SAK choices

I had one of the scales fall off on my Recruit (my first SAK), but it is still a great knife that I've used quite a lot. I could easily glue it back on, but won't because I'm lazy and I don't want to ruin the looks of this knife. I overpaid ($25) at the tobacco store but I still love it. It has almost the perfect combination of tools- it would be better if they replaced the can opener with sciccors.
The Pioneer probably has a thicker blade and is probably slightly thinner. It will last longer, in the very long run, but you haven't broken an SAK scale, and neither have I. It also has the awl, not as useful as the main blade, and no T&T.
For half the price of the Pioneer, I'd get the Recruit. Then you would have some money left over to buy another knife.
Go to eknifeworks.com- they have a good selection of SAKs.
 
i could pretty much screw up an anvil so i make it a point to go with the alox scaled saks. I particularly like the pioneer and the soldier. the blade seems a little thicker and the whole knife just feels more solid. I carried a tinker for years when i was younger and it did great but after trying the soldier i can't go back. great knives for the money.
 
The Alox knives are thinner, making them easier to carry in a pocket. They're also more durable, but again, I've never broken a SAK handle. If I do, I'm probably doing something that I shouldn't be doing with it. The texture of the Alox also gives you a solid grip, while the normal (cellidor) handles can get slippery when wet or bloody. The blades and backsprings are thicker in the Alox models, which I like. However, there are downsides...

The Alox knives don't come with tweezers or toothpick, and there's no real way of adding them. Also, the full-sized (3.5") Alox models don't come with a keyring, except for the Farmer and Pioneer.

As for the reamer: it's used to make holes. I've used it for belts and dog collars, but it really shines in the outdoors. I can throw sparks all day long with the reamer and a ferro rod, saving my blade for better things. The reamer comes in handy when the kids are looking for bugs and you need to make holes in the lid of the jar so the fireflies can breathe. LOL. I've used it as a fingernail cleaner on occassion. It does a good job of getting pebbles, mud, and dirt out of boot treads. I use it for a marlin spike (to pick knots apart) when I have to, but it cuts the rope more than picks it. I have no use for the sewing eye that's integrated into it, and have never seen anybody use it. Ever.

If you like the Recruit, try the Spartan. It has everything the Recruit has, plus a reamer and a corkscrew. The things you can do with that corkscrew.... but that's a different thread. The Spartan will run you about $14 in stores.
 
Ah, the Alox...
It's basically idiot proof.
Your hand would more likely be on fire first before ever seeing the Alox melt's away in the heat,
It's super tough that even if you drove over it (no, I wouldn't go so far as to be in the way of a runaway tank) - the handles would still be there; not very likely for the plastic scales...
The only drawback on anodized Alox would be the colors scratching off.
Red Pioneers (the Farmer) have the advantage of a saw if you ever neede one.
And yeah! Did anyone tell you that the stock on these blade tools are slightly thicker than the usual standard Reds?
 
nothing wrong with the cellidor scales, they are tradition and do last, but Alox is so sweet, metal! If you've ever held one you'd know. You can replace the red cellidor with stay glows scales, they glow long and nicely!

like already stated the awl/reamer can really come in handy, we luv it. It's one of them tools when you need it, you need it! I personally wish they'd have two types on, the flat/chisel one and the pointy one.

you can get better deals online, try http://felinevet.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
even has used ones and is a great guy and the money helps animals.
 
I have been carrying the Vic. Explorer for 35 years. That's every day. I am on my third one right now. The farmer is another great choice. The alox handles are just more durable but I have never had a problem with the plastic ones either. I broke one dropping it from a ladder but Vic replaced it fee of charge.
 
The Alox models in the officer line have thicker hinge pins as well, so with the stronger scales and thicker stock, they are just beefier in general. And the ones in silver seem to hide scratches and look nice and classy for ever unless abused, kind of an heirloom quality thing that you can pass down to your kids and it may still be in good shape for them.

The plastic scales seem to lose the new look more quickly. However, that is not to say that there is anything wrong with the plastic scale ones. They are perfectly good knives as well. I have never broken one either, so they are strong enough for their purpose. And the plastic scales hold extra tools and can even be upgraded to "plus" scales that hold a pen and straight pin in some cases. Or upgrade to custom wood if desired. All else being equal, I'd choose alox as it seems like a step up in quality to me. Not a deal breaker, though.

I personally think that the Tinker has possibly the best tool selection for its size in the line IMO. Only two backsprings thick and still includes both of the blades as well as the reamer and even a Phillips head screwdriver to boot, among other features and not too spendy which is nice if lost. But everyone has their own favorite. And at $12 for the recruit, well, that would be hard to pass up. Outstanding value. Give it a spin and if you ever lose it, try an Alox then.
 
You really have to get an Alox model, I strongly reccomend the Soldier. They are in a different class than the cellidor models. They feel better made and the bigger tools for the same handle size makes the knife seem more properly proportioned than the red ones. I do love the Cellidor models still, they are a little easier to open do to the weaker backsprings, they have that classic look and feel to them, and they normaly pack more tools into the same size knife. The lack of the T+T on the Alox models doesn't bother me as I keep a classic in my cell phone case pocket. I carry my Soldier most of the time but I love my Tinkers and they find there way into my pocket often.

As for the awl, I have to have one on a SAK. It is too useful not to have, I just used it a couple weeks ago to make holes (perfect holes at that, they really work) in the fenders on my truck, so I could attach the air lines for my shocks. I use it for little projects and it makes a good tool to poke holes in my pot pies for lunch. I use all the tools in my Soldier alot, it is very close to perfect.
 
mister_wilburn said:
I'm trying to get a nice small discreet knife to carry when I get dressed up. She didn't appreciate the Spyderco Military tucked behind my belt the last time I wore a suit. Even though it wasn't visible at all.
Click to expand...

I see that this is of importance to you and I'm going to go in a different direction than everyone else, in fact two different directions.

First, you really need to check out the Cadets, they are Alox and have nearly identical tool selections to the Recruit (nail file in place of the small blade, no T+T), thinner than the Recruit and they come in a variety of colors (there are older Cadet II's that have a small blade in place of the nail file, they just don't come in fancy colors). They are small, thin, discreet and look good with a suit. Autumn Orange seems to be a popular color, as is the black and red. Felinevet has them new for about $24, expect similar prices elsewhere.

Second, you should consider getting a small SAK (58mm Vic or 65mm Wenger) to put on your keychain. Most of them come with scissors, most have T+T (though some are Alox and some have LEDs and/or Pens). They come in a variety of colors with a variety of tools.

Anyways you can always poke around the Victorinox (http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Pages/default.aspx?category=multitools&) and Wenger (http://www.wengerna.com/browse/browse.jsp?cat_id=1) sites and see if there is anything that is the knife for you.
 
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