SAK or Multi Tool?

Like my multitoool. Like the pliers. When I was in the Army, I carried one all the time. Nowadays, I carry the multitool in my bag to work, and on my belt when hiking with the dog. So much cactus around here, it's a lot more efficient to pull the needles out of a pad or leg with pliers than with the dinky little tweezers on my Tinker. Course, some of the needles are huge! I pulled one out of the poor girl's foot last week that was just stuck, had been in there for a few days (between the pads, so I couldn't see it) and had to actually get a bigger pair of pliers to get enough leverage to get it out.

I decided early in my life to carry pliers w/wirecutters whenever around horses and other livestock, to be able to free one of barbed wire, pull nails out of hooves, etc. Having a multitool with decent tools in it makes it a lot easier to justify the weight of carrying pliers -- especially since I hardly ever hang around with horses anymore. Have a friend w/lots of quarter horses, his EDC knife is a multitool for exactly what I just said -- it's a very useful thing to have around a horse.
 
Last time I was deployed I carried a Wenger standard issue and a sog black powerlock. Along with a spyderco military and a 5 to 7 inch fixed blade and usually a RAT-3 also. The powerlock probably saw the most use and the millie and rat took a close second. The fixed blade left the sheath maybe 50 times in a year and a half. The SAK did prove very useful a time or two when I was holding something with the pliers and needed a screwdriver. So i really feel like I have to have both on me
 
sixgunner455 said:
his EDC knife is a multitool for exactly what I just said -- it's a very useful thing to have around a horse.
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I guess it's a very useful thing to have around - period. And if the weight is a problem (and sometimes it can be a problem), one can easily switch to a smaller/lighter model (like I do, switching from my Spirit to my Handyman and viceversa). :)
 
I'm used to be asked: can you fix this?, jewelery, plumbing, bicycles, light fixtures, zippers, whatever.

Ever since I was a kid (I'm 55 now) I've been handy with tools, for years I carried a SAK and a stockman, then I added a 6" bastard file, then a small slipjoint pliers... then I found leatherman.

Currently I EDC a SAK (usually a Hunstman, today a Craftsman), a stockman and an original leatherman (among other things like flashlight, harmonica and cell phone), I often add the bastard file, and yes I use them all often.

Luis
 
For me, first the Vic Outrider as EDC, then the Leatherman Ti as the EDC, now I have the Vic Hercules - with saw, scissors, and pliers.
I personally find the Leatherman very uncomfortable to use. In the city, I would have pliers at my desk or in my car. However, in the outdoors, if I had to use the Leatherman pliers, I personally find it to difficult to use, especially for precision work. The handles are bulky and the shape of the handles just doesn't feel right for pliers. It's hard to explain. Plus, the only time I use the pliers were for holding the hot pot over an open fire.

The pliers on the Vic are dinky little things but I find them great for smaller work. In the outdoors, I find them more comfortable and easy to use, even for holding hot pots. They are strong enough for a one little pot full of water. And at home, I find the smaller size very convient for smaller jobs like picking up eyeglass screws as my home pliers are larger. Plus, for the outdoors, I have never needed pliers for large duty. I think of things I might need the pliers for in the outdoors and the the only things that come to my mind include screwing tight a nozzle for the stove, pulling slivers out of my foot, and holding a hot pot. All these jobs are quite capable with the Vic Hercules' pliers.

Plus, the Leatherman rusts easily - does not look too good after a few years in the bushes. The Vic seems to hold up well in the outdoors.
 
I never understood why someone would need pliers every day. I do understand why someone would need a knife every day. Due to this I understand using a SAK, but I do not understand using a multitool like a leatherman.

The SAK is a much smaller nicer package too.
 
I carry so much crap that for quite some time I've been trying to find the smallest items that do the job. Small cell (Blackberry Pearl), small pistol (baby Glock or Kahr PM9), and so on. So for SAKs/multitool, I keep a Squirt P4 on the keys and a 4 layer Vic SAK in the pocket (thats the thinnest I could find that has both scissors and plier). Having a LM Wave is good when you need it, but I'm a desk jockey and not a plumber so rare is the need for a "real" multitool like the Wave.

feb-3.jpg


cheers
 
I vote sak,to me most mutitools are cumbersome compared to the ellegance of a victorinox knife.

But if I can only carry one tool and require strong pliers,I'll pick up the swisstool.
 
Wow, this is a really tough question.

I love Swiss Army Knives and I own a bunch of them, but...

I cannot deny that, overall, I find my multi-tools to be more useful and able to tackle more jobs.
But...
They do weigh more and take up more space.

I'm still searching for that perfect multi-tool for an EDC, and it's been really tough.

Edited to add that I just bought a Leatherman Blast and it's my new EDC.
I think I like it even better than my old Wave.
 
I have carried the same knife, a Spartan, for over 23 years. It has been with me around the world. I have carved many twig and stick based "works-of-art". Ranging from roosters, herons, spoons, letter openers, whistles, and walking sticks. I have opened good and not so good bottles of wine, cans of good and not so good food, and the same for sodas and imported beers. I can't count the number of times I had to help someone open something that had been screwed shut and they were without a screw driver. I have even used the small blade to cut the end off of a good cigar. It has been an enjoyable partnership. Me and my SAK, I don't think I would have as much fun with a multi-tool.
 
SAK all the way. I have a Leatherman Juice and I find that despite its compact size it is very heavy. It is awkward in the pocket and just seems to feel odd on the belt. Its a great little plier but the knife blade is nothing to get excited over. The screwdrivers and scissors are okay but I prefer Vic tools.
 
powernoodle said:
I carry so much crap that for quite some time I've been trying to find the smallest items that do the job. Small cell (Blackberry Pearl), small pistol (baby Glock or Kahr PM9), and so on. So for SAKs/multitool, I keep a Squirt P4 on the keys and a 4 layer Vic SAK in the pocket (thats the thinnest I could find that has both scissors and plier). Having a LM Wave is good when you need it, but I'm a desk jockey and not a plumber so rare is the need for a "real" multitool like the Wave.

feb-3.jpg


cheers
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Could I ask you to take another pic' with some or all of the tools opened? And which ones are they?:eek: :eek: :thumbup: :thumbup: :cool: I am SO drooling over that pic.........:D
 
For hiking I prefer my Vic Trekker over my Juice S2. The trekker has most of the same tools (not the pliers), a larger blade, and an xlnt saw for it's size. I am more likely to need the saw or a larger blade than a pliers, wire cutter, etc. for hiking or for survival.

For general traveling the S2 tends to be more handy (assuming I have something with a larger blade). I like it's light weight.
 
i like to carry a small two layer SAK, mostly for the knife blade. i also like to sometimes carry a small pair of needlenose pliers, for the pliers. this combo is lighter than a multitool with more comfortable to use tools, and they do everything that i need done, down to the flat phillips driver on the can opener.
 
I like both.
I carry a LM Blast on my belt that sees occasional use. Now that may seem like not a good reason to lug it around, but the times I needed it, it sure came in handy.

I also EDC at least one SAK, usually a black Vic Executive and sometimes also my red Pioneer. Also usually have a LM Micra on me as well.

I really love SAKs. I carry the multi-tool on my belt 'in case'. But I really use my SAKs every day, and often. And the ones I carry, I have use for every feature on them. They are quicker to access and more compact. I also carried a Vic Spartan for well over a decade overseas in a sub-tropical environment with little care, and after cleaning years of gunk out of the workings, it still works fine, it's only a little beat-up. SAKs will always be close to my heart.
Jim
 
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