Not to be a jerk, but why are SAKs so popular?

C

Crazy ol pootnanny

Joined
Jul 5, 2012
Messages
38
Better multi-tools exist. Better knives exist. Better small knives exist, and I don't understand why SAKs have such a high rep on a forum built around knife-owners who know more than the average sheeple. Why are they so popular when I see no reason for them not to be replaced by a higher quality substitute that can get the jobs done better? :confused:
 
For me it is nostalgic to some extent. I was fascinated by them as a kid and always wanted one. Not they are convenient and well received, so they wind up being a useful tool to have. Definitely more along the lines of a gadget than most knives. Maybe if you're now into that type of thing, you may not like SAKs. Some kind of simple too, which can be a plus. Classic image/look, will look just as good now as they will in years to come. I guess if you found them ugly, this may be a turn off lol.

I'm sure opinions vary, but they just a cool set of knives IMO.

What do you mean by "higher quality substitute that can get the jobs done better?"? SAKs done build houses or what have you. Minus their leatherman style multitool, I think they're more of an additional item to have than the sole one to have.
 
i don't think there is a better little multi tool knife out there, it does everything well and they are cheap, they are not scary and can be brought almost anywhere. they are really well built and use decent materials, i don't think there is any competition for them, other companies have tried but the SAK always comes out on top.

Oh and they have the best little scissors ever.
 
People like what they like. I personally hate them and will never carry one if it can be avoided but know people who love them. I will say that they are probably the best thing for a non knife person to carry.
 
NightMare Silverado said:
People like what they like. I personally hate them and will never carry one if it can be avoided but know people who love them. I will say that they are probably the best thing for a non knife person to carry.
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Why do you hate them? People say that but don't explain why. If they are not your style, so be it it. But they are reliable multi tools that come in dozens of variations so you get what you want and need for a great price. They come come sharp with excellent fit and finish. Easy to sharpen, easy to carry, and since I work in NYC and can't carry a locking knife or fixed blade, they are just about the perfect edc for an office job. I like Buck, Becker, Bench made and Spyderco but can't carry them into the city. Weekends and evenings, sure, but the rest of the time, its a SAK.

I wonder where these kind of reactions come from. Non USA product? Non tactical design? If you look at the usefulness and value of the tool, I don't understand the basis of the criticism.
 
whatever works for you I guess. Most multi-tools have less that optimal pliers compared to just a dedicated std model or needle nose, and they take longer to get to most of the tools baring a model or two vs a sak. Saks just work and are obtainable for just about anyone. I like my other options, but if I had to pick one knife for all uses for the rest of my life other than a kitchen knife, it would be a soldier. I've gone camping, done field work, fixed things on the fly and opened more than one beer for decades with a sak. I've made it across multiple week pack trips, etc. and never really needed much else. But hey, others are fun too. For the money everyone should own one at one point in life.
 
They are well made, affordable, versatile, there is a great variety and they are easy to get.

Other than that, you can get one with a can/bottle opener and a corkscrew, tweezers and a toothpick, all bundled with a utilitarian spear-point blade - what more could you need? (I am prejudiced in favor of the Victorinox Waiter - I have one with me everywhere I go).

In closing, Victorinox did not become the world's largest maker/seller of knives accidentally.

best regards -

mqqn
 
bkoregon said:
Why do you hate them? People say that but don't explain why. If they are not your style, so be it it. But they are reliable multi tools that come in dozens of variations so you get what you want and need for a great price. They come come sharp with excellent fit and finish. Easy to sharpen, easy to carry, and since I work in NYC and can't carry a locking knife or fixed blade, they are just about the perfect edc for an office job. I like Buck, Becker, Bench made and Spyderco but can't carry them into the city. Weekends and evenings, sure, but the rest of the time, its a SAK.

I wonder where these kind of reactions come from. Non USA product? Non tactical design? If you look at the usefulness and value of the tool, I don't understand the basis of the criticism.
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They just don't do anything for me. I can't believe I'm about to say this but here it goes. I guess I'm lucky to live in CA where I can pretty much carry whatever I want. I leave a Swiss key on my key ring and it's great for a small tool but I want a dedicated knife.
 
I don't see the value in them. Others do. Lifestyle / mindset / cultural / economic / political choices get made. As one poster said it's "office friendly". I think the McGuyver effect and the cheapness of it all [cough cough, i mean LOW COST :)] are the main aspects. When i need a screwdriver i need one that spins easy and i might need to lean on it, when i need a file i need to remove a buncha metal, saw and i be sawin etc. there will be NO SAKiness for me.
 
I always keep a few on hand for travel. If my luggage is lost or a sticky fingered luggage inspector takes it I don't feel too bad. Blades hold a good edge and they don't look tactical. They're a great value IMHO, but if you don't care for them that's ok.
 
My SAK has some in handy a bunch of times. Once cutting a ribbon off of a chair at my cousin's graduation for the daughter of a graduate's parents, another time opening my boss's camera battery he picked up, another time a coworker needed to adjust the light switch timer screw, another time a coworker want to cut a piece of paper....all in pretty formal/professional settings. Now if I whipped out a spyderco military.... you get the idea. They're cheap and small enough to throw on a keychain and always have with you, for the most part. The larger ones are nice too. Really comes down to what floats your boat. Tons of knives and if you don't like one or one type, it's just on to the next.
 
well made,pocket friendly(money wise),reliable tools..i have 1 my wife has one my kid has one..
 
I have a friend in Oregon who whipped out a Lone Wolf T3 to open a can of something while at church. Everyone survived, LOL. There will be irrational "sheeple" i do know it but ...
 
There's a lot I like about SAKs:

They are affordable, really well made, nobody freaks out if you use them in public, they come in handy very often, they have a lifetime warranty, etc. They don't have premium blade steel, that's true, but the blade geometry is well thought out and they are easy to get shaving sharp.

I think the true strength of SAKs is in their small and medium sized models, I tend to EDC SAKs with a maximum of four layers. Larger models like the SwissChamp are too bulky and heavy, and the pliers aren't very good. They are much more pocket friendly than my multitools and still pack quite a few useful features.

I keep a multitool in my backpack (usually a large one, like a Super Tool 300 or a SwissTool with extra bits) and always have a good knife in my pocket. The SAK gives me a back-up knife blade and a few tools that are usually enough for most of my daily needs, I also try to pick a SAK model that has stuff my multitool lacks. For instance, If I've got a Super Tool 300 in my backpack, I'll carry a SAK with scissors and a corkscrew (Climber, Compact, etc.).

Of all the stuff I carry on a daily basis, the only thing that gets used every single day is my SAK.

Oh, I forgot to add that they also make a great gift for non-knife people. I gave out half a dozen pink Classics to female friends and they use them constantly.
 
Name another "knife" where you can get a splinter out of your finger, a piece of corn out of your teeth, unscrew a screw, cut open a box or package, open a bottle of wine, whittle, strip a small wire and return the edge of the blade(s) simply by stropping.

Thought so...
 
azyrah said:
well made,pocket friendly(money wise),reliable tools..i have 1 my wife has one my kid has one..
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Not to be a jerk, but a SAK is a tool set not a "tool" and an inefficient one as far as pure tool usage goes. If i have a set of allen keys arranged altogether on a common handle and they fold into the handle it's not an allen key tool it's a set of allen keys which happen to be bound mechanically together. On the other hand tools are expensive and need care / storage etc. I can see your economic choice and respect it. If it eventually gets the job done albeit slowly or crudely it still get 'r done and cost and storage have been saved, it's a tradeoff. Of course i have a million tools i'm an industrial mechanic.
 
I can't figure it out either why they are so popular? :D I however carry a SAK every single day and have 5 or 6 waiting to be used in my cabinet. I use my SAK every day. I once spent an entire day looking for a replacement SAK when my SAK was stolen from a hotel room in Colombia. It is absolutely the most handy knife I have ever owned. I would pay twice the price for one.

They are real knives. I have lots of knives to choose from but I always carry and use a SAK.
 
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