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SteeleJ1976

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Jan 24, 2020
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Finding the perfect Swiss Army Knife seems like ongoing struggle for a lot of people, I know it is for me at least. I have collected quite a few over the past couple years and while I love all the ones I I have (Climber, Camper, Super Tinker, Cadet, Pioneer X, Spartan, and Recruit) but my favorite is the Tinker. I find that for day to day carry (along with an Alox Classic SD) it handles most everything I come across. While I haven't tried every model out there and I am sure I will try a few more I think the Tinker just hits that sweet spot for me of not being too large and still super useful.

I hope everybody has a Merry Christmas!
 
I've been thinking of getting a replacement Huntsman. Mine went AWOL going on three year ago. ☹️👎
I suppose I don't really "need" another one. I have a Evo Grip 10 that takes care of Recruit duties, and 14, that only lacks the Huntsman's saw and parcel hook. The Hercules I've been carrying has the saw and scissors ...
For recent consecutive time carried, I'd have to guess my favorite SAK's are this Hercules and Mini Champ.
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Oooh, I love this post. I just starting to get into SAKs and it reminds me of the rabbit hole I got into when I started on an EDC keychain. At one point, I had a giant mound of implements from a flashlight, pry bar, lighter, multi-tool, etc. that probably would have broken my car's ignition. Years later, it is slimmed down to five small items. One essential is the customized Vic Rambler. So much so, I made my wife keep a Rambler on her keychain because she has me drive her car so often. I am now going through that struggle to find the perfect complement. I have a Spartan right now just so I can carry the mini screwdriver in the corkscrew for my glasses and the fact the can opener works pretty well as a Philips screwdriver. I like the small Tinker but may try the Waiter since it has the corkscrew. Another idea I'm playing around with is modifying an Explorer to remove the scissor and blades. I find myself using the magnifying glass a lot more now that I'm getting older, it has both corkscrew and inline Philips, I have scissors on my Rambler, and I'm always carrying a pocket knife.
 
ontheriver said:
Another idea I'm playing around with is modifying an Explorer to remove the scissor and blades.
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That will absolutely work. It can be done but it does require a small modification with a file or a grinder.

What you have to do is move the bottle and the can opener to the knife layer, taking the place of the main blade and the secondary blade.

If all you do is transfer them straight back to the blade layer without reversing their positions, then they'll sit too high, the nail nicks will be facing the wrong way, and the can opener will be on the wrong side to be used for opening cans. So you flip them around, and now the can opener works fine but the bottle opener still sits too high.

The final step is to file or grind off a very small part of the knife layer's backspring to allow the bottle opener to sit all the way down when it is closed. You'll be able to see exactly which part you need to remove when you're doing the test fit. It's not in a place where it would really weaken the spring. It's only one part of a small tab that sticks up too high on that one side for the bottle opener to come to a full rest. I've done this modification myself with a diamond coated file, which is what I recommend using. If you use a grinder then you risk heating up the backspring, which could potentially ruin it.
 
Guy McVer said:
That will absolutely work. It can be done but it does require a small modification with a file or a grinder.

What you have to do is move the bottle and the can opener to the knife layer, taking the place of the main blade and the secondary blade.

If all you do is transfer them straight back to the blade layer without reversing their positions, then they'll sit too high, the nail nicks will be facing the wrong way, and the can opener will be on the wrong side to be used for opening cans. So you flip them around, and now the can opener works fine but the bottle opener still sits too high.

The final step is to file or grind off a very small part of the knife layer's backspring to allow the bottle opener to sit all the way down when it is closed. You'll be able to see exactly which part you need to remove when you're doing the test fit. It's not in a place where it would really weaken the spring. It's only one part of a small tab that sticks up too high on that one side for the bottle opener to come to a full rest. I've done this modification myself with a diamond coated file, which is what I recommend using. If you use a grinder then you risk heating up the backspring, which could potentially ruin it.
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Thank you so much for that advice! I didn't even think about it affecting the function. I will have to give it a try.
 
The Super Tinker was my first Victorinox love. There have been others...but it's learned to live with them.
 
Ditto, 315 315 ; a small Tinker was my first SAK and for several years my only EDC knife, unfortunately lost and ironically lost  after I stopped carrying it. I keep vacillating whether to get another or just buy a Cadet instead.
 
315 said:
My first Swiss Army Knife was a small Tinker, carried it for about 28 years and still have it. In a 2 layer I really prefer the 84 mm and there wasn’t much else I needed.
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I’ve learned to really appreciate the small tinker (bought my first one this year so I’m late to the party), but would be singing from the rooftops if there was an 84mm super tinker in their lineup.
 
I enjoy the Tinker. I wish it had a longer handle, and had scissors. That would be my perfect SAK. Just my humble opinion though.
 
Happy member of the small tinker club here. Been carrying mine as my work knife for the last 6 months and found it to be the perfect size - small enough to be unobtrusive in pocket and comfortable in hand, but with enough utility to deal with most everything I run into 👍
 
I am one of those who struggle to find THE perfect SAK for me. I have tried several models, multiple combinations and I still haven't decided. I admire people who pick a SAK and carry it for 20+ years without questioning it. I would love to be one of these people one of these days.

Currently I am torn between two models that I keep coming back to: The Mechanic and the Pioneer. Love the small pliers and the two blades on the Mechanic, but did not like the celidor scales. So just yesterday I made my own wooden scales for it. I just wish i could add a pocket clip. Since the scales are only affixed with epoxy, that is not an option though.

The Pioneer on the other hand has the great snappy tools of the Alox, beefier blade and the awesome awl. I also added a pocket clip. It would be perfect if it had two blades. I don't like having glue residue on the blade i am using to cut my fruit with.

I pair both with either a Spirit X or a modded MP400. Now I just need to make a final decision, or find a better solution.
 
VictaEder said:
I am one of those who struggle to find THE perfect SAK for me. I have tried several models, multiple combinations and I still haven't decided. I admire people who pick a SAK and carry it for 20+ years without questioning it. I would love to be one of these people one of these days.

Currently I am torn between two models that I keep coming back to: The Mechanic and the Pioneer. Love the small pliers and the two blades on the Mechanic, but did not like the celidor scales. So just yesterday I made my own wooden scales for it. I just wish i could add a pocket clip. Since the scales are only affixed with epoxy, that is not an option though.

The Pioneer on the other hand has the great snappy tools of the Alox, beefier blade and the awesome awl. I also added a pocket clip. It would be perfect if it had two blades. I don't like having glue residue on the blade i am using to cut my fruit with.

I pair both with either a Spirit X or a modded MP400. Now I just need to make a final decision, or find a better solution.
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The electrician would give you the second blade and the in line awl/reamer.
 
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