111MM SAK Users Thread

For me the Vic Forester (regular large blade, not the one-handed serrated one) is the perfect EDC/garden/workshop/woods walking day hike knife - it has just the right combination of tools for me. I always have one with me day-to-day, along with a small fixed blade (Busse game warden or active duty) added on weekends.

By the way, take a look at the discontinued 108mm Vic Safari Trooper - longer, thicker, more robust tools - just the essentials - great textured nylon scales and a lanyard hole that goes THROUGH the handle, not some dinky split ring.

PS: Don't hate the corkscrew - it's great for loosening tough knots in ropes, paracord, and shoelaces. It's not bad for opening wine bottles either.
 
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I am a big fan of the 111mm Victorinox line. Specifically, the Adventurer I bought in the early '90s ...



I bought this in Tallahassee, FL once I'd decided to pack up a backpack and head to Europe (for "a year"). The idea at the time was that it would be darn handy (duh) but also make a decent, and very inconspicuous, last-ditch self defense weapon, given it's reasonably sized locking blade, and the philips screwdriver on the back which would make a dandy loaded fist. Thank God, it's never come to that. This Adventurer, along with a Classic, would be my only folding knives for the next five years. I've toted it all over the place, in cities and in the woods, even backpacking around Turkey for three weeks. It's probably not an ideal pocket carry; I used to carry it in my knapsack, but I have carried it in pocket plenty. If you don't mind carrying a full-sized trapper, a two-layer 111mm SAK would be no problem. I can't even begin to count all the things this knife sliced up, and all the jams it's got me out of. The lock is still rock solid. Did I mention I'm a fan of this knife!? :D
 
I only have the Adventurer. Sort of a bulked-up Tinker. It has by far the most comfortable and secure handle of any SAK I've used.

One feature of it that I like is that there is enough of the main blade exposed to pinch it open easily with either hand. No searching around for the nail nick. I don't know if this is true of the bigger models, where other tools might get in the way.
 
Rucksack and Trail Guide (91mm)

TGampRuck_zps5faa2a08.jpg
 
The 111mm SAKs are awesome. Although I prefer Alox, I have owned all sorts of 111mm SAKs ranging from the Workchamp XL to the Sentinel. My favorites to date are the Trekker and the Outrider. :)
 
Soldier 2008 for me. Resting on my safe with his friends,
Excelsior
Tourist
Pioneer
Safari Hunter Stag

Camper model with EcoLine scales is my EDC

cheers,

SAKV.
 
I've been considering a fireman or parachutist as a rescue knife to go on my climbing rig. It would have more utility than just having a rescue hook, but the hook is one handed. The other side to that is I already have a Rebar on the harness for the pliers, so if I do need a blade, it is there, just not as fast as the Vic would be, by a tiny margin. Of course like I need more excused to buy knives...
 
An early 111mm Huner was the very first SAK I ever owned. Actually bought it at a black Friday sale at the beach as a teenager. Not sure what happened to that knife and it breaks my heart. I get a little jealous whenever SAK Guy posts pics of his :) They have a great set of tools. Not sure why Vic doesn't put the combo tool on more models. Anyway it's fantastic knife and one of these days I will replace the one I lost!
 
The 111 mm SAK's are great; I've bought and used most of them over the years. My two favorites are the One-Handed Trekker and the Picnicker.

The Picnic I've used only in the kitchen to see if the slide lock was worth it; it is as I've use that knife wet and dry on different foods and never had an issue with the lock. Note, I bought the blade second hand and it was well used and sharpened by then; that was around 2004 and it still is full of life.

The OHT I carried for about three years and used it in the woods, the kitchen, cutting plastics, etc., no issues with it ever. It has bee since been replaced by the 111 mm GAK since the GAK does not have a toothpick or tweezers to lose.

Other models of note, IMHO, Workchamp, Hercules, Tradesman and the Adventurer. Whenever you decide on a few, look closely at them. Sometimes the only difference between the models is the locking mechanism. In one case I vaguely remember that two models differed only in color.
 
Hateman said:
The OHT I carried for about three years and used it in the woods, the kitchen, cutting plastics, etc., no issues with it ever. It has bee since been replaced by the 111 mm GAK since the GAK does not have a toothpick or tweezers to lose.
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Nor does it have toothpick and tweezers to use. It seems to me that with the differences between these 111s so minor, the user could tolerate an occasional loss of one or the other implement, be no worse off than before and at least to have had them for a while. And after all, they are replaceable. However, the GAK scales do feel nicer.
 
I have a Vic Trekker, which amounts to a Swiss/German/Dutch Army issue knife but with an ordinary main blade (i.e., non-one-hand). I like the black scales & red logo-shield. Looks very slick indeed.

However I have to say, being left-handed, it's quite awkward to deploy, and the design seems perhaps over-thought to boot. I wish the bottle opener/screwdriver didn't have a liner lock (I mean, what was the point in that?), and I wish the liner lock on the main blade used the left thumb to disengage the lock. (Like the TL-29 electricans and just about every other liner lock knife.)

Actually, the Rucksack I have has pretty much the same blade set, and it has that axis slide lock SAK used for a while, which your thumb slides back to disengage. That's a sensible feature — and it's ambidextrous.

So I put the lovely Trekker into the car's center console buried with the little film cans of quarters. It'll never see routine carry. Sad to say, it's for emergencies only because of its awkward (for me) ergonomics.
 
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In my work bag I carry a 11 Soldier.
It is a very handy tool and still sees a good bit of work.
For a while I pocket carried it but I prefer something slimmer.
 
Still have not picked up a 111MM SAK yet. I gave my wife my Christmas list the other day, 60% of the things on it was SAKs. I will wait till Christmas and see what happens. If I do not get one then I will start shopping on my own.


Thanks for all of the responses and pics. I have really enjoyed them.
 
Have a Nomad - my only 111 so far - and love it. It is a very capable knife with a good all around tool set.

It is one of my hiking favorites.
 
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