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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Must Have SAKs
- Thread starter pkd3
- Start date
This is great information, and I really appreciate the input. I am now going to have to make a decision on what to get. I think being in the outdoors a woodsaw model is a must and a larger multi-tool model along with a Soldier, but you guys have definitely given me useful information, and I appreciate all of the suggestions.
Phil
Phil
Buzzbait
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2001
- Messages
- 6,698
For urban survival, I'll take the Cybertool 34. It's big enough that it needs a sheath, but the best SAKs are all big enough that they need sheaths anyways. The screwdriver set on the Cybertool is VERY good. The shaft is long enough to reach many screws that you'd never get to with a normal multitool. You also get the very handy eyeglass screwdriver, which can be transferred to any SAK with a corkscrew.
There are many SAKs that are well suited for outdoor use. You just have to decide what features you want most, and leave out the features that aren't of top priority to you. For instance, I've never found scissors to be invaluable in outdoor scenarios, so I don't bother with them. I just use the knife blade for small jobs that I'd normally use scissors for. My favorite is the Tradesman. It has a big honking locking blade, the must-have saw, and a pretty good file. Some people may not find the file to be a priority, but I'll take it over a pair of scissors any day. Just wait until the first time comes, when your toenails have grown too long. Would you rather take down your nails with a file or a wimpy pair of tiny scissors? SAK scissors would never make it through my toenails. The file also has a plethora of uses, ranging from sharpening fishing hooks to fine detail woodwork. The file is also your only effective option on a SAK if you need to work with metal in any way. The file is a long-term survival must, but maybe not be a short-term outing kind of tool.
If youre just going out day hiking and stuff, you could really get away with a Rucksack, and never need another knife.
The metal handled SAKs are nice, but Ive developed an affinity to the nylon scales for outdoor use. The metal handled SAKS dont sport nifty features like toothpick, pen or tweezers. The nylon seems to be very durable, and does not get nearly as cold as the metal handled SAKS in the cooler months. The only downside to the nylon is that items like the toothpick dont stay in place as well as with the old cellidor handles. The locking blade SAKs only come with nylon handle scales, and the locking SAKs are much more ergonomic for extended use than any other SAK or multitool. The ergo-locking SAKs must be used to fully appreciate. The blades of the locking SAKs are large enough to actually perform as a redundant backup to a medium-sized fixed blade also. You wont do any chopping with a SAK blade, but itll handle quite a bit of work in a pinch, should something happen to your fixed blade. To tell you the truth, Id be perfectly comfortable in the north country, with just my Tradesman and a good hatchet.
There are many SAKs that are well suited for outdoor use. You just have to decide what features you want most, and leave out the features that aren't of top priority to you. For instance, I've never found scissors to be invaluable in outdoor scenarios, so I don't bother with them. I just use the knife blade for small jobs that I'd normally use scissors for. My favorite is the Tradesman. It has a big honking locking blade, the must-have saw, and a pretty good file. Some people may not find the file to be a priority, but I'll take it over a pair of scissors any day. Just wait until the first time comes, when your toenails have grown too long. Would you rather take down your nails with a file or a wimpy pair of tiny scissors? SAK scissors would never make it through my toenails. The file also has a plethora of uses, ranging from sharpening fishing hooks to fine detail woodwork. The file is also your only effective option on a SAK if you need to work with metal in any way. The file is a long-term survival must, but maybe not be a short-term outing kind of tool.
If youre just going out day hiking and stuff, you could really get away with a Rucksack, and never need another knife.
The metal handled SAKs are nice, but Ive developed an affinity to the nylon scales for outdoor use. The metal handled SAKS dont sport nifty features like toothpick, pen or tweezers. The nylon seems to be very durable, and does not get nearly as cold as the metal handled SAKS in the cooler months. The only downside to the nylon is that items like the toothpick dont stay in place as well as with the old cellidor handles. The locking blade SAKs only come with nylon handle scales, and the locking SAKs are much more ergonomic for extended use than any other SAK or multitool. The ergo-locking SAKs must be used to fully appreciate. The blades of the locking SAKs are large enough to actually perform as a redundant backup to a medium-sized fixed blade also. You wont do any chopping with a SAK blade, but itll handle quite a bit of work in a pinch, should something happen to your fixed blade. To tell you the truth, Id be perfectly comfortable in the north country, with just my Tradesman and a good hatchet.
The really neat Pioneer models, like those with saws, are available in the USA, you just have to order them from Switzerland !
www.swiss-knife.com
www.swiss-knife.com
Buzzbait,
Exactly the kinkda information that I am wanting. In fact, I believe that a Tradesman would be very useful, but I have checked all of my sites for SAKs and can only find a Tradesman that has pliers in addition to the saw and file. Is there a Tradesman without the pliers? Where is the best place to find one?
Phil
Exactly the kinkda information that I am wanting. In fact, I believe that a Tradesman would be very useful, but I have checked all of my sites for SAKs and can only find a Tradesman that has pliers in addition to the saw and file. Is there a Tradesman without the pliers? Where is the best place to find one?
Phil
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2002
- Messages
- 110
Someone already mentioned the "Camper" model, but its my favorite. It provides all the *critical* tools in a very compact package
* Large blade - nice size for most wittling
* Small blade - I like a smallish blade for some small jobs and everyday use PLUS it's handy to use for things that might damage your large (most important) blade.
* Large Screwdriver - I don't consider the screwdriver as critical, but I like to have something to "pry" with other than the blade.
* Saw - nuff' said
* Awl - Extremely useful when wittling/making tools, etc.
* Can Opener - I never use it but like the idea that I could open a can if I needed to
* Corkscrew - I never use it BUT it make a nice holder for my mini screwdriver (I wear glasses).
* Tweezers - use them all the time
* Toothpick - surprizingly useful!
I think this a a great little tool!
Respectfully,
Eric Fehrman
* Large blade - nice size for most wittling
* Small blade - I like a smallish blade for some small jobs and everyday use PLUS it's handy to use for things that might damage your large (most important) blade.
* Large Screwdriver - I don't consider the screwdriver as critical, but I like to have something to "pry" with other than the blade.
* Saw - nuff' said
* Awl - Extremely useful when wittling/making tools, etc.
* Can Opener - I never use it but like the idea that I could open a can if I needed to
* Corkscrew - I never use it BUT it make a nice holder for my mini screwdriver (I wear glasses).
* Tweezers - use them all the time
* Toothpick - surprizingly useful!
I think this a a great little tool!
Respectfully,
Eric Fehrman
Buzzbait,
The Locksmith is listed at the Swiss Army Knife Shop as product code 0.8493.3 for $39.24. (Works\ServiceTools)
This one does look like a good one if it is indeed actually available.
http://www.swiss-knife.com/asp/detail.asp?lan=EN&code=0.8493.3&shop=SK
The Locksmith is listed at the Swiss Army Knife Shop as product code 0.8493.3 for $39.24. (Works\ServiceTools)
This one does look like a good one if it is indeed actually available.
http://www.swiss-knife.com/asp/detail.asp?lan=EN&code=0.8493.3&shop=SK
![mauser01[1].jpg](/data/attachments/5/5934-26468a4521fff63a6b842a4bbd56d1c4.jpg?hash=JkaKRSH_9j)
For dressier occasions and light weight edc my two favorites are the alox Excelsior/Secretary and the Timekeeper, the most pc knife I own.
For outdoor purposes the 111mm lockable models like the Rucksack or the Trailmaster are just right. All the tools you need in a small package. I´d also like to have one of those one handed Trailmasters/Rescue/Police/Military modells but I was wondering how strong the springs are on this one. I mean we all like the original Victorinox because of its strong and reliable springs, but I think that these might be a disadvantage in a one-handed folder as you probably need some force to open the blade, or am I wrong???
kind regards
For outdoor purposes the 111mm lockable models like the Rucksack or the Trailmaster are just right. All the tools you need in a small package. I´d also like to have one of those one handed Trailmasters/Rescue/Police/Military modells but I was wondering how strong the springs are on this one. I mean we all like the original Victorinox because of its strong and reliable springs, but I think that these might be a disadvantage in a one-handed folder as you probably need some force to open the blade, or am I wrong???
kind regards
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2000
- Messages
- 6,676
>"So what keychain SAKs do you guys like besides the ubiquitous Classic? I prefer the flat head tipped nail file over the nail cleaner nail file."
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The <a href="http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?vn54031">Rambler</a> is the way to go.
(They make some others with this assortment of tools too, with a light and/or pen added. I dislike those additions, though ... just more bells and whistles to break.)
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The <a href="http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?vn54031">Rambler</a> is the way to go.
(They make some others with this assortment of tools too, with a light and/or pen added. I dislike those additions, though ... just more bells and whistles to break.)