A Nice Find

Coldwood

Coldwood

Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
2,718
Checked out my favorite junk/fleamarket shop today to look for knives. They guy has a case full of Chinese and Pakistani junk, but I occasionally find a few old American folders mixed in. Today I spotted the bright red scales and asked to take a look at it. It was a brand new Victorinox Deluxe Tinker. Never been used, never been sharpened, no box, just small handling scratches on the scales. His price: $14.99. My experience: priceless. It will accessorize the cockpit of my truck very nicely. So, my point is not to gloat over this, but to remind everybody that it's worth checking out those junk shops occasionally because good stuff does show up now and then at cheap prices because they don't know what they have. By the way, has anybody found a good use for that multi-purpose hook besides cleaning out ear wax?

Don Craig, Saranac NY
 
Coldwood said:
So, my point is not to gloat over this, but to remind everybody that it's worth checking out those junk shops occasionally because good stuff does show up now and then at cheap prices because they don't know what they have.
Don Craig, Saranac NY
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I found a Spyderco Delica mixed in a pile of junkola Chinese knives at a yard sale once. When I asked the guy how much he wanted, he held up two fingers. Realizing the worth of a Spyderco, I figured he wanted $20, but nope, it was $2 just like all the other knives. I'm not a huge Spyderco fan, but I am a fan of nice $2 knives!!
 
By the way, has anybody found a good use for that multi-purpose hook besides cleaning out ear wax?
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Is it possible that it would have some use in cleaning birds?

I know that many bird hunting knives gome with small hooks.
 
I've thought about using it in gutting birds, but I think the hook's opening might be a little small for that. It's been a while since I cleaned any birds and I didn't have a SAK hook to test at the time anyways, so I'm just speculating. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever used any kind of hook in any kind of critter cleaning. A good blade and a couple of fingers is about all I've ever needed for small game.
 
Congrats on your find!


As for using a gut hook on birds... The reasoning behind it is to take out the guts which would spoil the meat before completly cleaning the bird.This also allows for the bird to cool quicker .I've never had any problems from leaving the guts in for 5-6 hrs with dove or quail.I always just breast them out with my hands.I have given thought to using a gut hook and seeing if it makes any difference in the taste of the meat.Food for thought.....(no pun intended)
The hook strikes me as being to small in size and too fat for a proper gutting job , but then again i've never gutted any small critters with it.


Take care and be safe!
 
The hook is for carrying packages tied up with twine. Worked rather well when my wife returned from Hawaii with a crate of pineapples secured with plastic twine. Out came the VicSAK Champ package hook. Carried a 20lb crate COMFORTABLY nearly 200 yards to the parkhouse while dragging baggage with the other hand. The small 'bump' on the hook is a strengthener so the hook won't bend out.
(BTW: I had no idea at first either until I checked the Vic website and looked it up....)
My dad gave me mine ca 1994 (?) instead of the Leatherman I asked for. Been thankful ever since! Good ol' Dad!
 
Thanks Merek, that makes sense. I was kind of intrigued by znapschatz' comment that there are 193 uses...maybe that's an old thread. Since I'm not real well schooled on SAK's, here's a question: My other SAK, which happens to be a regular Tinker, has a matte finish on the scales and an embossed and painted shield which is starting to wear thin - however this new Deluxe Tinker has shiny scales with what appears to be a metal shield set in. Does that indicate anything about when they were made or a shift in production values?
 
Coldwood said:
Thanks Merek, that makes sense. I was kind of intrigued by znapschatz' comment that there are 193 uses...maybe that's an old thread. Since I'm not real well schooled on SAK's, here's a question: My other SAK, which happens to be a regular Tinker, has a matte finish on the scales and an embossed and painted shield which is starting to wear thin - however this new Deluxe Tinker has shiny scales with what appears to be a metal shield set in. Does that indicate anything about when they were made or a shift in production values?
Click to expand...


You have an Economy model. Only difference is the scales and QA spot checks, not thoroughly checks, each model.
 
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