear his resistance down....
Co-worker #2, OTOH, has jumped on the EDC bandwagon with a zeal that almost eclipses mine....
He started off by saying he wanted a "really nice flashlight, like the ones you carry**" and he wanted me to "hook him up"....
So, I showed him a local E-vendor that was clearing out their inventory of NovaTac Classic 2AA models, and showed him the one I had purchased a couple months ago at that discounted price....
He bought that light off me that afternoon (I have plenty of spares, I picked up the Classic, intending to use the 2AA body on my 120P, but didn't realize how long it would be, so it never really saw much use, it just took up pocket space), a few days later, he said "I really need a nice knife, can you hook me up there, too?"
So. I unpocketed my Spydie Native and Buck 110, he tried 'em both, and liked the 110 better, so he bought that one off me too (I was looking to try out an EcoLite 110 anyway....)
He was now happy, he had a good light and knife, and began carrying them constantly
(The Padawan is learning well, yes!)
Next week, he was enthusing on how handy it was to have a good light and knife at all times, but.....
"I could realy use a light to put on my keychain, you got anything like that...."
One Fenix E01 later..... he's happy, and I have even more spending money....
midweek, we were having a big client visit, so we got to cleaning out the service bay, while cleaning up the shop cart, Co-Worker #2 found my spare Mag 2C cell with the first-gen MagLED bulb.....
"how much you want for this?"
Sold
(i really like this, I get to pawn a bunch of my gently used and "outdated" stuff on him, he learns the importance of EDC stuff, and I get more money to buy newer stuff
)Last week, the conversation went like this;
"I need a small knife to put on my key ring, any ideas?"
I show him my Stainless SpyderEdge Ladybug
"Oh, I don't like serrations, sorry, got any other small knives?"
I told him I'd look....
Over the weekend, I picked up a Ladybug Salt PE (absolutely love the thing :) ), so I show it to him (no, not selling this one, my Precious...Gollum!) he likes it, perfect keychain size...
I show him the SS SE Ladybug again....
"I just don't like serrated edges, sorry"
my response; just give it a try, I'll let you use it 'till the end of the week, then let me know what you think...
I hand him a thick piece of cardboard (double-thick cardboard used for packing computer UPS batteries) and the Ladybug, have him do a test cut with it...
....His eyes bugged wide open and his jaw hit the floor at how easily this diminutive 1" blade cleaved through the double-thick cardboard, and bugged even bigger when he felt the edge and how sharp it was (sideways thumb-drag test, I did warn him and show him the safe way to do it)
I continued; of course, if you don't like serrated edges, you don't have to try it, you know...
He decided to try it....
....a half hour later... "how much for this one?"
Me; I thought you hated serrated edges?
Him; Normally yes, but these just *work*, this thing's amazing...
At the end of the day, he said, without any prompting...
"Russ, I love this little knife, I've used it more than that big Buck I bought off you, this thing's so amazingly useful, and these serrations are incredible, they don't drag or bind or anything!"
I think I've created a monster, I'm running out of stuff to sell to Co-Worker #2, I may have to wean him off the "Russ Supply" and show him how to go it on his own..... I think it's time for him to fly on his own, EDC-wise now
....hmm, maybe I should show him my PE Cricket before I set him out on his own though, as an enticement, 'cause I'm not selling my Cricket for any reason, and let him know that the Cricket is available as a serrated blade... <evil grin>
I think.....I've created a monster here
**my two EDC standbys are an old Fenix L1T 2.0 1AA, and a Novatac 120P, occasionally accompanied by an "Aviatrixed" SureFire A2 Aviator (1 red and 2 white LED Aviatrix ring) and heavily modified SureFire E1 Executive, with a McGizmo reflectored and Seoul P4 emittered SureFire KL-1 head, and a McGizmo tailstanding momentary tailcap
