SAK - I just don't get the attraction

[jthomas]

Send me an email kc2kth, and I'll hook you up so you can see for yourself.

 

[2brothers]

Try one, it will turn you into Macgyver

THE ULTIMATE BEHEMOTH!

All it needs now is an engine.

As others have stated,(some nicely ) try one out.

mike

 

[Normark]

Hey KC..

Try one and you'll see what we mean....

ttyle

Eric
O/ST

 

[powernoodle]

I just don't get the appeal of the SAK

For some of us (me), SAKs fire off the pleasure neurons in our brains for some reasons. Its that combo of utility, cost (not spendy), size (EDC-able) and the intangible neuron factor that does it, IMO. Plus, having a scissor or phillips or whatever right there when you need it reaffirms why you are carrying the thing the the first place.

 

[Saunterer]

Not too many knife companies can claim this:

For more than 100 years, Victorinox AG has supplied knives to Swiss Army soldiers. Each day, the company produces 34,000 Swiss Army knives, 38,000 pocket tools, and 30,000 household, kitchen, and professional knives. Approximately 90 percent of its production is exported to more than 100 countries.

If they were cheap and toy-ish, I doubt they'd be around for this long.

John, just try one out...

 

[Habeas Corpus]

However, I just don't get the appeal of the SAK. Any of them. I have to admit I've never played with one up close, but they give me the impression of being a low quality toy more than a knife. The blades don't seem very impressive and everything else on there - scissors, pliers, and whatever else - seems very cheaply made and doesn't look like it would do the intended job very well at all.

Well, I've had something like over 20 SAKs over the years, all of them Victorinox. Every member of my family carries and uses one on a daily basis. And in all those years I've never ever encountered a single SAK that didn't do what it was supposed to do. No broken springs, no knives that fell apart, no tools that broke off. That's an excellent record.

Sure, the steel doesn't keep an edge as long as, say, S30V. Sure, it's not as hard as VG-10 or ZDP-189. But there's no chipping, the edge is very easily maintained and gets *very* sharp with little effort. And it doesn't rust. I've put SAKs in the dishwasher more than once, something I wouldn't really want to do with any of my other knives.

Hans

 

[Troop]

Most, if not all, of the folks I know carry one in addition to their EDC.
Everybody carries a SAK...even in Vietnam, SF troops carried small ones (Tinkers, I believe), with black colored handles. With all the gear that they carried, they still managed to throw a SAK in their pockets; that's how valuable they are.

 

[jackknife]

A sak may be inexpensive, but never cheap. Also the appeal of a sak is to those who recognize a quality item that is useful for working on real lifes little problems. The large single blade tactical knife of the month will be useless for tightening a loose coolent hose on the car, opening a food can, opening a bottle of nice cold imported brew after fixing aformentioned radiator coolent hose, repairing a lamp, putting up a spice shelf on the kitchen wall for the better half, removing the side plate on a Smith and Wesson revolver for cleaning, removing bathroom ceiling exhaust fan for repair, not to mention the uncounted times I had to cut something in public and surrounded by sheeple. I had one elderly lady see me use my sak, and her comment was "Oh, a Swiss Army Knife, I bought one for my grandson on his last birthday."

A sak can make repairs, cut pretty much anything you want, is accepted everywhere, and has a lifetime warrentee that is unbeatable. No matter what some idiot will do to destroy his Victorinox sak, if it is sent back to them, they will repair it or replace it. Period.

If you want to have one of the most usefull objects made by man for the buisness of going about real life, try a sak. But to dis them without ever even trying one is very lame.

 

[Foilist]

I've carried a SAK Huntsman since I was 12 (I'm now 36). When I say A Huntsman, I mean the SAME ONE. It has been used hard and frequently and it shows, but it is still perfectly functional. It was my only knife for most of that time. It has seen hard use in the woods, mountains, at sea, in warehouse, workshop, and office environments, vehicle repair, etc.

It's true that a few SAKs are excessively gimicky and are built largely for the sake of novelty (sort of like concept cars at auto shows). Try one that has a sensible array of implements in a size that you will comfortably carry.

Now I mostly carry a multi tool - the Spirit, also from Victorinox. I'd like to pass on my Huntsman to my daughter when she's 12 herself.

 

[UnknownVT]

I have to admit I've never played with one up close, but they give me the impression of being a low quality toy more than a knife. The blades don't seem very impressive and everything else on there - scissors, pliers, and whatever else - seems very cheaply made and doesn't look like it would do the intended job very well at all.

It's pretty well known SAKs are synonymous with Quality -
so unless one has been living under a rock,
and you don't, since you seem to well know the abbreviation "SAK" - and from your number of postings here on BladeForums and joining date -
I think the above statement was contrived just to get a discussion going (I don't like to use the word troll)

I know this is from a SAK book so it may show some bias -
however there follows 8 more pages of full color adverts -
all of which use SAK as a symbol for quality -
so either these other companies and their advertizing depts - don't know what they are doing, and are willing to risk their reputation and their own livelihood -
or there may be something to the reputation of SAK = Quality?

YMMV - and one may of course dislike SAKs -
but to say SAKs are low quality is going severly against the obvious grain and well known reputation ....
of course anyone is entitled to their opinions -
but there is no need for SAK users to defend against such statments ........

--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent

 

[So-Lo]

I've carried a SAK Huntsman since I was 12 (I'm now 36). When I say A Huntsman, I mean the SAME ONE. It has been used hard and frequently and it shows, but it is still perfectly functional. It was my only knife for most of that time. It has seen hard use in the woods, mountains, at sea, in warehouse, workshop, and office environments, vehicle repair, etc

Is there anyway you could post a picture?

I have one true Every Day Carry, and it is my Vic Midnight Manager. Its small, but it has everything I need and nothing I don't. I use the pen all the time, I use the red LED light to check up on the kids when they are sleeping, the scissors are great for triming nails, the file is great on the nails you just trimed. The blade is great when you want to cut something in a low key manner. I could go on about how great the bottle opener(cap lifter) is, or how great the screw drivers are. One thing is for sure they are a great value, and of great quality.

Also if anyone ever asks, "you don't have a knife I can use do you?" you can hand them the SAK, and not your uber tactikool pocket sword. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[Charlie Fox]

BURN THE HERETIC!

Just kidding. IMHO Saks are just enough tool when you don't really want to carry a multitool.

 

[samhain73]

No matter what knife I'm carrying, a Stayglow SAK (GITD rules ) is always in my back pocket. The screwdrivers, bottle opener, and corkscreww have all come in handy, and the small thin blade is perfect for around the sheeple.

 

[Grampa]

kc, I'll give you that none of the tools or blades on a SAK is the ultimate version of that tool or blade. There are fancier can and bottle openers, full sized screwdrivers, three foot long Swede saws, and steel-of-the-minute blades.

But for everyday, day-after-day practicality, nothing beats a Victorinox SAK!

The very fact that they've been around so long, are so widely known and recognized, and are carried constantly by both knife knuts and sheeple, should give you a clue that there must be something valuable between those red handle scales.

Do yourself a favor: Get ahold of one and EDC it for a couple weeks. I'm betting you'll end up carrying it for a long time.

 

[Dreamer]

SAK's are nice, but I'll stick with the Leatherman Wave.

 

[mnblade]

... they give me the impression of being a low quality toy ...

They're not. You're wrong.

 

[Fonly]

They're not. You're wrong.

haha, bluntly put but right. SAK's are gonna be around forever, jump the wagon and give them a shot. For $30 pick a nice one and have fun.

 

[mp510]

I might add a comment about service. I imagine that few people test the warranty. Most just shrug off breakage and buy a new one. I, however, like to test the integrity of a company's word when the opportunity arises. 'Bout 20 years ago, I broke the plastic scales off of my deluxe tinker and broke one of the tips off of a blade. The knife was repaired with absolutely no hassles.

I had a SAK that developed a backspring problem. I sent it in and recieved a brand new replacement. They hold to their promise on the warranty.

The other nice thing about SAK's is that they are extremely rust resistant knives.

 

[pedalinbob]

Funny, but until a few years ago, I was of a similar mind to the original poster.

Then I picked up a Victorinox Recruit for about $12. Pretty nice...very handy...no quality flaws at all...sturdy.

Then I purchased a Victorinox Cadet. Very nice...very handy...it screams "high quality" and is almost jewel-like in construction and appearance. Tough little bugger.

Then I purchased the Victorinox Soldier for $21.50 shipped.
Holy cow.
It is heavy and strong. You feel like you are handling a REAL tool.
The main blade is larger than the smaller saks, and much thicker.
All of the implements snap open and closed with authority--SNAP!
Action is completely smooth, and it has the jewel-like quality of it's little brother, the Cadet.
I am impressed every time I pick up the Soldier.

Seriously, if you get a chance, check out one of the larger Alox Victorinox knives--you will be impressed.
Oh..and check out a Swisstool...they are incredible.

 

[langston302]

carried a sak everday since i was...oh 4...so 22 years i have had a sak in my pocket...i find i go to pull it out and use it instead of my other edcs...its just so user friendly and it doesnt scare the sheeple either.

tinker in the truck
swisscamp in the car
soldier in my bob
executive in my pocket
classic in my shirt pocket..

plus about 20 more in my drawer