Our recommendations will always be different than what non-knife-people buy. A few of my friends bought a Climber, but the one SAK I see most in daily life is the Classic. My sister is not into knives, but she owns three Classics with different scales.
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If a good friend of you ask for your SAKs recomendation...
- Thread starter Iyonk
- Start date
Our recommendations will always be different than what non-knife-people buy. A few of my friends bought a Climber, but the one SAK I see most in daily life is the Classic. My sister is not into knives, but she owns three Classics with different scales.
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A friend of mine has a classic, but it isn't a model that I would recommend - I don't really like it. I think a SAK should include a pry tool - people often need to pry something and don't have a pry bar handy, that is when foolish people end up breaking the tip off their knife. The Victorinox pry tool can also be used as a screwdriver and as a bottle opener, this makes it quite a versatile tool to have. If someone wants a small & thin SAK I would recommend the Alox Cadet over the classic - it's a really nice looking SAK and has a useful set of tools. The bottle opener & can opener are what I would consider 'must haves' mainly because the bottle opener can be used on flat head screws (and as a pry tool as I said) and the can opener can be used on the most common Phillips head screws - how many people never have a need for a screwdriver?
The Climber looks like a good choice for a fairly minimalist SAK that includes scissors - it has the main tools that the average Joe would find useful. Amazon sell the Climber II for $18, not exactly the kind of money that would break the bank - good for the type of person that thinks knife nuts are crazy for spending hundreds on a knife.
Non-knife people may buy something different to what I would recommend, but if asked for my recommendation I would always suggest what I think would be a good choice. Often if they buy what I recommend they would find they get more out of it then if they had bought the model that they would have chosen without my recommendation.
Classic: Need something small, non-threatening looking? These little babies get it done well. I'm suprised how often I use it, actually.
Tinker: Classic officer knife. Spartan too, I just prefer the phillips. I think size wize a 2 layer 91mm is perfect!
OHT Non-serrated: Heavy duty outdoors use. Good for hiking and such.
Between those 3 I think you have a great combo.
Tinker: Classic officer knife. Spartan too, I just prefer the phillips. I think size wize a 2 layer 91mm is perfect!
OHT Non-serrated: Heavy duty outdoors use. Good for hiking and such.
Between those 3 I think you have a great combo.
My #1 EDC is either a 91mm Sparton or Tinker. I like the nylon scales on the Tinker cause they don't show scratches as easily. Wish I could find a Sparton with nylon scales! #2 is my Camper because of the saw. #3 is a Recruit because it's 84mm and easier on dress pants pockets.
The OHT (with serrations!)is the best knife ever made as far as I'm concerned. That said, it may be too big for some folks, so I might recommend a huntsman or cybertool, depending on what they do. I know it's heresy, but I'm not a fan of the classic. I'm always afraid I'm going to snap that tiny little blade.
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Everything has its place. I EDC both a Midnite Manager (slightly thicker than a Classic) and a Swisstool Spirit. The manager gets used 9 out of 10 times because it's good enough for most tasks and it's totally non-threatening (TSA agents excepted). It's also cheap, so all in all it's a worry-free tool.
Using any folding knife as a pry tool is a very bad idea. Put much pressure on the joint, and all you;ll do is ruin a nice pocket knife by popping the rivet that holds the knife together. There's a limit to even what prying a Vic soldier can do. If you have to pry, a 1.99 screwdriver will out pry a sak. The only two sak's I've seen destroyed in my life, a tinker and a recruit, the bone head owners thought they were a folding crow bar, and tried prying with them.
Carl.
powernoodle
Power Member
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I guess my favorite of all time is the Explorer Plus. It has what comes closest to my "best" selection of tools, including a magnifier and a phillips that folds out 180 degrees like God intended. But still thin enough (at least in my experience) to ride unnoticed in the bottom of a pocket.
Next is the Classic/Rambler/Manager/Midnite Manager, depending on what floats your boat. Small enough for the keychain, but packs tweezers, pen and/or light (or some combination thereof) depending on what you are after.
Having an "emergency" pen on your SAK is mighty helpful, in my view. But again, it depends on how you ride.
Explorer Plus. The "Plus" version adds a pen, straight pen and mini screwdriver with no additional bulk.
Manager.
Ditto.
Next is the Classic/Rambler/Manager/Midnite Manager, depending on what floats your boat. Small enough for the keychain, but packs tweezers, pen and/or light (or some combination thereof) depending on what you are after.
Having an "emergency" pen on your SAK is mighty helpful, in my view. But again, it depends on how you ride.
Explorer Plus. The "Plus" version adds a pen, straight pen and mini screwdriver with no additional bulk.
Manager.
Ditto.
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- Nov 20, 2005
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My recommendation would depend entirely on what the person getting the knife would use it for and their preference for larger or smaller knives. If I knew nothing about a person's habits, I would recommend a Tinker, One hand Trekker (non serrated), and the Adventurer which all can be comfortably carried in a pants pocket by most men.
Top 3 recommended SAK's would be:
Vic Tinker--available at low cost fairly anywhere, great for generaly utility and easily cred for by non-knuts.
Vic Picnicker--larger model for use by someone that will want something bigger than the Tiner. I've used mine for utility and food prep--bought it used about 8 years ago and it is still going strong.
Vic Swisschamp--some people ask for a 'big' SAK with all the cool gadgets. Plys, if the 'Champ is to heavy for them, I thell them that they can pick what tools are most important to them and find some SAK with just those tools.
Vic Tinker--available at low cost fairly anywhere, great for generaly utility and easily cred for by non-knuts.
Vic Picnicker--larger model for use by someone that will want something bigger than the Tiner. I've used mine for utility and food prep--bought it used about 8 years ago and it is still going strong.
Vic Swisschamp--some people ask for a 'big' SAK with all the cool gadgets. Plys, if the 'Champ is to heavy for them, I thell them that they can pick what tools are most important to them and find some SAK with just those tools.
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I grabbed an Explorer on special - paid ~$20 for one in a fancy case. I'll probably grab a pin & screwdriver (there is a place for the pin to go even though it doesn't come with one on the Explorer and also on the Ranger, I'll get pins for each). This means that it is only the pen that I will be missing, it just didn't seem worth the price difference to get the pen (for me at least).
I have played with the magnifying glass - it really is a quality tool, I am impressed by the clarity and by the magnification.