Was accepted into school and start in January. I still have undergrad micro and ethics I was taking to strengthen my application. I have 5-6 weeks left in both classes.
Wife is telling me to withdraw from them and relax. I’m thinking finish…? Issue is, it’s either A or nothing from my perspective.
Edit:
Acceptance is not contingent on class completion.
Rangermade Knife & Tool OBJ-2 - Titanium - Sheepsfoot MagnaCut Blade #021
I purchased this knife from DLT and returned it immediately. I didn’t feel right trying to sell it on the secondary market due to the overall construction and condition.
I reached out to the maker but unfortunately never received a response. Below are my findings, along with photos from the disassembly and the time I spent with the knife. Unfortunately, it’s not a knife or company I can recommend in its current state.
**1. Dry Pivot / Bearings / Detent**
The knife arrived completely dry, with no lubrication on the pivot, bearings, or detent. Knives at this price point should ship properly tuned and lubricated.
The detent ball placement and ramp geometry are aggressive enough that the blade does not freely drop or close until it is roughly one-third closed. Additionally, the detent ball does not appear to be tuned correctly, as there is an audible click when the blade finally releases. This excessive detent tension causes the lock bar to visibly flex under load, which may accelerate wear and negatively affect long-term lock bar integrity.
**2. Deployment**
Thumb-hole deployment is largely ineffective due to the excessive detent strength, leaving the knife reliably deployable only via reverse flick. It is unclear whether this is solely due to the detent tuning or is compounded by the thumb-hole placement relative to the pivot, but the result is poor and inconsistent deployment that does not meet expectations at this level.
**3. Lock Bar / Blade Tang Engagement**
The lock bar engages approximately 10% of the blade tang and appears to be point-loaded on the outermost lower corner of the lock face.
Typical production frame and liner locks generally exhibit approximately 20–50% lock engagement with broad, even contact between the lock face and blade tang. This knife instead appears to have minimal contact area concentrated at a single point, suggesting an issue with the lock geometry.
Additionally, there is no lock bar insert or other visible hardened interface at the contact surface, which may concentrate stress and accelerate wear over time.
The blade tang also audibly grinds against the lock bar before reaching the detent ball, further suggesting improper tang relief or lock face geometry. Although a detent ball ramp has been added to the blade tang, it does not resolve the underlying issue. The blade tang continues to audibly and physically scrape against the lock bar before the detent ball reaches the ramp, indicating that the root cause lies in the lock face geometry and tang relief rather than the detent transition itself. The presence of the ramp appears to address a symptom rather than the actual source of the excessive friction and improper lock interface.
**4. Stop Pin Size / Rattle**
The stop pin rattles freely when the knife is moved side to side, indicating excessive clearance between the pin and its corresponding holes. This may result from oversized holes, an undersized stop pin, or a combination of both.
The stop pin also appears relatively small for a blade of this size and thickness, raising concerns about long-term durability and the potential for increased wear or deformation under repeated loading.
**5. Hardware Sizes**
The pivot uses T15 hardware, the body screws are T5, and the pocket clip uses T6. This mix of three different screw sizes complicates routine maintenance.
T5 hardware is especially prone to stripping, and the combination of a large pivot with very small body screws increases the risk of damage if the pivot is over-torqued. T6 is generally considered the minimum acceptable size for knife hardware, with T8 being a more common standard for body screws on knives at this price point.
**6. Handle Milling / Finish**
There are five to six visible tool path lines left on the flat sections of the titanium scales, particularly on the pocket clip side. These machining marks appear unintentional and detract from the overall finish.
The lock bar relief cut also contains raised metal and machining burrs that were not removed during the finishing process. The presence of these burrs indicates incomplete deburring and poor finishing quality.
This level of machining finish is unacceptable on a premium knife and falls well below the standard expected for a knife in this price range.
**7. Lock Bar Overtravel Prevention**
There is no dedicated lock bar overtravel stop present. Without a lock bar insert, oversized pivot collars, or a designated overtravel stop, the lock bar can flex beyond its intended range.
Currently, overtravel prevention appears to rely solely on slight interference from the pocket clip, which is generally considered inadequate.
**8. Pocket Clip Design**
Pocket clip retention is insufficient due to an underbuilt design. The clip is long, narrow, very thin, largely straight, and mounted with a single screw. This geometry provides minimal spring force and allows micro-pivoting at the screw rather than controlled elastic flex.
As a result, retention is weak even on the initial pocket insertion when the knife is fully seated against the scale. This appears to be a design deficiency rather than a tolerance or user-related issue and is likely to worsen with use.
Due to the thinness of the clip along its straightest section, I also have concerns that the clip could crack or fail during normal use over time.
**Final Thoughts**
I understand that some of these points may come down to personal preference or intentional design choices. However, after handling and disassembling this knife, I do not feel the overall execution meets the expectations I have for a premium titanium folder.
These are my observations from the specific knife I received, and I am sharing them so potential buyers can make a more informed decision. Others may have a different experience, but this example did not meet the standard I would expect.
Rangermade Knife & Tool OBJ-2 - Titanium - Sheepsfoot MagnaCut Blade #021
I purchased this knife from DLT and returned it immediately. I didn’t feel right trying to sell it on the secondary market due to the overall construction and condition.
I reached out to the maker but unfortunately never received a response. Below are my findings, along with photos from the disassembly and the time I spent with the knife. Unfortunately, it’s not a knife or company I can recommend in its current state.
1. Dry Pivot / Bearings / Detent
The knife arrived completely dry, with no lubrication on the pivot, bearings, or detent. Knives at this price point should ship properly tuned and lubricated.
The detent ball placement and ramp geometry are aggressive enough that the blade does not freely drop or close until it is roughly one-third closed. Additionally, the detent ball does not appear to be tuned correctly, as there is an audible click when the blade finally releases. This excessive detent tension causes the lock bar to visibly flex under load, which may accelerate wear and negatively affect long-term lock bar integrity.
2. Deployment
Thumb-hole deployment is largely ineffective due to the excessive detent strength, leaving the knife reliably deployable only via reverse flick. It is unclear whether this is solely due to the detent tuning or is compounded by the thumb-hole placement relative to the pivot, but the result is poor and inconsistent deployment that does not meet expectations at this level.
3. Lock Bar / Blade Tang Engagement
The lock bar engages approximately 10% of the blade tang and appears to be point-loaded on the outermost lower corner of the lock face.
Typical production frame and liner locks generally exhibit approximately 20–50% lock engagement with broad, even contact between the lock face and blade tang. This knife instead appears to have minimal contact area concentrated at a single point, suggesting an issue with the lock geometry.
Additionally, there is no lock bar insert or other visible hardened interface at the contact surface, which may concentrate stress and accelerate wear over time.
The blade tang also audibly grinds against the lock bar before reaching the detent ball, further suggesting improper tang relief or lock face geometry. Although a detent ball ramp has been added to the blade tang, it does not resolve the underlying issue. The blade tang continues to audibly and physically scrape against the lock bar before the detent ball reaches the ramp, indicating that the root cause lies in the lock face geometry and tang relief rather than the detent transition itself. The presence of the ramp appears to address a symptom rather than the actual source of the excessive friction and improper lock interface.
4. Stop Pin Size / Rattle
The stop pin rattles freely when the knife is moved side to side, indicating excessive clearance between the pin and its corresponding holes. This may result from oversized holes, an undersized stop pin, or a combination of both.
The stop pin also appears relatively small for a blade of this size and thickness, raising concerns about long-term durability and the potential for increased wear or deformation under repeated loading.
5. Hardware Sizes
The pivot uses T15 hardware, the body screws are T5, and the pocket clip uses T6. This mix of three different screw sizes complicates routine maintenance.
T5 hardware is especially prone to stripping, and the combination of a large pivot with very small body screws increases the risk of damage if the pivot is over-torqued. T6 is generally considered the minimum acceptable size for knife hardware, with T8 being a more common standard for body screws on knives at this price point.
6. Handle Milling / Finish
There are five to six visible tool path lines left on the flat sections of the titanium scales, particularly on the pocket clip side. These machining marks appear unintentional and detract from the overall finish.
The lock bar relief cut also contains raised metal and machining burrs that were not removed during the finishing process. The presence of these burrs indicates incomplete deburring and poor finishing quality.
This level of machining finish is unacceptable on a premium knife and falls well below the standard expected for a knife in this price range.
7. Lock Bar Overtravel Prevention
There is no dedicated lock bar overtravel stop present. Without a lock bar insert, oversized pivot collars, or a designated overtravel stop, the lock bar can flex beyond its intended range.
Currently, overtravel prevention appears to rely solely on slight interference from the pocket clip, which is generally considered inadequate.
8. Pocket Clip Design
Pocket clip retention is insufficient due to an underbuilt design. The clip is long, narrow, very thin, largely straight, and mounted with a single screw. This geometry provides minimal spring force and allows micro-pivoting at the screw rather than controlled elastic flex.
As a result, retention is weak even on the initial pocket insertion when the knife is fully seated against the scale. This appears to be a design deficiency rather than a tolerance or user-related issue and is likely to worsen with use.
Due to the thinness of the clip along its straightest section, I also have concerns that the clip could crack or fail during normal use over time.
Final Thoughts
I understand that some of these points may come down to personal preference or intentional design choices. However, after handling and disassembling this knife, I do not feel the overall execution meets the expectations I have for a premium titanium folder.
These are my observations from the specific knife I received, and I am sharing them so potential buyers can make a more informed decision. Others may have a different experience, but this example did not meet the standard I would expect. rather than subjective preferences
Redwing 3555: Had Tuff Toe applied at the store. I know it comes out of a tube and isn’t easy to apply evenly. I know they’re workboots and they’ll be worn and used heavily. I just bought them for my brother and it doesn’t seem like this may be the best work. Didn’t know if I should see if anything can be fixed before giving them to him?
UPDATE:
Redwing tried to repair the boots, but then ended up replacing them and taking $50 off. Thank you all for your input!
Accepted!
Just wanted to post something encouraging and wanted to thank everyone who told me to keep going!
After four application cycles, not stellar undergrad grades, and a lot of defeat, pulling up my boot straps and taking 20 credits last year while working full time, I was finally accepted at my dream school. Don’t give up. It feels grueling, and like you will never achieve your dreams. But with hard work, you can accomplish so much! Now onto the hard work.
Edit:
Waitlisted first cycle, interviewed second, not invited to interview third, took 20 credits/increased leadership roles, accepted 4th. Was not willing to move states or cities so only applied to local schools.
Classes: Orgo + lab (UNE), Micro + lab, Biomedical ethics (Portage - confirmed school accepted), Graduate Stats, Pharm, Patho (University of Phoenix).
Only applied to two schools during the four cycles, and only applied to the second school the final two of four attempts. Never received an interview at the second school.
Certs: CCRN, CSC, CMC, ECMO micro credential.
Made sure to numerically highlight the 550+ hours a year I spent precepting d/t not being charge nurse, also had committee involvement, volunteer, and unit based research, unit nurse governance president and held position for > 2 years.
Most schools score CV categories, and if you can meet with program advisor, should be able to tell you where to focus your efforts and what categories you have “maxed out.”
Just wanted to post something encouraging!
After four application cycles, not stellar undergrad grades, and a lot of defeat, pulling up my boot straps and taking 20 credits last year while working full time, I was finally accepted at my dream school. Don’t give up. It feels grueling, and like you will never achieve your dreams. But with hard work, you can accomplish so much! Keep pushing!
Edit:
Waitlisted first cycle, interviewed second, not invited to interview third, took 20 credits/increased leadership roles, accepted 4th. Was not willing to move states or cities so only applied to local schools.
Classes: Orgo + lab (UNE), Micro + lab, Biomedical ethics (Portage - confirmed school accepted), Graduate Stats, Pharm, Patho (University of Phoenix).
Only applied to two schools during the four cycles, and only applied to the second school the final two of four attempts. Never received an interview at the second school.
Certs: CCRN, CSC, CMC, ECMO micro credential.
Made sure to numerically highlight the 550+ hours a year I spent precepting d/t not being charge nurse, also had committee involvement, volunteer, and unit based research, unit nurse governance president and held position for > 2 years.
Most schools score CV categories, and if you can meet with program advisor, should be able to tell you where to focus your efforts and what categories you have “maxed out.”
Trying to post my story on Reddit’s make it human sounding and don’t change anything really. Just make it flow and easy to read
We were at a function with a larger group of people who aren’t any of my friends really. Friends of my husbands best friend and his wife. I hardly ever drink, but when I’m with this group of people, I actually don’t. Historically, the wife has gotten me blackout drunk by force feeding me drinks when I’m past my limit and I stopped drinking with them because of that.
This particular weekend is no different and generally always leads to her becoming upset when I decline to drink. I have a great time hanging out with everyone and get along with most everyone but her. I had been going through some very stressful health stuff, working full time, in school, with a lot of family dynamic stuff at the time. Very stressed. Had also just had some issues with my best friend and another friend of my husband’s because they started dating and the dynamic became challenging. Needless to say, that friend of my husbands was not there that weekend and used to stay sober with me.
Fast forward to later that night and everyone starts playing drinking games. I had originally been playing and not drinking but the wife left and I ended up deciding to participate. The entire group ended up getting quite drunk over the next several hours and my husband and I get separated. I end up having a panic attack for what felt like an eternity. I was abused sexually by a teacher for several years in high school and being in a vulnerable state of mind and not with my husband was causing me to panic. His one friend was getting me back to him, and my husbands best friend was with us. While I was panicking he continued to take my hand and touch himself. I kept pulling away but he continued to do this.
We get back to the house from being outside and I have no idea how much time passes but I wake up laying on a couch, to him nearly head butting me from kissing me so aggressively. I pushed him off and asked what he was doing. He got in my face while I was laying on the couch and continued to aggressively ask me to suck him off. I kept repeatedly telling him to go to bed, to leave, to sleep and said it more than 15 times. He kept getting in my face and demanding I do. Then took himself out of his pants and put himself all over my face. He kept coming and going. He put it back in my face demanding I do something; and I eventually put it in my mouth and just sat there. He finally got irritated enough and left and didn’t come back until a lot longer later and grabbed my face and said he was sorry. He was clearly, very, very drunk.
I couldn’t sleep. Once he had finally been gone a long time I went frantically looking for my husband and found him asleep on the deck with our other friend. I woke him up and was begging him to leave. He immediately asked me what was wrong and if anything happened. I did not want to tell him anything because of how drunk everyone was and I did not want anything bad to happen.
Fast forward to the morning and I’m trying to get out of there. Everyone is taking their time. My husbands best friend won’t come out of their room and his wife is saying it’s because he has “hangxiety.” He eventually comes out right before we leave but obviously won’t look at me.
We finally leave and get to driving home and once we get home, my husband‘s best friend texts my husband and says he doesn’t remember anything and that he hasn’t been blackout drunk forever and apologizes for anything that might’ve happened but doesn’t say anything happened. He then tells my husband that he got this drunk because his uncle died and he didn’t tell anyone and he was having a really hard time with it. My husband told me several days later that he didn’t buy anything that he was saying about his uncle and that he just made a bad judgment call and got super drunk and then he felt like he was trying to cover up something, but didn’t know what I haven’t told him… I haven’t told anyone… He’s the only friend that he has and my husband is in a great place and he’s never gotten that drunk before and he never leaves me and I know I would just break him to his core to find out that his childhood best friend did this when he has nobody else and he would blame himself on top of it for not being there for me. I’m just afraid he wouldn’t be able to handle any of it so I haven’t said anything but the worthlessness I feel is just eating away at me. It feels like my friendship never mattered to him and like he got what he wanted and now he doesn’t want anything to do with me because he used to talk to me and my husband daily and now he talks to my husband, but never talks to me. And it’s not that I will want to talk to him. It’s just that I feel like he got exactly what he had always wanted and left and then I was never anything.
I know all these feelings are silly. I’m just trying to grapple with it. Thanks for listening.