Fieldmaster, the first week.

B

Bushleague270

Joined
Dec 25, 2023
Messages
107
For whatever reason I've always been a 3 layer SAK guy, I've owned and loved the Farmer, Hiker, Super Tinker, and Trekker but never tried a 4 layer. Recently I found a Fieldmaster in a thrift shop for cheap and decided to give it a try, and I must admit I'm fast becoming a fan. I work as a Millwright and welder, live on an acreage, fish several times a week, and spend lots of time in the bush... and as far as a single, stand alone, pocketable item its unbeatable IMO. Slip a small set of pliers and a diamond file in my pack or jacket pocket and the toolset is overall better than the Leatherman Wave that I rarely carry.

Admittedly, for every day carry the saw isnt terribly usefull and in the bush I dont consider the scissors vital, but I dont find the added bulk to be a problem. I can throw it in my pocket and if I decide to throw a few casts after work, or do a bit of scouting on the way to town, whatever, I'm pretty well covered.
 
It is always great to find atoolset that covers most needs and is pocketable.

The Farmer is a great model. I like the Hiker, too. But the Farmer is more like a 2 layer model and feels much better in the hand. I like 2 layer cellidor models but prefer the tools of a 3 layer cellidor knife.

As you prefer 3 layer SAKs the scissors don't make the knife that much bulkier, I think.
You can't go wrong with a Fieldmaster.
 
My Fieldmaster is my go-to SAK when we go camping. It been very handy in a lot of situations. Nothing dramatic, but those 1001 little things that come up around a campsite during a weekend. My big folder changes frequently but the Fieldmaster is a constant👍
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Papilio said:
It is always great to find atoolset that covers most needs and is pocketable.

The Farmer is a great model. I like the Hiker, too. But the Farmer is more like a 2 layer model and feels much better in the hand. I like 2 layer cellidor models but prefer the tools of a 3 layer cellidor knife.

As you prefer 3 layer SAKs the scissors don't make the knife that much bulkier, I think.
You can't go wrong with a Fieldmaster.
Click to expand...

One does notice the difference between the Fieldmaster and the Hiker, but the difference between the FM and a Super Tinker is pretty minimal since the saw is such a slim layer. My recently aquired opinion is that, for the relatively minor difference, one may as well be carrying the Fieldmaster.

The only SAK that I've not quite warmed up to is the Trekker. The handle is much less comfortable than the 91mm knives because the closed blades dont nest in the handle as nicely, and because of the liner locks. Too, the liner locks make some tight spots that are hard to clean... in short, for any job where one would want a more capable knife than a 91mm, theres a reason you wouldnt want to use a 111mm.
 
The Fieldmaster is my favorite cellidor model. I currently have 3. I replaced the scales on two of them with yellow and blue scales. I've carried the blue one for months now. I almost don't need a one-hand opening folder in my day to day life. The Farmer/Pioneer is my other favorite.
 
The Fieldmaster was my work EDC those last couple of years (I always need a Philips screwdriver at work) but I recently replaced it with a model with an inline Philips (the discontinued Champion), which is much more practical (although heavier in the pocket). I could also use the lighter Explorer which has the inline Philips.
 
Bushleague270 said:
The only SAK that I've not quite warmed up to is the Trekker. The handle is much less comfortable than the 91mm knives because the closed blades dont nest in the handle as nicely, and because of the liner locks. Too, the liner locks make some tight spots that are hard to clean... in short, for any job where one would want a more capable knife than a 91mm, theres a reason you wouldnt want to use a 111mm.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I had a Trekker ( in Europe it is called a Trailmaster) with a non-serrated blade and two-handed-opening. Although I like both shape and larger size of these 111mm nylon scales the Trekker did not feel comfortable in the hand. I have an older Nomad (which is nowadays called a Picnicker because the old Picnicker with the slide lock is discontinued) that does have a much better (i.e. more comfortable) liner lock. In those good old days a lot of folks might not know how to close the blade. Nowadays the liner lock sticks out and has this "Press" stamp (?) on it.
 
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Papilio said:
Agreed. I had a Trekker ( in Europe it is called a Trailmaster) with a non-serrated blade and two-handed-opening. Although I like both shape and larger size of these 111mm nylon scales the Trekker did not feel comfortable in the hand. I have an older Nomad (which is nowadays called a Picnicker because the old Picnicker with the slide look is discontinued) that does have a much better (i.e. more comfortable) liner look. In those good old days a lot of folks might not know how to close the blade. Nowadays the liner look sticks out and has this "Press" stamp (?) on it.
Click to expand...
A little while back I saw an Outrider with the old slide lock on it, and wondered if it might be an improvement over the newer models. Thats getting to be a pretty big knife for pocket carry though, IMO a SAK has jumped the shark by the time I need a belt sheath.
 
First of all: Why did I write look instead of lock three times? I am not even drunk.

Never had a slide look, äh lock model. I think it might feel better in the hand but the locking mechanism is not as strong as the liner lock and can fail / break because it's just a plastic pin that holds the blade in place.
I don't know if one can find the older and more comfortable liner lock (not slide lock) to this day.
I don't see 111mm SAKs as pocket knives, too. Too big and too heavy.
 
Papilio said:
First of all: Why did I write look instead of lock three times? I am not even drunk.

Never had a slide look, äh lock model. I think it might feel better in the hand but the locking mechanism is not as strong as the liner lock and can fail / break because it's just a plastic pin that holds the blade in place.
I don't know if one can find the older and more comfortable liner lock (not slide lock) to this day.
I don't see 111mm SAKs as pocket knives, too. Too big and too heavy.
Click to expand...
I mostly wear Carhart carpenters pants, dangled on lanyard in the front pocket which is how I carry any SAK, I dont find the Trekker to be terrible for pocket carry. Its about as big as I'd want to go however, and like the Trailmaster it would likely seem a bit big in jeans.
 
Papilio said:
First of all: Why did I write look instead of lock three times? I am not even drunk.

Never had a slide look, äh lock model. I think it might feel better in the hand but the locking mechanism is not as strong as the liner lock and can fail / break because it's just a plastic pin that holds the blade in place.
I don't know if one can find the older and more comfortable liner lock (not slide lock) to this day.
I don't see 111mm SAKs as pocket knives, too. Too big and too heavy.
Click to expand...

The slide lock is plastic but the pin is metallic; If you don't intend to destroy the knife by wacking it on the spine it is fine :D
iu


You may try your luck on the big auction site, some 1st gen liner lock 111mm pops up from time to time (the older German Army Knife with the half-moon opening hole, or the ones that have

"DE-GM9305297" stamped on the blade​

 
I keep a Fieldmaster in my left front truck door, along with a small channel lock. I edc a Leatherman Arc, but I keep spare stuff stashed in strategic locations.

It's just an old habit.
 
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