SAK help! :0

Does she carry a purse on a regular basis? You might want to start small (ie. thinner, cheaper SAK) if you aren't sure she will carry it everyday. The champ is big and heavy. Yes, I had one.

The next step is a compromise.

You can probably find a nail file with cuticle pusher. on one end and nail cleaner on the other. Then you can eliminate three items on the knife. Honestly, swinging the Champ back n forth while filing your nails is a little odd.
Get a small, key chain sized tape measure. The tape measure on the Champ goes up to 3-4 inches or so. You won't measure much with it.
Etc.
The SAK pen works (usually) but it's easier to keep a mini-pen in a purse or pouch.
You can order the eyeglass screwdriver that fits on the corkscrew off the website.

Rather then carry one big, heavy, expensive SAK, it might be easier to get a smaller one with a few separate tools (like I mentioned above). You could always get a Maxpedition Micro Pocket organizer (or other similar pouch) to carry her items in.

Food for thought.
 
I would not suggest a big bulky knife for your sister.
If the knife is too big and bulky it will not be carried or used.
I was in more or less the same situation that you have and wound up buying a Leatherman Micra , which was an absolutely runaway success for the recipient .
I am sure that any one of the smaller SAK's will be OK if this is her first knife.
In this situation I think that less is definitely better than more.

Just my thoughts on this.
 
Lapedog said:
If you get her a knife that heavy and bulky odds are she will just leave it at home.
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THIS.

I don't consider anything heavier/bulkier than a Victorinox Soldier. I own a Victorinox Rescue Tool and it stays in the van as a tool, I never carry it on me. Same goes with a big sized Wenger Ranger, it is too heavy. For me, the joy of a SAK is to have a few handy tools that could get you out of trouble in a pinch, but they do not substitute a full blown tool kit of any discipline. For my uses, I favour the Vic Alox Farmer.

Any nail tools are not going to be a good substitute for a dedicated nail care kit. If she is going to use them that much...

I would get her a small sized basic SAK and, if you see fit, a dedicated nail care kit. They are cheap.

And as for the complains about the corkscrew... well... I usually hold the bottle agains the ground, between my feet and left hand over the neck pushing down. Right hand pulls straight up, just as like you were doing dumbell rows at the gym. The bottle is held against the ground, so when the cork lets go, it doesn't fly anyware. Beware of bystanders behind you, you could knock them off with an elbow to the chin!
 
Yeah, they get thicker fast when you add more stuff. You might have to compromise. If you want a two layer knife, the Compact is a very good deal IMO:

Regular blade (no small blade)
Scissors
Cap lifter/can opener combo
Corkscrew with glasses screwdriver
Utility hook
Key ring
Ballpoint pen
Tweezers
Tooth pick
Pin
 
Mikel_24 said:
THIS.

I don't consider anything heavier/bulkier than a Victorinox Soldier. I own a Victorinox Rescue Tool and it stays in the van as a tool, I never carry it on me. Same goes with a big sized Wenger Ranger, it is too heavy. For me, the joy of a SAK is to have a few handy tools that could get you out of trouble in a pinch, but they do not substitute a full blown tool kit of any discipline. For my uses, I favour the Vic Alox Farmer.

Any nail tools are not going to be a good substitute for a dedicated nail care kit. If she is going to use them that much...

I would get her a small sized basic SAK and, if you see fit, a dedicated nail care kit. They are cheap.

And as for the complains about the corkscrew... well... I usually hold the bottle agains the ground, between my feet and left hand over the neck pushing down. Right hand pulls straight up, just as like you were doing dumbell rows at the gym. The bottle is held against the ground, so when the cork lets go, it doesn't fly anyware. Beware of bystanders behind you, you could knock them off with an elbow to the chin!
Click to expand...

Women have purses though so it might be easier to carry.
 
Hey guys, good morning!! :)

Thank you SO MUCH for all the wonderful suggestions! ^_^ I ended up going with the Minichamp because @HarglBargl thought it would be an appropriate size and the best of the tool combinations that are available. Thank you all again!

~ Sparkly

PS: I am so sorry about the purple font issue @dirc ! From now on Black font it is! :] ♡
 
Mikel_24 said:
I don't consider anything heavier/bulkier than a Victorinox Soldier. I own a Victorinox Rescue Tool and it stays in the van as a tool, I never carry it on me. Same goes with a big sized Wenger Ranger, it is too heavy. For me, the joy of a SAK is to have a few handy tools that could get you out of trouble in a pinch, but they do not substitute a full blown tool kit of any discipline. For my uses, I favour the Vic Alox Farmer.

Any nail tools are not going to be a good substitute for a dedicated nail care kit. If she is going to use them that much...

I would get her a small sized basic SAK and, if you see fit, a dedicated nail care kit. They are cheap.
Click to expand...
I carried an alox Soldier for a while in the 90's. Decided I prefer having the tweezers and toothpick available. I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head with this statement > "For me, the joy of a SAK is to have a few handy tools that could get you out of trouble in a pinch, but they do not substitute a full blown tool kit of any discipline." That is the way I personally view and carry a SAK. I really like the One Handed Trekker and other three layer SAKs, but they are just too fat in my pocket for me to EDC them. Hence, I stick to two layer SAKs for regular carry. I do carry a large 111mm one however, but it is light in comparison to many large slip joints with two blades and I get the basic tool set which I do use.

The Compact (which I haven't seen in person yet) sounds good if you want the scissors, or the Small Tinker for a basic SAK tool set and two blades.

One needs to ask the question.... will she carry it? Do you really want to provide a SAK that might satisfy so many tool concerns and hence the weight and bulk? How often do you actually use an eye glass screw driver? Same with the manicure tool. Use the file more and it is handy for a non sharp nail cleaning implement. The scissors is something I seldom use, but many seem to like them and prefer a SAK with a scissors. I however do carry a Leatherman Ps4 Squirt on two sets of keys that has a tiny scissors on it. I use the little pliers the most on it and seldom use the little blade.
 
22-rimfire said:
I carried an alox Soldier for a while in the 90's. Decided I prefer having the tweezers and toothpick available. I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head with this statement > "For me, the joy of a SAK is to have a few handy tools that could get you out of trouble in a pinch, but they do not substitute a full blown tool kit of any discipline." That is the way I personally view and carry a SAK. I really like the One Handed Trekker and other three layer SAKs, but they are just too fat in my pocket for me to EDC them. Hence, I stick to two layer SAKs for regular carry. I do carry a large 111mm one however, but it is light in comparison to many large slip joints with two blades.

The Compact (which I haven't seen in person yet) sounds good if you want the scissors, or the Small Tinker for a basic SAK tool set and two blades.

One needs to ask the question.... will she carry it? Do you really want to provide a SAK that might satisfy so many tool concerns and hence the weight and bulk? How often do you actually use an eye glass screw driver? Same with the manicure tool. Use the file more and it is handy for a non sharp nail cleaning implement. The scissors is something I seldom use, but many seem to like them and prefer a SAK with a scissors. I however do carry a Leatherman Ps4 Squirt on two sets of keys that has a tiny scissors on it. I use the little pliers the most on it and seldom use the little blade.
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This ⬆️

The gal I'm buying for is probably going to benefit from most of the tools on the Minichamp! :) Which makes me happy. I'm also liking that although it is the fattest 58mm SAK, it is still smaller than the ush. So she'll definitely carry it in her purse or something. ♡
 
Roughly how old is your sister? Just curious....

I hope she likes the Mini Champ. Years ago, my uncle gave me one of those hobo type "knives" with a leather pouch. I was in my early teens and viewed it as just a bit of junk. It was big; bigger and thicker than a Buck 110. Sorry Uncle.... you might roll over in your grave over that statement but you were always the best Uncle I had.
 
22-rimfire said:
Roughly how old is your sister? Just curious....

I hope she likes the Mini Champ. Years ago, my uncle gave me one of those hobo type "knives" with a leather pouch. I was in my early teens and viewed it as just a bit of junk. It was big; bigger and thicker than a Buck 110. Sorry Uncle.... you might roll over in your grave over that statement but you were always the best Uncle I had.
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She's turning 24 and the Minichamp is one of her birthday gifts. :)
 
I
22-rimfire said:
Roughly how old is your sister? Just curious....

I hope she likes the Mini Champ. Years ago, my uncle gave me one of those hobo type "knives" with a leather pouch. I was in my early teens and viewed it as just a bit of junk. It was big; bigger and thicker than a Buck 110. Sorry Uncle.... you might roll over in your grave over that statement but you were always the best Uncle I had.
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You mean the knives that have a spoon/fork on them? I freakin love those. So rad! :) You had a good uncle. ^_^ ♡
 
Yeah, with the spoon, fork, and blade... I like the small ones, but not the beastly ones like I was given. Believe it or not that was the only "knife" I have ever been given as a present in my life. I used to spend lots of time with my Uncle and my Grandmother. This uncle was nearly blind and I did a lot to help him with his huge garden, skinning muskrats and so forth. He married after my Grandmother passed. He's gone now.

He more than anyone else spiked my love for gardening. That heritage has never left me. I salute you Uncle Ray!
 
22-rimfire said:
Yeah, with the spoon, fork, and blade... I like the small ones, but not the beastly ones like I was given. Believe it or not that was the only "knife" I have ever been given as a present in my life. I used to spend lots of time with my Uncle and my Grandmother. This uncle was nearly blind and I did a lot to help him with his huge garden, skinning muskrats and so forth. He married after my Grandmother passed. He's gone now.
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That actually makes it super extra special, don't you think? ^_^ Do you still have it? ♡
 
22-rimfire said:
Yeah, with the spoon, fork, and blade... I like the small ones, but not the beastly ones like I was given. Believe it or not that was the only "knife" I have ever been given as a present in my life. I used to spend lots of time with my Uncle and my Grandmother. This uncle was nearly blind and I did a lot to help him with his huge garden, skinning muskrats and so forth. He married after my Grandmother passed. He's gone now.

He more than anyone else spiked my love for gardening. That heritage has never left me. I salute you Uncle Ray!
Click to expand...


PS: I just saw your edit - gardening = love! :) ♡
 
By the way Sparkly, the SAK is a very thoughtful birthday gift for your sister. You are also spreading your love and appreciation for knives at the same time. I just hope she appreciates how much thought went into choosing it for her... and of course uses it.

Uncle Ray was always trying new stuff in his garden and I got the benefit of watching it grow. He for example grew celery... I mean, who grows celery in their garden? I grew it also for a while. Just loved experimenting with new things. Now I simply don't have the space to experiment much. But the history is there.
 
The swisschamp seems overly thick. If she intends to pocket carry I would recommend something slim (Vic Cadet; Böker Tech Tool 2 if the blade is important as the grind is better and the steel is way above Vics stuff). Realistically a leatherman PS4 would probably suffice for most stuff and not be a huge hit financially. If she has a purse or something you might want to take a look at the swisstools. I'd definetly prefer those over the thick SAKs.
 
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