opinions on and questions about the vic farmer

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
5,944
I'm on a folder kick lately and was thinking about picking a couple of these up, I was curios of peoples opinions of them, are the rugged? I also am concerned wit finding out if the alox scales are much tougher than the plastic...Also why I'm on the sak subjuect I believe they're a flat grind...any advice on sharpening a flat grind...frehand? lansky? angle? also is there any blade play, I know ther is none in my current sak. Thanks
 
My EDC is a Victorinox Pioneer, basically the Farmer w/o the saw blade. The alox scales are bomb-proof. I prefer the feel of them over the plastic scales on most other SAKs.

Victorniox's steel isn't too hard. It holds an edge pretty well but easily sharpens to a razor edge using a traditional stone.
 
This thread from the multitool forum contains a lot of info about alox scales. I don't work around chemicals so I often carry cellidor-scaled SAKs but the alox scales certainly seem tough.

I love my Vic Farmer -- it's compact but has all the basic tools I need for the woods; also, the alox-scaled Vics typically have thicker blades and slightly stiffer backsprings than the cellidor SAKs. The blade on my Farmer is a good 15%-20% thicker than the blades on my other SAKs of similar size.
 
I have used/carried a Vic Farmer for a long time. To me it's the perfect everyday carry and woods folder. Small enough to be pocketable, strong Alox scales, and good features.
 
+1 for the Farmer. I think it is the most useful/minimal SAK.
I keep one in the pouch of my RAT 7 sheath.
 
The alox models are imo some of the toughest slipjoints made,and the farmer is a great knife,sturd blade,saw,and the awl is very usefull as well.

I guess it's possible,but I have bought close to 40 saks,none of which had wobble,and with the alox models the pin is exposed so it wouldn't be hard to tighten up if it did develope some play,which I wouldn't count on.
 
I've been looking at these too, but don't yet have one. The two main features of my LM Wave that encourage me to carry it are the pliers and the saw, the Farmer takes care of at least one of those!

I'd have probably given in to an impulse buy if Sportsman's Warehouse carried them...
 
I have about 10 alox SAK's in my collection, including a farmer, all of which are well made. I don't carry them though, I do carry a SAK tinker with me almost everywhere I go, I love it, I use mostly the large knife, flat screwdriver, and the can opener while camping.
 
Freehand with a Spyderco ceramic or EZE-LAP or DMT, use a black Sharpie and just coat the edge and then make the ink disappear with the sharpener of your choice. Check for a wire edge and address that with leather or cardboard and you're good to go. :)
 
The Farmer is one of the best SAK's, makes a great outdoors folder.

The Awl blade works great as a spark scrapper!
 
I think the SAK Farmer is a great knife, especially for outdoor use. However, if your using a knife for EDC at work (office, lab etc.) IMO a Victorinox Compact is more useful. If your day to day activities are mostly outdoors or in the trades such as a carpenter then get the SAK farmer. Camping/hiking etc. get the Farmer. Better yet get both!:)
 
The Last Confederate said:
The Awl blade works great as a spark scrapper!
Click to expand...

+1

Dave_Markowitz said:
My EDC is a Victorinox Pioneer
Click to expand...

+1

Dave_Markowitz said:
Victorniox's steel isn't too hard. It holds an edge pretty well but easily sharpens to a razor edge using a traditional stone.
Click to expand...

+1

Don Rearic said:
Freehand with ... the sharpener of your choice. Check for a wire edge and address that with leather or cardboard and you're good to go. :)
Click to expand...

+1
 
I just ordered a NIB vintage RED alox Vic Farmer and I can't wait for it to get here.
 
tarmix101 said:
I have used/carried a Vic Farmer for a long time. To me it's the perfect everyday carry and woods folder. Small enough to be pocketable, strong Alox scales, and good features.
Click to expand...

i agree... the farmer is one of my favorite SAK's.... i have also carried one for a long time....:D

BUY ONE...
 
I just got the farmer, and love it. My only small complain is the way the key ring poke my palm, never have this problem before with the cellidor scaled SAKs. It's funny because the reason I buy the farmer is for the key ring. So I guess the soldier will still be my EDC, at least in the office.
 
I love my farmer. I consider it to be a survival tool that I can carry anywhere; I find myself leaving my other knives at home. It's also a great value for the $.

Raja
 
I don't have the farmer but it is on my short list. Where is the best place to buy a SAK?
 
Danielp: I have the same, small complaint about the keyring poking me in the palm. I've often wished it could be positioned somewhere else, but when I look at it closely, and consider where the blades have to move, there really isn't any other place. Still, it IS a small price to pay for such a handy rig.

I've said it in other places, but I wish they had a survival model with just woodworking tools and a hasp. That is:

- main blade
- wood saw
- awl
- hasp (keyring loop)

If there's room for more, I'd like a second, sheepsfoot blade, like on the Electrician, but without the cutout. And if I had to have a can opener, I'd like the combination cap lifter / can opener that you find on some Victorinox models.

Bear
 
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