Revisiting SAKs

D

dogstar

Joined
Jan 23, 2011
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Just a few somewhat connected thoughts after discovering Felix Immler's videos on YT.

The small blade - I always liked this blade even though some folks think of it as an afterthought. As someone who always has a Classic SD on my key ring, I know that 95% of EDC tasks can be done with a small blade. Unlike most reviewers, I think the small blade can handle all of the dirty work like breaking down boxes, and the large blade is kept clean for food. The small blade also makes an excellent whittling knife. I have a Farmer, but am considering the Hiker or Camper due to the inclusion of the small blade.

Crafting things out of wood - I like the idea of making simple things like spoons, butter knives, letter openers. Felix Immler takes it up to the highest level, including making skis, snowshoes and pliers. The tools he uses over and over again are the blade, awl, and saw. My next SAK will have these features. If Victorinox is listening, please add an awl to the Walker!

Hiker vs Camper - The only difference is corkscrew vs. phillips, yet the Hiker is $6-9 cheaper. Why? I am leaning towards the corkscrew this time because I have a Tinker with the Phillips. I like the idea of being able to store something in the corkscrew, and being able to open a bottle of wine in a pinch.

I think an SAK is all the knife I ever really need. Felix's videos really drive that home.
 
PQGK said:
have to agree. Its the man that makes the knife


Here's a similar vid of almost full survival with a wood evolution SAK
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& that's without the tweezers & toothpick😃


Really though, like you said that's full survival mode, very impressive video.
 
Compared to SAK's, all other pocket knives pale to insignificance.

Or;

A knife is just a knife. But a SAK is a pocket size bundle of solutions to the little problems that life loves to throw in our way.

Feel free to quote me. :)
 
I'm still kicking myself in the posterior for denying myself the use of victorinox products until after I'd attained the age of 30. Until that point I was a true blue Leatherman guy. I just turned 34, so hopefully I have a while to make up for my erroneous ways.
 
dogstar said:
I think the small blade can handle all of the dirty work like breaking down boxes, and the large blade is kept clean for food.
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The small blade can rub against the large one. You will notice a scratch mark develops on the side of the large blade where the small blade folds up next to it.
dogstar said:
Hiker vs Camper - The only difference is corkscrew vs. phillips, yet the Hiker is $6-9 cheaper. Why? I am leaning towards the corkscrew this time because I have a Tinker with the Phillips. I like the idea of being able to store something in the corkscrew, and being able to open a bottle of wine in a pinch.
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The corkscrew is absolutely indispensable for loosening stubborn knots. It can also be used to store things. A mini screwdriver or a glow in the dark firesteel and some tinder (though I do not recommend this), or a small safety pin can fit securely inside the corkscrew.

The can opener can be used as an inline #2 phillips driver, but it can't handle as much torque as the backside phillips can.
 
Guy McVer said:
and some tinder (though I do not recommend this),
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Why not? It’s my favorite addition to a Camper I use to (actually) start campfires! Gonna be doing that again now that it’s summer with FireAnts and the helix tinder.

jackknife said:
Compared to SAK's, all other pocket knives pale to insignificance.

Or;

A knife is just a knife. But a SAK is a pocket size bundle of solutions to the little problems that life loves to throw in our way.

Feel free to quote me. :)
Click to expand...
That‘s how I’ve felt for years…but could never put it so eloquently myself!
 
kamakiri.knives said:
Why not? It’s my favorite addition to a Camper I use to (actually) start campfires! Gonna be doing that again now that it’s summer with FireAnts and the helix tinder.
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The tinder gets chewed up while it is stored in the corkscrew. The helix tinder has a waxy coating that is supposed to protect the tinder and help it keep its shape, but this gets destroyed very quickly and then the tinder starts to fray. It's fine when the SAK is sitting on a table/shelf or is stored away somewhere, but as soon as you actually carry the SAK, the tinder gets shredded.

Somebody came up with the idea of melting a shrink tube over the corkscrew to protect the tinder, but then you can't use the corkscrew anymore unless you pull the shrink tube off, which is going to be a pain in the butt. It might not seem like a big deal, but that's now 3 different things which you are going to be taking off, keeping track of so they don't get lost, and then making sure they are all put back on, every single time you want to use the corkscrew. I find that I use the corkscrew a lot and so it's just too much of a pain in the butt, especially when you are outdoors in the elements and all 3 of those things are tiny and can be easily blown around. They can be lost in an instant and never found.

A common practice is to carry an Altoids tin with one or more fire starting methods inside of it, along with some fatwood or homemade tinder. A 91mm SAK can also fit inside the tin as long as it doesn't have too many layers, but I wouldn't carry one that way because it takes up too much room and you'll obviously want to have the SAK in a pocket or pouch where you can access it more quickly and easily.
 
Guy McVer said:
The tinder gets chewed up while it is stored in the corkscrew. The helix tinder has a waxy coating that is supposed to protect the tinder and help it keep its shape, but this gets destroyed very quickly and then the tinder starts to fray. It's fine when the SAK is sitting on a table/shelf or is stored away somewhere, but as soon as you actually carry the SAK, the tinder gets shredded.

Somebody came up with the idea of melting a shrink tube over the corkscrew to protect the tinder, but then you can't use the corkscrew anymore unless you pull the shrink tube off, which is going to be a pain in the butt. It might not seem like a big deal, but that's now 3 different things which you are going to be taking off, keeping track of so they don't get lost, and then making sure they are all put back on, every single time you want to use the corkscrew. I find that I use the corkscrew a lot and so it's just too much of a pain in the butt, especially when you are outdoors in the elements and all 3 of those things are tiny and can be easily blown around. They can be lost in an instant and never found.

A common practice is to carry an Altoids tin with one or more fire starting methods inside of it, along with some fatwood or homemade tinder. A 91mm SAK can also fit inside the tin as long as it doesn't have too many layers, but I wouldn't carry one that way because it takes up too much room and you'll obviously want to have the SAK in a pocket or pouch where you can access it more quickly and easily.
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That makes sense when the tinder isn’t going to be used frequently enough relative to the time carried. I also have one in a Champion plus that I carry often and the tinder has frayed a bit on one end. Not so much that it would compel me to take it out of that knife though. The wax is a binder and fuel for the burn. Mine are normally stored with a FireAnt too, and I suppose it affords some protection of the tinder on that end.

That’s an interesting idea about the shrink tube, but also way too fiddly and unnecessary for me. The Camper I use for fire starting won’t see much pocket time compared to the number of fires this summer, like I used it last summer. So those tinders have never had a chance to pocket wear or fray. I don’t expect it to be an issue for me this year either. Thanks for explaining.
 
Guy McVer said:
The small blade can rub against the large one. You will notice a scratch mark develops on the side of the large blade where the small blade folds up next to it.
Click to expand...
Interesting you mention that.. I've actually noticed a couple of scratches on the 74mm money clip main blade from the file next to it, & no scratches on the 74mm Executive from the smaller blade next to it.

On the Money clip, apparently they touch when I open the file with the blade closed, so I guess I'll have to avoid that.
 
TheArab said:
Interesting you mention that.. I've actually noticed a couple of scratches on the 74mm money clip main blade from the file next to it, & no scratches on the 74mm Executive from the smaller blade next to it.

On the Money clip, apparently they touch when I open the file with the blade closed, so I guess I'll have to avoid that.
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I think it's the luck of the draw. No issues on my Tinker.
 
My Camper showed up 🏆. As soon as I picked it up, I was in love 😻. Compared to my wife's climber, it is a little thinner and lighter due to the saw being thinner than the scissors. I found a pin for the slot at the base of the corkscrew. It is a little piece of Swiss perfection 🇨🇭.
 
dogstar said:
My Camper showed up 🏆. As soon as I picked it up, I was in love 😻. Compared to my wife's climber, it is a little thinner and lighter due to the saw being thinner than the scissors. I found a pin for the slot at the base of the corkscrew. It is a little piece of Swiss perfection 🇨🇭.
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It really is very close to perfect. It has everything you need in a wilderness setting. All the fundamental bushcrafting tools are there. The camper is also very similar in it's capabilities to the old basic 108 mm west german army knife, which was contracted to several manufactures, including victorinox. But the camper is more compact and it has a few more functions.

Tip: the pin can be used as a compass needle. A small magnet can be stored somewhere in the knife, which can then be used in an emergency to magnetize the pin. There are many different places to hide small magnets of varying sizes and shapes in swiss army knives. Felix Immler has covered this. I have also made a few discoveries of my own...
 
Guy McVer said:
It really is very close to perfect. It has everything you need in a wilderness setting. All the fundamental bushcrafting tools are there. The camper is also very similar in it's capabilities to the old basic 108 mm west german army knife, which was contracted to several manufactures, including victorinox. But the camper is more compact and it has a few more functions.

Tip: the pin can be used as a compass needle. A small magnet can be stored somewhere in the knife, which can then be used in an emergency to magnetize the pin. There are many different places to hide small magnets of varying sizes and shapes in swiss army knives. Felix Immler has covered this. I have also made a few discoveries of my own...
Click to expand...
Thanks; I suppose I could magnetize the pin now and I believe it will stay magnetized.
 
Guy McVer said:
I wouldn't count on it staying magnetized.

By the way... have you heard the Good News about our Lord and Savior Victorinox Rambler? 😇
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I tested it with my compass, and it works, for now. From what I understand about magnetism, the pin will stay magnetized unless exposed to heat, a decaying, alternating north/south magnetic field, or mechanical shock. I will test it again, but my screwdrivers have stayed magnetized for long periods of time.

I have the classic SD; no need for the Rambler as long as I have a larger SAK with bottle opener or combo tool. I do like the 58 mm models with pen, though :p
 
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