Is an SAK all you need?

I am also fond of my SAKs (sacks), but I know there are better knives in terms of materials. That doesn't change how useful they are.
 
My first knife, aged eight, was a Victorinox Huntsman; I'm now 50. I still carry one regularly; brings out the Swiss in me. My children have one too.

Over the years I've probably tackled every task that a knife can do with one. Started a fire, built a shelter and skinned out something to eat; fixed the car and opened a bottle of wine or two or three. They can do the Bear Grylls and Ray Meers, but also be so civilised.

However, I couldn't go through life without other tools in the tool box.

Oh, in our family we call them by their full title: Swiss Army Knife. SAK is so modern and so Wenger.
 
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I like my SAKs but I find that for day-to-day tasks around town and at work I often need pliers, and for that you gotta go with Leatherman. Still, while going outdoors I usually end up with either a Huntsman or a Wenger Bass (locking blade for the win).
 
I also have a few SAK, years back had some nice slippies & wasn't cheap. Now a SAK seems to fill my needs, have a Spartan with a serrated main blade, if I lose it I won't have no issues replacing it with another SAK, that & a locking folder is all I need. Gary
 
Gary, you can get a SAK with locking blade these days. I'm eyeing the RangerGrip series, 3.9 inch blade, non serrated. It's also one hand openning and has the basic SAK tools on it. It appears to be a nice piece of equipment. Presently carry an explorer so I'd have to give up a few tools but I think I could get by just fine.
 
Need? Sure. Want? Different question. I carried only a SAK for many years and managed very well. There are tasks my other knives do better and tasks the SAK won't really handle (or not safely), but it'll do most jobs I need done.
 
bt93, I have a few one hand openings & a locking blade & also several classics. I live about 45 min away from the repair/distribution center in Monroe, CT., also has a small store which I try to go once a month if I get a chance, the warranty is excellent if you have any issues with SAK or Wenger. But for some reason I like the serrated Spartan for daily use with some locking folder. Thanks Gary
 
I like the soft steel on a SAK. See what I did there? Like a sack! Anyhoo, the soft steel is super easy to sharpen, and I don't mind having to periodically sharpen in the field, because I seldom get out of doors these days. However, I have gone days with just a Classic as a knife, and I made it through the other side. As an office drone, I don't need a whole lot of knife.
 
I suppose you could clean your teeth okay with a toothpick, but wouldn't you rather use a toothbrush?
 
I know a lot of folks joke about the SAK but they do come in handy when needed, love the serrated Spartan. Gary
 
I EDC the Classic. Its small enough to not feel in your pocket. The knife blade is perfect for opening box's and mail. The scissors is usful for threads, paper and nose hair. The Tweezer is used for holding very small items and picking splinters. And the toothpick I use all time as well.

Cheap enough that its not big, if you lose one. And their also fun to collect with the many designs. Its one of those knives that's so easy to carry and so useful, so why not cary "A" SAK in your pocket.
 
Yes a SAK is all you need. :D It may not be all you want, but "need", I think so. I started carrying a small stockman (Hen & Rooster) about a month ago, and I am discovering other than when I head for the woods, it is pretty much all I need. So, it SAK terms, I would be pretty comfortable with the 84mm Bantam even though I generally prefer the larger 111mm size.
 
Probably.. but I like a full size folder incase I need to do some harder use in a pinch. A backup requirement for any carry setup.
 
The Vic Classic is just too small for me if you cut anything with any regularity. Handy for the tiny tweezers, toothpick, and scissors on the plastic handled ones, but I prefer the regular sized tools. I do not carry a classic. I added a Leatherman Squirt to my key chain and it seems to come in handy, but it certainly is heavier than a classic.
 
I think a SAK and a small tough fixed blade is a great EDC combo. This has been my EDC for years and pretty much covers any situation I run into.
 
I love my Victorinox tools, but prefer a mid to large Leatherman. I would feel a lot better if I found myself stranded with some fire basics and a Supertool 300. And taking a Leatherman out in public for blade use seems to soil less under garments around here.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I suppose you could clean your teeth okay with a toothpick, but wouldn't you rather use a toothbrush?
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I doubt that most people EDC a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss on their person everywhere they go. A toothpick just helps to remove food particles from your teeth that are visible so you can eat lunch, then do other business without having pieces of food stuck to your teeth when you talk to people. I don't see how anyone would ever consider a toothpick a substitute for brushing.

Jim
 
For me, No it's not all I need.

I tried a SAK years ago & wasn't really impressed. If you put a nice refined & polished edge on it it would go dull in a hurry. Leave the edge toothy and it would cut longer than than you would expect from a soft steel. Kind of like a utility knife will cut when dull, just because the blade profile is so thin.

There's a limit to how much stress I would put on a SAK screw driver, it is after all a slip joint..

So these days a dedicated pocket knife and a Skeletool do a better job for me.

Two years ago jackknife posted they were making 35,000,000 million SAK's a year.
They may not work for me but for an awful lot of people they work just fine. So I guess it depends on your needs or likes.
 
No, for me a SAK is not all I need. However, if you throw good sharpening tools into the mix, then yes, it would do 98.5% of what I need to do. They don't hold an edge long enough for my purposes, unless I could regularly and routinely sharpen them.

Some have mentioned the newer, locking SAKs. I have a couple. What's up with them releasing in the opposite direction of every other liner lock? I like my tools to have a standard way of working, unless there is some significant benefit or feature to be gained, which for me in this case there is not. Maybe if I was left-handed I would be overjoyed?
 
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