Most practical "city" SAK model?

[tiguy7]

View attachment 2333687View attachment 2333688

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Yessir. The scissors are, for lack of a better word, urbane, and they're what I end up cutting with, in town. (Specifically: cutting a slit in each sticky side of a bandaid, so that you can wrap it around a knuckle and still flex the finger. I work with lots of sharp stuff.) The FX just - feels right. Right weight, right dimensions, right solidity. YMMV, as always, but I hella like mine; I trim my pennants with a lighter when they pop up.

Back in the before times, the long long ago, you had to buy a Farmer and a Pioneer X, and then drill out the pins and combine the parts you wanted into one knife. That's the one I've got in my pocket, and my admiration may be part nostalgia. The unwanted parts and duplicates formed a second knife, that lives in my tool chest. Plastic scale knife choice: Huntsman.

That's actually a really clever bandaid tip, probably use it the rest of my life when the need arises

 

[ISKRA]

That’s gorgeous

Thank you!

 

[A.L.]

Alox minichamp

Bonus content - my thoughts about champ: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/in-defense-of-the-minichamp.1934013/

 

[GaiusJulius]

Anything that has scissors. I used to get a lot of use out of a manager keychain knife before I started traveling more often. TSA cramps my style there.

Scissors, a pen, a bottle opener, slotted and Phillips screwdrivers, a nail file, and a small blade. Just about perfect for the office. Only thing that would be better is if they’d take the same knife, add a corkscrew, and upsize it a bit (but keep it to two layers max.)

 

[mnblade]

For me personally, my "urban" SAK knife would be this vintage Tourist from the 50s. You can do phillips screws with the small screw driver on the can opener and the inside of the caplifter is sharpened for wire stripping. I love the old awl and two blades are a must for me – having a small clip blade instead of a pen blade makes it even better.

I too would nominate the mighty 84mm Tourist, though mine is a modern version, and carries the additional eyeglasses screwdriver screwed into the corkscrew.

As an alternate, I'd suggest a Rambler, which tends to cover all urban bases -- except any food prep that comes up. The blade can quarter an apple, cut a bagel in half etc., but it's a little small for that duty.

As an alternate alternate, I'd be tempted to suggest the Executive, though I've never owned one. The (IMO) inflated price has always turned me off.

-- Mark

 

[Planterz]

No love for the Cybertool in the Traditional forum? I guess that makes some sense, in a way.

My other "EDC" knives may change daily, weekly, monthly, whatever, but the one knife that doesn't change is my Cybertool 29 (called the S now). I swapped the included flathead/#2 Phillips bit with a T6/T7 TORX. T6 is probably the most commonly used handle screw size used in modern knives. Of course, the T8 and T10 bits fit most any modern knife pivot screw. The jewelers screwdriver bit kept inside the corkscrew and the smallest Phillips are small enough for nearly any sunglasses or eyeglasses screw. The pin is useful if you need to pop a SIM tray out of a cell phone, pop a blister, remove splinters, etc. Even if I forget a pen (rare), I still have a pen because the Cybertool has one. Honestly, the least used tools on this knife are the knife blades (even less used than the toothpick).

 

[ISKRA]

I too would nominate the mighty 84mm Tourist, though mine is a modern version, and carries the additional eyeglasses screwdriver screwed into the corkscrew.

That's even better, one more tool! And in an urban environment it can be handy quite often.

 

[Henry Beige]

I live in Brooklyn, I've been carrying a Cadet on and off for just under ten years now. Can't say I've ever felt particularly un or underprepared. The one tool I've found myself needing repeatedly that's not on it is, oddly enough, the corkscrew. Get to a hotel or an Airbnb or some sort of function and there's wine and no way to open it. Of course, there's no Alox model with a corkscrew and that's why we keep the Forrester in the car...

I like that the Cadet really disappears in the pocket, but if I was buying a SAK today, I do believe I'd strongly consider a Pioneer X.

You don’t need a corkscrew. There are all kinds of Youtube vids that show you how to pull a cork with a knife blade. With my Electrician, I have never bemoaned the absence of a corkscrew, a can opener, or the scissors.

 

[GaiusJulius]

You don’t need a corkscrew. There are all kinds of Youtube vids that show you how to pull a cork with a knife blade. With my Electrician, I have never bemoaned the absence of a corkscrew, a can opener, or the scissors.

We’ve been known to put down more than a few bottles of wine at my office on Friday afternoon. I have saved the day for tipsy female colleagues numerous times with my corkscrew. (I mention female simply to clarify that most of the guys are drinking beer.) But this comment has prompted me to check out YouTube and educate myself.

 

[EngrSorenson]

You don’t need a corkscrew. There are all kinds of Youtube vids that show you how to pull a cork with a knife blade. With my Electrician, I have never bemoaned the absence of a corkscrew, a can opener, or the scissors.

I will say that, for me, the corkscrew gets the most use as a kind of marlin spike. Fishing line and paracord are the most common examples of things that require undoing.

 

[jdswitters]

Executive or alox cadet for fancy urban, a signature paired with a waiter is a weekend in the city. I am also surprised to see the ambassador and money clip lacking some love. Just rolling around the house I keep a money clip in my pajamas for cutting up pet snacks. Use it every morning.

 

[afishhunter]

To answer the question of which SAK is "best" for the urban user ...that I have experience with I nominate:
Small to large; lower cost to higher cost:

Signature/SD Classic The Signature is my preference because of the retractable pen side tool. Both have the same tool set.

Mini Champ same size as the Signature/SD Classic, but has a "better"/ more complete tool set. supposedly all the tools available for the 58mm models. My current carry, along with an Evo Grip 14 and a Hercules.

Huntsman Has a pen blade, and the multi-use package hook and corkscrew, in addition to large scissors.
Scissors are important in an urban setting to remove loose threads and/or wild hairs from your lady. If you use a knife blade ... some bystander may "think" they are about to witness a murder, or something.
The Fieldmaster (I've never had one) is the "same knife" but has the single purpose #2 Phillips screwdriver instead of the multi purpose corkscrew. (that is why I have never had one.)
The saw is handy for trimming brush and low hanging branches on the multi-use trails.

Evo Grip 14 Same tool set as the Huntsman/Fieldmaster, less the saw and pen blade. Has a fingernail file instead of a pen blade.
Evo Grip 18 has the same tool set plus the saw, and a locking blade.
Flat blade screwdriver on the can opener locks when you press down on it, unlocks when you let up.

Hercules At 111 mm and 4 layers, it is best on the belt in a sheath or clipped to a belt loop, to be honest.Even I find it too large for pocket carry. Has 2 real phillips screwdrivers, long and short under the scissors and pliers . caplifter/screwdriver has a tab/liner lock. Also a half stop so you can use the screwdriver half opened for more leverage.
Knife blade has a tab/liner lock.

HONORABLE MENTION
Evo Grip 10 Basic 4 blade model. Same tool set as the CADET: Blade, Nail File, Can Opener/Small Screwdriver/bottle Opener/Large Screwdriver, plus punch/awl and multi purpose corkscrew back tools. Caplifer/Screw driver automatically locks whe pressed, unlocks when you let up.

Really, the "best" depends on what the user is likely to need, whether an urban or rural user.

You should decide which to get based on the tool set and your needs.
You may wind up with a tool or three you don't need to get the tools you do need sometimes.
A couple of my SAK's have a fingernail file. I don't believe I have ever used the fingernail file. However, I have used all the other tools (except the tweezers) - many times.

Pesonally, I don't want an ALOX model. No side tools. I use the toothpick (Yes. It is also good for more than its namesake.) I don't use the tweezers. Too weak - can't get a good grip on anything including a splinter.

I prefer the multi use corkscrew over the single puropose #2 Phillips. The optional eyeglasses screwdriver or a Fire Ant fire starter and kindling can be stored in the corkscrew. OH!!! the Fire Ant also has a larger ferro rod that replaces the toothpick or Tweezers. Another reason side tools come in handy.
Admittedly, the Fire Ant probably isn't needed in urban use, unless a park has charcoal/BB-Q grills mounted on poles, and the user is having a picnic.

 

[AZCoyote]

Only way to go for me is the cadet.

 

[mnblade]

Huntsman Has a pen blade, and the multi-use package hook and corkscrew, in addition to large scissors.

The Huntsman's always a good call although it might be big enough to carry in a briefcase, backpack or slingbag or whatever, vs. in pocket (especially if you're wearing dress pants). BTW, don't forget to upgrade to Plus scales to add a pen!

I don't want an ALOX model. No side tools. I use the toothpick (Yes. It is also good for more than its namesake.) I don't use the tweezers. Too weak - can't get a good grip on anything including a splinter.

I couldn't agree more. Make mine cellidor, please!

I prefer the multi use corkscrew over the single puropose #2 Phillips. The optional eyeglasses screwdriver ... can be stored in the corkscrew.

Again, amen! I can turn Phillips head screws with the tip of the can opener, but I can't tighten up a loose pair of glasses with the backside Phillips driver on the various Tinker models, and the Craftsman, Fieldmaster, Fisherman, etc.

-- Mark

 

[JasonInVa]

My vote is tinker or cadet. Not an Alox for me since I like having the tweezer and toothpick.

 

[Wild Willie]

I will say that, for me, the corkscrew gets the most use as a kind of marlin spike. Fishing line and paracord are the most common examples of things that require undoing.

Mine gets used on the kids shoelaces constantly... How they wad them up that bad is a mystery.

 

[Captain Howdy]

soldier/pioneer for me

 

[315]

I’ve been thinking about this for a bit. I think the discontinued Passenger would make a great city slicker knife. Spikediesel made the blue one for me. It’s come in handy on a couple of road trips and a great second knife on a hunting trip, but that wasn’t in the city I prefer the 3 layers in my pocket vs a 4 layer. But if you absolutely had to have scissors than an Explorer would be a good option.

 

[Johnnythefox]

All in all I consider a vintage Alox Soldier the best tool for pocket carry.


The can opener is misunderstood by many it has other functions that I deem essential.

It is also a very effective Philips and small flat blade screwdriver,a scraper,staple remover etc.

Its why I deem it essential.


The can opener on mid-sized and large Victorinox Swiss Army knives includes a sharp, effective can opener, plus a small screwdriver tip. This blade is also useful on occasion for various scraping or prying functions (unlike the Wenger can opener, which is designed strictly for opening cans).