I guess I never have been enamored with SAKs

jakemex

jakemex

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Oct 19, 2011
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I understand they have their place and etc. but They just are too plain and unappealing. I'd rather use a wooden toothpick to do EDC tasks than use one of them. Give me a TL-29. :cool:

Why are they so great except for being unobstrusive in hand and in pocket?
 
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handy, scissors, little blade, cork screw, saw, magnifying glass, same reason multi-tools are popular, lots of options in a rather small package.
 
Having multiple handy tools available in your pocket, in addition to a good price and excellent fit and finish.
They're simply great tools.
 
Inexpensive, found everywhere, legal everywhere, useful tools in one package, easy to sharpen, high quality and consistency, many differnt models and sizes.
Get the Alox models.
 
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There are many reason for becoming SAK fans.
They are not expensive, and give a very good value/cost ratio.
The consistency is their quality is absolutely unbeatable.
They offer variety in tools, combinations and handles. They are very practical and handy, and people friendly.
They last more than you would want them to, and are very easy to maintain.
They also bring an "aura" of being useful in many many situations, thus giving some kind of "preparedness" feeling that many knife users know and search for.
Yes, they're not that fancy, or at least not everyone finds them fancy.
But they're (by far) the bestsellers of the knifeworld. I understand that you might not like them...after all, taste is a very personal thing. But there is no doubt that, beyond personal taste, SAK's are quite something.

Fausto
.cool:
 
Depending on your taste, they're not very pretty but every tool on it works.

"Please treat other members with the respect you'd want for yourself or your closest relations. (Assume that youngsters may be reading your posts and act accordingly.) " Please review the sticky "Guidelines For The "Traditional Folders & Fixed Blades" Sub-Forum" if you have questions. Thanks.
 
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Hm... good question.

I got a lot them, bought them and used them heavily. Before I got addicted to the Traditional-Unhealable-Drug ;)

They are not expensive and very useful. It doesn´t matter when loosing one.
They are pretty tough tools, especially the alox versions (The Vic Farmer is an absolutelly Heavy-duty-tool, same the the Wenger Soldat)
Everybody knows them (here in Germany) and noone gets scared.
Normally there are tweezers in it, which can be pretty useful (removing ticks and such things).

However they are as useful, but they don´t have the charme like a real traditional with stag or bone handles or anythink with carbonsteel blades, though the steel which is used in SAKs often remebers me on the 420HC by Buck.

I carry my SAKs time by time. When I´m in the city (like Munich) and you can be stopped by a security man which wants to see your pockets. Having a nice stag handles traditional would be horrible. Because it would be taken away. With an SAK that doesn´t really matter, to me.

Kind regards
Andi
 
They're versatile and dependable, in no way flashy, this is a big appeal in my book.

Just last Saturday, grovelling about under the sauna bench, cold, awkward, back hurting trying to enlarge a hole for a heating cable .Really cramped spot, can't use power tools, can't turn the brace, what to do?? Answer, Alox Farmer's clever saw soon chewed round it in no time, SAK does it again!
 
The bang for the buck and consistancy in fit and finish! If I didn't have such a passion for Americana I would just have a Pioneer and be content!
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If traditional style knives such as GEC and Case produced knives with tools rather than different styles of blades on them, I would be all over them. There's a simple reason they're popular: because they're the only quality brand that makes things like it. Boy scout knives have tools, but its hard to find one in nice condition that is of quality. IMO, of course.
 
I'd argue that an alox SAK can have just as much charm as a standard traditional, only difference it happens on the scales and not on the blades.

The awl on the pioneer is one of most underated tools on any handheld tool - period.
 
I agree, I could just never get into them. I recently bought a victorinox compact and its a GREAT knife, awesome fit and finish, walk and talk and great overall quality. It's a very usefull tool! I just don't care to much for it though, I guess its just not my style. but hey, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We're all different.
 
Its been years since I bought a SAK. I went and bought an alox lumberjack from Swissbianco (here on BF's) because I wanted something weightless for my camping tin with a saw and blade and a bottle opener. the thing is great, so great i went and got a pioneer harvester for mushroom hunting. After buying mostly customs for a long time, its nice to get a great little knife for so little money. Someone else on another thread said something very poignant about SAKs. You can buy one anywhere on your travels knowing you're getting a very consistent product, use it, and give it away to someone you meet along the road. For $20 or so bucks, its a nice gesture. I've given away a lot of Opinels and Moras, and this year all my friends got YellaSodbusters. Its on the short list for ultimate bang for the buck.
 
As a long time SAK fan, I can't add much to what's already been said. But, leaving the tool aspect aside and just talking blades, the alox Solo I recently bought has to be about the best $17.00 I ever spent on a knife. It takes an impressive edge and it's easy to keep it that way. It's also slim and light, has excellent fit & finish, and clean, simple good looks.

Andrew

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I've always been intrigued by SAK's. They are handy, tend to not scare people, can be found at most stores, and a quality knife. I have several, but not enough. But above all, I believe there was some marketing genius behind their popularity.

If anyone here is familiar with discontinued SAK's, would you mind taking a look here and seeing if you could help?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/918910-SAK-ID-help
 
I've used most of the tools in my SAK's while camping. Plus they're pretty non-threatening. Believe it or not, I got a raised eyebrow at my GEC Conductor one day(!) but I've never heard anyone say anything about a SAK other than "handy tool ya got there".
 
What's not to like about the Alox models? 10% thicker blades than the plastic handle models, ground very thin so they slice and carve well. Very tough large screwdriver that you can pry with (I would dare say tougher than the TL -29s). Useful additional tools. And every one pulled out of a box behaves the exact same way: they are a known quality tool (no other slipjoint maker comes close in this regard).
 
They are indisputably high-functioning. I have several and use them extensively. They also excite me about as much as an unpeeled potato.
 
The answer to your question is simple for me. A SAK is the only knife that when I am packing for a trip, going away for the weekend, or getting gear together for either a hunting or fishing trip, that I think to myself "You better bring one, just in case".
 
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