How would you improve SAK's?

J

James Y

Joined
Feb 18, 1999
Messages
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I love the Victorinox SAK's, but wouldn't mind seeing a few improvements on standard models, such as:

The plastic scales maybe changed to tougher Zytel or maybe even to the knurled Alox as on the Soldier model, still with slots for the tweezers and toothpick. I have heard of some of the current standard models' handles cracking easily or even popping off after long use. I have a 20+ year old Spartan, and the plastic on its handle is tougher and more solid...it had been dropped a few times on accident and only a slight crack but no looseness or breaking. If kept to Zytel, the scales could be a bitl like that on the larger lockblades but still with the steel Swiss cross insert as on the current standard models.

Well, that's what I can think of for now...

Jim
 
I personally like the red handles the way they are, but they could use some beefing up. I wish the Swiss Champ could be as thin as a Tinker, but that will never happen!!

One improvement I haven't done yet, is to fix a piece of sparking rod to the handle to aid in fire starting. I believe this was in an old Tactical Knives article Steve Dick wrote. I always thought it was a good idea.
 
I'd want the files and pliers/wire-cutters (on those models that have them of course) to be made of harder steel. Far as I can tell, the files and metal saw are made of reletively soft steel as are all the SAK tools (maybe 52-54 RC I think). I used the plier wire cutters to cut some simple fence wire and it bent the wire-cutter edges!
 
I'd like to see the Victorinox flat screwdrivers lock lke on the Wengers. Other than that I'm satisfied. If they make too many improvements, they'll have to raise the price.
 
I agree with you about the scales, they should be aluminum or zytel.

Other improvements could be:
A thumb stud/disk/hole for one hand opening the main blade.
Pocket-clip for easy carry.
Locking main blade (some Wengers already have locks).
Victorinox scissors with a Wenger spring-system.
And wood-saws on more models.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Funny you should ask.
I was just thinking about this last night.
I've been searching for just the right combo of tools for a daily carry multi tool. Victorinox doesn't offer it. Wenger comes close but I like the quality of Victorinox better.
Wouldn't it be great to custom build a Victorinox SAK like Buck does with the 110?
They could offer it in the 2 most popular sizes. They could even offer high end steel for the main blades, custom handle scales, engraving and so on.
Oh, and by the way, why don't they machine in the slots for the toothpick and tweezer in the Alox handled versions. I love the look and feel of these handles, but desperately miss those 2 tools.
Lenny
 
Ditto on the alox scales with a slot for the tweezers and also on the better blade steel. I'd also like a slightly beefier blade, something along the lines of the Soldier - style blade, available for other models. Plus, I wish there were a wider availability of models with the awl placed among the blades, like the Soldier, rather that on the underside of the knife. Come to think of it, I really like the Soldier. My ideal version of the Soldier would be slighty larger that the standard model and would have scissors and a saw along with its normal complement of tools.
 
BG-42, Ti Scales, and screwed together so that it can be disassembled.

I don't ask for much! ;)

Brandon
 
How about micarta scales instead of the plastic? And better blade steel would be nice. Even 440C would be an improvement. I love the SAKs, and they do take a great edge, but the steel is a little soft and they dont stay sharp long enough. But they do sharpen quite easily. Still, I would be willing to pay twice as much for micarta slabs and better steel.
 
Soldier + saw + phillips screwdriver. Somtimes you can use the small slot driver on phillips screws, sometimes not. Still mine is always with me and I use it more than any of the other knives that I may have on me at the time.

PM
 
Originally posted by mr44


Soldier + saw + phillips screwdriver.

PM
Click to expand...

I just got my Pioneer from www.swiss-knife.com it is a Soldier + saw and it is great. Alas they don't seem to import these so you have to order them. Carry with a sliver picker tweezers and I am a happy guy.

Oh it fits in a Ellisiwitz small kangaroo pouch and pulls easily with an attached fob, so you don't need a pocket clip.

Ben
 
I wish Victorinox would change to the Wenger type scissor spring and can opener. I would also prefer the awl to be moved from the underside to the main part of the knife oposite the knife blade (like on the Soldier model). A few select premium models with a better blade steel such as VG10 and perhaps a set of fancier handles, would be nice. All of the locking blade SAKs should be redesigned as one hand openers, as should the Swisstool.
 
Other changes I would like, I suppose, would be maybe 440C on the knife blades (little better edge hold, but still easy maintenance). As is, the Victorinox blades are listed I think at 56 HRc, and the Wegner blades a point or two softer.

My ideal regular-sized SAK: Alox scales, slots with tweezers/toothpick; large and small knife blades; regular V-Nox can opener/screwdriver; regular large screwdriver/bottle opener; scissors; wood saw; awl and Phillips; and perhaps a hole through the bottom pivot like the older Soldier models as lanyard hole.

Jim
 
Take a Tinker. Subtract one blade. Make the other blade out of properly heat treated VG-10 and give it a lock. Make the body stronger so I can really torque on the screwdrivers.
 
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