My Traditional-Slipjoints Vs SAKs Dilema

O

okBookGuy

Joined
Dec 29, 2005
Messages
145
I am in a strait betwixt two. I love my Stockmans, Trappers and Barlows but I'm afraid to leave the house w/o a SAK because I know I'm going to need it (for screwdrivers and pry'ing and punching) and I don't want to get caught w/o it. To complicate matters I don't enjoy pocket carrying two slip-joints (weight and volume). Can some of you guys help me out with this dilemma?

Question: What are some of your reasons (I, my hidden-inner-traditional-slip-joint-lover can tell my fear-ridden-rational-consciousness) for EDC those beautiful Schrade Stockmans or Case Barlows instead of those practical and useful bang-for-the-buck SAKs?

I need to hear from guys who might actually prefer the traditional slip-joints over the SAKs. Meanwhile I'm going to grab my Vic Tinker and go to sleep.
Help. . :confused:
 
Or, you could do what I did and have a SAK rehandled with Elk Stag scales, best of both worlds!

Here are some pictures of it with my Buck 110 in Elk Stag and my Queen Carved Stag Bone.

SAK-ELK1.jpg


SAK-ELK2.jpg


SAK-ELK3.jpg


SAK-ELK4.jpg


SAK-ELK5.jpg


The knife is a Victorinox Super Tinker, the fine fellow that did the scales can be contacted here. rotokid@gmail.com
 
I feel the same way. I have a relatively new Case CV yellow stockman that has not seen a lot of pocket time because I reach for my Vic Compact first. I also have a CV yellow mini Trapper on the way and I fear it will also take a back seat to the SAK. Something always comes up that requires the tools on the SAK so I am afraid to go without it.

I posted my thoughts on the matter here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380694
 
Just carry both!

I love my sak's, but I love the traditional stockmen as well. Put a sak in one pocket, and the slippy in the other. No law says we can't carry a second knife. Think of it as pocket jewlery. Ever see a woman with just one ring or braclet on? Well I believe in equal rights for men, we can carry a couple of knives if we want.

Sometimes I will carry a sak and ARC AAA light in a nylon belt sheath, with a stockmen in a pocket. :thumbup:
 
I already have a SAK in the front left pocket, a small locking pocket clip folder in the back right, and a Superknife in the right cargo.

I can't carry a 4th knife! Well, I could but it would be a bit much. :) My pockets are also filled with wallet, cell phone, pen, notes, candy, etc.
 
Well, you might chose between the Superknife and the slippie, if you still want to carry the locking folder.

I usually have a slippie and a SAK on me.
 
I have the same exact dilemma. I use the tools on my saks every day. I may not use the blade every day. I love the old patterns, and their look and feel, but I generally don't need 3 blades, I need a screwdriver and awl. Or a hoof pick. I love stockmans, though. Who knows..A few years ago, I only carried locking knives.:p
 
I carry both, usually a full size SAK in my front pocket (Soldier or Tinker)and a small slipjoint (pen knife) in my back pocket. The pen knife is there for times when I'm around persons who find a regular sized knife inappropriate. If I am going to do a lot of woodwork, I sometimes reverse this by having a case yellow stockman in front with a cadet SAK in back. The sheepsfoot blade and serpentine handle are my favorites for carving (probably the result of using an Uncle henry 897 when I was learning), but I usually end up using all three blades.
 
Sometimes, I also want to carry both an SAK and another knife, or an SAK and multitool. I will often put the largest, heaviest one in my back pocket next to my bandanna, vertically, against the outer edge of the pocket. I can carry most anything there easily.

If you only need a screwdriver, these are very handy. With the exception of the pocket clip, the quality of mine is quite good. You can carry one the same way you would a large pen. Or, you can remove the bits, and carry them loose in a front pocket or in a small belt pouch.
 
okBookGuy said:
I need to hear from guys who might actually prefer the traditional slip-joints over these SAKs.
Click to expand...

So does anybody prefer the traditional slip-joints to SAKs? If you do and you're only going to EDC one knife at a time, are you still going to EDC the SAK and take advantage of the extra functionality? If not, WHY?
 
For EDC, yes the knife that's usually in my pocket is a traditional, the custom SAK above I don't carry every day. At this point I find I don't need the screwdrivers and tools everyday, but it's nice to have them, soI wil at least have an SAK in my car or daypack somewhere.

I used to go for Stockmen patterns, but recently got a Congress and like it alot.
 
For my workplace, the SAK is a more versatile tool than a most traditional patterns. In other environments, the multi-blade traditional may be the better bet.
 
I have the exact same dilemna....I used to be pretty much a Tactical knife guy, but lately I have rediscovered my Traditional roots. The SAK has always been a fav. Lately I have put a Tinker on my keychain so I ALWAYS have it, and carry a stockman in the right front pocket. That is a little bulky, but I cannot for the life of me decide which to leave at home.

Did the generations before us have such tough choices, or did they just carry a Schrade Old Timer and be done with it? :confused:

Great Post by the way! :thumbup:
 
okBookGuy said:
So does anybody prefer the traditional slip-joints to SAKs? If you do and you're only going to EDC one knife at a time, are you still going to EDC the SAK and take advantage of the extra functionality? If not, WHY?
Click to expand...

Because I like my stockmen and my gent's folders so much more. I carried a SAK for years, but now that I'm retired I don't use the tools as much as I used to. When I go backcountry, I've always got a SAK, a multi-tool, and a bigger knife as well, but then I'm carrying at least a small daypack. If I had to leave two of them at home, the SAK would still go along. I tried the Squirt on my keychain thing for a while, but it made my keys way too bulky. I like carrying the Swisstool in a sheath, but it drives my wife nuts when I do it out in public, she's a city kid.

Gordon
 
You can add me to the list of those who like both SAKs and traditional slippies but carry only one or the other, along with some sort of locking knife (recently it's been Buck 110s). Thing is, when I carry a trad slippie, I often wind up needing a screwdriver. :(

LC, that stag handled SAK looks really nice!
 
Fool4Blades said:
Did the generations before us have such tough choices, or did they just carry a Schrade Old Timer and be done with it?
Click to expand...

The generations before us had more agriculture/farm based employment where a stockman or similar knife would suffice. Today, most people work in warehouses, factories, and offices where the tools of a SAK will more likey be utilized.
 
I love my sak's. They are a higher grade version of the scout knives I grew up with. When I was comming of age to carry my first pocket knife,(Late '40's, early '50's) there was no lockblades being carried by anyone in my family. My Dad was away on buissness alot, so I spent alot of time in the company of my grandad and his hunting and fishing buddys. The most popular knife among them was a stockman. They did everything with whatever pocket knife they had on them. When dad joined us he also edc'd a stockman. That was a very powerful influence to this day on me.

When I was old enough to join the Boy Scouts dad gave me an Ulster scout knife. That was my first multi-purpase knife. I often would carry both, unable to decide witch one to leave home. Now more than 50 years later I still go by the habits learned long ago. I'll always have a Victorinox soldier or tinker on me. And I will have my stockman. The only thing that changes is if I am out in the woods, hiking, fishing, canoeing, I'll add a sheath knife, usually a Swedish Mora, or my Grohman boat knife.

If I had to absolutly limit myself to just a single pocket knife going out the door, I'd take my sak. It's just too versitile to leave behind. Just last week I made two repairs in my house with just a sak. I fixed the ceiling exaust fan in the bathroom, and replaced the oven heating element in the stove. Both repairs all I needed was a screwdriver to undo something, then replace the part and screw back together. Its amazing what you can fix if you just have a screw driver to take apart and put back together.
 
Up until a couple of years ago, I used to carry just one pocketknife, and it was usually a Swiss Army Knife, but not always. I also like to carry regular pocketknives (either a locking, or a "slipjoint").

Now, I have a Leatherman Micra on my keychain, so there's my scissors, screwdrivers, tweezers, etc. But, I still want a KNIFE, and I like to have a tough locking one, and I also usually carry, out of habit, a SAK. So that's three:

Leatherman on my keychain:
2006-01-06EDCknives002Small.jpg



SAK in my pocket (either the small one or the larger, cocobolo-handled one):
2006-01-06EDCknives005Small.jpg


Schrade lockback in pouch, on my belt:
2006-01-06EDCknives006Small.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top