Looking for Swiss Army Knife Recommendations

I usually carry either the Executive or Cadet. I agree, if the Cadet had scissors it would be just about perfect for me. I use the "orange peeler " to open clam shell plastic packaging quite often.
The ultimate, for me, was the Compact but a bit too large. It had just about everything including a pen.
Exec.
VTRkTSil.jpg

Cadet.
BwdlSkvl.jpg

Compact.
V7bzt2Fl.jpg
 
Venice said:
I usually carry either the Executive or Cadet. I agree, if the Cadet had scissors it would be just about perfect for me. I use the "orange peeler " to open clam shell plastic packaging quite often.
The ultimate, for me, was the Compact but a bit too large. It had just about everything including a pen.
Exec.
VTRkTSil.jpg

Cadet.
BwdlSkvl.jpg

Compact.
Click to expand...

What’s your light in the pic with the executive there?
 
My favorite for work carry was the Compact. Main blade, scissors, combo tool, tweezers, toothpick, pen, and corkscrew with eyeglass screwdriver. Very useful set of tools for urban carry.
 
Thanks for all the really helpful replies. I really appreciate your guys' input. I just ordered the Executive, as it seems quite compact, but still has a fair number of tools, including scissors. I also like the orange peeler, because I like oranges lol.

But I have a feeling I will get more SAKs going forward, so feel free to keep this thread going. There are so many models, and I would love to hear about your experiences with them.

Like most, I always saw Swiss Army Knives everywhere when I was young, including in my home. This will be a welcome addition to my usual EDC of things like Spydercos, etc.
 
I've had 3 Explorers for over 30 years -- have them stashed in the kitchen, in my day bag and in my travel kit. It has all the tools I need and is the best balance between size/function for me.

knives-tools-victorinox-swiss-army-explorer-knife-1_grande.jpg
 
From small to large, my favorike SAKs are the midnight manager, compact, huntsman, cybertool 34, pioneer X, and outrider.
 
I prefer, and recommend the One Hand Trekker. See: https://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Trekker.
Main advantage = the locking blade, as well as the saw.
More specifically, I prefer the following variations:
  1. One-Handed Trailmaster/Trekker (OHT): The OHT has a main blade that can be opened with one hand, and is serrated, as opposed to the plain-edged, nail-nick-opening blade of the original Trailmaster. It is the civilian version of the OH GAK (see below) and the current Swiss Soldier.
  2. The One-Handed German Army Knife (OH GAK) is nearly identical to the OHT, except that it has olive drab green scales, with a German army eagle moulded into the scales. It doesn't have the toothpick or tweezers.
 
Last edited:
I carried a larger 111mm two layer SAK for something like 15 years. It is similar to a Tinker but no second blade. Anyhow, late last year I purchased a Small Tinker. I had been carrying a Peanut to try out. The Small Tinker is just a tad larger than a Case Peanut, but has two blades and a few full sized tools. Been carrying it for over a month now an I like it a lot. Like it better than a Peanut. Take a look.

I take a One handed Trekker in the woods with me for the saw blade. But it is too thick for pocket carry to me. It stays in my day pack or whatever bag I am carrying; often a camera bag.
 
1. Camper -if you want an all-arounder that isn’t massive.
2. Rambler -if you want a compact size with plenty of tools.

3. All the SAKs. Farmer and Explorer are another couple of great ones to keep around. You’ll probably end up with a bunch. Alox models are excellent -but you lose the tweezers and toothpick.

Enjoy the Executive!
 
I carried a red alox Pioneer for years while doing construction like tasks. It took a lot of abuse. When I switched to IT and office tasks I carried a Wenger Traveler because I wanted/needed scissors. Retired now, I still use the Traveller because red handled SAKs never seen to scare people who want to borrow a knife to open a present or whatever.

Here's the info on my Wenger(no longer produced). I'm sure you can find a Victorinox with the same config.

https://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Traveler

Brian
 
Of the SAKs I have used, I think the Hiker is probably the most all-around useful one I've used. Has implements that are useful for normal EDC stuff and also can take care of some camp tasks. Farmer is a great option for hiking and such, but the Hiker has a Phillips head screwdriver, so I think is slightly better overall.
 
It really depends on you, but my everyday carry choice is the Victorinox Compact. I believe it is the thinnest of the 91mm models and has a good-sized blade, scissors, bottle and can opener, and all the scale tools. It's one of my most carried knives in general.
 
I carried a Bantam when I carried a traditional as I wanted the toothpick and tweezers. It is a simple knife and carries easily. But I have grown to really like the Small Tinker. I often have two knives with me, but feel that the Small Tinker does pretty much everything I need to do on a day to day non-hard use basis.

SAKs are somewhat infectious if you like them. I generally will not carry a three layer SAK (like the Compact) [Correct me if I am wrong about the layers on the Compact. Might buy one then.] in my pocket but will carry one in a day pack or whatever. Really don't want the scissors. (I do carry a Leatherman Ps4 Squirt on my keys all the time and it has a scissors just in case, but I never used it.)

The Pioneer and Electrician are good models too. Many like the Farmer which has the saw blade.
 
Last edited:
I keep a stars & stripes super tinker in my medicine bag. I used to have a Wenger nomad I got for my 7th birthday, but it disappeared about a year ago. The super tinker was the closest to it, albeit a a bit thinner. I dislike the corkscrew, and both the nomad and the ST have a Phillips driver instead. My first super tinker got stolen at the hospital, all of 6 months old.
 
22-rimfire said:
I generally will not carry a three layer SAK (like the Compact) [Correct me if I am wrong about the layers on the Compact. Might buy one then.]
Click to expand...
The Compact is two layer with side tools (mainly corkscrew, in which is a very small (eyeglass) screwdriver. Please check it out I think you'll like it. :cool:
 
katanas said:
The Compact is two layer with side tools (mainly corkscrew, in which is a very small (eyeglass) screwdriver. Please check it out I think you'll like it. :cool:
Click to expand...

I think I will definitely get the Compact eventually. As well as probably the Pioneer X. And the Cadet is also a no-brainer. I thought the Executive would be a great intro for me, being as I am, actually, an executive. I usually carry a Delica or Dragonfly, but I needed something a little less threatening. And yes, I know the Delica and Dragonfly are not scary knives, but in a big office, sentiments can be a bit different. No one is scared of a SAK. And I think the Executive will be a good start for me. And frankly, it's probably all the blade I need on a daily basis. I have gotten similarly successful results with my Case Peanut, but I wanted some additional tools and functionality. BTW, I just love the Case Peanut. I will probably carry both the Executive and the Peanut, because the Peanut blades are simply great.
 
I've carried the same Executive for the past 20 years, and personally find it more useful than the Classic. In another pocket, I carry either my Spartan or my Alox Pioneer. I like the Spartan, because back in the '80s and '90s, a Spartan was my only knife for around a decade or so. I also use the corkscrew for loosening overly-tight knots, and for holding my eyeglass mini-screwdriver.

Carrying both is never a hassle, because they complement each other perfectly in functions, and take up little space in different pockets.

Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top