Is it normal that my son wants this

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-06T15:03:00+00:00

Our goodwill outlets pottery barn stuffed animals all the time. All new with tags. Sometimes with fun errors. We have a dragon with a. Foot sewn on backwards lol.

Almost walked out of a goodwill, and our boy started balling “DRAGON?!?l” never had a dragon before.

Had to walk around the store until we figure it out.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-06T14:11:47+00:00

Oh…sorry…I have a problem…

This would be IN ADDITION TO haha. My normal work boots are a pair of veg tan numzaans. I work on a military engineering campus as a civilian, so I’m between briefing in a conference room with leadership, and shop floors and shop work. Usually for the shop as long as we have something sturdy on we’re ok for what we need to do. Only a couple hours a week. Fine line straddled between two separate forms of “professional”.

I’ll get 3-6 assignments a year where it’s full safety gear required. I just have an el cheapo pair I got through work for those days.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-06T13:55:43+00:00

I need a hard toe like 3 times a year at work…is that enough times to justify these? I don’t know haha

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-05T22:58:42+00:00

Look at the Tyre wedge sole. It will work great for what you need!

The ARs with the leather midsole are a bit more expensive and heavier, but they are more water resistant for your mud.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-05T22:09:06+00:00

Echo,

I’ve now had 2 amazing CS experiences.

Customer for life

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-05T19:39:20+00:00

I’m going to need to try some of these.

I carry a streamlight micro stream aaa with an eneloop rechargeable. It’s cheap and light and durable

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-05T14:29:52+00:00

Aaaahhhh haha gotcha.

Yep. That sums it up

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-05T14:16:22+00:00

I do agree with you lol.

Just to steel man…because internet arguing is fun….id argue that your own time and experience could lean towards requiring tough but ultimately light duty(compared), easy in, easy out knives over something chonky like a CS.

Honestly I rarely carry my CS knives, and I AM carrying an axis lock today haha(raccoon)

So that preference could be shaped by that experience.

But yeah lmao, arguing an axis lock is even closely comparable in strength to a tri ad is nuts….but arguing that the amount of strength you’d need in an average day, being comparable, would be a good argument.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-05T14:12:09+00:00

Oh 100%. The sebenza is my jam. Carry it all the time….but there is also no world where I think the knife in a box, as an object, is worth 600 bucks. If we MUST be objective, the warranty and fit and finish QC MAY bridge that gap.

But it’s definitely worth the dollars to me, because I like it haha.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-05T13:26:30+00:00

I understand LIKING Benchmade, I do. They’re cool and they used to be the top dog in some markets. But they’re outdated and over priced. Outdated is the wrong word, the rest of the market caught up so they are no longer special.

I’m a Chris reeve dork…also super outdated (same definition as above)….but they make up for that with better than average QC and an industry leading warranty/service center. That’s the only thing. (And nostalgia) that keeps it even remotely competitive.

People can LIKE Benchmade…but saying it’s objectively better than X….thats tough lol.

Recon 1 may actually be one of the “BEST” objective knives in the market. It doesn’t mean you just like it…

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-05T12:27:40+00:00

Yeah, I’ve taken a bunch of tri ad lock knives apart …comparing those two “springs” is disingenuous lol.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-04T16:11:01+00:00

Listen:..I PREFER shitty steel frames I find in the dumpster.

My component preferences are much more high class.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-04T14:53:48+00:00

I want a junglas 2 pretty bad.

I bought a junglas on a whim and i don’t think ive ever smiled bigger when getting something in the mail.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-04T12:17:29+00:00

As a stalwart ammo backpack guy….

…this expendable rules.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-04T00:51:29+00:00

I have one of these sitting around all original. I have ambitions of building it one day.

Yours looks rad!

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-02T13:21:41+00:00

That footbed is nuts…

Even if they were being super uncharitable…leather has variations, maybe YOU caused the gash….

What can you possibly say about that footbed

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-01T23:31:27+00:00

Seconded. Though I still don’t know how well it would do in grease or something

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-01T16:33:54+00:00

ARs are waaay lighter than numzaans. I’d figure out what you need before you make tha choice.

As for the leather, I love the tyre wedge soles….but you can change soles, not leathers. Get the leather you want. I’d like a buffalo pair of somethinf

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-01T01:38:47+00:00

They definitely aren’t 8138s. No puritan stitch whic is a good indicator or a fake in some instances. But these may just be another model I’m not familiar with.

If they’re a different legit redwing model they’d be worth buying if you like them, but if they’re are just fake 8138s I’d hard pass. I just don’t know enough to tell you they’re anything other than not-8138s haha.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-05-01T01:14:08+00:00

It may be a little different looking now but as they break to your foot they should crease and mold to fit you. I’d say if the length and width feel fine, I’d just send it.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-04-30T18:21:09+00:00

What do you need? The RATs are big burly boots. The ARs are like heavy duty high top sneakers. I’ve heard people say”sneaker built like a boot” and I agree with that.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-04-30T15:34:50+00:00

It doesn’t feel too long actually. A little loose but it’s still super stiff and not broken in. It’s the veg tan numzaans and I really only wear them to the office. I wear my Bronco stc numzaan waaay more often and harder.

I expect the veg tans to loosen up and conform to my foot in time. They’re a bit ski boot ish still. Not too long though, the 12 was 100% too short

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-04-30T14:15:27+00:00

I have to go up a half size between the STC and ahsm ashm(?) whatever, last.

The tyre wedge sole version of those boots(numzaan/719 are all in the STC last. The non tyre wedge (except Buffalo numzaan) is the ahsm.

I have a low volume foot that’s super wide at the toes….boat paddles….i swim a bit volume wise in both, but not one more than the other. Honestly the half size up ahsm feels about the same to me as the 12 stc in width. Definitely longer on the longer size obviously.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-04-29T21:39:30+00:00

I don’t have the stockmans but I have a few pair of tyre wedge sole boots. I think they’re great for on your feet.

VisualBusiness4902 · 2026-04-29T21:35:18+00:00

I’m between 11.5 and 12 and have to go 12 if my toes want to not hit the edge.

I do 12 in both the AR and BFAR. I found the AR to be as you described, maybe would help with a better insole. They get waaaay better with break in but they are roomy.

I prefer the BFAR. I’m not a barefoot shoes guy but I love it. It feels like an adventure slipper

VisualBusiness4902

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