SMK Flagship Mechanical Mod

Guess what everybody? During my hiatus, I actually got a job WITH www.mtbakervapor! As such, I am obligated to tell you that the opinions in this interview are just that - my opinions - and are in no way, shape, or form endorsed, paid for, or sustained in any way, monetarily or otherwise. Let's get to it!

Let's take a quick peak at the manufacturer specifications..

Features:

• Floating Copper Firing Pin
• Copper Bottom Pin
• Adjustable Delrin Button Housing
• +/- .15 Voltage Drop @ 1 OHM
• 4 Vent Holes in Button Housing
• All Pieces are Interchangeable
• 18650 Tube 
• 22mm Diameter

Fairly rudimentary, no? Marketed as just that, the SMK Flagship is a mechanical mod devoid of bells and whistles - it has no fancy engraving, it does not stray from the tubular design, and it is not touted as the latest and greatest. Rather, the SMK rests on it's haunches knowing that it simply...works. 

It works well.

This authentic mod sports a made in america design, available in copper or stainless, and has the ultra affordable price tag of just 99.99 - showing that you can get quality material, artisan craftsmanship, and a functional device without sacrificing an arm and a leg. Let's go ahead and dive into what makes the Flagship rock.

Design

Nothing is out of the ordinary here. The Flagship sports the tried and true tubular design, with no glaring deviations - while it may do little to set itself aside from the pack, and outside of very few devices, what mechanical really does these days? In fact, I think the elegance of the Flagship is relative to it's ultra simplicity - it does not need an engraving, or a definitive stamp to call it's own. The nature of it's design lends to it's affordability and class, and I'm a big fan.

The switch itself, however, delightfully functional, and dare I say innovative in it's own right. Within the delrin housing are ball bearings, that lend a hand to not only conductivity, but rigidity of the switch. I won't lie, for 99.99, I halfheartedly anticipated a nightmare of a switch, the pitfall of many otherwise stellar mechanical mods. Surprisingly enough, it is without a doubt the smoothest switch I've dealt with to date - it has a moderate to low amount of throw, requires a firm press, and has yet to catch, stick, or otherwise fire on it's own. The ball bearings keep the switch from firing under it's weight or otherwise, and affords more peace of mind than the Manhattan/Fuhattan series type switches, utilizing opposing magnets. Good mods in their own right, but I've had more than a few auto-fire out of the blue...

Not with the Flagship.

Atop the superior switch design, the Flagship also sports solid copper contacts for ultra conductivity..and man, does this thing hit like a freaking train. It should be called the SMK Steam Engine 9000, or something (and that is why I'll probably never find myself in the marketing and development field..) The individual serialization is also a nice touch.

Have I mentioned the threads yet? No? Talk about smoother than a knife through butter. The craftsmanship and machining of the Flagship is impeccable, in fact, extraordinarily so ... I thought I was holding a mod worth it's weight in gold. In all seriousness, though, for the price, color me impressed. The switch and top cap slide off with ease, and thread back on just as well. Nothing crunched, nothing cross threaded. Upon further inspection, I could spot not one machining irregularity - they were crisp, smooth, and beyond what I'd expect from a device in this price range.

The top cap sports an adjustable copper pin, again to strengthen the conductivity between the atomizer and the mod itself. I'm a big fan of copper contacts, and it should be no surprise at this point. They're practically an industry standard, no?

Performance

After such a beaming review, you've got to be wondering, just how well does this baby work? 

It hits like Mike Tyson.

With it's all copper design, top to bottom, it should be no surprise that the Flagship is a powerhouse of the highest caliber, able to keep up with the best of the best. I built my mutation V3 exceptionally low for the Flagship, in hopes of putting it through it's paces. With a freshly charged VTC4, and my dual coil twisted build coming in at .02, I was ready to go.

This thing simply fires on all cylinders. If you're looking to produce some serious vapor, look no further. This thing should be your ace in the hole at your local cloud comp, your rig when you want to emulate a techno show in your living room, hell I swear it put off so much clouds I made rain. Simply put, I can't explain it any further. It works, and it works well. With an ultra low voltage drop, and a top to bottom copper design, look no further if you're eager to step into the authentic world and chase those glorious, glorious clouds... (unless cloudchasing isn't your thing, which is totally fine) because this can rock any setup you throw it's way. It is one of the very few mods that pose at least sustainable functionality when paired with the Atlantis v2, Subtank, or even a higher ohm dripper for all you flavor chasers.

Simply put, for 99.99, I was absolutely blown away by every facet of this device. From the top-to-bottom stellar construction, functionality, and ultra minimal design, the SMK Flagship should be the gold standard that all authentic mods are held to, in both design and price. Functionality should not be at a premium, nor should design - SMK has shown us that it is possible to get the best of both worlds on a budget. 

The Flagship was provided by www.mtbakervapor.com for review purposes. This review was not paid for, or otherwise influenced in any way, monetarily or otherwise. Everything you read are my expressed opinions, endorsed in no way, shape, or form by www.mtbakervapor.com or any of it's associates.

Skeleton Key by HCIGAR

Today, I'll be covering the Skeleton Key clone by HCIGAR, provided by Aaron at www.smokenmist.com. It's a work of art, and I'd like to urge all my readers to stop over at www.smokenmist.com for affordable prices on a variety of mechanical mods, tanks, juice and rebuildables.

Before I start this review, I'd like to take a moment to speak to Marquis personally. Although I sincerely doubt that the creators of the authentic Skeleton Key will be reading this review in particular, I'd still like this point to somehow get across.  

The clone war will not stop, guys. Your legal team can threaten suppliers, vendors, and ebay sellers, (and rightfully so) but it is inevitable. Your device will continue to be copied, sold, and marketed with or without your patent(s) and trademark(s). As a company, I sincerely understand your objection - you have provided the community with a wonderful device, a device that contains your blood, sweat and tears - and it is being ripped from under you, and sold at a lower cost. Corners are being cut, manufacturing and QC processes aren't as strict as your manufacturing process might adhere to. While I do sympathize with you; know this. Your device IS a work of ART. You have created something so beautiful, so elegant, so profoundly efficient that it is hard to NOT clone it. With a clone available, your device can be in the hands of people who may otherwise never been able to afford something so exquisite, unique, and well made. Any publicity is good publicity, and I sincerely believe that a clone will find it's way into the hands of a user who very well may purchase the authentic - I know I will in the future, as I am impressed. Impressed enough to warrant spending 250.00+ on what is essentially a metal tube, a contact, and a switch.

The fact of the matter is, a large majority of the community simply cannot afford such a device, and while I would never, ever suggest a way to run your business or price your product, I would like you to see the other end of the spectrum- your innovative design is afforded the ability to find it's way into a larger niche of the market, something I personally find this to be invaluable - and I sincerely hope that those who own a clone of the Skeleton Key by Marquis take into consideration purchasing an authentic, as it is the only clone that has inspired me to do so personally. Feel free to email me at vapocalyptic@gmail.com if you see this message and would like to further discuss opinions and business practices, I'd love to hear from you.

With that said, the Skeleton Key by HCIGAR is a wonderful, wonderful mod, so much so I am hesitant to use it - it seems fitting that it remain on display, much like the authentic. Let's get onto the details and I'll share my thoughts.

CONSTRUCTION

- Brass 

- Three piece design (18650, 18350, 18490, and separate sleeve to use a kick)

- Telescopic silver contact pin

- Silver firing contact

- Unique locking mechanism - magnetic 360 lock ring allows it to be locked, and unlocked, with a 1/4th of a turn

- 510 connection

- 23 mm diameter

PROS

- Superior machining, boasting beautifully made threads that are buttery smooth at each juncture

- Low voltage drop, under load test showed about .23 drop

- Silver contacts that won't deteriorate and wear down like copper

- Deep, pronounced engravings, notably the Key - I doubt this is wearing off anytime soon

- Innovative lock ring that can be adjusted with just a 1/4 of a turn

CONS 

- Top caps are becoming a thing of the past - look at the 4NINE, Stingray X, Nemesis etc - the top cap is a bit gaudy and adds unnecessary length and weight, in it's absence you would notice a shorter profile and lower voltage drop

- 23 mm diameter, so not everything will sit flush

Design

In all honesty, I have yet to hold a mod as elegant as the Skeleton Key. Boasting a deep engraving on the main tube and quality laser engravings on the switch, it goes without saying that sometimes, simplicity is key. The device retains an aura of elegance without going overboard and employing a multitude of varying designs. The design was conceptualized with a hint of style and classiness, and it is safe to say HCIGAR managed to replicate this wonderfully. Pictures do not do the Skeleton Key justice - I had originally thought it to be too simplistic, lacking if you will. When it was in my hand, however, I could not help but be completely spellbound - intricacies of the engravings will captivate and amaze, even as a clone.

The mod itself is beautiful as well in brushed brass, and I can only imagine a natural patina will amplify it's antiquity and it's "days of old" inspirations. The top cap is notched, however it is is a bit too big for my taste - currently authentic owners are receiving improved flat caps. I would have liked to see HCIGAR wait and release their version with a hybrid / flat cap, but it isn't a deal breaker because the voltage drop is well within the acceptable range. A flat top cap would also afford a smaller profile - this thing is a bit big, not nearly as large as the king, though it definitely towers over my Fuhattan.

The switch, however, is something out of a dream - a cloners dream, if you will. Typically the clone community gets the short end of the stick when it comes to the switch. We have all dealt with the nightmare inducing nemesis switch, the endlessly crunchy stingray switch, and the infamous king switch. I would consider a top dollar purchase like the original just by the switch alone - it is that wonderful. I have had a ton of mods fire in my pocket, scorching my leg, decimating my high performance builds, so I find it extremely comforting to not have to worry about this ever happening.

The switch itself is brass, remaining quite conductive, however it is the design and innovation it exudes that makes me giddy with excitement. The switch itself is spring loaded, however the floating locking mechanism is magnetic. Not only does this afford trouble free operation, it also allows the Skeleton Key to be locked with just a 1/4t of a turn - I can lock, unlock, lock, unlock with just a flick of my finger, endlessly taunting my friends, who stand astonished in the inherent ease of it's  design.

Performance

Not only does the Skeleton Key marvel with it's articulate design and immaculate attention to detail, it also performs extremely well - I would go as far to say that it hands down trumps my entire collection. I ran a few different setups on it and compared them to my fuhattan

Skeleton Key with a Mephisto RDA - .4 dual coil

Skeleton Key with a Stillare V3  .2 dual coil

Skeleton Key with a Tugboat .8 twisted single coil

I tested each dripper on both the Manhattan and Skeleton key and hands down, the Skeleton Key put out denser, longer clouds than the fuhattan - a completely copper mod! Naysayers will have you believe that copper is the most conductive material to use although it is not. Silver is in fact the most electrically conductive metal. To think that HCIGAR managed to authenticate and implement high quality silver contacts at an affordable price is something out of a dream, I'd say. I absolutely love the telescopic contact feature - it is actually quite easy to adjust for battle rattle with just a few slight turns, and because it is a two piece design, I do not have to spend much time getting it right.

With that said, the Skeleton Key by HCIGAR is also surprisingly user friendly - I have been able to fire a variety of drippers without having to constant fiddle with the telescopic pin, or deal with battery rattle. I have yet to pair it with a tank or dripper that it refuses to fire - something I can't say for what is unfortunately quite a few mods in my collection.

Final thoughts

Without going off on a clone war tangent, I will just say this - I support the clone movement. I do prefer logoless designs, as I do not care for "made in the U.S.A" and 1:1 logo/design replications - imitation is the best form of flattery, but theft is always theft. I hope that the market comes to an agreement on the clone war soon, so that everybody can shut up and vape! After all, that's all we're trying to do, right?

With that said, the Skeleton Key by HCIGAR is hands down, the nicest clone on the market, at least in my experience. I would place this over the fuhattan, stingray x, nemesis, panzer, king, tree of life, caravela, stingray (in all it's incarnations), hades, etc - I have owned countless, and none of them stack up to the Skeleton key by HCIGAR.

It is well made. It is conductive as all hell. It hits like a turbo charged train. It has no noticeable construction or quality flaws. It has inspired me to purchase the authentic.

This is the real deal, folks. Shoutout to Aaaron at www.smokenmist.com he is a hell of a guy and a pleasure to do business with. Be sure to stop by and pick up a mod or some juice, his Strawberry Monroe a mothers milk killer - yes, I said that. Be sure to follow us on instagram @_vapocalyptic and @smokenmist.

PS: www.smokenmist.com has had to remove the Skeleton Key. If you're interested in purchasing the brass version for 34.99, please contact support@smokenmist.com. The copper version is 50.00. Thank you!

As always, vape strong and live long people.