Help me decide my alox SAK EDC

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kpla51

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Sep 1, 2015
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Ok so Im in the military and at work I work with my knives a lot but outside work I tend to be more of a minimalist hence I carry a j frame with a small blade. I ordered 3 alox models cadet, pioneer, and farmer. I ordered all 3 so the ones I don't use ill give them as gifts. Which one of these would you pick for edc. I don't wear anything dressy just jeans if that makes a difference. Im not sure how thick they are compared to the celidor models. I like to keep one maybe 2 knives in a rotation too many overwhelms me lol.
 
Welcome.

We don't know what kind of work you do outdoors for the military, so we really have no idea which set of tools on a SAK would suit you best. What I would pick may have absolutely nothing to do with what you need. So that's all kinda hard to answer.

I don't think what kind of pants one wears really matters as long as they have pockets.

And how do you "rotate" one knife? :confused:
 
This is like giving somebody advice on shoes or beer...

I can't stick with one knife for EDC. I end up getting bored and moving to another knife just because it amuses me.

One day it is this.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

Another day it is this.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

My solution, as you might see, is that I carry a Micra in my LFP. This keeps my EDC tools separate from my EDC knife choice. I used to think this was nuts - to carry 2 things (a Micra and a knife) instead of a single thing (a camper style knife like an SAK).

But I've found 2 things in addition to the problem with my boredom. First, I prefer the ergos of a single blade knife. Just don't care for multi layered slip joints. Second, I've come to prefer the powerful scissors and great tools selection of the Micra over any SAK variants I've seen or used.

Not recommending this to you. Just testifying.
 
I have the alox Bantam, Cadet, Pioneer, and Farmer. My daily carry is the Cadet. If you find that you need the awl/punch tool, then the Pioneer (or one of the variants like the Electrician) is a good choice. I find the Farmer to be a little too thick, unless I am doing something that needs the saw blade.

If you prefer a minimalist carry, then I think the Cadet will hit the sweet spot for you. I suggest keeping the others and using them if your needs change or for specific tasks.


Edit: Upon reflection, if you have already ordered all three knives, there's not a lot of input we can give you that makes any difference. You'll quickly be able to tell once you get them which size works best for you. It's usually more beneficial to ask for advice before you buy.
 
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As jc57 said, you will soon know. No point in asking now ;). As Marcinek said, next time it would help if we knew what you plan to use it for, just sayin' :).
 
I like and carry the cadet because of how thin it is. Try them all out and pick the one that suits you best.
 
kpla51 said:
Ok so Im in the military and at work I work with my knives a lot but outside work I tend to be more of a minimalist hence I carry a j frame with a small blade. I ordered 3 alox models cadet, pioneer, and farmer. I ordered all 3 so the ones I don't use ill give them as gifts. Which one of these would you pick for edc. I don't wear anything dressy just jeans if that makes a difference. Im not sure how thick they are compared to the celidor models. I like to keep one maybe 2 knives in a rotation too many overwhelms me lol.
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The Alox knives will be a little thinner than models with the red scales because they do not need a liner.

I own both the Cadet and Pioneer models. Any one of the SAKs you ordered will work well for you but, I have to suggest that you keep all three. Here is why. The Cadet is a great knife but the blade is smaller and thinner than the Pioneer. It makes a wonderful dress knife but can be a little small for field use. If size and weight are major issues for you, the Cadet will be your winner.

However, because the Pioneer is larger than the Cadet, it will fill your hand better. The blade is thicker and stronger than on the Cadet as are all of the tools offered on the Pioneer. Remember, the Pioneer is nothing more than a Soldier model in civilian dress and has a proven track record that dates back to about 1958. It is the standard that all SAK knives are measured against. Everyone should own a Pioneer.

The Farmer is nothing more than a saw added to a Pioneer. Many people feel that this is the best knife that Victorinox offers in the Alox line and I have to admit, their claim has some merit. Because of the addition of the saw, the Farmer may fit your hand slightly better than the Pioneer.

All three knives use the same blade steel. It is good steel and you will find the knives very easy to sharpen and a joy to use.
 
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I carry a Farmer on my belt every day, day in, day out. Have done so since the day I bought it.
 
kpla51 said:
Which one of these would you pick for edc.
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I carry the Cadet daily, along with several other toys, so I would pick that one. It is the smallest of the bunch, but is packed with utility. If you could use a saw blade regularly, then maybe the Farmer is for you. But otherwise, the Cadet prevails based on its size. Its going to spend 99% of its day in your pocket, where weight and size really matter. Rock on.
 
the reason I bought all 3 was to gift one if I found it didn't fit my needs. Plus I could pick so like most people say buy all of them lol. I don't really ever need a saw but I think it would be handy for when were in the field. Maybe the farmer for duty and cadet/pioneer for off duty? Thats the only thing about SAKs and knives in general too many options but I love them.
 
kpla51 said:
Maybe the farmer for duty and cadet/pioneer for off duty?
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That sounds like a great idea. Farmer on, cadet off. The saw might come in handy if you need to saw through PVC pipe or fiberglass or something similar that would wreck a plain edge. If the farmer isn't too thick to bother you, it's the most versatile.
 
I like both the Cadet and Pioneer. I have larger SAK knives with the saw blade if I feel that I need a saw blade at all. Perhaps hiking. I tend to not like to carry a SAK beyond two layers. In the woods, I can bounce that up to three layers, but it goes inside my pack or in a belt pouch.
 
The Cadet is just not my favorite model, I personally have no interest in one.

Farmer vs Pioneer is easy...is the extra weight and thickness worth it to you to keep the saw?

I use the saw on my Farmer quite often so I am willing to carry the extra layer. If you don't think you need the saw the Pioneer is a great tool, and is very compact.

I know you specified alox, but there are some darn handy red plastic models out there as well. The Tinker comes to mind first. Its one of my favorite models and I have owned one since I was a child. I often carry it in place of the Farmer if I am staying inside the city limits. The small blade and 3D philips are the most often used tools on mine.

I think you will be well served by any of the three you mentioned. Good luck and enjoy.
 
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Ok well Ive been thinking. Heres my load out for my jeans. Phone keys inhaler speed strip for my snub nose and a knife. I like the fact I can carry the cadet in my 5th pocket. Im not sure if the pioneer will fit in that pocket well. Maybe I need to pull out the old cargo pants since inhalers and such take up extra room.:mad:
 
I have the Cadet and use it a lot when I travel. The Pioneer Alox would be my all around choice. I simply do not need a small saw on a knife like that. From an old soldier's point of view, a ring saw is easier to pack in the field and a lot more capable.
 
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