How often do you actually use the knife on your multi-tool?

[Sawl Goodman]

Rich S brings up an interesting point, namely, do SAKs count as multitools or pocket knives for the purposes of this thread? I think the question "How often do you actually use the blade on your Swiss Army Knife?" would receive different answers.

For me, it depends on the model. I almost never use the blades on my Swisschamp because they’re so far to the side of the knife as to be cumbersome; likewise the openers, awl, and corkscrew. I only carry it for its other tools which see much less use and carry a two layer SAK for the tools mentioned. If I had cash to burn I’d love to commission a custom SC without the Spartan toolset!

 

[WeekSecret]

Multi-tool knife blades are for cutting stuff you shouldn't be cutting with a knife........................
Mine is used often, but never properly.

Genuine question; what kind of stuff you shouldn't be cutting with a knife? The kind that make the blade roll and chip? Why not use a replaçable blade?

 

[Justin.P]

Genuine question; what kind of stuff you shouldn't be cutting with a knife? The kind that make the blade roll and chip? Why not use a replaçable blade?

I usually have a Spyderco PM2 in my pocket as well as my Leatherman Surge on my belt.
I use the Surge blade for cutting stuff that is very dirty, dusty or gritty, it also gets used as a gasket scraper at times, paint scraper, poking and prodding other grungy gritty things. Cutting sand and dust covered rubber hoses for example.
Not so much things I shouldn't use a knife for, but my multi-tool saves wear and tear on my other knife, so it stays keen and sharp when I need to make clean or precise cuts.
My multi-tool blades get a quick sharpening with whatever is available, usually something in my toolbox, mold stones, armature stones, a piece of emery paper, just quick and dirty utility edge. My main pocket knife doesn't get a polished edge or anything real fancy, but much more refined than a piece of 220 grit sandpaper.
Basically two different tool used for different jobs.

I will occasionally use a utility knife if I have to cut up against a piece of metal or something, but utility knife blade quality has dropped off so bad over the years that I always end up honing or deburring them before I can use them anyway.

 

[hsherzfeld]

Genuine question; what kind of stuff you shouldn't be cutting with a knife? The kind that make the blade roll and chip?

Basically, yes, in my opinion. When I carry my Wave, I use the fine edge blade for cutting soft things like tape, string, paper, wood, leather, etc. I try to keep that blade sharp enough to whittle or cut an apple. As an example, if I'm cutting open a box that is both taped and stapled shut, I'll use the pliers to remove the staples before I cut the tape, so that I don't ding the blade on the staples.

The serrated blade is for the rough, dirty work like cutting hoses, plastic packing straps, thick cardboard, etc. I don't have to cut that sort of thing very often, though.

 

[nopaddle]

I carry a Skeletool around the farm I live on. If I am feeding cattle I frequently carry a neck knife to cut bale strings on the big rounds and seldom use the blade on the MT. If I am fishing and want to keep a fish or two then I do use the blade on the MT. I wouldn't use it to gut and skin larger animals but there are tasks it gets to do. I just depends on circumstance and whim.

 

[WeekSecret]

I usually have a Spyderco PM2 in my pocket as well as my Leatherman Surge on my belt.
I use the Surge blade for cutting stuff that is very dirty, dusty or gritty, it also gets used as a gasket scraper at times, paint scraper, poking and prodding other grungy gritty things. Cutting sand and dust covered rubber hoses for example.
Not so much things I shouldn't use a knife for, but my multi-tool saves wear and tear on my other knife, so it stays keen and sharp when I need to make clean or precise cuts.
My multi-tool blades get a quick sharpening with whatever is available, usually something in my toolbox, mold stones, armature stones, a piece of emery paper, just quick and dirty utility edge. My main pocket knife doesn't get a polished edge or anything real fancy, but much more refined than a piece of 220 grit sandpaper.
Basically two different tool used for different jobs.

I will occasionally use a utility knife if I have to cut up against a piece of metal or something, but utility knife blade quality has dropped off so bad over the years that I always end up honing or deburring them before I can use them anyway.

I'm really divided on that

One part I totally understand and seriously think about doing it instead of my initial plan of modding my surge for a replacable blade. A real blade can go trough way harder stuff without breaking.

On the other side it's totally abusive and if I ever caught someone doing that to my tool I would never lend them anything again. But if they saw me abuse it I can very well understand why they would abuse it too.

I think that would be a case where I would carry a "cheap" fixed blade, like a milwaukee or gerber. Leatherman has a good no question asked warranty, but I can't be sure it will stay that way for 25 years.

 

[Sventhelumberjack]

I work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and I belt-carry and use my leatherman charge daily. Usually dozens of uses per day for the blade since it is a very fast one-hand deploy. I also use the other tools on the charge, but the pliers and blade see the most use. I also carry other knives, including my latest favorite traditional, which will see occasional use.

 

[Bigbobg]

I use the knife blade on my Leatherman Micra just about every day.

 

[A.L.]

I’ve used the blade harder on my multitools than on my knives and yet I have noticed that they come back and are as fine as any other blades when you sharpen them back. Because of that I have been moving from knives to multitools (because they can do more than just knives).

 

[znapschatz]

I’ve used the blade harder on my multitools than on my knives and yet I have noticed that they come back and are as fine as any other blades when you sharpen them back. Because of that I have been moving from knives to multitools (because they can do more than just knives).

I’ve used the blade harder on my multitools than on my knives and yet I have noticed that they come back and are as fine as any other blades when you sharpen them back. Because of that I have been moving from knives to multitools (because they can do more than just knives).

Likewise. (Sorry, but I seem to have hit the return button twice.)

 

[hsherzfeld]

Back in August, I replied on this thread that my Wave fills the role of a modern, one-hand-opening folding knife for me. Well, since then I've gotten the new Leatherman Curl, and the previous statement applies even more to it; the Curl is thinner, lighter, and more comfortable in hand and in pocket than the Wave.