Oh no, i'm getting addicted to SAK's now.....

[MacTech]

I've come full circle....

back in high school and college, i constantly carried one of the "Toolbox" SAK's with me, i think it was a Wenger Tool Chest, that was given to me for a birthday gift in high school, i used the heck out of it, broke the main blade in college and i think i threw it out, not knowing about the warranty (it was probably out of warranty anyway, don't Wengers only have a 5 year warranty or something?)

i picked up a Gerber EZ-OUT to replace it, and used the crap out of that one until a few months ago when i decided i hated it and needed a new knife to replace it

i picked up a Kershaw Vapor II, did some research online and found this place....

decided i hated the V-II (sodding sharp thumbstud hurt my thumb), and returned it, got a used Spyderco Endura, that started my "modern locking folder" addiction, and Spyderco specifically, acquired a buncha' Spydies, got a couple people addicted as well, then picked up a Benchmade 556 Minigrip......

along the way, i picked up a Vic. Spartan Lite, but never really warmed up to it, and in fact, replaced it with a Leatherman Blast, was happy for quite a while too, SAK's fell by the wayside....

Saturday, i stopped into a local pawnshop, and found they had a bunch of SAK's at reasonable prices, picked up a couple Signature Lites for $5 each, gave one to Dad, kept one for me, and picked up a Cybertool 34 and SwissChamp for $20 each as well.......

now, the Leatherman sees less pocket time as i rediscover the utility of the "Toolbox" style SAK, i'm considering leaving the Leatherman at work now, as i don't need pliers outside of work, and i'm more of a knife guy at heart anyway, to me, the SAK just seems more natural to me....

tonight, i stopped into KTP to look at used knives again, see if they had anything interesting

there was a nice sapphire blue Climber in the used cabinet for $15, near mint condition, still factory sharp, all the tools there, tweezer and toothpick, a nice compact 3 layer SAK, something about it called to me, i actually had my eye on it for the last couple of weeks, every time i went there, it was still there, ignored

i checked it out, thinking it'd be a good first SAK for my nephew, Logan, when he was old enough to responsibly handle a knife, so i picked it up

as i was driving home i realized that it'd be better if i gave Logan a SAK with a phillips screwdriver, rather than a pair of scissors, so i changed my plans, Logan will get the Spartan Lite, a nice SAK, but one i was never really happy with (the LED flashlight is a stupid gimmick....), and i'll keep the Climber

it's funny, i have two "bigger and better" SAK's, the CyberTool and Swisschamp, both of these have all the tools in the Climber, and more, but there's something i really like about the climber, i guess it's the simplicity and compactness of it, as opposed to the "toolboxes"

i'm looking forward to this weekend, so i can take another trip to the pawnshop and sift through their boxes of SAK's to see if i find any more killer deals......

i'm even considering carrying fewer Spydies, as any cutting chores i have can be handled by the SAK's, the Spydies are *better* and more advanced, but not as versatile as the SAK

It must be a rite of passage or something that all Knuts go through, i started with a SAK, and i'm back to the SAK....

....i still plan on using my Spydies and other modern folders still, but i'm falling in love with the simplicity and value of the SAK all over again.....

 

[Holierthanthou]

right on glad you found what's right for you, Have you seen that new model with the stag scales instead of the red ones with the cross, looks really nice.

 

[jtb49er2000]

Addicted to Vic's...that's easy to understand! SAK's, multi-tools, knives in general, have got to be some of the most addicting things out there. I've been collecting knives since I was a youngin and haven't slowed down once in my pursuit for the "perfect pocket knife". Of course now with all the innovations Victorinox has made and the addition of the multi-tool market, it's about impossible to pick just one or two to carry. Hopefully I'm not alone, but I go out of my way to look for things to cut, just to "field test" a blade or model.

 

[MacTech]

I've added another one to my meager, but growing, collection.....

This morning, i went to the pawnshop that i got my big haul at last week, only to find it closed, the owner was sick and the shop was closed due to illness, i'll have to stop back next Saturday, D'OH!

so, i went to EMS in the mall, all they had were Climbers and Tinkers, but i wasn't interested in those SAK's

i didn't stop in Dicks Sporting Goods as they only carry Wenger and i prefer Victorinox

so, before i drove home in defeat, i stopped at Kittery Trading Post to see if anything grabbed my interest......

they had the standard counter spinner display case, i took a look at a One Handed Trekker, overall a nice knife, but both the display model and a retail model had a mild case of vertical and horizontal bladeplay, so that one was out, too bad, as it seemed to be a really nice knife

then i saw a Camo Huntsman, and i figured "what the heck", it had a decent toolset and the camo scales were cool, it also seemed to be a relatively uncommon model, and best of all, only cost $18 new

fit-and-finish and sharpness were typical Victorinox high quality, excellent "walk and talk", nice knife, i'm quite happy with it

so this brings my small and growing collection up to the following models;

SwissTool
SwissChamp
Ruby CyberTool 34
Camo Huntsman
Sapphire Climber
Blue Signature Lite

 

[inspira]

Same as me. I just picked up a Vic Soldier and taht looks like it'll be my EDC. I dont really require the many tac folders and fixed blades that I have. I'd get more use out of this, and plus this is something I can pry with =) Or open bottles, and cans with no edge rolling or deformation (take that cliff!).

The spring is strong enough that it doesn't really close when i spine whack it to beat.

BTW if you get a damaged SAK you can send it to vic and they'll give you a new one.

---

Recently I went hiking and camping for a few days and I brought a fixed blade and a gerber 700 multitool. I realised none of which helped me open a can, which would have been nice. The blade on the gerber was too small, and the blade on my fixed blade was a bit too big for buttering toast. The only thing I did have some use for, was the pliers to help me make toast. but yeah..

Then I considered SAKs again and here I am =)

 

[MacTech]

Well, i did some research on the One Handed Trekker, turns out the tiny amount of bladeplay i saw is considered within spec and "normal", so, i took another trip back to KTP and picked it up (and also picked up a nice little Ka-Bar TDI fixed blade as well)

the OHT is very comfy, the blade is nice and sharp (not sure about the Reverse-CE yet....) and the thumbhole is decent enough, it's no SpyderHole, but it's usable enough, this'll make a nice companion to my weekday EDC (Spyderco Cricket, Dodo, SwissTool and CyberTool 34) and weekend EDC (Cricket, SwissChamp, random Spydie from my collection depending on whim)

 

[gatch]

so, i went to EMS in the mall, all they had were Climbers and Tinkers, but i wasn't interested in those SAK's

Problem with EMS is that they are so overpriced on everything they sell, which is why I go to look, but never buy from them. Dick's tend to be more reasonably priced.

 

[inspira]

Mac,

Like Centofante meets Trekker.
Its the Victorinox GAK (haha)

Thirty bucks delivered from Felinevet ^_^.

 

[geothorn]

MacTech, are there any Walgreens drug stores in Maine? They were having a clearance sale on the SAKs in their inventory last fall. If you do have any Walgreens in your area, I'd suggest going and taking a look. No one thinks of Walgreens as having pocket knives...do they...?

Here's the thread, from last fall.

GeoThorn

 

[gatch]

MacTech, are there any Walgreens drug stores in Maine? They were having a clearance sale on the SAKs in their inventory last fall. If you do have any Walgreens in your area, I'd suggest going and taking a look. No one thinks of Walgreens as having pocket knives...do they...?

Here's the thread, from last fall.

GeoThorn

In my area these are all long gone.

 

[geothorn]

In my area these are all long gone.

They're pretty much long gone from my neck of the woods, too. Mostly, I think, thanks to me.

But, darn it, I want all BladeForums members to at least try raiding their local Walgreens! Whenever I pass a Walgreens, that I'm pretty certain that I didn't hit last fall, I'll stop, go in, and check aisle 5D for SAKs. It only takes a couple of minutes, if I'm in that neighborhood anyway.

GeoThorn

 

[gatch]

Whenever I pass a Walgreens, that I'm pretty certain that I didn't hit last fall, I'll stop, go in, and check aisle 5D for SAKs. It only takes a couple of minutes, if I'm in that neighborhood anyway.GeoThorn

Me too, but I have had no luck since last year. Last clearance bargains I found were some Spartan Lites in Target for $10 a piece.

 

[geothorn]

Me too, but I have had no luck since last year. Last clearance bargains I found were some Spartan Lites in Target for $10 a piece.

I agree with you. The last clearance special on Victorinox that I've found was $30 SwissTools at Lowes.

MacTech, gatch is correct. I haven't been able to locate any Walgreens that still have SAKs on display since last October. There truly might not be any more $5.19 Sportsman IIs or $6.59 Classic SDs out there. So, caveat emptor ("Let the buyer beware"), and all that.

GeoThorn

 

[MacTech]

Well, of *course* they'd be all gone now wouldn't they, i can *never* escape Murphy's Law....

anyway, the closest Walgreens is in Somersworth NH, about a half-hour drive from where i am, and with current gas prices i'm in "stingy bastard" mode and only driving when neccecary, screwing OPEC in my own little way.....

besides, i have at least two sources of cheap SAK's close by, a pawnshop in Portsmouth (10 minute drive), and Kittery Trading Post (5 minute drive, 15 minute bike ride)

 

[tcolling]

...besides, i have at least two sources of cheap SAK's close by, a pawnshop in Portsmouth (10 minute drive), and Kittery Trading Post (5 minute drive, 15 minute bike ride)

I called all the pawn shops around here (north San Diego County, near Camp Pendleton MCB) and none of them have any SAKs. Maybe it's just a regional thing... :grumpy:

- Tim

 

[MacTech]

Here's a few pics of some of my SAK's in my Fargesia Rufa clumping bamboo, it's my first *real* bamboo plant, and it succesfully survived a cold Maine winter, it's put out a *lot* of new shoots they've already grown 1" since i saw them yesterday....

 

[cutterl1]

These are by far the best pics that i have seen of saks.I got the the OHT from target for 12.98 ( got 3 of them). Btw thats my first post here, great place.

 

[geothorn]

Well, of *course* they'd be all gone now wouldn't they, i can *never* escape Murphy's Law....

anyway, the closest Walgreens is in Somersworth NH, about a half-hour drive from where i am, and with current gas prices i'm in "stingy bastard" mode and only driving when neccecary, screwing OPEC in my own little way.....

That makes sense. Can't fault any of your logic.

You might check-out the Walgreens web site, plug-in your Zip code, find that Somersworth Walgreens' telephone number, and ask if they have any pocket knives. They might just say, "Geez, you're the first person that's ever asked about that box of Swiss Army knives...we took them off the shelves and stashed them in the back...." You never know, you might find yourself in that neighborhood...A $5.19 Sportsman II is a good deal, I think. 84mm, matte red nylon scales, large blade, nail file (instead of short blade) combo can-opener/small screw driver, combo cap-lifter/medium screw driver, corkscrew, awl with eye, toothpick and tweezers. Two layers and twelve functions is slim and light in your pocket...hardly tell it's there!

Just don't use your cell phone to call the store, if you don't have to, because then you can save some of your monthly minutes from Ma Bell/AT&T/Verizon/Yadda Yadda wireless.

besides, i have at least two sources of cheap SAK's close by, a pawnshop in Portsmouth (10 minute drive), and Kittery Trading Post (5 minute drive, 15 minute bike ride)

I'm going to "let my fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages" and locate and call several of the local pawn shops, to see which ones might have any SAKs that might have been pawned. That's a heck of an idea that you've suggested. I wish that there was a KTP around here, too, but, this ain't Kittery.

(I'd feel bad buying TSA-confiscated SAKs, however....)

Sweet pics MacTech! That camouflage one looks like it'll be easy to lose in long grass! Might be something to match to a olive drab paracord lanyard, ASAP.

GeoThorn

 

[Joe Dirt]

If you guys don't already know about it you should check out www.sosakonline.com

Great site and kind of an extension of the SOSAK forum at www.knifeforums.com

I too have come full circle and am back with a SAK in my pocket. I do like the larger expensive Benchmades and such, but the tool that ends up doing everything is my SAK. Currently it's a Super Tinker but I have the following:

-Black Spartan Plus
-One Handed Trekker
-Super Tinker
-Another Super Tinker
-Cobalt Blue Climber
-Red Ralley
-Rootbeer Classic
-2003 Soldier
-Huntsman
-Alox Pioneer Harvester
-Climber with hand made (by me) black walnut scales

 

[bama_lou]

It's a disease, Mactech. Next thing you know, you'll be after those hard to find ones, like:

-The Scientist model
-The Space Shuttle knife
-Standard Issues/ Soldiers with year stamps corresponding to your birth year
-SAK's that date back long before you were born
-The Woodsman model
-All the weird tool combinations Marlboro has managed to come up with
-Soldiers with the WK stamp
-The DAK, pre Centurion
-The Yeoman
-The Mauser!