Another design by Custom Maker Ken Onion from Hawaii, this one is the Avalanche and was released about the same time as the Boa. The general pattern of this knife is similar to the Blackout and Whirlwind knives which are lower end models with cheaper materials and steel.

Stats:

Blade Steel – CPM-440V Black Ti Coated

Handle – G-10

Blade – 3-1/8″

Closed – 4-1/2″

Weight – 4.5 Oz.

The CPM-440V (now renamed to CPM-S60V) was a hot steel at the time, and has now lost in popularity to CPM-S30V, which was developed by Crucible Steel as a Cutlery steel. It is the first steel made exclusively for Cutlery. CPM440V is still a wonderful steel, and has a very high level of wear resistance, but it takes forever to sharpen and with a manual sharpener that means cramped fingers if you wait too long between sessions.

The Avalanche features rough textured G-10 handles which have phenomenal grip, but also grip very tightly to your pants when clipped, to the point where if carried daily for a month or 2, you will have shredded pockets! I know this from experience, yes! I solved this by sanding down the part of the G-10 handles that is under the pocket clip area.

This knife, like most from Kershaw and Ken Onion these days also has the Speed Safe Assisted opener mechanism, which fires the blade out automatically once you push it open about 1/8″. Most of the newer Kershaws have a “trigger” which protrudes from the back of the knife and is part of the blade.. it facilitates easier usage of the Speed Safe technology. However this knife being older, does not have that, and the thumbstuds must be used. That is unfortunate since this is such a great simple design that could benefit so much from the “trigger”. New knives like the Kershaw Bump are very pricey ($180US+) and demand a premium when new… while older knives like this Avalanche can be purchased for a mere $60US.

The quality of the knife is excellent. There are a few imperfections such as the machining marks on the edges of the Titanium liners, but the liner lock engages positively on the blade tang and there is no blade wobble.

Overall I would say this knife is a superb value for the money, and with a little sanding can be made for excellent day-to-day carry tool.

This article was originally posted by me on epinions.com.

See another great Kershaw Avalanche Review.

We can understand if your mind has been too conditioned on giving out those mushy Valentine’s gifts, consider giving your man some very manly gifts. Here are the top manly gifts that you can give to your man:

* Beer Brewing Kit

Forget laptop computers and miniature cell phones, the best “micro-nization” to have happened that’s exciting is the creation of the micro brewery kit. A beer brewing kit has everything you need including the ingredients for your first batch of tasty beer.

Imagine an entire brewery downsized to a micro mini size no larger than the average picnic cooler. Your man can brew his own tasty beer right at home.

* Boxer Shorts

There are many, many boxer shorts that have a lot of different fun designs on them. From bear designs to M&M prints and many others, choose from any striking design that your man will love. Don’t forget to enclose an enticing love note when you’re giving this gift to him.

* Gadgets

A lot of men are known to be suckers for gadgets, and your man could be one too. Some of known hot gadgets that are inexpensive are Apple iPod speakers with alarm clocks, a wireless headset, and a flip video recorder.

* Jewelry

Men can be as intense as women in their search for fine jewelry. Give your man some handsome pieces of jewelry like white gold men’s ring with diamond inlay or stainless steel bracelets.

* Money Clips

A money clip is the perfect gift for a man who thinks wallets are too pretentious or cumbersome or both. Money clips are never too simple. There are different styles of money clips made out of 14 karat gold, stainless steel, sterling silver or leather. Some are even accented with carbon fiber, diamond, titanium, onyx, and hematite.

* Watches

Cell phone clocks can never replace the elegance of wristwatches. Go ahead and buy your man a timepiece that would fit his taste.

For more romantic Valentine ideas, visit the website http://www.romanticvalentinesideas.com

Commuter Bike To Work – No Global Warming…Just A Hotter Trim You. Getting fit, saving commuter tolls, getting “into the flow” rather than fighting traffic and road rage becomes an easy-access reality with modern collapsible bicycle designs.

Buyer’s Tip #1 – Choosing The Best Folding Bike For Your Needs. Is it work…or is it travel…or perhaps just around-the-neighborhood casual riding that you have in mind? Whatever your preference, check out the 16 in. or 20 in. wheel sized folding bikes, making sure that it’s big enough so that your riding stance is comfortable and that easy-rhythm pedaling efficiency is possible regardless of hills or road conditions.

The two key sizing factors are overall frame length (end-to-end) along with seat post height and corresponding handlebar front stem length. Get “set up” on your commuter bicycle by speaking to a local bike pro shop.

Tip: While “on the saddle” of your folding bike, your leg should be extended at the bottom of the pedal’s arc to the point just short of full extension. Reason? To gain maximum power yet avoid hyper-extension or flexing of the knee.

Buyer’s Tip #2 – Multi Gear Multi Speed Performance Fold Bikes. Like their touring bike and mountain bike kin, folding bicycles offer a wide spectrum of riding possibilities.

* British Designs. Traditional and popular British based Brompton folding bicycle offers a straight forward 3-speed or 6-speed option wheel hub and derailleur assembly.

* German Top Designs. Meanwhile, German Birdy folding bicycle designs include the 9-gear Speed or the 14-gear Rohloff all in single-piece aluminum tube construction for a full suspension comfortable ride.

* American Engineering. USA designer Dahon folding bicycle designs push the speed-and-gearing choice envelope even further, with models offering over 24-gear riding options. “Fast spin high RPM pedaling” is the goal, for low-stress high efficiency riding to work or urban riding while on vacation.

Buyer’s Tip #3 – Long Life Performance Materials And Engineering For Fold Up Bikes. ‘Re-designing the wheel’ drives the folding bicycles engineers to exploit a wide technology resource pool for performance materials such as the Dahon folding bike and its use of double butted 7005 aluminum tubing for strength and reduced weight. Anodized alloy frames, stainless steel spokes, sealed bearings and wheel hub and derailleur assemblies, titanium handle bars or titanium pedals and titanium rear forks for high strength light weight performance.

Buyer’s Tip #4 – Commuter Bike Accessories That Make A Difference. You’re saving gas, money, getting fitter, contributing to a Green World…but you still have to get to work on time, safely and with minimum fuss when storing your bike on a connecting train or in your office.

* Folding Bike Case. Folding bike accessories that give you the bottom line solution begin with the folding bike bag or the hard shell complement, the folding bike case. Typically 30 seconds or less is all you’ll need to open frame hinges, adjust seat post and handlebars, clip together components before speedily inserting your fold bike into its case. Total weight? Generally under 27 lbs.

* Folding Bike Basket And Luggage Holder. Simple clip-on attachments to your commuter bike mean that you can easily “commute” with spare gear, your lunch, your briefcase and laptop and more.

* Safety Lights And Water Bottle. There’s nothing wrong with being “highly visible” to nearby commuter cars. Solution? Besides wearing some brightly colored jacket, or placing reflector Velcro strips around your ankles, think about installing a light weight safety flashing light on your foldable bicycle.

Bottom Line. Learn more about the best folding bicycle designs, equipment options, leading commuter bike models, and accessories that will enhance your fold up bike while commuting, on travel vacation, or taking a spin through nearby parks and streets.

Folding Bikes: http://www.wise4living.com/sbike/

Dahon Folding Bicycle: http://www.wise4living.com/sbike/dahon.htm

Author Robin Derry is publisher for http://www.wise4living.com/ a specialty knowledge site that gives insights and solutions on a wide range of product, technology and lifestyle interests.

Money clips come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, making them the ideal gift for just about everyone. Money clips are round, oval, rectangular, and square. Some money clips are very fancy, with diamond studs or diamond engravings.

Metal money clips are the most popular and can be made of stainless steel, titanium, platinum, white gold, silver or gold. They’re seen as a luxury item and are always a gift appreciated by the recipient. The metal can be engraved with a fancy or simple monogram, making it a personal gift that fits just that person.

Another style of money clip is the magnetic clip. Created from two strong, flat, round or rectangular magnets usually encased in leather, they are designed to swivel into an open or closed position. This style of money clip is very masculine and is capable of carrying more cash than a metal money clip, making it very popular in some circles.

For the person who likes to carry not only cash, but also credit cards close at hand, a hybrid money clip is the perfect choice. It is designed specifically to hold more with its swivel magnetic clip attached to the backside of the clip itself.

Leather money clips are sometimes called a slim wallet because they are slim enough to fit into your front pocket as well as your back pocket. This style of money clip will sometimes have pockets not only for your credit cards, but a clear window for your identification as well. Colors vary from the traditional black to browns, tans, dark greens, and even a crème color. Personalize a leather money clip by embossing initials or a special symbol on the outside.

Some money clips are formed into the shape of a dollar sign, a paper clip, or a horseshoe. Others have a built-in pocketknife, making them even more unique. There are even money clips that have a working watch conveniently built-into the design. It’s even possible to have your favorite sports team emblem embedded into your money clip.

Custom money clips are also a classy way to go, but many times the manufacturer will require a minimum number of clips to be ordered at one time. Unless you are ordering for a large number of people (100 or more), this may not be an option for you.

The style of money clip a person carries tells you a little bit about that person. It may tell you if they are wealthy, down-to-earth, organized, flashy, or a relatively simple person. Money clips vary in price range, so you’re likely to find one that will fit your budget.

A personalized money clip is a fashion statement all on its own. They are a status symbol for some, and a necessary accessory for others. Take the time to choose exactly the right one for each person on your gift list and you’ll enjoy their excitement when they open their very own-initialed money clip.

To learn more about how an engraved money clip can make a perfect gift to yourself or anyone on your list visit http://www.money-clips-online.com . You’ll also learn what makes a wallet money clip different from a traditional money clip.

More and more gentlemen are bringing titanium money clips because of the class and elegance it brings. People from the elite class of society often view money clips as a status symbol compared to bulky wallets. Also, it is a lot handier and easier to use.

They come in various designs and materials. Common materials of money clips include gold, silver, platinum, magnets, leather, aluminum and titanium. There are even some money clips which contain precious stones to give it more status. You can also choose to have them in titamium customized by engraving your initials or having it monogrammed. Indeed, using a money clip instead of a wallet gives you more identity and class, and you can truly set yourself apart from the others especially if you have your own personalized.

There are four basic types of money clips you can choose from. You can opt for a magnetic one, which is created from two rectangular shaped magnets coated in leather, and where a part of the rectangle sways to open and close it. Compared to other metal money clips, the magnetic type holds the paramount holding capability – up to 15 folded bills.

The metal money clip is also another choice. It is deemed to be the most classy and lavish of all. It’s made of creased rectangular valuable material. However, due to its firm features of some metals, the metal money clip might not hold enough folded bills. But if you choose to go with the titanium kind, you can hold more bills than the regular metal clip. There are also metal money clips that are spring initiated allow you to carry more bills. Hybrid clips are also another choice. They’re designed to hold not only cash, but also credit cards and ATM card. Another variant is also the rubber band variant, which is basically just an immense and costly rubber band used to lump together all your credit cards and cash, just as you would do with a regular rubber band.

But whatever design you choose, having money clips, especially titanium clips are sure to be a good accessory for formal attire during formal occasions such as weddings and black-tie events. It also gives you a touch of sophistication and elegance, and through personalized money clips, you can definitely set yourself apart from others.

Alain Picard
LinkYourShirt Titanium Money Clips
Specialists in Cufflinks, Men’s Neckties and fashion accessories

Leather Band Watches

You may like your steel band watch or your ever-dependable sports watch so much that you wear it everywhere you go. For your formal event, though, it may be time to lay it down. A leather band watch is what you need in a formal setting, and don’t ever think of switching it with your regular silver watch just because it goes under your sleeve and won’t likely be noticed by anyone. You’re wrong; these little accessories will get noticed and will separate the tacky from the elegant.

Silk Handkerchiefs

Although it’s always nice to re-invent and express your individuality through the colors and designs of your clothes and accessories, if you’re a beginner, it is best to settle for safe colors, like dark blue or gray. You can always go for white, too. To achieve a natural, bloom-like shape, lay the handkerchief flat on a table, pinch it in the middle and raise it up. Fold the column of fabric in half using your other hand and carefully insert it into the breast pocket of your jacket. Follow these steps to avoid the common mistake of over-folding your handkerchief.

Money Clip

Your formal attire may lose its elegance when there are bulges seen everywhere. Keep the iPhone or BlackBerry away from your pockets. Bring an I.D. card, a credit card and some cash and store them using a money clip rather than a fat wallet. This will not only keep the bulge away, but it will also add to the overall sophistication of your look. Money clips typically come in stainless steel, silver, gold, titanium, or platinum.

New Leather Belt

Now, why do you need a “new” leather belt when you have several of them that you use during normal days? The belts that you have may already be showing signs of wear from constant use. Make sure you have a fine leather belt that you use only for these kinds of occasions. So, what we really meant was not to get a new leather belt every time you need to attend a formal event, but to have one that looks new and fits extremely well with your formal outfit. Don’t wear it every day…save it for the more formal occasion.

Sterling Silver Cufflinks

Cufflinks define elegance in a man’s formal attire. While anyone can button up a shirt and two cuffs, only real gentlemen bother to take that extra step – to put on their sterling silver cufflinks. They are totally optional, which is probably why those who wear them are always seen as men with keen taste in fashion. Cufflinks are often part of the details that common men no longer care to bother themselves with. Shame.

So, before you leave your pad in haste to a really important formal event, check to see if you are ultimately ready to impress the other guests and to show them your distinct style and impeccable taste.

Whether your interests are in silver, gold, artistic, sports, or other theme-related cufflinks we’ve got you covered. Cufflink Aficionado carries a broad range of men’s cuff links designed to meet each connoisseur’s individual style and interest. Our selection of cuff links are sure to top off that perfect look.

Functionality First

The first question to answer in order to narrow the field is whether you want the money clip to have any extra functionality. Many clips have added extensions, including watches, Swiss army knives, and spring loaded designs. If you only want a simple clip, then these gimmicks can be ignored, narrowing the field considerably.

Money Clip or Money Clip Wallet

A simple clip is as much as most people need, but others still want to retain some of the organizational utility of conventional wallets. For these people, considering a money clip wallet is definitely a good idea. This cuts down other options in materials and design styles considerably, but may be worth the extra space. If all you need is something that holds your bills and a few credit cards, a regular money clip should be all that you need.

Choose a Material

The next question to answer is what material you want your clip to be made out of. Common materials include gold, silver, steel, titanium, carbon fiber, and leather. Choice in material comes down to considering what your practical and aesthetic needs are. Precious metals look great but are typically softer and less durable. Newer materials like carbon fiber have striking looks but come with larger price tags. Choosing a material which looks and functions well will narrow down your choices more than any other decision you can make.

The Exterior

Now that you’ve chosen the functionality and material of your money clip, all that’s left is to choose the exterior design. Whether you favor raised edges, anodized metal finishes, emblazoned logos or symbols, accents of other metal and ceramic materials, or simple and smooth designs is really a personal choice. If you’ve narrowed the field through previous decisions, this final choice is much less daunting to make. With all of the possibilities in exterior design, make sure you take the time to browse multiple vendors before making a final decision so that you don’t sell yourself short.

The Perfect Money Clip

What defines perfection is different for each of us. Choosing the right money clip is easy so long as you keep your goals and motives clearly in mind during each step. By narrowing the field in choosing functionality and material, you should have a much easier time finding a money clip which is just right for your individual needs.

Aaron Silvers is a money clip enthusiast who has decided to write articles informing people about their great and attractive qualities. He is the lead corresponding author at the Money Clip Tycoon a site dedicated to everything and anything money clip related.

It is important to think of how you are going to use your clip before purchasing one. Money clips today do far more than simply hold bills. Many have features to hold your credit cards, driver’s license, and business cards. There are styles that have opening on the front and back, and those that have an inside flap that folds over. Think also of what type of material appeals to you the most.

A relatively new material in the making of money clips is titanium. This is a sleek, modern choice with many attractive elements. Titanium is as durable and strong as steel, but is amazingly lightweight. It is resistant to scratching and corrosion. Gray titanium, however, is suitable for engraving, making it perfect for gifting. Those who are sensitive to metals will be glad to know that it is hypoallergenic. Titanium is a nice choice for those who like a clean, modern look.

Leather is another popular choice. It is soft and elegant. Many leather clips are also magnetic, which makes them easy to open and close. The downside to magnetic clips is that they generally only hold five bills effectively. Leather money clips have many different styles, can be monogrammed, and always look sharp.

Sterling silver is a classic look that compliments any style. There are many different finishes to sterling silver. Striped, engraved, brushed, silver dollar, and classic are some of the styles. This material is so versatile that some models even include a pocket knife. Credit card holders are not included with this particular metal. Sterling silver is a timeless look that is still very popular.

Gold is by far the most expensive of all the materials used to make money clips. Finishes are also plentiful in this precious metal. Favorite choices are brushed, ribbed, nuggets, and white gold. Take care with this option as it is more easily scratched. Gold is able to be engraved and looks very stylish and impressive.

Money clips make great individualized gifts. They are available with many different designs to suit your interest. Some interesting designs include Monopoly characters such as Boardwalk, Reading Railroad, and Get Out of Jail; crosses, watches, diamond insets, dollar signs, spades for the gambler, million dollar grandpa, any sports team you like, and many more. They are fashionable and a great way to showcase your individuality.

As an accessory, money clips are increasing in popularity. They are a functional and attractive alternative to wallets, and make wonderful gifts. It is difficult to go wrong with this piece of jewelry. No matter what your style, a money clip is a wonderful addition to any wardrobe.

The money clip is a great idea for a present or sometimes even for someone who is just fed up with carrying big fat wallets, Roy Ditelezieg write about jewelry and men?s accessories, read great tips and advice on shopping for accessories and Money Clips at moneyclips.advice-tips.com

There are different types of money clip and materials that they were made from, such as Metal, Magnetic and Rubber Variant. Metal made clips are typically the most luxurious clips compared from the rest. It is luxurious because it is made from stainless steel, gold, silver and titanium metals. However, due to inflexibility of metal, it can only enable you to hold a small amount of cash. Magnetic made clips are typically made from two flat rectangular or maybe circular magnets covered in leather. It is separated with another small piece of leather allowing them to swivel open and close.

Unlike metal clip, magnetic clips allow you to hold larger amounts of cash, but it is not advisable to hold credit cards because the magnet can cause distortion and it can even erase magnetic stripes. Another type is the rubber variant that enables you to group credit cards together while folding bills into thirds, and combining them with the rubber band around. Because this is not really a money clip, a rubber band variant can also serve the same purpose like money clips. Hybrid money clip is the most functional of all the clips. It is typically designed to hold cash, credit cards and ATM cards. They come in different designs with solid plastic or magnetic clip.

Other modern money clips have evolved to include additional functional features. Such item is a hybrid money clip. It allows you to attach cash, credit cards and ATM cards. You may find items that look like a small leather wallet that allows for additional carrying space to house credit cards, ATM cards or business cards. However, this type of money clip is much larger compared with traditional clips.

Another popular design for these items are those that comes with a personalized touch. To make it even more special, you’ll be able to have your initials engraved on it. Personalized money clips come in different designs and styles that can match different personalities.

If you are a sport minded person, you might want to consider NFL Emblem Money Clip. And for a more elegant look you might want to consider a Throttle Stainless Steel Money Clip. This can also make an ideal distinguished gift item to congratulate the success of your colleague. Make it more special be engraving his name on it.

These items can come in handy for anyone when wearing formal dress on special occasions or events such as weddings, black tie or red carpet celebrations. Many professionals opt for money clips when they are in a business setting. To find personalized money clip, you can try browsing the Internet for online stores that offer these items. This is a very easy and more comfortable way of locating good stores that offer a variety of selections to choose from. They also sell other engravable gifts that are perfect for your special professionals such as leather desk sets.

Janet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. For more information on engraved business gifts, visit the website Mybusinessgifts.com and browse their extensive collection. Get a money clip to give as your next business gift.

Gifts for groomsmen come in wide variety of choices. It can be anything from cufflinks to grooming kits. You may want to give the gifts individually, which is an ideal choice. In order to give personalized gifts, again you need to know the things they will enjoy using and wearing. Remember, each groomsman has its own identity. A groomsman gift that you think will be best for John might not work for Albert. The more you know your groomsmen the easier you can think of the gifts that can knock them down!

Personalized gifts, such as engraved, embroidered and monogrammed gifts have been the most ideal choice of gift whatever occasion it may be. Both men and women, and even children will absolutely love personalized gifts. The thing about personalized gifts is that they are far more thoughtful than gifts that you can easily grab anywhere. Giving personalized gifts to your groomsmen simply show your deep sincerity of thanking and appreciating them.

There are so many things for men that can be made personalize. You may think of generic items to personalize, such as cufflinks, money clips, beer mugs, flasks, pocket knives and pocket watches. Here are some choices to choose from:

Groomsmen Engraved Cufflinks. Your groomsmen, best man and fathers of the bride and groom posing in black tuxes and white tuxedo shirts are sure to catch the ladies’ eyes by flashing their french cuffs and art deco design silver slotted engraved cufflinks. To make it more special, have their initials engraved on these cufflinks.

Tyler Titanium Diamond Accented Money Clip. When nothing but a diamond will do, he’ll reach for this Tyler Titanium Diamond Accented Money Clip. Constructed of titanium and accented with an onyx-black center, this designer money clip features a sparkling diamond, a symbol of the very best life has to offer. We think this exquisite money holder is the perfect gift for your best man, your ushers, your groomsmen…all the men in your wedding party. It’s a luxurious token of appreciation he’ll use for years to come.

Personalized Groomsmen Hip Flask. A personalized groomsmen gift like this Personalized Groomsmen Hip Flask is a useful and traditional gift for all the men in you wedding party. This sleek and stylish hip flask is handsome in stainless steel and has curved sides and bottom for a comfortable fit. For a groomsman gift that is sure to please this stainless steel liquor flask can’t be beat.

Other cool groomsmen gifts include unique gifts such as an insulated cooler bag, personalized pub signs, personalized business cards cases and embroidered weekender bags.

Janet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. If you’re looking for engraved personalized gifts, visit the website Mygroomsmengifts.com and choose from their products. Shop for best man gifts online!