If you have a Leatherman, is there a reason to buy an SAK?

Carry a Swiss Army knife with a bottle opener and also have Brewzer on your key chain....................
 
The Leatherman Rebar I carry all the time on my belt hasn't failed me yet.
Between that and a large or medium sized folder, I'll go to the tool box for anything else I need.

I used to have a really nice Marlboro SAK with just two blades...it was my dads and I lost it long ago.
That would probably be the only style SAK I would carry again if I could find one
 
I use both. I've had a long love affair with SAKs, they were my first quality folding knives and went with me all over the world.

I think the best SAKs are those with three or four layers, thicker ones lose out when compared to full size plier based multitools.

I like to keep a big multitool in each of the backpacks and bags that I've got set up for different activities and I keep a SAK in my pocket, usually trying to complement the tool set on each of them. For instance, my EDC backpack which I carry most days has a Leatherman SuperTool 300 in it, so I carry a SAK with scissors in my pocket since the ST 300 lacks them. My range bag has a SwissTool Spirit with extra bits. My gym bag has a LM Charge Tti.

SAKs are more pocket friendly, have better blades than small sized multitools and honestly take care of most stuff I need to do. From time to time I'll carry a Squirt or Juice instead of a SAK, but that's not often. In addition, since only official distributors can bring Leatherman tools into the country (I can't order them from an online dealer, since they have an agreement with LM), they are A LOT more expensive and hard to find than SAKs.
 
ST 300 and a Vic Fieldmaster for me. I feel like they compliment each other.
Bob
 
I'd say it's perfectly reasonable to have one of each. Variety is the spice of life, eh?
 
I'd take a SAK over a Leatherman, I've seen a lot of broken Leathermans but not too many broken SAK's. I still have my first knife a Vic Recruit that thing took a beating when I was a kid that make most of us cringe but you know what it is still in pretty dang good shape. I just have to sharpen it back up and it's ready to EDC use again and I've had it close to 20 years. And chances are I could probably carry that knife till the day I die and it still be chugging along, I don't think I can say the same for the Leatherman PST II I used to own.
 
Or "vice versa": If you have a SAK, is there a reason to buy a Leatherman? :)

~Paul~
 
No one looks twice when you pull out a SAK to open your lunch. Cant say the same when you pull out a large Leatherman and start unfolding it.
 
leatherman or sak? not exactly one of life's biggest decisions. whatever floats your boat. if im at work i prefer less crap in my pockets so like the leatherman in sheath. sak is a fine choice if thats what you like. its not like you're going to build skyscrapers with either one.
 
After much experimentation, there are 5 tools that I feel like I "need" to have with me whenever possible. These are: knife, pen, bottle opener, scissors, and tweezers. I used to carry a Vic Mini Champ, but after losing it I found that the Manager had all the tools I needed. My Leatherman Charge TTi definitely has a place in the stable, but it weighs just over 10x as much as the Manager (8.2 oz vs 0.8 oz). Basically I think an SAK has a place as a true everyday carry, while a Leatherman is a tool that I only grab for certain occasions.

Victorinox_Manager.jpg
 
One advantage the SAK has over the Leatherman, at least for the Tinker series, is the perpendicular screwdriver allowing for a reduced overall length.

One advantage the Leatherman has over the SAK is the reduced thickness for all the tools. And anybody who carries one of the four or five layer models for the wood saw or metal saw/file knows that.
 
bpeezer said:
After much experimentation, there are 5 tools that I feel like I "need" to have with me whenever possible. These are: knife, pen, bottle opener, scissors, and tweezers.
Click to expand...
My feelings exactly, although the pen and tweezers (sliver grippers) I carry separately, and I also carry a flashlight.
 
I prefer to carry my sak on me and leave the leatherman in the car. The sak is lighter, smaller, more ergonomic when using the knife and turning a screw is much easier with a sak. The equivalent tools will all be better on the sak and the fit and finish are well above leatherman. I can't say I'll ever buy another leatherman. I would consider just adding a pair of real pliers to my kit before another leatherman. YMMV
 
I have completely moved to Vic MTs. The Spirit is by far a suberior tool to any modern LM (Charge, Surge) that I own. I cary it every day. The only time I carry my LMs any more is if I am working dirty jobs where it might get pretty messed up, or working in the woods for the same reasons.
 
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