Question About Multi-Tools & Blade/Tool Selection

[Rsmith_77]

Ah, I see my post has been moved. This was posted in a thread about carrying 1 knife for years till the point it became a "trusted friend". It got my thinking about the knife i carried on me the most....

I've been carrying my Wenger Serrated Highlander for 3-4 years. For the past 6 months i've experimented with other knives (gerber LST, dozier folding hunter) but i found myself pairing them with either a mini-multi-tool or a regular one. The lack of some of the tools makes me nervous (just having the wenger can opener makes me feel better for some reason)

anyways it appears that i am the only person that carries a serrated blade on a regular basis. I am considering upgrading to a farmer or hiker (for the saw and non-serrated blade)

then again, i only usually use knives to cut tape/boxes, open envelopes and other mundane tasks like that, i dont normally use my pocket knife for food cutting chores so perhaps the lack of a non-serrated blade really hasnt been an issue.

the problem i am having is, on one hand, the lack of a locking blade seems like it could be an issue, but on the other hand, all the other blades/tools seem much more practical in day to day life

anyone else think about these things?

 

[Dantor]

I think for mundane tasks like you said a non-locking blade is fine, you want fast opening and closing and your not "usually" pushing it enough to worry about a serious accident.

I'm sure your careful with your blade like most of us here are (right?!)

What I did and why I can't go any place "without" is get a OHT and it locks! (so does the bottle-opener).

The One Hand Trekker first came "serrated" and I was going to replace it with the PE version as soon as they became available (I hate serrations) but....the way SAK does em, the position and cut of them really changed my mind about serrations (at least with Vic) and I don't really care if I ever get the PE version! (I think I need help, I'll end up getting them all)

They are bigger SAKs (111mm) but easily fit in my pocket still. You can still have your cake and eat it too with all the tools we like and a decent locking blade

 

[Rsmith_77]

i got a chance to handle the 111mm Rangers today. To be frank, they are a bit big to be sitting in my pocket all day :/

but yeah i had the same thought when i first saw the OHT too
Also i looked at the serrations today, first time i got to handle them. They are different from most (including my serrated highlander). Still wondering if a plain edge knife is a better choice than a serrated one though.

besides, the hiker offers me everything i want and its still considerably smaller. (I could go with a tinker or a farmer and probably not be too upset either)

yeah i am safe with my knives (usually )

i had been spending alot of time on the tactical knive forums and as many have pointed out, i've never actually needed a knife for self defense, just for small cutting jobs. So i am trying to convince myself i dont actually NEEd a locking blade

 

[Harayasu]

I carry a SAK almost every day and rarely carry a SAK with locking blade, never had issues with it. For me the SAK is the main tool and a folder is used for the heavier tasks or when I need a bigger blade. That's also why I usually carry a midsize SAK (like the alox Soldier or Spartan). It has the tools that I need and is large enough for where I need it for.

During multiday outdoor trips, the folder is replaced by a fixed blade knife. So also during outdoor trips I don't need a big SAK. I do have them however and like them, I use them too, but that's not because I need to, that's called hobby.

 

[PurpleHaze]

If you aren't doing any heavy cutting and your knife related tasks are simple, there is no need for a lock. Knives were made and still are made without locks and function just as well. Get yourself a farmer, best 17 dollars I've spent :thumbup:. The extra few tools come in handy when you least expect them too.

 

[Rsmith_77]

PurpleHaze,

i kinda digging the farmer. But where are you finding them for only $17
even on amazon i cant find them for under $30

i've already told the wife, if i can somehow come across a blue alox farmer, i will buy it on the spot and she can get mad at me, but those things are hard to find these days.

Harayasu,

yeah i have bigger folders and fixed blades, but the truth is, i dont get out into the woods anymore. I need too, i got a buddy that keeps mentioning we should go on a camping trip, but work schedules (and weather) have been making that difficult. In fact, since i got out of the military i havent NEEDED anything bigger than my SAK

So i guess this is boiling down to "my" perfect edc. Do i want a straight blade (my brain is saying yes, but it hasnt really been an issue), do i want a sak (probably) or maybe a traditional knife (stockman or sodbuster). I pretty sure i prefer having the extra tools from a sak, but i think the traditionals look nicer and maybe something to pass on to children/nephews etc

 

[coyote711]

..... do i want a sak (probably) or maybe a traditional knife (stockman or sodbuster). I pretty sure i prefer having the extra tools from a sak, but i think the traditionals look nicer and maybe something to pass on to children/nephews etc

Lots of us have "solved" that problem by carrying both a SAK and a traditional. Most days I carry a Farmer in the main pocket and a smaller traditional slip joint in the watch pocket of my jeans. I always have a Rambler on my keychain, too. (Depends on what type pants you wear, how much other stuff you're carrying, etc).

There's lots of different sizes of SAK's and traditional knives to try, and sometimes it takes a bit of experimentation to find the combination that works for you.

 

[Rsmith_77]

yeah i've noticed i tend to carry a bunch of stuff in my pockets (usually khakis for work, jeans on weekends)

usually i have
1) keys (with small led and recently added vic classic)
2) folding knife or sak
3) pocket multitool (gerber clutch - I've found i dont need pliers often, but when it do i NEED them)
4) cell phone (and its a big one, i kinda dont like it)
5) lighter and pack of cigarettes
6) change

and in my back pocket, i've been keeping a becker necker fixed blade

methinks i carrying too much stuff

 

[tomsch]

I typically carry an Alox Vic in my right pocket along with a Case Swayback CV in my watch pocket. Seems to cover a lot of ground.

 

[Rsmith_77]

i am wondering something
sak vs traditional

i've been doing alot of reading of both subforums and specifically Jackknives stories. I am getting the impression that the dedicated pocket knives are thinner/sharper and just cut better than the newer tools (newer knives usually thicker, overbuilt etc etc)

anyways, i am wondering. Does folks traditional knives come sharper than saks, or are saks included in that category.

 

[mrdavidross321]

and in my back pocket, i've been keeping a becker necker fixed blade

good stuff i EDC a Wenger Backpacker (serrated blade) and a Becker Necker for the more abusive tasks



i dont think i have had a knife come out the box sharper than my serrated SAK

 

[coyote711]

..... anyways, i am wondering. Does folks traditional knives come sharper than saks, or are saks included in that category.

Based on my experiences I'd have to say that SAK's are consistently sharp out of the box, whereas some traditionals come sharp, and some need a little (or a lot) of work before they are ready to carry and use.

 

[Grateful]

good stuff i EDC a Wenger Backpacker (serrated blade) and a Becker Necker for the more abusive tasks



i dont think i have had a knife come out the box sharper than my serrated SAK

Big thumbs up for the serrated backpacker.:thumbup: I carried one regularly for awhile tho lately I have been carrying my Wenger tradesman everyday. I almost always have a second larger folder on me but it rarely locks. A full sized trapper or lately a 4 1/4 stockman work nicely for me when I need a little more than my sak.
Jim

 

[PurpleHaze]

PurpleHaze,

i kinda digging the farmer. But where are you finding them for only $17
even on amazon i cant find them for under $30

i've already told the wife, if i can somehow come across a blue alox farmer, i will buy it on the spot and she can get mad at me, but those things are hard to find these days.

I found mine from a local dealer. Check out the Pioneer Harvester as well, they run a little cheaper at times. Its basically the same tool minus the can opener and add an extra blade.

 

[kozak6]

A non locking blade isn't a problem. As long as you use the knife safely, there won't be any problems.

You could get a traditional and make up for the lack of tools by getting similar tools to put on your keychain or in your wallet. A P38 can opener fits beautifully on a keychain, and a four way screwdriver fits in a wallet just fine.

 

[Rsmith_77]

Lots of us have "solved" that problem by carrying both a SAK and a traditional. Most days I carry a Farmer in the main pocket and a smaller traditional slip joint in the watch pocket of my jeans. I always have a Rambler on my keychain, too. (Depends on what type pants you wear, how much other stuff you're carrying, etc).

There's lots of different sizes of SAK's and traditional knives to try, and sometimes it takes a bit of experimentation to find the combination that works for you.

A non locking blade isn't a problem. As long as you use the knife safely, there won't be any problems.

You could get a traditional and make up for the lack of tools by getting similar tools to put on your keychain or in your wallet. A P38 can opener fits beautifully on a keychain, and a four way screwdriver fits in a wallet just fine.

well, i've taken your advice. I found a yellow handled case sodbuster for $25 so i picked it up. I will probably keep the serrated highlander as a backup for now, but i might could pick up a p38 and the 4 way screwdriver and phase it out.

now i gotta put a good sharp edge on this sodbuster... :thumbup:

 

[Rsmith_77]

its ironic. I sharpened up the sodbuster nice and sharp last night. It spent the day in my pocket

thats the irony, i must have used my highlander sak 6-8 times today, but the sodbuster never once came out to be used.

 

[Harayasu]

its ironic. I sharpened up the sodbuster nice and sharp last night. It spent the day in my pocket

thats the irony, i must have used my highlander sak 6-8 times today, but the sodbuster never once came out to be used.

Same here. I carried a single blade folding knife just a few times in the last couple of months. The SAK handles most of the cutting tasks. The empty space that's created by leaving the folding knives in the drawer, is now taken by other stuff. For EDC, I have developed a preference for small and multifunctional items.