a good sak for outdoor use?

C

crazymountainman

Joined
Jun 1, 2004
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hey guys im just wondering what model sak would be appropriate for a good woods knife ive got an old camper which unfortunatly died on me last week your expertise would be appreiciated thanks
 
Im guessing you mean for camping, and also general work outside such as yard work, or minor brush clearing type stuff? You might check out the one-hand Trekker (formerly called Trailmaster) It has a locking main blade, is a bit longer than the standard non-locking SAKs, and this model has a saw. You would be amazed at how well the SAK saws actually work.
 
I really like the Trailmaster with it's locking large blade and saw. It is a little big for pocket carry but ride well in my cargo pocket and BK-7 sheath pocket. I also like the Huntsman. It has the usuals with a saw and sissors. It is a little big but I can carry it in my pocket ok. There are many others but these are two of my favs along with my ever present tinker...


Dean
 
Try a Victorinox Soldier. The price is right and the blades and are much thicker than the standard officers models. The only drawback is the limited number of tools and no tweezers or toothpick.
 
I carry an Explorer as a left hand pocket knife for general use. I like the tool combintaion and the magnifying glass as a back up firestarter. I use a Workchamp as my back pack SAK.
 
ScottK said:
Try a Victorinox Soldier. The price is right and the blades and are much thicker than the standard officers models. The only drawback is the limited number of tools and no tweezers or toothpick.
Click to expand...

And Target has them on sale (as of yesterday when I checked) for $13.77
 
My personal favorite for outdoor use is the Victorinox Handyman. It has a lot of tools (saw, file, pliers, scissors, etc.) but isn't prohibitively bulky. If you pair that with a stout folder or fixed blade, you are pretty much set to go. When I really want to make sure that I have all my bases covered, I add a Leatherman Crunch, too.
 
I've carried many SAKs over the years but my favorite is the Fieldmaster -- basically a Huntsman with a phillips instead of a corkscrew. It has large and small blades, can opener/small screwdriver, cap lifter/large screwdriver, saw, scissors, scissors, awl & parcel hook (haven't used these much). Its about $35 and I use most of the tools regularly and the rest help to round out "just in case" possibilities.

Bruce
 
I love my Huntsman, but lately it's been eclipsed by the Rucksack. I love the larger locking blade and more ergonomic handle shape.
--Josh
 
ScottK said:
Try a Victorinox Soldier. The price is right and the blades and are much thicker than the standard officers models. The only drawback is the limited number of tools and no tweezers or toothpick.
Click to expand...

And that drawback is easily overcome by carrying a Classic/Minichamp/Midnite Classic, etc. I like to carry a Wenger Esquire alongside my W. Standard Issue or Vic OH Trailmaster b/c I like the scissors and nailfile on it!

Matt in Texas
 
crazymountainman said:
hey guys im just wondering what model sak would be appropriate for a good woods knife ive got an old camper which unfortunatly died on me last week your expertise would be appreiciated thanks
Click to expand...

How about another Camper? It is my favorite Victorinox model for the bush.
-Kevin
 
Richard said:
You might check out the one-hand Trekker (formerly called Trailmaster) It has a locking main blade, is a bit longer than the standard non-locking SAKs, and this model has a saw. You would be amazed at how well the SAK saws actually work.
Click to expand...
3nails said:
I really like the Trailmaster with it's locking large blade and saw. It is a little big for pocket carry but ride well in my cargo pocket and BK-7 sheath pocket.
Click to expand...

Consider this another vote for the trailmaster (which I think is now, in the U.S. at least, called the trekker). As Richard points out, there used to be a trailmaster and a one-handed trailmaster. Now there is a trekker and a one-handed trekker. Notably, the latter has a serrated blade, whereas the former has a plain blade.

I've carried a trailmaster for a while as both my daily and hiking/camping EDC and I think it is a great balance - the necessary tools, a usable blade, and not *too* wide (though I agree with 3nails that it can be a bit big for your pocket).

Here's a pic. My only criticism is that unlike other SAKs I have, the awl doesn't have a hole towards the top, meaning it can't be used as a needle.
 
I've been carrying a Wenger Handyman SAK lately.it has a large blade,small nailfile blade,saw,scissors,can opener,bottle opener,awl,phillips screwdriver,tweezer and toothpick all in a closed length package of 3.25".Also have a Leatherman PST 2 on my belt and a Spyderco Delica 2 clipped to pocket.Along w/a mini Bic in my watch pocket and a Dorcy aaa LED light in my backpocket,i think im good to go for most things i might encounter in the woods or town.
 
Any of the models with a wood saw blade. It's just a matter of deciding which other tools fit your needs.

Paul
 
Put me in the Trailmaster or Trekker fan club too. Mine is the one handed version and at first I hated the serrated blade but it has grown on me. The serrations are light and at the front of the blade where slice cuts are taken. The saw really is a wonder and the awl drills holes in wood. Great trap making knife and I really like it.
 
I usually carry a Victorinox Rucksack model in town or in the woods. Since it is on the large side, I carry it in my back pocket alongside my wallet with a laynard of 550 hanging out. Otherwise, I carry a Hunter model or a Huntsman. The little scissors in the later come in handy. Also, check out the Outrider which has all the features of the Rucksack and the scissors. This model is at the top of my rahter long wish list :) As stated in a previous post, the saws work like a champ.

Good luck,
Diablero
 
I'm a big fan of the rucksack for woods work. I carry a one handed trekker with a pocket clip added or a Farmer for EDC.
 
Trailmaster for a larger knife. I actually prefer the red handles of the Rucksack, but have an unnatural hatred for the models with corkscrews.
I really like the Outrider's tool assortment, but it is too thick for me.
All of those are missing the small spearpoint blade, which is the one I actually use the most. I have a Hiker on the way, that will give me back my little blade, and still have tweezers, and a saw. I think I'll like it.
 
These days my favorite SAK is the large-format Victorinox Locksmith. It has:
  • large locking blade
  • wood saw
  • metal file with toothed edge to act as metal saw
  • can opener / small screwdriver
  • bottle opener / large screwdriver
  • #2 phillips screwdriver on back (instead of corkscrew)
  • awl (no sewing hole :( )
  • toothpick & tweezers
  • large semi-knubbly-textured ergo handle (vs smooth plastic symmetrical cigar shape of standard SAK's)
  • key ring for attaching a lanyard

IMHO the one tool I'd like to see them add to this model is the scissors, which I actually find to be handy.

There's a picture of the Victorinox Locksmith at http://store6.yimg.com/I/irawoodinc_1792_17675396
It's $31.25 USD at http://shop.store.yahoo.com/irawoodinc/vilo.html That's the lowest price I found. It is just a tad cheaper than the quickknife.com price.

Otherwise, I like the Vic Outrider, which would trump the Locksmith except that it has the corkscrew and I REALLY prefer the #2 phillips instead. I also occasionally carry a Ranger and like it as a slightly smaller format SAK.
 
i am somewhat attached to the SAK knives and also the multi tools, but for my usual carry it is a one handed trailmaster, it will handlle most of my chores.

alex
 
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