Opinion on Swiss Army Alox Soldier vs Farmer vs Electrician?

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blade12

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Mar 30, 2006
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What do you use and recommend? I have soldier model, but have not had or held Farmer and Electrician.
 
I would go for the electricion just becuase it has the extra blade. I have the farmer and love it but he electricion would be my first choice now that I know about it.
 
For urban/suburban EDC I favor the 2-layer 3 and 1/4" models because they are very pocket-friendly. My favorites are:

Cadet II alox
Cadet alox
Small Tinker
Tourist

I also like the alox Bantam, which is 1 layer. It disappears in the pocket.

For camping I like the alox Farmer.
 
I have the Farmer and it is my most carried Vic, The size is just about right for a pocket knife and it adds a bit more versatility over my second favorite, the Cadet. I would add I do like the Soldier as well but mine is the older version with alox scales.
 
blade12 said:
What do you use and recommend? I have soldier model, but have not had or held Farmer and Electrician.
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I have all 3, but it's the Electrician I carry. I never use a can opener, but that little sheepsfoot (electrician) blade gets a lot of use! Sometimes I carry an Electrician Plus, which adds a saw blade. The saws on these Vic's work great, too!

The alox Soldier and the Electrician are 2 layer knives, while the Farmer and Electrician Plus are 3 layer knives due to the addition of the saw. The 2 layers ride a little better in the pocket, but some will say the 3 layer ones feel a little better in hand due to the increased width.

They're all good - my "recommendation" would be to think of the following: Do you want a can opener/small screwdriver or the electricians blade? Do you need/want a saw?
 
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blade12 said:
Can you notice a difference in weight between the 2 and the 3 layer?
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This should be an easy question to answer, but I'd have to say "it depends"

The only time I carry a three layer is when I'm wearing blue jeans, and then I carry it in the watch pocket - don't notice a difference in weight when carrying it there, but it is a little bigger "lump" to get past when reaching into the bottom of the pocket for other stuff.

If I'm going to carry in the regular pocket of jeans, or in khakis, then I do notice the difference in weight, and prefer to only carry a two layer SAK.

I also think it depends on how much stuff you are carrying in your pockets - as backwards as it may sound, if you're carrying a lot of other stuff, then the difference between a 2 or 3 layer doesn't seem like much. If it's the only thing in that pocket, then you really can tell the difference ..... however, not only YMMV, but it may be totally opposite from my experience! ;)
 
I vote for the Electrician as well, the electrician blade is definitely much more useful than the can opener for everyday activities.


Jaime Orozco.
 
The Soldier is the model I carry most, I like to have the small screw driver on the can opener and the can opener itself is used in the kitchen. Also for camping I regularly need the can opener and I need the saw, so the Farmer is the one I take for camping. I don't have the Electrician, but do have an Electrician Plus, which I think is also a great model. If you don't miss the small screw driver and can opener, the Electrician or Electrician Plus are great models. The electrician its extra blade is strong and versatile.
 
I need a can opener so it's the Soldier first for me, then the Farmer if I think I may want the saw. The Farmer does feel heavier in the pocket.
 
I think everyone should start with and own an alox Soldier ..... PERIOD! Ya gotta figure if this was the official knife of the Swiss Army for almost 50 years, there's a whole lot that's right with this knife. This knife is the standard by which all other SAK's should be judged and compared.

Having said that, most of us aren't members of the Swiss Army, and our day to day needs differ from those in the Swiss Army. That's where you start tweaking the Soldier.

Need a keyring for a lanyard? Get a Pioneer.
Don't need a can opener/small screwdriver? Get an Electrician.
Want a saw and a keyring? Get a Farmer.
Don't need a can opener or keyring, but want a saw? Get an Electrician Plus.

You get the idea, and here's an invaluable resource for helping you choose:
http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Knife+List ..... scroll down, click on the name of the knife you want to see, etc ..... more info in one place than anywhere else!
 
I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've used a SAK can opener because it was the only option (As opposed to using it instead of my kitchen can opener just because), so I prefer to carry a Electrician over a Soldier/Pioneer. It's the SAK version of a Stockman, just more useful, since it trades a spey blade I'll almost never use for a bottle opener I will.

When it comes to the 3-layer models with a saw, again... no need for a can opener, so I'd rather carry an Electrician Plus or a Pioneer Harvester, to have a different blade shape available. Just wish the EP came in all the different colors the Farmer's been offered in.
 
coyote711 said:
I think everyone should start with and own an alox Soldier ..... PERIOD! Ya gotta figure if this was the official knife of the Swiss Army for almost 50 years, there's a whole lot that's right with this knife. This knife is the standard by which all other SAK's should be judged and compared.
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Well said! The Soldier is the soul of victorinox.
 
manowar669 said:
Well said! The Soldier is the soul of victorinox.
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Well said yourself, my friend! :thumbup: Even though I edc an Electrician, it's just a tool - a darn good tool - but a tool nonetheless. The Soldier has a history and soul that no other SAK can match, IMHO.
 
I like the Soldier for round town EDC ,the Farmer for outdoors , and the Electrician Plus for work . Gotta say , I find it hard to be without a can opener under any circumstances .

Chris
 
I vote for the farmer, i might not use the can opener much but i do use the small screw driver tip a lot and i love that saw!
 
randomlooker said:
I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've used a SAK can opener because it was the only option (As opposed to using it instead of my kitchen can opener just because), so I prefer to carry a Electrician over a Soldier/Pioneer.

When it comes to the 3-layer models with a saw, again... no need for a can opener, so I'd rather carry an Electrician Plus or a Pioneer Harvester...
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But what would have happened those handful of times if you hadn't had the SAK's can opener? I prefer the can opener "just in case" over a smaller blade. The main blade of my farmer does all the cutting. ;)
 
If you have ever been left in a situation where you have no can opener and then remember hey no worries , SAK to the rescue - reverse that - SAK to the FAIL - 8P hope you remembered your p-38 cos a can edge will mess up that nice lil electrician blade.

Farmer - soldier(alox) - Electrician in that order.
Although the Soldat model with the bail could be pretty handy too.
 
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