Hurricane Harvey. Ok, I understand the stainless traditional thing now

R

rishma

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Jun 22, 2008
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Long story short, my home near houston flooded due to Harvey. Family and pets are safe and all is well! I have seen amazing humanity this week. God bless America.

As I geared up to go deal with this disaster I obviously needed tools and grabbed whatever came to mind. Cutting tools included disposable razor knife, carpet knife, and sak pioneer. Honestly, I have Never loved the pioneer. I don't much care for spear main blades , I like carbon steel and have never been interested in stainless traditionals, but headed into a flooded disaster area it seemed like the perfect tool.

The pioneer has been perfect. Cutting blade, awl for scoring and punching, and flat head screwdriver for lots of things. Tossed back in a wet pocket and ready next time I need it. Great tool. I would not have gotten the same performance from a carbon steel blade under such poor conditions.

I have been fortunate to get help this week and spent today helping friends. It's wonderful to see a community come together.
 
Sorry for your trouble, and hope this will all end in just a memory for you in the not too distant future.

What you've discovered is the open secret of the SAK in general, and the basic scout knife in particular. The Vic pioneer, the U.S. military M-L-K utility knife, definitely has a place in a pocket when things get rough. Worry free cutting, screwing, and prying in a package that the elements can't hurt.

I wish you good luck in your recovery!!

Remember, it's only stuff, and stuff can be fixed or replaced. It's your loved ones being safe that matters. This is only temporary.
 
I too can't drum up much emotional attachment to the SAK but there's one in my pack or car all the time and it's proved its worth many a time, it's so familiar you could forget its utility-until you have to use it. A great uncomplaining workhorse.

Natural disasters, what insurers like to call Acts of God, can bring out a community solidarity and altruism. A quality sometimes scorned in the idiotic dog-eat-dog ethic, but altruism is the finest human quality. Flood, fire are nightmares in reality, true, objects can be replaced but in some situations I wonder what it must be like for victims who are elderly or suffering illness at such a time. It's very hard indeed for those people to recover from disasters and the loss of their home can be fatal. The fit, healthy and the younger can overcome things but not everybody is so fortunate, In the long term, for all man's ingenuity, he cannot defy Nature or even control it that much.

Talking of ingenuity, stainless is an example of it!:D:D I have heard that like many things, it was chanced upon by accident, very fortunate. Dinner knives and forks that are silver plate taste horrible, stainless transformed all that horror and also for cooking. But the pocket-knife enthusiast eventually benefitted as well;) Most of my Traditionals are carbon, I can see the allure of it but I like a decently made stainless knife that I can use in wet situations and or for foods. Let's face it, a carbon SAK would be a whole load of trouble to maintain...:eek::D:D

Best wishes for your recovery from the floods and maybe, as a Recovering Carbonist too:cool::D

Thanks, Will
 
Sorry to hear about your troubles, but glad to hear your family is okay.

Every tool has its uses, and stainless tools are definitely useful when it rains. I hope things are drying out for you
 
Im glad to know you and your loved ones are safe. Thank you for taking the time to share your insights and may this information help others in choosing their own disaster tool kit
 
Wow, not the motivation that I'd want to go stainless but it's great to see you standing strong in the midst of such tragedy and destruction.
A SAK is a mighty tool and now you're part of continuing to prove that.
 
Multitool would be the tool I'd want in situation like that.
Stainless for folders is pretty good option for winter too, if you need to stay outside for the nights and such.
 
I'm glad you and your family are alright. Things looked pretty messy down there.

I feel that everyone should have a SAK for situations like this. Heck, they should include one in the glove compartment when you buy a car!

My heart alway says carbon steel, but there are times when stainless is warranted.
 
Funny thing, several times this week I thought, "I could sure use one of those SAK saws!" I have never had a use for one before....next time I'll get a Farmer or Electrician plus!;)
 
Rishma like everyone else I'm really glad you and your family are safe. :thumbsup:
I enjoy my carbon blade knives but seem to be cleaning and oiling them continuously as I'm not a fan of patina or rust. I really like the low maintenance of stainless and for me I would even be happy to pay a little more for stainless knives.
As far as SAK's I really like them and have several from a Solo to a Champ their utility, solid construction and price IMO make them one of the very best values in the knife world.
 
SAKs are tremendous knives that cut. Glad it is working out for you during this time of struggle. If you loose it or break it, you can get another. No telling what task you might ask it do perform in this environment.

Have a SAK in my pocket just about every day. That won't change. I'm settled and comfortable with this.
 
Thanks for all the kind thoughts! I have too many blessings to count including the fact I have insurance. Some friends and neighbors are not so fortunate.

I tried to post a pic but my brain is addled. I better get a back to work!
 
I know your impetus was to praise stainless steels and not the Victorinox lineage; but, I will do both here. I like patina because it's fun, but I don't like it when pivots and actions start to be hindered by tarnish. As far as folders are concerned, I think stainless is supreme, but then again I've lived in really humid areas.

The SAK - not as sexy as my stainless GEC 15, but I use the SAK more than anything else. That screwdriver and toothpick are handy in a pinch. The blade is always ready to cut.

If I were faced with what you were/are faced with, my choice would be the SAK and a stainless fixed blade. Glad that light is shining for you.
 
Sak knives do not rust,and steel that they use is excellent ,sharpens up as easy as carbon but doesn't rust.I used victorinox spartan exclusively for few months in south america and it was in my shorts pocket constantly,cutting fruits,vegetables,cheese,etc and never rusted.some of other knives I used before rusted even if they're stainless like case slimline trapper that developed rust on liners and blade that was ss but unpolished.
 
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