Armies using Vic SAK

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pluto

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May 21, 2006
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I read an article in the guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2140645,00.html

where it says that the SAK is the official pocket knife of 16 armies around the world. Anyone knows which those armies are? (apart from the Swiss of course)

It is credited by everyone from balloonists and astronauts to surgeons and pilots with saving lives and is the official pocket knife for 16 armies around the world, including the US military.
 
I believe Aitor is also a supplier to serveral armies and they produce a few SAK-like knives as well. Aside from the countries named though, I have no idea which others use them. Also, as a Canuck, I'm surpirsed to hear our men and women get them. I know they are issued Gerber and SOG tools, but SAKs? That's news to me!
 
In Andy McNab's book, Bravo Two Zero, the account of his service in First Gulf War as a member of the British SAS, McNab mentioned a few times that he carried a Swiss Army Knife.
 
You can add Denmark that list...

Came across this awesome fact; that Victorinox had a special run of Sikh Kirpans.
Still wondering what it looks like.
"(Reuters, September 1, 2004)...Swiss army knife maker Victorinox launched a series of Sikh religious knives or 'kirpans' in India on Wednesday to mark the 400th anniversary of the installation of the religion's sacred book at its holiest shrine...The single-edged kirpan, sold with a case and a belt worn over the shoulder, is available in two sizes -- 3.6 inches and 7.2 inches. The knives will retail at 1,360 rupees and 3,400 rupees in India and will be sold through 450-odd retail outlets in the country...."
source-http://www.oxfordsikhs.com/SikhAwareness/121.aspx
 
somniloquist said:
I believe Aitor is also a supplier to serveral armies and they produce a few SAK-like knives as well. Aside from the countries named though, I have no idea which others use them. Also, as a Canuck, I'm surpirsed to hear our men and women get them. I know they are issued Gerber and SOG tools, but SAKs? That's news to me!
Click to expand...

I've seen pictures of a 111mm Centurion with green scales and Canadian flag and National Defense / Défense national on it. It was posted on SOSAK.
 
I once came across an article about the Indian army being supplied with one hand trekkers
 
GIRLYmann said:
Victorinox had a special run of Sikh Kirpans
Click to expand...

I don't know much about the Sikh religion but I've always thought it was awesome that their belief system requires them to carry a knife!

(Although I've read that because of problems in schools, most Sikh children carry knives that are tied or bolted in some way to the sheath.)
 
I've been in the Army for awhile now, and I've never seen any Swiss Army knives doled out to soldiers and what-not (and no one I know carrying one either). Perhaps it's an official knife, but not an item with an NSN (National Stock Number)? Just something the US Military did to recognize its worth?

We're given Gerbers and Benchmades and thats about all I have seen so far, unless I find something I've overlooked so far. Mabye I just haven't encountered them yet.

It wasn't specific about which branch though - perhaps the Air Force is given these.
 
SAK is a good quality knife and doesn't surprise me it is issued all over. I know it is issued to game rangers as well.
 
sunshaker said:
I've seen pictures of a 111mm Centurion with green scales and Canadian flag and National Defense / Défense national on it. It was posted on SOSAK.
Click to expand...

Got a link to that one? I searched on the SOSAK site but couldn't find it. I'd be really curious to see one!
 
"markksr"
Thanks! for that url on that Vicky Kirpan.
But I was dumbfounded to see that it looked exactly like some form of hunting knife from Spain. I would have thought a kirpan be more in the lines of a religious "defensive" tool... Or maybe I am missing the point that the Khalsa Series SAK are now considered Kirpans too??!
APB - Any idea if the present Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army carry personal kirpans or is there such a thing as an issued regimental kirpan in the form of SAKs?
-http://mod.nic.in/samachar/18/html/ch8.htm
 
In use by the Dutch army too. First the soldier model, now the Trekker without a saw.

CZ
 
im from singapore and everyone is issued with a SAK during our have compulsory national service.

It is a victorinox but slightly different to those at you buy at stores. The handles are slightly textured black plastic and not the normal smooth red. One thing i did notice though is that they seemed to be MUCH sharper out of the box. Certainly much sharper than my normal swisschamp and explorer. no idea why.
 
dandruff said:
im from singapore and everyone is issued with a SAK during our have compulsory national service.

It is a victorinox but slightly different to those at you buy at stores. The handles are slightly textured black plastic and not the normal smooth red. One thing i did notice though is that they seemed to be MUCH sharper out of the box. Certainly much sharper than my normal swisschamp and explorer. no idea why.
Click to expand...

I've read somewhere that you guys are issued the Bantam, am I correct?

Black scaled, economy Bantam if I am not mistaken.
 
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