Is an SAK all you need?

Cant say too much more that hasn't been said. I tend to gravitate to traditionals, but carried Kershaw clip knives for a bit. But one thing constant through both of those has been a SAK. I carry one in the Jeep, and have on in regular rotation as well. I have a pretty pedestrian life, office work and outdoors on weekend, with a sprinkling of hunting mixed in, and lo...that SAK had been plenty good in all of it. Just my view. SJF
 
I always have a SAK in my vehicle and one in my work bag.
It really is all that a person "needs" but us being knife nuts will always want to try out everything else too.
 
tueller said:
I would say sak and a fixed blade is all you need!
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I've found that to be very true!
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I EDC multiple things...a Vic Executive, a Vic Swisstool Spirit, a Spyderco Pacific Salt SE, and at work a SE Tasman, too. There are just some things at work that the Tasman is more efficient at cutting without needing as many resharpenings, although if all I had was a SAK, it could still accomplish it. But I always have a Vic SAK on me.

When I lived overseas for nearly a decade, all I had was a Vic Spartan, and by necessity it had to handle all of my knife needs. It did so very well. Back then, I even pocket carried it onto airplanes between different countries. Probably the only things I never used were the corkscrew and, at that time, the reamer/awl. Since then, I've found uses for the awl. I probably would have been more appropriately served back then by an Alox Soldier or Pioneer, but I wasn't aware of them. If I ever travel internationally again, I will only take a SAK, in my checked luggage. I would not take any clip knives.

Jim
 
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If Victorinox was more in touch, they could make the ultimate knife if they wanted too.... Basically an Alox Cadet or Soldier with a proper clip and scissors would sell like crazy.
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Agree! I'd buy three! The closest to a perfect SAK for me is the Wenger 16.

Oh, and yes, a SAK is all I need (though it's not all I have).
 
Fo the actual work i do, my Gerber MP600 (not a SAK, but same idea) does all the heavy lifting i require. But i still carry a knife.

IN my case (and a very unpopular opinion around here), my knife is for defense, and defense only. I work on a base, and obviously have limited right in what i can carry (i do have my concealed, but would rather not compound felonies if i get caught). Given that the area off base is ghetto, i carry what i can. When it comes down to it, my CS Recon 1 is better than nothing, and will always carry it regardless..
 
All I know is that over time my needs or views change. I used to be hard core big knife\big choppers\big folders etc. I still have a touch of that in me but I am also slowly moving to smaller\lighter. I think that it is because the guys in the outdoor forums have shown me that I needed more skill and less tool.
 
dogstar said:
What, in you opinion is a "heavy duty" cutting task?
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Fiber reinforced pneumatic and hydraulic hoses are some of things I apply a lot of force when cutting.

But even tasks like cutting the heavy tarpaulins and ropes we use is best done with a fairy strong tool, I prefer a fixed blade to a folder, and would chose a folder more substantial then a SAK if I had to go that root.

In the woods, making a camp fire or lean-to, I often apply more force to a knife then I am comfortable using with a simple slip-joint like most SAK's


Don't get me wrong, I like SAK's and have been using them all my life, great tools for light duty cutting tasks.

And, as I stated earlier: "For folks who only tackle light duty cutting tasks I imagine it might be all they need."

But not for me.




Big Mike
 
I've never had to cut fiber reinforced hoses. I assume those are done in the line of your profession. If you need to do that on a daily basis, I would agree that an SAK is not the best tool. I've had to cut triple layer cardboard produce boxes, the ones you move with a forklift. A box cutter worked best for that, not my SAK. But, none of those things would fall under general EDC use.

Again, I don't see myself having to cut heavy rope or tarpaulins. For making fire in the woods or a lean-to, I'd not use a folder but a hatchet. If all I had was a folder, I wouldn't even bother, just scrounge up fallen pieces, smash them up over rocks or snap them between tree trunks. It is a waste of energy to bust up wood with a small folding knife.
 
upnorth said:
All I know is that over time my needs or views change. I used to be hard core big knife\big choppers\big folders etc. I still have a touch of that in me but I am also slowly moving to smaller\lighter. I think that it is because the guys in the outdoor forums have shown me that I needed more skill and less tool.
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Many a man has learned the same lesson.
 
In a restaraunt, the cook/chef will usually have a larger French or Santoku blade, perhaps a bread knife, paring or petit, also let's not forget your prepper or server slicing lemons to slip their staph-infected juice onto yer ice water or "sweet tea". The butcher isn't just using his bandsaw and rotary slicer, he has several knives too. Very few to none carry their specialty tools out in public, but I'd wager that several carry SAKs.
 
I have two types of knives for two different situations.

Every day carry for me a Swiss Army Knife is perfect and a single blade knife would be quite useless in comparison.
I use the scissors and screwdrivers more then the blade.
Besides when I did carry a modern single blade folder I got several negative responses which I do not get while carrying a Victorinox.

If I'm working in the yard however (with access to my toolbox) I use a locking strong single blade knife with clip for prying, removing weeds and what not.
(Sanrenmu with axis lock)

If I needed a knife for work, I would carry one of those disposable blade knives like every one else.

In my world (and country) there is no place for expensive (knives are 2-3 times more expensive then in the US here) modern locking folders with pocket clip.
Except for collecting. And if you go the slipjoint route you would be silly not to carry the extra tools a SAK has.
 
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You ever notice that there are seldom truly negative statements about Vic SAKs? That is a significant achievement for Victorinox considering how many knives they manufacture.

For most people, a middle sized SAK is all you need although I prefer a two layer 111mm size for the pocket. There are times that a larger knife comes in handy and certainly the strength of a fixed blade makes them better for cutting chores that require a lot of force.
 
22-rimfire said:
You ever notice that there are seldom truly negative statements about Vic SAKs? That is a significant achievement for Victorinox considering how many knives they manufacture.

For most people, a middle sized SAK is all you need although I prefer a two layer 111mm size for the pocket. There are times that a larger knife comes in handy and certainly the strength of a fixed blade makes them better for cutting chores that require a lot of force.
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I've owned a bunch of Victorinox products and (for my tastes) there are a ton of negatives.

1) Their heat treatment leaves their Inox very soft compared to industry standards. Most reports and experience put it in the 55Rc range. Plenty of easy to sharpen stainless steels in the 58rc range.

2) Their plastic scales scratch easily, can and do crack and fall off.

3) Their spring tensions vary widely with many impossible to open blades.

4) Their scissors, while nice for fine cutting, have frail springs and are not capable of hard cutting tasks compared to most scissors on Leatheman tools.

dogstar said:
What, in you opinion is a "heavy duty" cutting task?
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Cutting 1" thick branches. I do this on my property all the time. Destroys most knives I've owned in a year. Except for Opinel.
 
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