one hand opening SAK want some thoughts/help...

R

RDog

Joined
Jul 28, 2011
Messages
366
I would like a little help here boys. First I'm a little dumbfounded by the lack of a certain model in the one hand opening line up.

I would like to buy the OH trecker, but with the corkscrew in place of the phillips driver...but the Swiss just don't seem to make it. (Mostly the reason for this want is to carry the micro driver, but also because the phillips is on my other smaller SAK already.) http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Hunting/One-Hand-Trekker/54874

There is the Forester, which is the trecker w/corkscrew, but with handle scales that lack the toothpick and tweezers. ( Those are important to me.)
http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Hunting/Forester-One-Hand/54849

Then theres the Fireman, it has the corkscrew as well, plus the right scales for the pick and tweezer, but comes with that seatbelt blade...making it a bit thicker and is not something I want. http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Hunting/One-Hand-Fireman/54868

Logic says buy the Forester and switch the scales...which I would, but can't find the scales for sale anywhere! I read on a SAK Q&A that they don't sell the scales, but would replace scales if you send in the knife. I have found other SAK scales on places like ebay, but not for the one hand line of knives.

So, whats a boy to do?

Am I supposed to buy two knives just to switch the scales...is that the Swisses plan?

Anyone have a source for handle scales?

Is there a OH Trecker w/corkscrew, toothpick, and tweezer that I'm missing? I mean how hard is it for the Swiss to offer this model?
 
Alright, if there is no source of replacement scales for the forrester, (without buying a second knife) lets talk about the Fireman.

First concern is that seatbelt blade. Is there any real use of this blade other than cutting a seatbelt? I know its a bit like some gutting blades, but no folding knife would be my first choice in field dressing deer any way.

I'm guessing some of you must have either this knife, or a knife with a similar blade...what use have you found for it? Or does it (seatbelt blade) just take up space like I fear?

Thickness is second fear, three tools seem about right in thickness, four I'm sure is fine, but its getting thicker than I'd like. So, anyone have some side by side pics of the fireman and trecker ideally with some other common knives or objects for size comparison to post?

Thanks.
 
You could always go with a Wenger Ranger of some kind. The one hand opening doesn't work as well and the can opener isn't as good, but it's bigger, has the screwdriver, and has a better working lock.
 
The wenger lacks the toothpick and tweezers, otherwise they looks good to go.

I see some SAKs with added layers or custom parts from time to time. I'd like to know how they to it...but I get the feeling I'll just have to dive in and try to make what I want.

Sad part is others have got to feel the same way...wanting a trecker with a corkscrew...or a forester with the toothpic & tweezers. Why this model is not offered I don't know.
 
manowar669 said:
I wish there was a one-hand opening Soldier (Alox), it would be my perfect knife.
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Exactly! This needs to become OEM.

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The only thing stopping me from absolute love of the Alox line is the lack of toothpic & tweezers. I know kind of silly, but to me a swiss army knife without those two features is just another traditional style slipjoint. Not inherently bad, but lacking in a part which screams "Swiss Army Knife."

... And this is the main issue with a model like the One hand forrester, which is the tool set up I want (A trecker w/corkscrew) but they don't offer the combination of corkscrew with T&T on any one hand trecker I can find on any web site that sells them. (I do find a few pictures here and there, so they did exist at some point) Unless you add to the set up with a seatbelt cutter with the Fireman model. I just can't see the seatbelt cutter having any use, I do not want another swiss army knife with blades that never get used...I have a swiss champ for that.
 
It might sound silly but I agree, I find myself using the tweezers especially quite often on my SAKs. It's a shame they don't offer some sort of "design your own" service but clearly the costs would make that prohibitive, the only way they can offer this sort of quality at this price is because of big economies of scale. But I would pay a premium for that!

I have seen people post significant mods of their SAKs so there might be someone in the forums who can do this sort of thing.
 
I think I will pick up a couple of the ALOX pioneer harvesters (like a farmer but they replaced the can opener with a small pruning blade) anyway. Maybe, just maybe someday I will mod one for the tweezers.



Side note, with my original questions about the Trekker, fireman and forrester lacking as good of a response as I had hoped, I ordered the Fireman...(fingers crossed) I'll give my thoughts on it when I get it, and after using it a bit. Really hope its not too fat, and that there is a use for that seatbelt blade.
 
I really like the non-serrated One Hand Trekker. I had a SAK with the cork screw and never used it for anything. But I find the tool set on the Trekker a good combination.

The only thing stopping me from absolute love of the Alox line is the lack of toothpic & tweezers. I know kind of silly, but to me a swiss army knife without those two features is just another traditional style slipjoint. Not inherently bad, but lacking in a part which screams "Swiss Army Knife."
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The tweezers and tooth pic are one of requirements I have for a SAK that I will EDC. The cork screw is not. I actually EDC the Adventurer model which is not a one-handed design. But I own a couple Trekkers. It is one of my backup SAKs.
 
There is a Swiss guy named Roger who runs a small company called swissbianco, which customized SAKs. Look him up and contact him, he has issued modified OHT knives in the past & does replacement scales.
 
22-rimfire said:
The tweezers and tooth pic are one of requirements I have for a SAK that I will EDC. The cork screw is not. .
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My want of the corkscrew is really more to carry the mini screwdriver than any pulling of corks.

A lone phillips driver has little use to me, if they had a switchable driver in its place for torx, allen, regular and phillips bit it would be a different story.
 
Just got the Fireman...very first thoughts are,

1) Its thick...like maybe 3/4 of the thickness of the swisschamp...

2) That seatbelt blade seems like the waste of space that I first feared...

3) The one hand blade makes for an uncomfortable grip, if any of the other tools are open besides the main blade.

4) The saw blade is poorly done, the teeth are jagged, infact I'm getting a bad feeling...could this be a fake!?

Overall, at the moment I'm not too happy. I would not have picked this thing up if I had handled it first. Its possible it could grow on me, sometimes that happens with knives...
Time will tell, but at the moment I am regretting not getting an Alox.
 
I have one of the SAK models (Dual Pro) with the seat belt (serrated) blade. Yeah, I consider it just a lot of extra thickness for something I am not likely to use. Where as the saw blade on the One handed Trekker is something I might use in the woods mostly. The three layer SAKs are right at the max thickness and weight for me to carry wityout a belt pouch or to carry someplace other than my pocket.
 
Yeah, I'm with you on 3 layers being the ideal size.

Now I'm faced with "Do I use it and give it a chance...or do I sell it ASAP ?"
 
Get a Forester and also carry a little Vic Classic for the tweezers and toothpick, just yesterday I used the one on my wife's keychain to tighten a screw on the twin's stroller while we were out and used the scissors to trim straws - they are nice little backups.
 
I actually grew to love the fireman. Mine is the plain blade version, but i find the serrated blade good for rough work. It's probably my favoite all around SAK.
 
OrdnanceBubbaUSMC said:
Get a Forester and also carry a little Vic Classic for the tweezers and toothpick, just yesterday I used the one on my wife's keychain to tighten a screw on the twin's stroller while we were out and used the scissors to trim straws - they are nice little backups.
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Getting the forester and swapping out the scales was my first plan, and I'm sure it was the best plan. I just found the fireman at a discount and couldn't pass it up...I should have went with my gut saying that extra blade and extra thickness would not be to my liking. My concern was with my luck I'd snap the scales while changing them or something...and didnt find any scales for sale w/o buying a whole knife...but I'm sure they are out there someplace.

Your advice of just carrying two saks is as solid as any...i just wanted the total package. I also think I may go with the standard version, as the one hand type is not very comfortable while using the "other tools"



Steely_Gunz, how do you carry the fireman...in a belt pouch? I find it thick, and very unfriendly to pocket carry. And that seatbelt blade, I keep looking at it and trying to find a use for it...no luck so far.

I don't regret knife buys very often, but this is one of those times.
 
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