2 layer 84 vs 91mm

I carried a Recruit for most of my adult life. It was a perfect combination of size and tool set for the time. In the mid 80s I had a few year love affair with the Super Tinker and a brief relationship with the Champion. Both were too big to carry daily, so I put them away. My SAK collection dwindled down to my Cadet, Fieldmaster, Craftsman, and a couple of Classics. The Fieldmaster is my go-to camping knife and the Craftsman is my forever SAK, but something was missing. Today I received an 84mm Tinker and am so happy! It carries as well as my old Recruit but give me a couple more tools. It will be in my pocket for a long time.
 
These days I find it very easy to toss a Bantam in my pocket. I know it's only one layer, but there is something about the 3-1/4" length that makes it a very good pocket knife. The Buck 303 is exactly the same length and feels just right as well. One can get used to the 91mm knives, especially if they are used to carrying yet bigger knives.

The only advantage I see for a bigger blade is for cutting food, otherwise a 2.5" blade is plenty. One thing that bums me out about the Farmer, when I cut my nails, I can't open the main blade without first opening the saw blade. The nail nick is just too recessed.
 
I like the 84mm models but I have to admit the extra 7mm or 1/4” in the 91mm models doesn’t bother me at all.
If I want scissors I’ll carry Super Tinker or if I want a Saw the Fieldmaster, or Huntsman.
Generally I’m looking to carry slim, 2 layers with 84mm and sometimes that’s the cadet.
The only knife I can be guaranteed to carry is the 58mm Rambler or Classic.
 
I think the 84mm is a perfect size for my front pocket. Tourist or Sportsman are my favorites, but I also like to carry the 91mm Spartan with a clip in the front pocket, and I do find the main blade size, combined with the secondary, to be a good versitile match. I have reground most of my penblades to a lambsfoot shape, very good as secondary blade :) I never carry more than a two layer in my pocket, but in my messenger bag I have a Hiker or a vintage Huntsman (without the hook).
 
dogstar said:
One thing that bums me out about the Farmer, when I cut my nails, I can't open the main blade without first opening the saw blade. The nail nick is just too recessed.
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I found this as well, so what I did was file a small amount off the very tip of the saw so its sits lower in the frame -that was around 2 years back and I've had no issues and it worked a treat

Ironically given my previous post , I've been carrying a Tinker small for the last 6 months plus as my EDC.
So I'll have to make like the kids in the Old El Paso ad - "Why not both? " :D
 
Storm 8593 said:
I found this as well, so what I did was file a small amount off the very tip of the saw so its sits lower in the frame -that was around 2 years back and I've had no issues and it worked a treat

Ironically given my previous post , I've been carrying a Tinker small for the last 6 months plus as my EDC.
So I'll have to make like the kids in the Old El Paso ad - "Why not both? " :D
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Haha, I was contemplating doing the very thing with the saw. I'm glad it works. :)
 
If I had to choose...
but I don't, so I won't. ;)
Although what I will say is, the 84mm Sportsman is one of my favorite edlc (everyday local carry) SAK, while the 91mm Huntsman is still my most traveled knife in terms of time and distance. If Vic would make a 84mm Rambler, the 84/91mm dilemma would be settled with me forever. 😄 At the same time no one would hear even a single complaint from me if they made it a 91mm. 🤪
Another words all I know for sure is we need a bigger Rambler.
Have a wonderfully knice day folks!
 
I want a bigger rambler too although I’d prefer the 74mm length which has allegedly been discontinued in all models by Victorinox, alongside a good many 84mm models Reddit
Again Allegedly! Don’t pretend to know how to verify the sources except to directly quizz an unresponsive Victorinox.
 
84mm, in a 1-3 blade pocket knife 3.5 inches is generally my cutoff but the Vic's with back tools have enough bulk in other dimensions that the 84mm is my cutoff.
 
315 said:
My very first Swiss Army Knife was a Victorinox Small Tinker. I carried that knife almost exclusively for around 28 years before I started buying others. I’m not sure if that’s why I’m throwing this out there, or I’ve been able to draw a conclusion. When it comes to a 2 layered SAK, I prefer the 84 over the 91mm knives. I have a Spartan and gave my Dad my full sized Tinker, but for some reason I don’t really care for the 91’s with 2 layers.
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Well I've said this already but the 84mm Tinker Small is superior to the 91mm Tinker because of two simple facts.

Fact # 1: the 84mm models use the same exact tool parts for the back side tools as the the 91mm models use. The springs are different but the actual back tools are the same between the 84mm and 91mm models. This means the awl and Phillips drivers on the Tinker Small are exactly the same size and length as the awl and Phillips driver on the 91mm Tinker.

Fact #2: Being 7mm shorter means that the Tinker Small can fit into some places more easily than the regular Tinker can, which makes it a little easier to use the back Phillips in tight spaces.

So basically you get the same reach but you have more clearance to rotate, which in my opinion makes the Tinker Small the better choice. That's why it's such a shame that it is being discontinued. It would be better from that standpoint if Victorinox had discontinued the 91mm Tinker instead, and continued to sell the Tinker Small. Unfortunately that's not how things worked out. From a production standpoint it probably makes more sense to streamline things the way Victorinox chose to do it.
 
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For daily carry I'm partial to the 84mm variety; they just seem to carry easier in the clothes I wear during the week. I carried a Recruit for many years and recently got a Small Tinker. The 91mm is my go-to for camping or other outdoor activities - usually my Fieldmater. Two or three layers are the most comfortable to carry in my pockets, but I don't mind the extra layers for the tools they provide.

(BTW; my very mostest favorite "forever" SAK is my Craftsman. It's always in my bag. 91mm and 6 layers. I rarely carry it but I'll never get rid of it!)
 
In general I prefer 91/93mm over the 84mm. Got a Tinker small and don't like it at all, but I like the Waiter. It is weird and I cannot explain it.
 
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