I think my buddy gave me some cord just like that. I'll have to look around and find it now.I prefer bankline to paracord myself, holds knots far better, considerably cheaper, etc. I have plenty of it in hiking/car bags and for use around the home. I don't use cord/string/twine much in my day to day usage so I don't keep it in a pocket but I always have a roll of Gearward Compact Survival Cord in my bag. It's a tiny roll, holds 25' of triple strand kelvar cord with a 200lb rating and the rubber easy access container keeps it from fraying in the pocket. I've shown the roll of CSC here next to my hand and a 91mm SAK for size reference. I'm not a fan of jute twine for carry, too hairy!
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Realizing a SAK IS traditional has helped
- Thread starter shopdoc
- Start date
My Executive has arrived. Just got home from work. Ill place it and only it in my pocket. I’m a little nervous...little panicky. I do like the size. Sure it’s enough?? . Any advice on different uses for the orange peeler blade? I feel like I need to rename that blade.
Really considering buying a NAA .22 magnum. I’m just not carrying my others due to size and need something Ill carry, no matter what. I hate IWB carry. Even with my small Glock 43. Just not comfortable. The adage “It should be comforting not comfortable“ doesn’t work for this guy. OWB is comfortable, but that will only work in my neck of the woods if I have a cover garment (jacket, flannel). It won’t work, for me, with jeans/shorts and a tshirt.
Outstanding!
You're on the right track by going cold turkey. It's the only way to get a true feeling for the little SAK. It's okay to be a little panicky, I felt the same way when I walked out the door with only my dad's peanut in my pocket and no Wenger SI or Buck 301 stockman on standby in another pocket. Years later, when I did the little Vic classic experiment I felt uneasy to put it mildly. But...the earth kept on spinning, the day went by, and at the end the sun still set in the west and all was well.
Its all in what you're used to. We humans get into habits very easy, but habits are one of the hardest thing to break. Make yourself go all week without touching another SAK or other pocket knife. Keep track of what you do and how well it did.
My most used blade is the small knife blade. It opens mail, boxes, plastic blister packages. The large knife blade does snack duty, and some mail opening. The orange peeler is the one blade I wish Vic would replace with a full serrated knife blade the same size as the main blade. But I've used the orange peeler for its intended use, and it does work good. I've also used it to strip wire for a small electric repair on a toaster that involved a soldering iron. I used it once to saw through a small plastic zip tie that was in an awkward spot on a new item. The screw driver tip is used for opening a nice cold imported beer now and then even though I'm mostly a bourbon man.
As for naming the orange peeler tool, I call it the weird whatever blade. It sort of fits, since its very weird looking and gets used for jobs that I'm sure the designer never dreamed of.
I totally disagree with the old saying the gun should be comforting instead of comfortable. Bull hockey. If its uncomfortable, then sooner or later it gets left behind. I like, no, I LOVE easy pocket carry. Even my LCR gets left home at times and my little NAA is in my right hand pocket of my pants/shorts/whatever if I'm up and about. Even when I carry the LCR, the NAA is still in that right hand pocket. I've had those two little mini revolvers since the mid 1980's, and I'm soooo used to them that they are like a part of me.
If I were starting all over again, I'd get the NAA Black Widow with both the cylinders for .22 mag and .22LR. Just too darn handy not to have. Way back when I bought mine, they (NAA) didn't have the Black Widow yet, and when they did, The damm Peoples Republic Of Maryland had passed the idiotic Saturday night special law of 1988, and the state approved handgun roster. The Peoples state police with their accomplices in Annapolis would never allow the smaller guns to be sold in that damm state again. I'd look at the black widow and mini master with envy, but couldn't think of getting them. By the time we had retired and moved to Texas in 2015, it really was too late, I was so used to the .22lr pair that I had for all those years. In the over thirty years I had them, the little NAA .22's saved my but three times just by being there. Outstanding little handguns with lifetime warrantee.
Last edited:
The best-selling, most common pocketknife on the planet, the Victorinox Classic, is another example of a traditional pattern; the “lobster pattern pen knife.” Same goes for the Executive, which I carry every day, along with either my SAK Spartan or my Pioneer. So every day, I always have two SAKs on me, and each has features that complement the other.
I don’t expect one knife to handle everything. And the typical 2-layer SAK is so light and compact that carrying two (one in each of my front pockets) is perfect. I always carry my Executive in my RF pocket and my Spartan (or Pioneer) in my LF pocket. I’ve been carrying the same black Executive for 21 years now, and when I lived overseas, the only knife I took with me was a Spartan that I carried exclusively as my only knife for more than 10 years (1980s and ‘90s). I’ve retired that one, and the Spartan I carry now is a newer one bought several years ago.
Yes, SAKs are certainly “traditional” patterns. Some may say they aren’t, because they use cellidor (plastic), nylon or aluminum handles. Well, many “traditionals” use Delrin, phenolic resin, G10 or other synthetic materials that weren’t used in the 1800s either, but they’re still traditional pattern knives.
Jim
I don’t expect one knife to handle everything. And the typical 2-layer SAK is so light and compact that carrying two (one in each of my front pockets) is perfect. I always carry my Executive in my RF pocket and my Spartan (or Pioneer) in my LF pocket. I’ve been carrying the same black Executive for 21 years now, and when I lived overseas, the only knife I took with me was a Spartan that I carried exclusively as my only knife for more than 10 years (1980s and ‘90s). I’ve retired that one, and the Spartan I carry now is a newer one bought several years ago.
Yes, SAKs are certainly “traditional” patterns. Some may say they aren’t, because they use cellidor (plastic), nylon or aluminum handles. Well, many “traditionals” use Delrin, phenolic resin, G10 or other synthetic materials that weren’t used in the 1800s either, but they’re still traditional pattern knives.
Jim
I love hearing how people carry a particular pattern for decades. It’s amazing that these “plastic” knives are so durable. And, Ive said this before, there is no other knife brand I would feel completely comfortable buying online sight unseen. Or from ANY big box store stateside or overseas. I’ve started a tradition buying my 4 boys a Classic SAK on any trip I take. From Munich, Germany and Sante Fe, New Mexico so far. Maybe not unique to the city but sometimes different locales will have different scale patterns.
So far today my Executive tightened a loose Allen wrench screw on a bathroom hand towel holder.
I’m guessing cowboys in the old west would have enjoyed carrying a SAK if they would have known about them.
Jim, you're right on the money with that!
Go back to the 1880's and look at the top makers of Sheffield, England, when they were the absolutely best in the world makers of fine cutlery, and you will see lots of the lobster patterns in many sizes. They had pearl or ivory handles and opposing blades with everything from nail files, small scissors, pipe stem reamers, button hooks, and more. They were like very fine and more elaborate examples of the Victorinox executive. The lobster pattern goes way way back.
A very huge advantage I find with the lobster pattern like Victorinox makes is, the spring design makes for a very light and easy to open pocket knife no matter which side or blade you pull open. For an arthritic old fart, this is a biggie!
Sooooo, SAK's are very traditional.
Go back to the 1880's and look at the top makers of Sheffield, England, when they were the absolutely best in the world makers of fine cutlery, and you will see lots of the lobster patterns in many sizes. They had pearl or ivory handles and opposing blades with everything from nail files, small scissors, pipe stem reamers, button hooks, and more. They were like very fine and more elaborate examples of the Victorinox executive. The lobster pattern goes way way back.
A very huge advantage I find with the lobster pattern like Victorinox makes is, the spring design makes for a very light and easy to open pocket knife no matter which side or blade you pull open. For an arthritic old fart, this is a biggie!
Sooooo, SAK's are very traditional.
The Wilderness Store Safe Packer looks like a little fanny pack/belt wallet, but it doesn’t print. It comes in many sizes, has room for extra ammo, has a velcroed front seam for fast deployment (no snag), protects the gun from sweat, rain, jolts, etc., can be used like a satchel, belt mounted, or shoulder strap carried, looks nothing like a holster, comes in colors+R&L, etc.
View attachment 1312685 View attachment 1312686
The citrus blade makes short work of peeling oranges, but I heard that the skin appearance of a lot of European fruit is not picture perfect. They use fewer chemicals and often prefer to peel their stuff.
The Exec comes in many varieties. I have handles in horn, Alox, stainless shell, solid stainless, and Celidor. I am saving for the 18kt and Diamond model.
The Money Clip and Ambassador are the same size as the Exec. I use a Money Clip in which the sandpaper file has been replaced with a real (cut) file. The best feature of the Exec, IMHO, is the real file. It only cuts in one direction but is fast and clean. The sandpaper job is quite smeary.
The peeler blade is good for removing staples.
The citrus blade makes short work of peeling oranges, but I heard that the skin appearance of a lot of European fruit is not picture perfect. They use fewer chemicals and often prefer to peel their stuff.
The Exec comes in many varieties. I have handles in horn, Alox, stainless shell, solid stainless, and Celidor. I am saving for the 18kt and Diamond model.
The Money Clip and Ambassador are the same size as the Exec. I use a Money Clip in which the sandpaper file has been replaced with a real (cut) file. The best feature of the Exec, IMHO, is the real file. It only cuts in one direction but is fast and clean. The sandpaper job is quite smeary.
The peeler blade is good for removing staples.
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2019
- Messages
- 121
This is interesting that this discussion is happening just as I am evaluating my Executive.
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2019
- Messages
- 121
Opps, hit post too soon...
As I mentioned in the thread I started (Larger SAK Executive). I have carried an Exec for several decades. Can do the vast majority of my cutting needs. Food related cutting is where I would like a slightly longer blade. The Exec is 74mm, the 91mm size SAKs are just enough larger to handle most food cutting (outside of a kitchen setting).
As I mentioned in the thread I started (Larger SAK Executive). I have carried an Exec for several decades. Can do the vast majority of my cutting needs. Food related cutting is where I would like a slightly longer blade. The Exec is 74mm, the 91mm size SAKs are just enough larger to handle most food cutting (outside of a kitchen setting).
I am day 1 carrying my Executive only. I have committed to only carrying this knife for the next 30 days to fully evaluate. This AM I really wanted to throw my Spartan or Alox Pioneer in my other pocket. For the longer blade, the awl (which I don't use, but still... ), and the bottle opener (I guess I won't be drinking any beer at work, but still..).
As of 10:24am 2020 AD, I have not noticed any peculiar happenings in the world with my only having an Executive in my pocket, but the day is still young.
I think no matter what, this Executive will stay in my pocket. Just remains to be seen if it will have company in the other pocket.
I feel that my drawers of other knives (mainly the larger one handed folders) will probably be on the chopping block in the near future. Over the last year I've slowly decided that the smaller knives, in particular SAKs, are just more useful.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 2,585
Victorinox is simply the most useful knife you can have,great price and quality,all their products are great,kitchen knives and watches too.In pure cutting,their kitchen,butcher knives are awesome.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 2,585
Victorinox paring knives slice like no others ,and i use them in kitchen daily,along with their boning knife.These knives perform and are inexpensive,when i travel i i have large locking sak and spartan,also classic on keychain.Other 100 pocket and around 30 fixed blade knives just sit on shelf and collect dust.Theyre almost useless.Thats just my experience ,and after 30 yrs of collecting and using knives,came to this conclusion.My grandfather used mostly butcher knives on his farm all his life,and he had some bowies and really nice knives,that he never used lol.I thought as a kid that he didnt know what he was doing.He told me long time ago that these bowies and similar knives arent arent practical and that butcher knives were better for any task.Many years after i came to same conclusion.I still love bowies and various folders but most 9f them just arent that practical for real use.
TBH, in addition to my Executive (and Spartan or Pioneer), I usually carry a one-handed clip knife of some sort (usually a Spyderco), but there are days the clip knife doesn’t get used. The SAKs see use every single day, usually multiple times a day.
I’ve long said that, if for whatever reason I was forced to pick only one brand of knife or multi-tool to carry for the rest of my life, it would be Victorinox. My kitchen knives are also Victorinox!
Jim
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2015
- Messages
- 2,556
I couldn't deal with just an Executive, the blades are simply too small and thin for my usage but my Spartan sees constant use throughout the day. Today (so far) it cut kiwi's for breakfast, popped open the cover of a fan, screwed in said fan, opened knots in some cordage, sliced open some cable ties and then cut a whole bunch of cordage for a tarp I set up on the balcony.
I keep a Rambler on my keychain that does the 'little stuff'. I love the combination of the small keychain tool and a two layer 91mm SAK.
TBH, in addition to my Executive (and Spartan or Pioneer), I usually carry a one-handed clip knife of some sort (usually a Spyderco), but there are days the clip knife doesn’t get used. The SAKs see use every single day, usually multiple times a day.
I’ve long said that, if for whatever reason I was forced to pick only one brand of knife or multi-tool to carry for the rest of my life, it would be Victorinox. My kitchen knives are also Victorinox!
Jim
Yeah, thats the decision I came to some years ago when I decided to forgo all my other knives for just SAK's in my dally life. Both in and out of the kitchen. Victorinox is the one brand I carry and own now, they are just so predicable in the expected quality control. I don't carry any other knives but Vic SAK's, and my kitchen is all Victorinox.
I have a few of those little paring knives wth the serrated edges, and they are the most wicked slicer and dicer knives I've got. No matter if its meat, raw vegetables, potatoes, fruit, they slice right through. The nice thing is, they came with matching red plastic blade covers, so when Karen and I travel, one goes with us in Karens purse. No matter whose kitchen I find myself in, I know I have a great knife on hand to work with. Like most Victorinox stuff, they cut way way above their weight class.
Obviously it's been too long since your last glass of the special Kool-Aid. Go have a few shots now and you'll see more clearly in the morning.
Stay strong, doc!
Just remember, if you start to feel a little panicky and anxious, hold the executive in your tightly closed hand, close your eyes and repeat three times to yourself, "This is all I need."
You'll be fine.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 2,585
I have couple of vic serrated 4 inch paring knives,and theyre amazing.Cold steel has also some nice kitchen,butcher knives in their new commercial series.
My kitchen knives are Opinel right now. I have the chef knife, bread knife, and a paring knife. They do the trick. Only thing I dislike about the Opinel paring knife is, if you don't pay close attention, you can find your self cutting with the wrong edge and having a finger or thumb on the sharp side. It's tough to tell the difference if you pick it up without looking. I may replace them with Victorinox someday, but cannot justify the cost to exchange. If I could do it over however...
Executive uses thus far today, scissors to cut paper, orange peeler for an orange. Work is extremely slow. I'm a family physician and only work in an office nowadays. I used to only work in the hospital and icu, but office life is much better for the family. No more missing weekend ball tournaments and Holidays. With the current climate, we are moving as much as possible to telehealth to keep patient's out of the office and protect them. I good portion of my job is protecting people from themselves .
Executive uses thus far today, scissors to cut paper, orange peeler for an orange
. Work is extremely slow. I'm a family physician and only work in an office nowadays. I used to only work in the hospital and icu, but office life is much better for the family. No more missing weekend ball tournaments and Holidays. With the current climate, we are moving as much as possible to telehealth to keep patient's out of the office and protect them. I good portion of my job is protecting people from themselves .