The GEC caplifter, beer scout, crown puller, whatever it’s called is nearly impossible to get.
I mean I got this #85 pattern in natural cherry bone on the recent run, but not until after I
wrote that first sentence. If you make a single mistake in the checkout process, open the door
for y’lady, or linger too long on the shipping choice it’s already gone. Do I want overnight?
The odds are always stacked against me because I wasn’t even on a secret dealer list, or wearing
my lucky wool fedora which my wife bought it to match my vest. But the review ain’t about that,
because getting that was still over month off when I shot this. So the 85 was the pasts future, but
not really the present if that makes sense. But in the meantime, how about Mr. Right now.
There’s nothing wrong with settling, even when it comes to very important life events like buying
another pocket knife. Which is why I signed up for a preorder for the sure why not Lionsteel
Cap Lifter, and exclusive to collector knives dot com. I spend a lot of money (for me) at Collector
Knives, and Mike from Collector Knives, loaned me a prototype knowing if he gave me a little taste
I would probably wind up buying a whole rock. I’m kind of excited because I don’t get many
early looks. Do they not trust me? Is it the hair? This knife is similar to the CK01, and a ways back
you might remember I reviewed the CK01 clip point variant called the shuffler. There’s also a Barlow
blade variation of the CK01 called the roundhead and this sorta shares the blade from that. The
Cap Lifter is like a slightly thicker, nearly identical version of the roundhead- except with
a bottle opener, that has a flathead screwdriver tip. Is it a multitool? Discuss while we do some
dimensions. Just remember that this knife is only going to be slightly heavier and thicker than the
standard collector knives Lionsteel Barlow. Like me at a desk job for the past 6 years.
Otherwise it’s the same. Gotta give it another backspring, and make room for the second tool.
So if you know about the Lion Steel CK01 and it’s variations.
It’s basically a modernized traditional style knife. You have multiple blade choices. Scale
options, and a modern stainless steel in the way of the Bohler M390. I don’t mind carbon steels,
but some people want something that they don’t have to be as careful around their moisture,
their sweat, or their fluids with. I get it.
Anyway the Caplifter Barlow seen here continues the tradition of the classy roundhead Barlow,
but equips it for dranking. Remember though you can always enjoy a soda. The blade is made from
Bohler M390, which is a modern super steel that resists rust corrosion and low price points.
Now unlike a GEC whoms sharpness scale ranges from butter knife or wow it’s actually kinda sharp-
the Lionsteel comes properly sharpened, and as always the odds of stitches will increase with the
caps lifted. These aren’t large knives, so they are acceptable in nearly any social situations,
even if you talking about your pocket knives to people who don’t give two shits
is not. Since it’s thinly ground I have found my original lion steel shuffler
isn’t any harder to sharpen than my GECs on my spyderco sharpmaker when maintaining it’s edge.
In the years I’ve owned it I have found the blade doesn’t chip or roll unusually.
The bottle opener part does it’s job, and is constructed out of the M390
too. I had never done a comparison between bottle openers before this but Mike asked me my opinion.
First you have the Leatherman Wave, the bottle opener and can opener on the same tool.
I found you have to open it all the way to get a good grip. It’s doing two things at once,
and you have to be the most precise to open the beer in an emergency. Then there’s the
victorinox cadet, makes easy work of the soda. The GECs have a wider mouth on the opener,
which means you have to be slightly less precise with the placement, similar to the victorinox.
The Lionsteel is about middle and requires a slightly more deliberate placement of the lifter
than the GEC. People like these videos because they’re very technical. There’s also the flathead
section there, in case you encounter a screw made before the 1990s or a light switch. A good time to
diagnose an electrical problem is when you’ve been drinking. Did you turn that breaker off? Probably.
The cap lifter is a slip joint, meaning the blade doesn’t lock as most pocket knives
were before the 1980s. As you know the walk is the opening and closing characteristic of the blade
and the talk is how it snaps close. The walk and talk is kind of subjective
from user to user, and I’ve found it’s still annoying to say out loud. The pull
on these is nice and crisp, not weak. My GEC 23s and boker slack are fingernail rippers,
but this is moderately strong, like a 6 on a scale of 10, and snaps close. There
is a half stop meaning the blade has a halfway stop between open and close. As
for my opinion the walk and talk on these are a good reference knife for me. Meaning
it’s good and I like the amount of tension, the half stop and the snap.
Collector knives has a few handle variations available. I’ve never had a rams horn scaled
knife, so I thought It’d give a chance to say horny at least once in the video and I
got in on the preorder for that. Don’t know what that’ll be like, but this one seen in this video,
the walnut, appears to be a discontinued before it even comes out because of lack of interest.
It’s a shame there’s a nice grain and I get my grain appreciation from my grandfather.
The knife has a basic construction of titanium liners, and bolsters, with a screwed on scale.
Handle isn’t large but it’s neutral and classic looking. It disappears inside my fist,
it’s kinda small but sitting in your easy chair, and catching up on the forum posts,
checking the bird feeder- the occasion calls for a cute little knife.
Comparisons. First the Cap lifter, like the standard Barlow but for dranking.
Same basic footprint of the standard CK01, and the backspacing tension on both is very similar.
If you drink beer out of the can like god and the aluminum industry lobby intended
opt for the standard. Or get both like a normal person. Like the place’s namesake
from where I purchased the shuffler, collectors knives, I collect so I naturally want both.
Maybe had the technology been available at the time and the Cap lifter came out first
I would have gotten that. How about the GEC Beer and Sausage tool, based on the 35 pattern. Sure I
already had multitools, but not one with a comb. I look like a guy who combs things regularly right.
Be nice I’m feeling pretty today. So that and it’s future scarcity in mind I got this- so that it’s
one more thing for the kids to sort out when I die. The springs on the comb and fork
opener are weaker, and like a good GEC you do the sharpening. It’s a processed meat and
alcohol lifestyle knife, and since I already have high blood pressure it’s like they made it for me.
Now the Glittery #15. Nice backspring. Kinda in the territory of the Lionsteels but a little,
just a tiny amount easier backspring. Both Barlow here, both similar size,
this one has the glittery technology. Lionsteel was much sharper, I love both though,
although the thing is I like all these knives here. Ooh how about a knife I’m gonna review
but have been too lazy too at this point. The Viper swayback. It’s also a nice one, similar
backspring, very similar (and excellent) fit and finish, the M390. Got that wharncliffe or the
sheets foot. I literally have to look it up every time for the subtle differences. I guess I like
the reply guys telling me. Like the difference between a spyderco exclusive and sprint run.
Ok are we done. I hope so. What needs to be said. The Barlow caplifter is pretty good.
I love the little visual details like the classy swedge up top, the rounded long pulls. The tension
of the back springs, the scale choices. Lionsteel makes a good traditional, but updated with the
modern trimmings. GEC’s generally used polished bolsters and carbon steel, so they get a nice set
of scratches on the bolsters, and staining of the steel parts. That’s their charm. They get uglier
as they age just like we do. The Lionsteels with their corrosion resistant parts will stay cleaner
longer- if that’s your thing. The point is I like pocket knives and I collect them, and I’m always
ready to add something to my collection that I like the looks of that resembles these other
things I already have. It’s called collecting and it’s stupid and I can’t switch it off at
this point. However if you don’t own a single traditional and also like cracking open a cold
one with the grandpas the lion steel is a good place to start in your journey. Just don’t bring
up the M390. Anyway you can preorder these like I did at collector knives, that way you can get the
handle option you want. These are only available there too. Collector Knives is one of the few
places to get GECs for a preorder. Sometimes I’m fast enough, maybe once out of every 6 times.
Today is April 22, Lynn willing I got this video done in time. Today would be a good day to donate
to a veteran charities, or help out if you have the time, for Americans in need. Below the video
is a link to the VAs website, where you can find a list of places you can donate to. If you like this
video subscribe. Say hi to the patrons, like the video, comment, and as always thanks for watching.