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

Taroh JPN said:
I like SAK. But about 3blades basic series, if the blade is sharpened, The point of shortened blade
will be exposed easily. The position of a blade at the closed is too shallow. I feel uneasy even if
the sharpening will be a few times.
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A minutes work with a small mill file will fix it. A swipe to two on the kick, and a swipe or two on the tip to curve it down. I've done this a zillion times on old pocket knives that the tip is riding high. No sweat.
Carl.
 
I carry one because they are lightweight, good value, high quality, and useful.
I carry a SuperTinker in my workbag, pocket, coat, etc just about always.
I like them.
They are universally "acceptable" when someone asksto borrow knife.
If I whip out my Tanto Blur, not so.
 
I have owned several and still have four with the itch to order a midnight manager, but this is what I dislike

Lousy pliers
Value, comfort, utility fall off a cliff above 3 layers.
No steel variety, for decades
Cellidor tools weaker than alox models

Weight of pliers based multis is a non issue in jeans, cargo pants, and uniform. I pocket carry Waves, Powertools, and heavy folders. And a Swisstool is not an SAK, it is a wholly different Victorinox product.

Oh, and the usb models are ridiculously priced
 
I have several. I can't think of a single other knife that I can carry all over Europe that's as useful. I rarely take a knife with me when I fly over, but always get one (preferably the Waiter model) when I'm on the ground. That takes care of my cheese and wurst cutting, and (more importantly) my beer and wine opening. I've never had anyone question it, and it not for TSA I'd have a lot more of them.
 
Crazy ol pootnanny said:
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:
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What does being a sheeple have to do with liking a SAK? Sheeple are those that follow the crowd and allow the government to make all of their important choices. Sheeple don't think for themselves and allow their civil liberties to be controlled by others. I have met plenty of 'knife knuts' that were sheeples.

I think, in your reference, non knife person would be a better term to use than sheeple.

As for the SAK question. It comes down to value. For the price SAKs are great little users. It isn't the end of the world if you break it or lose it. They are bright red, and non threatening. You can pull a SAK without having to worry about "OMG HE HAS A KNIFE". The steel is decent, and the blades are thing...AND they come with scissors, which is down right cool.
 
Could also just be as simple as: they're knives, and this is a forum for people who like knives. The rest of it's probably somewhat extraneous. Relevant, but almost besides the point. I still haven't heard any compelling arguments in favor of any other distinctly "better" multitools or any other product that is comparable to a SAK. And I don't think any leatherman product is.
 
I've been gifted a Leatherman, and I've never felt the urge to carry it. I played with it once, and now it lives in the car. IMO, it has all the charm of the dentist's office.

An SAK asks to be carried on adventures, for the tools to be examined once in a while, for the pocket to gradually wear on the scales.

I just went camping with a friend who carried a leatherman. He sawed food with the serrated blade on his leatherman, while I glided along with the flat ground, razor sharp master blade of my SAK. He fed a family of 4 that way, and seemed perfectly content. Both of our knives worked, but neither of us showed interest in the other's tool.

I guess that sums up this thread. What makes you go "meh," makes someone else go "yeah!" It's gonna be OK.
 
jackknife said:
A minutes work with a small mill file will fix it. A swipe to two on the kick, and a swipe or two on the tip to curve it down. I've done this a zillion times on old pocket knives that the tip is riding high. No sweat.
Carl.
Click to expand...

Good tip, my rambler is a little scary, and almost bit me when It opened in my pocket. It's razor sharp, could have been bad.
 
I carry mine as a lightweight backup that never comes off my belt. I didn't understand the appeal either and wasn't swayed by the opinions of others. I did however decide to carry one for a while and see whether I was right. I ended up really enjoying having it. No, I won't trade it for a multitool with pliers. Just like I won't trade full size tools for a multi if I have the option. I guess part of it was becoming a little more nostalgic about slipjoints with nail nicks. I spend a lot of time working wood with my Huntsman and it works extremely well. Of course, I like a knife that can, you know, cut. As opposed to bludgeoning its way through material. So maybe I'm a bit biased.
 
if the multitool locks - it may not work overseas. I have a leatherman and it is a boat anchor, with a locking blade. A no no in Europe at least in most countries.
 
gdtrfb said:
if the multitool locks - it may not work overseas. I have a leatherman and it is a boat anchor, with a locking blade. A no no in Europe at least in most countries.
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There are a lot of different multitools on the market these days. Some have blades that function like a slipjoint knife but others actually have locks of one form or another. If going to a jurisdiction that frowns on locking blades then you could pick the appropriate tool. I have 6 different multitools and off the top of my head I think only 2 of them have locks.
 
There was also the knifeless Fuse, and any of the multis that have screw construction allowing you to remove the blade if necessary. But there are also many Vics and Wengers that lock, as do all the Swiss Tools.

Hell, Victorinox must think Tim Leatherman got something right - there's the Swiss Tool, RS, X, Plus, Spirit, Spirit Plus, Spirit X, and most of those with a ratchet kit. They call the lightweight the 7 ounce Spirit, same as the SwissChamp.
 
NightMare Silverado said:
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.
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That's one of the FEW good things about California right now is that you could carry almost any knife except a switchblade or balisong.
 
I'm impressed with QC across the product. Also how well the knife fits it's intended purpose (to cut).

QC: all Victorinox are more or less identical, sharp out of the box, so close in tolerance from one to another.


Cutting: what surprise me is that Victorinox Alpineer cut cardboard as well as the Resilience, despite the steel being softer. Tested on same pizza boxes. It needed a quick strop on the cardboard to keep it going from time to time, but the end result (decimating cardboard) was achieved without fatigue or sore spots. That is sign of good design & implementation.

Anyine has done cardboard cutting test need to try SAK's 'soft steel' ;). It takes some stropping om the material being cut, but it keeps going.

At the end, few passes using the bottom of coffee mug restored the edge to shaving sharp. Higher steel (8Cr=0.8 Carbon compared to SAK's 0.5 Carbon) will require 'proper' sharpening to bring back the edge.
 
I really don't want to hijack this thread, ut I see no sense in opening a new thread for a simple question.
One of the handle scales on my Vic. SuperTinker has a gap between the plastic and the metal liner.
Is this normal? It also sometimes makes a clicking noise (annoying) when some pressure is put on that side.
 
bladeboss said:
I really don't want to hijack this thread, ut I see no sense in opening a new thread for a simple question.
One of the handle scales on my Vic. SuperTinker has a gap between the plastic and the metal liner.
Is this normal? It also sometimes makes a clicking noise (annoying) when some pressure is put on that side.
Click to expand...

Use the warranty.
 
bladeboss said:
I really don't want to hijack this thread, ut I see no sense in opening a new thread for a simple question.
One of the handle scales on my Vic. SuperTinker has a gap between the plastic and the metal liner.
Is this normal? It also sometimes makes a clicking noise (annoying) when some pressure is put on that side.
Click to expand...

Use the warranty.
 
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