Pocket friendly Sak's

L

Langler

Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
7
Hello everyone, I have been reading here for a while now - bouncing from room to room. I have been in the market for a new knife to add to the collection that I have. I currently carry an all stainless spyderco (I forget the name) and it has been a great knife. I also have I believe it is a mini champ on my keychain which aside from my gerber multitool has been one of my best investments. It actually replaced a leatherman keychain due to really bad rusting.

Well I was actually on the hunt for my wife to buy me something new and was leaning towards something along the lines of a BM griptilian or mini, or the mini Presario and got to thinking... I do use my spyderco quite a bit and do like it. It has an Aus 8 blade and really takes a nice edge and no rust on it. I have carried it for the past five or so years. My Gerber gets plenty of use and in fact I will not go out of town with out it. I do get weird stares from people at work when I pull the spyderco out to do some simple cutting even though it is not that big of a knife, just a three inch blade or so. I don't think I need a replacement for my spyderco, I think I need something easier to carry on me 24-7.

Sorry for being so long winded, here is where my topic starts...I am now looking at only SAK's. I told my wife I can get a great fixed blade and a sweet sak for the same price as one BM.

I am looking at a couple of Vic's - and wonder how pocket friendly they are. I cannot carry anything on my belt at work. How easy is it to pocket the SwissChamp? I have never held one before, but it must be quite large and heavy. There are two or three others as well, just slimming down to what I may not ever use and those are the Explorer (I love the magnifying glass), the Deluxe Tinker for the pliers, and possibly the Ranger. Of course I should probably just buy all, but my wife wouldn't approve. By the way, has anyone tried to use the glass for starting a campfire say in a what if scenario. I think that would be useful as I am in the woods quite a bit and better safe than sorry.

Which one or ones are the most pocket friendly? I am wearing dress type slacks throughout the week and need something that won't tear them up too bad.

Sorry for the length of this thing, I usually don't post and just lurk for many years, but this bug is something fierce. Any and all reply's will be greatly appreciated.
 
The alox models carry well. Alox Bantam's are so thin you'll probably forget it's in your pocket...happened to me. Soldiers are sturdy, useful knives and there are models like them that have a saw (Farmer), which would be useful out in the woods.

With SAKs 4 layers or more, I usually carry them vertically next to my wallet anmd I have few problems in doing that. If you opt for a larger model with pliers and such, it's something I'd consider.
 
The soldier is perfect for dress slacks. I can even get away with carrying the farmer model which is just a little thicker.
 
The Victorinox Secretary will disappear in your pocket! It has a main & pen blade. I suggest the Alox model. Also, it dosn't have the keyring thingy to chew up dress pants.
 
Thanks for all of the great replies.
I am thinking of going bigger than I need with the Explorer Plus. It just looks like it has everything in one cool package. Plus, if I get tired of carrying it, I will have to buy a skinnier one down the road.
Thanks again...By the way, does anyone own the Explorer Plus?
 
The Explorer is a great SAK. It would be one of my choices for a SAK if I were only choosing from those currently in production.

The only difference between the Explorer and the Explorer Plus is that the Plus has the scale set that includes a pen plus tweezers and toothpick, while the non-Plus omits the pen and only has the tweezers and toothpick.

Assuming that you don't want to try to create a custom SAK, then the other thing you might want to do is try to find a Hoffritz Limited Edition. They are out of production now but they show up on eBay sometimes (that's how I found mine). They are like an Explorer but they add a saw and they have pliers instead of scissors. Since I EDC a Vic Executive in addition to the Limited Edition, I have scissors on the Exec.

- Tim
 
Langler said:
How easy is it to pocket the SwissChamp? I have never held one before, but it must be quite large and heavy.
Click to expand...

At 6.5 oz., the Swisschamp is bulky for pocket carry, although actually quite manageable. I often carry one in my pocket, suspended by a "lanyard" consisting of a shoestring looped on the belt with a clip attached for the knife. It rides quite well that way, but 95% of the time I wear jeans. These have a higher pocket opening than dress pants and are also snug, which keeps the Swisstool in place. This doesn't work as well with slacks or suit pants, but I have done it on rare occasions when there were no other carry options.

Are you sure a belt carry would not be appropriate on the job? The little black pouch is very unobtrusive, has less of a profile than most cell phone holders and easily mistaken for one. It's really the most convenient way to have the Swisschamp with you, out of mind until needed.


By the way, has anyone tried to use the glass for starting a campfire say in a what if scenario. I think that would be useful as I am in the woods quite a bit and better safe than sorry.
Click to expand...

I tried it, no fire :( , too small. Maybe under ideal conditions of bright sun and all the time in the world, it could be made to work, but a Bic lighter works much better :) .
 
To me, wearing slacks means that you probably don't need that many toolsand that you would be happier with a "minimalist" SAK.

My opinions come from wearing jeans or shorts most of the time. I always have a larger multi-tool close by.

I prefer a single layer SAK most of the the time. My favorite is the Bantam. I also mix it up with a Waiter with mini screwdriver added though. I like the Alox Bantam and I carry it some of the time even though I hate to give up the tweezers and toothpick. I lost a bantam once out of dress pants because it is so slim and light weight, but it is a great knife.

My preference in 2 layers is for the 84mm size models. My favorite is the discontinued Golfer. I really like having the scissors. Check with Tim at felinevet. Other models that I like are the Tourist and Cadet II. I am sure that there are others that I am missing.

The largest I go for dress wear is 2 layers and 91mm. I don't like to carry three or more layers in my pockets.

The best choices in the 2 layer, 91mm size, in my opinion are the Compact and the discontinued Scientist. The Scientist is coveted by many, once again, check with Tim at Felinevet.

Randy
 
rauburg said:
To me, wearing slacks means that you probably don't need that many toolsand that you would be happier with a "minimalist" SAK.

My opinions come from wearing jeans or shorts most of the time. I always have a larger multi-tool close by.
Click to expand...

Depends on one's occupation. As a photographer, I like to have as many tools close to hand as possible to cut seamless paper, make adjustments on gear and be prepared for any number of situations where stuff has to be repaired or improvised on location. When packing portable lighting equipment, background set-ups etc., I can stow a multi-tool in the outfit, but most of the time I work self-contained with as light a load as practical for the job. Photogs get cut some slack with regard to dress code, but there are semi and formal occasions when dress trousers or a suit is appropriate. Usually then I can get away with belt mounted gear, including my Swisschamp or Leatherman (sometimes both), but when not (rarely, but it has happened), pocket carry is at least possible. Regardless of whatever else I might be carrying, or not, I am never without a Vic Rambler attached to a micro flashlight. At one time or another, absolutely everything has gotten a workout on the job.
 
I have fifteen or so SAK's, and I find that for pocket carry (slacks) that the tinker suite the bill quite nicely with the Hiker being the top end of comfortable pocket carry knives. I will second the notion Znapshatz brought up about belt carry. The Vic leather belt case for the Champ series is very tasteful, and wouldn't look out of place with dress slacks at all IMHO. I have worn one to functions that I was photographing for clients (I help a pro occassionally doing golf tournaments, balls, etc...I am by no means a professional photographer nor do I play one on tv lol.)
 
tcolling said:
The only difference between the Explorer and the Explorer Plus is that the Plus has the scale set that includes a pen plus tweezers and toothpick, while the non-Plus omits the pen and only has the tweezers and toothpick.
Click to expand...

Tim doesn't the Explorer Plus also include the pin and mini-screwdriver?
 
Langler said that he can't carry anything on his belt. My comments were geared towards carry options for the pocket in a pair of slacks. I carry Saks in jeans and slacks and to me, you can put up with a bigger/heavier knife in a pair of jeans than you can a pair of slack. I want the smallest, lightest tool that fits my needs when wearing slacks.

I agree that with belt carry the options really open up. I too carry, depending on my mood a Swisstool, Explorer, Deluxe Tinker, or OHT. But I don't carry them at the office because on the belt carry is not appropriate. It appears that Langler is in the same boat as I am in.

I have carried all of the tools listed above but to me they just aren't comfortable enough for pocket carry.

I stick to my list with a couple of additions. The recruit is nice and the Tinker is good to.

Once again, my list.

Single layer -
Bantam
Waiter
Alox Bantam

Two layer - 84mm
Golfer (if you can find one)
Tourist
Recruit

Two layer - 91mm
Compact
Scientist
Tinker
 
I have an 84mm Tinker that's very pocketable. Bantam/Waiter even moreso.

I wish they made a Waiter with a Phillips or awl instead of the corkscrew.
 
My bare minimum as far as full size SAK's are concerned is the Recruit.

I've carried one for over 5 years with a small flashlight attached to it with some paracord.

I've always got a good knife and a light with me and most of the time I forget it's there until I need it

porkchop
 
I have EDC'd the Explorer for ten years. I use almost everything on it and almost never realize that I am carrying it. Often I have to pat my pocket to make sure it is there.

I often use the magnifying glass as a loupe for inspecting things in antique stores and thrift stores. I also like the philips head screwdriver.

Having heard about the Explorer Plus, I might have to get me one of those.

Chad
 
I pocket the soldier. Very comfortable, and the basics that I might need outside the house. It depends on what tools you need, deduce the model from that.

The soldier costs a bit more, but the Alox is oh-so worth it. Looks great and the knife blade is a tad thicker, and the springs are stronger. Riveted scales so they wont be falling off like the cellidor ones anytime soon.
 
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