Help me choose a SAK (Are the pen and LED useful?)

O

oldhound

Joined
Jul 19, 2004
Messages
15
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(Rambler)

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(Midnite Manager)

One of my favorite possessions is my classic SAK. But the Rambler, Manager, and Midnight Manager have caught my interest. They are comparable in size with a little more to them. All three add a cap lifter with magnetic Phillips screwdriver tip & wire stripper. The Manager adds a pen and loses the toothpick. The Midnite manger adds a pen and LED but loses the toothpick and tweezer. I like the toothpick and tweezer but the LED and pen sound like nice additions also.

I'm curious though, how useful are the pen and the LED? e.g. Is the pen comfortable to use? Does the ink last long? The ads show someone holding the LED directly next to the word being read in a book. That seems weak. Will it illuminate objects at a distance?

Thanks!
 
That didn't take long... I got antsy and bought the Rambler. I chose the Rambler over the others because I didn't think the pen would be comfortable to use and I thought the LED would probably be weak. The Pen and LED also require additional small movable parts (pen clicker and door for LED) that I'd probably lose or break during EDC. I also ordered 20 toothpicks, 5 tweezers, and 4 scissor springs as replacement parts for this SAK and my others. I'll be set for a good while!

....The Swiss Memory looks cool too though. ...uh oh.
 
You made a good choice for basic needs. The pen is useful but not comfotable. The LED is great for finding keyhole in door at night, etc. Definitely not for distance but then LEDs generally are not.
 
I personally don't find the pen useful at all and find I use the toothpick and tweezers much more. Good choice. If you can find one, the original Manager is just a hair thicker than the Rambler (one more mini backspring), but adds a sheepsfoot blade and a orange-peeler/scraper blade. It has been discontinued for quite a while so if you find one, grab it. There is also a Manager which has a removeable pen instead of the toothpick but they are rare; I believe they were replaced very quickly by the Manager II.
 
The pen on my SAK (Cybertool) saved my ass in school the other day. It is hard to take an entire Latin exam with that dinky thing, but that's what I get for forgetting my pen/pencil at home. I'm more likely to remember my knives than a pen when leaving the house.

The LED is extremely useful, but I carry a Photon, so I don't need one on my SAK. IMO, everyone should have some form of personal light on his/her keychain.
 
I have the Rambler, but for EDC I personally carry and recommend the Victorinox Midnite MiniChamp II. It is very small, but contains lots of cool tools.

The MiniChamp II is very sheeple friendly, which is great in today's Post 9/11 office environment. I've used its tiny scissors more than once in front of people. No negative comments whatsoever.

I prefer pen and LED to toothpick and tweezers. That's a highly personal preference. Everyone differs on this one. To each his own.
 
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