do you consider SAKs high quality

[Jeff Clark]

I own dozens of knives made from premium steels, but my EDC (never leave the house without it) survival knife is a Victorinox Adventurer (well if I'm going far from home I sometimes replace it with my Victorinox Locksmith model). I may supplement my SAK with a special purpose knife, but my SAK is the one that I rely on to save my neck.

For a stainless steel the Victorinox alloy is remarkably tough. I have used SAK blades for tasks that chipped, dented, or rolled "better" steels. I find that the moly in the mix makes it harder to get my favorite razor edge without using diamond abrasives than I would expect for a 56 RC alloy. Some of this translates into very decent wear resistance. If they offered me a SAK with a BG42 alloy blade I would take it, but I wouldn't replace my SAK with a single-bladed tactical wonder with a BG42 blade. I insist on having those other tools in my EDC and I make that choice every day (since I have knives that fit that description).

So when I go rock climbing I may clip a Calypso Junior to my shirt collar, but I still have my SAK in my back pocket. When I go hunting I may take a Buck 110 with an S30V blade, but I have my SAK in my back pocket. If I had to I could skin an elk with either one. My SAK would really need sharpening when I was done.

 

[JDemond]

Thanks for the offer NR.

After posting in this thread, I decided to try to find out what is was. Funny considering I have carried it everyday since I lost my Camper, and never really thought about it before.
I am pretty sure it's the Recruit. That sounds right, and looks just like mine.
http://www.swiss-knife.com/asp/detail.asp?lan=EN&code=0.2503&shop=SK

 

[cabron50]

Go to Lowe's and getcha another Camper for $25.

 

[JDemond]

I really don't need to now, my Brother bought me a Deluxe Tinker for Christmas.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

The more standard SAKs are worth the money and great value for your dollar, but when you get into the really big SAKs like the Champion and such I think the value per dollar goes out the window.

I still think they are great knives and I have somewhere around 20 of 'em from big to small.

Still all in all for your dollar they are a high quality knife.

 

[marcangel]

If I was only allowed to carry ONE knife, it would be either a Vic Yeoman or an Explorer Plus. Of all the knives I've owned and carried it is considered an absolute staple for me. Last night I was cutting up cardboard boxes and my Yeoman outperformed my S30V Mnandi. This only proves the point that a reasonably good steel, properly heat treated is all you really need. Obviously Victorinox has carefully engineered their product since they use different heat treats for the various tools, backspings and main blade. Bang for the buck or value...BEST of the BEST. IMHO.