Recommendation? SAK or Leatherman or Gerber for school?

[cricketdave]

I've got both the Leatherman and the Gerber. I've used both. Never had any trouble with either of them, you can often pick up the Gerber at walmart for 10 or 15 bucks, the Leatherman is a bit nicer made but both will do what you need to do. The SAK meh idk that its nearly as useful as the other two. The little pliers are really handy at times.

 

[JeffreyC]

I am a seventh grade math teacher, and my favorite pocket knife after trying many over the years is the cadet. It doesn’t have the tweezers you mentioned, but the blade size comes in handy come lunch time. It’s nice and thin in the pocket too.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

I am a seventh grade math teacher, and my favorite pocket knife after trying many over the years is the cadet. It doesn’t have the tweezers you mentioned, but the blade size comes in handy come lunch time. It’s nice and thin in the pocket too.

 

[JeffreyC]

Meant to say my favorite knife to carry at school is the cadet. Not my favorite knife overall. The can opener has even come in handy a couple times over the years.

 

[22-rimfire]

So, you do carry a small SAK?

 

[fishface5]

Another option for OP: you can also always buy something you like with a blade, but then grind the edge and tip off the blade to make it a small screwdriver or pry tool

 

[AntDog]

*shrug*

How about a nail file and a small, foldable pair of scissors? Seems to me that you desperately want to carry a knife, but feel like you can't.

I'd recommend something like a leatherman Micra with the scissors instead of pliers and just do something to take the blade off or out. Or modify it into a screwdriver or something else.

 

[BladeScout]

In a previous post about a knife to carry to school (7th grade Math teacher) that doesn't contain a blade I received a lot of fantastic information.

If I'm not willing (and I'm not at this point) to cut/remove/file/destroy the blade from a "knife" that already comes with a blade, it seems like I have three main options.

The main tools I'm looking for are fingernail file (finally stopped biting my nails after 51 years, easier to keep them if I have a file with me at all times), small, attaches to my keychain, and scissors. Others that would be nice to have are a toothpick (after lunch so I don't gross out the kids), tweezers, and something that will last.

1) Gerber Dime Travel $13 https://www.gerbergear.com/Activity/EVERYDAY/Tools/dime-travel_31-002777

2) Leatherman PS $30 https://www.leatherman.com/style-ps-25.html

3) Swiss Army Knife Jetsetter $18 https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Small-Pocket-Knives/Jetsetter/p/0.6263

If you have used any of the three, how did they work out for you? Did they last?

btw: I don't travel so getting it taken at the airport isn't a concern

Thanks for any and all help!

TripleB67

I usually choose Leatherman tools over other MTs. Often carry a Skeletool or CS2 and have a Wave, so its not like Im found in the Gerber camp (though I have a Gerber 600 and other smaller Gerber tools) but Ill have to go with the Dime Travel (DT) in this instance.

I find the protruding carabiner on the PS a superflous design feature in such a small tool.
I got the DT for travelling and its been with me several times across the Atlantic. Had it for a while and couldnt be happier. Its compact and handy. Also very 'people friendly,' which might be a consideration for you.
I picked up a Dime and a DT for very little money. I recommend it.

Even if you did travel, its made for that as the name implies. Its TSA approved.
I had security go through my carry-on when last I flew. The security person gleefully announced: "Thats a KNIFE!" upon finding the DT.
Nope, I said, thats an approved mini-tool.
She didnt believe me, opened up each tool and looked at me suspiciously each time.
Finally, a supervisor came by to see, what was holding up the line. I told him the DT didnt have a blade and was let go.

 

[scottyj]

The OP is worried about a small pocket knife. What about scissors? I'd be willing to bet that every teachers desk in that school has a large pair of scissors in a drawer somewhere. When I was in school every teacher had this massive pair of scissors that could practically cut steel cable. A lot worse than a small folding pocket knife. A small SAK buried in the pocket would be ideal.

 

[fishiker]

+1 for the Leatherman, there's one in the console of my truck that I use regularly. I like Victorinox but never owned a Jetsetter. Am I correct thinking it has a phillips screwdriver but not a slotted?

 

[Drum4fun]

Leatherman.

 

[TripleB67]

The OP is worried about a small pocket knife. What about scissors?

In the eyes of school, a knife is a knife is a knife (even a 1.5" blade) and a definite no no! Scissors are scissors are scissors (even 8" long) and are approved! Right or wrong, that's the rules!!!

One option could be the Victorinox Nail Clippers on my keychain https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Pro...s/Manicure--Pedicure/Nail-Clipper/p/8.2055.CB and this Victorinox SwissCard with letter opener in my wallet https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/SwissCards/SwissCard/p/0.7100.T

Might be a little less "threatening" if seen by students than the Leatherman

TripleB67

 

[BladeScout]

In the eyes of school, a knife is a knife is a knife (even a 1.5" blade) and a definite no no! Scissors are scissors are scissors (even 8" long) and are approved! Right or wrong, that's the rules!!!

If you want scissors, I can recommend the Leatherman RAPTOR. Ive used them for a couple of years now as well and they will cut a multitude of material (read they chomp through most everything).

Might be a little less "threatening" if seen by students than the Leatherman

That was one of my points about the DimeTravel, its more 'people friendly' i.e. even less threathening than the Leatherman PS.​

 

[SuburbanBarbarian]

I vote SAK. Recently got bit by the bug looking for a non-threatening knife to use around room moms and pta members. The red plastic scales help it look non-threatening and almost toy like.(I whipped out a Vic recruit in front of a 1st grade teacher and she didn't bat an eye. That's in a Christian school near Chicago no less)

 

[scottyj]

In the eyes of school, a knife is a knife is a knife (even a 1.5" blade) and a definite no no! Scissors are scissors are scissors (even 8" long) and are approved! Right or wrong, that's the rules!!!

One option could be the Victorinox Nail Clippers on my keychain https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Pro...s/Manicure--Pedicure/Nail-Clipper/p/8.2055.CB and this Victorinox SwissCard with letter opener in my wallet https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/SwissCards/SwissCard/p/0.7100.T

Might be a little less "threatening" if seen by students than the Leatherman

TripleB67

I hear ya. You don't want to get in trouble.

 

[Hickory n steel]

In the eyes of school, a knife is a knife is a knife (even a 1.5" blade) and a definite no no! Scissors are scissors are scissors (even 8" long) and are approved! Right or wrong, that's the rules!!!

One option could be the Victorinox Nail Clippers on my keychain https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Pro...s/Manicure--Pedicure/Nail-Clipper/p/8.2055.CB and this Victorinox SwissCard with letter opener in my wallet https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/SwissCards/SwissCard/p/0.7100.T

Might be a little less "threatening" if seen by students than the Leatherman

TripleB67

Make no mistake they may call it a letter opener but it's a knife, a damn sharp one.
That's definitely a knife which could get you into trouble, but of course it is easy to just leave the blade at home and still have a capable tool.

 

[kbirk2003]

I recently bought the PS to carry at school as a student. The tool seems pretty solid so far, but the tweezers take quite a bit of force to get out. I find the clip quite useful because I keep the tool on my key chain, when I need to use it I don't have to mess with a split ring. The toothpick off a SAK fits in the tweezers spot. I attached some pictures for a size reference, the tool is quite a bit smaller than you would think.


Size Reference:

SAK Toothpick Installed: