Multi-tool Vs SAK?

I like knives. The SAK is a great knife, with thin, flatground blades that slice well through anything. The fact that mine has the capability of two screwdrivers, two openers, and a drill/punch simply adds to its versatility, and doesn't mess with its carry-ability is just great! Add a Spyderco Delica as a back up and I can tackle most anything.
-Kevin
 
I EDC an 84 mm Victorinox Spartan. I own a Leatherman Wave but it stays in the kitchen drawer. Usually on road trips I'll stash the Wave in the backpack or if I'm going to tackle a lot of jobs around the house that day, I'll strap it on my belt.

Back when I had wheels, like a lot of guys I looked into buying a second multi-tool to keep in the glove box. Then it occured to me that I already owned a bunch of screwdrivers and knives, so all I had to do was add a pair of pliers and -- voila! -- instant $10 mult-tool.
 
stuartyr said:
Klattman, does the crunch have a plain blade or just a serrated one?
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Nope the crunch only has the serrated locking blade (all the crunch tools lock), so I use the Sak for most cutting (two plain blades) and the LM serrated blade for rough cutting like cardboard etc...

The crunch is such a wonderful and compact locking pliers, but because of all the gearing, you only have one handle left for tools, so the crunch is not very good on its own.
 
UnknownVT said:
The following is a very biassed
so please take it for what it's worth.... ;)

most multi-tools are pretty poor as knives.

Most earlier Leathermans I had (the displeasure) to experience had terrible actions - like the inability to open a single tool from the handle without other tools also opening - clumping.....
man! is that CRUDE by today's knife standards -
seriously, who would want to buy ANY knife that opens multiple blades when trying to open just one!
(and that was the at one time top-of-the-line SuperTool)

A SAK is a KNIFE - with a folder action that is a worldwide benchmark for quality - that others strive for.

Most multi-tools are a pair of pliers - with an excuse for a blade.

I had always wanted to carry a knife - and before the multi-tool - it had never occured to me to carry a pair of pliers.

I am a knife-person, and not a pliers-person.

:p :D

Of course, YMMV ;)

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
Click to expand...

Clumping is a thing of the past with the new LM line. Many advances have been made in multi-tools (one hand opening etc.). The new LM charge has a 154CM blade. All the new tools lock every blade on the new LMs. You _can_ find good knives on multi-tools. Most who choose SAK over a LM are comparing a SAK to the older LM models, which did have many problems.

As far as steel goes, SAK steel and the plain LM steel are quite similar, but the thin geometry of the SAK makes it perform much better.

All that being said, I cannot give up my combo and get a charge because I would miss all the small tools and my LM crunch pliers. Yeah, I'm not a knife person or a pliers person, I'm an everything person. :D
 
I usually carry a Vic Huntsman, a Schrade stockman and a Leatherman original (among other things), each has its use and I use them all plenty. In the old days before leathermans I sometimes carried a small slip joint pliers, I really don´t think of my leathermans as knives.

Luis
 
Ah, see I am a Swisstool fan. If I have to use a tool for something. I don't use my knife as a screwdriver, I got taught at a young age not to do that one. bad bad bad. So, I carry the Swisstool and find the pliers and screwdrivers that are there are great for small jobs and very handy to have around.
I do agree though, not really a comparision, they more or less, compliment each other.
 
klattman said:
I can't help you, I edc a Vic Sak Cybertool 41 (gobs of small tools) AND a Leatherman Crunch (bigger tools, locking pliers, in a 4" package!) every day, in a Benchmade sheath that is not much bigger (quite thick though) than a standard knife sheath:
So, as always, the answer is BOTH! :D


I would love to get a durable leather sheath as compact as the nylon one, but I would have to make it myself
:D
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I also like to carry both a LM Crunch and a Cybertool. I looked up that Benchmade sheath and see that it's 5" in length. The Crunch is only 4", does it slide to the bottom of the sheath and make it difficult to pull out?
 
Binford said:
I also like to carry both a LM Crunch and a Cybertool. I looked up that Benchmade sheath and see that it's 5" in length. The Crunch is only 4", does it slide to the bottom of the sheath and make it difficult to pull out?
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Binford,
My loaded sheath is 5" by 2 1/8 " by 2", but smaller than that because it's rounded and thinner in places...

The benchmade combo sheath is quite versitile, under the adjustable flap, the crunch sits in the back pocket of the sheath and protrudes about 1/2 " , and is easy to deploy. The CYB41 fits in the front pocket, which is elastic and stretches to fit the 41, and the 41 protrudes about 1" above the lip of that pocket. It seems a little tight at first, but is more secure than I expected. I can remove either tool without distrubing the other, but returning the crunch to the back pocket while the SAK is in place takes a second or so. (Note that theh CYB41 is 8.5 layers, so anything smaller would fit also, due to the elastic).

I've had it for a few months now, and it (the sheath) has held up well, but since it is thin nylon, I expect it to wear out eventually.

I would love to get a similar leather front/back sheath, but no such thing exists. One of these days I'll probably _try_ to make one.
:)
 
mnblade said:
I EDC an 84 mm Victorinox Spartan.
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JFYI - an "84mm Spartan" is called the Tourist model (US#53131) -
53131_l.jpg


It seems that it may have been called the "Sportsman" previously, until the model was changed with the nailfile instead of the small knife blade.

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
 
klattman said:
Binford,
My loaded sheath is 5" by 2 1/8 " by 2", but smaller than that because it's rounded and thinner in places...

The benchmade combo sheath is quite versitile, under the adjustable flap, the crunch sits in the back pocket of the sheath and protrudes about 1/2 " , and is easy to deploy. The CYB41 fits in the front pocket, which is elastic and stretches to fit the 41, and the 41 protrudes about 1" above the lip of that pocket. It seems a little tight at first, but is more secure than I expected. I can remove either tool without distrubing the other, but returning the crunch to the back pocket while the SAK is in place takes a second or so. (Note that theh CYB41 is 8.5 layers, so anything smaller would fit also, due to the elastic).

I've had it for a few months now, and it (the sheath) has held up well, but since it is thin nylon, I expect it to wear out eventually.

I would love to get a similar leather front/back sheath, but no such thing exists. One of these days I'll probably _try_ to make one.
:)
Click to expand...

Thanks! I've got a CYB34, so maybe it won't be as tight of a fit. I too would like to find a leather one, but will probably end up getting the Benchmade.
 
I usually EDC a Vic Soldier and a Leatherman Micra in my fanny pack, and a Victorinox Classic SAK in my RF pocket. On my belt is usually the Leatherman original PST in a Chris Reeve large Sebenza sheath horizontally.

I find for example, there are some screws that the large driver on the PST is too thick for and the Soldier's large driver will fit into. I like the can opener better on the Soldier. The scissors on the Classic are better for fine work than the Micra's; but the Micra's are better for larger scissor needs. The PST is more solid but the SAK's are easier to access.

I also own the Wave, Supertool, Pulse, and Swisstool. I like them all, especially the Wave, but the multi-tool I carry is the PST because for EDC it's the most comfortable. The tools are not that difficult to access, as they aren't as stiff as, say, on the Supertool. It's hardly noticeable on my belt in the horizontal position. If I went camping I'd likely opt to carry my Wave instead.

As for the knife feature on a multi-tool, I find the blades on my Leatherman tools are surprisingly well-made and extremely sharp/sturdy. They work very well, though I rarely use them. I generally will use the blade on my main EDC folder (BM 805 or Sebenza, etc.).

So for my it's not either/or, but for myself, a combination of SAKs, multi-tool, and one-hand folder seems to work very well, and still not being weighted down.
Jim
 
Wow. I thought I was the only one in the world who still preferred the venerable Leatherman PST.
 
Vic. Soldier for me.Carries easy in front pocket.I too seldom find myself in need of pliers.

About the only time I needed pliers was at work.I used to carry a Mt on the job as a fireman.But by the time I took it out unfolded it,pulled out the tool I needed folded it back up to use. Somebody else simply pulled a screwdriver or channellocks out of their bunker pockets and was already using them.That and the fact that full sized pliers did a better job means that my Mt sits unused.
 
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