SAK's in literature.

[jackknife]

One way to deal with Texas heat is stay indoors. The past few weeks it's become summer down here, and to boot the weather has been on and off thunder storms with some flooding. So I've been getting some reading done. Mostly 'who done it's". One of my favorite authors is James Lee Burke. Of his novels that take place down in cajon country of South Louisiana, is the Dave Robicheaux series of murder mysteries.

I picked up his latest from the Library "The Hadacol Boogie", and within the first few pages, the protagonist uses his Swiss Army knife to slice open a large trash bag with a body in it. I think Mr. Burke is a SAK enthusiast as one is in the story very often. Sometimes with odd uses, like cutting the valve stems of the tires of a car he doesn't want moved.

Mr. Burke has a very interesting and gritty writing style. But it's clear he must like SAK's.

 

[afishhunter]

One way to deal with Texas heat is stay indoors. The past few weeks it's become summer down here, and to boot the weather has been on and off thunder storms with some flooding. So I've been getting some reading done. Mostly 'who done it's". One of my favorite authors is James Lee Burke. Of his novels that take place down in cajon country of South Louisiana, is the Dave Robicheaux series of murder mysteries.

I picked up his latest from the Library "The Hadacol Boogie", and within the first few pages, the protagonist uses his Swiss Army knife to slice open a large trash bag with a body in it. I think Mr. Burke is a SAK enthusiast as one is in the story very often. Sometimes with odd uses, like cutting the valve stems of the tires of a car he doesn't want moved.

Mr. Burke has a very interesting and gritty writing style. But it's clear he must like SAK's.

Hmmm... cutting tyre valve stems with a SAK? a metal hacksaw blade, or a tube cutter would be needed.
Them things is a rubber coated threaded brass tube.
He would have better luck putting the punch through the sidewall than cutting the valve stem
Honestly, a valve core remover is cheap, and fits in the pocket. (valve core remover valve caps are sold at hardware and bicycle stores. He could put one on a valve stem, stick it in his pocket, and remove all the valve cores on the car he does not want moved.
(Tho if the vehicle has run flat tyres, letting the air out will not do much to stop the car.)

 

[Murphy Slaw]

My wife is from Louisiana and is a fan of Mr. Burke. His style, slang, knowledge of food, locations and music and such.

However, she prefers a Leatherman….

 

[ghostguy6]

Hmmm... cutting tyre valve stems with a SAK? a metal hacksaw blade, or a tube cutter would be needed.
Them things is a rubber coated threaded brass tube.
He would have better luck putting the punch through the sidewall than cutting the valve stem
Honestly, a valve core remover is cheap, and fits in the pocket. (valve core remover valve caps are sold at hardware and bicycle stores. He could put one on a valve stem, stick it in his pocket, and remove all the valve cores on the car he does not want moved.
(Tho if the vehicle has run flat tyres, letting the air out will not do much to stop the car.)

Actually this isnt true. On valve stems that do not include a TPMS the brass does not extend into the tire rim. If you cut close to the rim you can make it through with a blade. These days though most cars require the TMPS because people are too stupid to check their own tire pressure.

 

[afishhunter]

Actually this isnt true. On valve stems that do not include a TPMS the brass does not extend into the tire rim. If you cut close to the rim you can make it through with a blade. These days though most cars require the TMPS because people are too stupid to check their own tire pressure.

Sadly, this fact dates back to at least the 1960's ... if not earlier, when tyres had tubes, and a pressure guage, airpump, jack, lug wrench, and a full size spare were standard equipment.

Before the invention of "self serve" gas, tyre pressure was one of the things the pump jockys checked at every fill-up, in addition to washing all the windows, headlights (unless recessed/hidden), tail lights, and exterior rear view mirrors.

 

[SwiftDream]

The well known long range backpacker and adventurer Colin Fletcher wrote about carrying the SAK Classic in his memorable walk through the Grand Canyon in his book The Man Who Walked Through Time. I’m sure he wrote about it in his Complete Walker series too but I never read those. I did read his earlier book The Thousand Mile Summer when he took a rather large, heavy Marbles hunting knife which he never found much use for.

After more than 67 years of hiking, backpacking and overnight experiences I too prefer a small folder, which is often one of several SAKs.

And thanks for the recommendation of the James Lee Burke book. Earlier this year I read his amazing Two for Texas and liked it very much. I’ve wanted to give some of his other books a try.

 

[Franciscomv]

An Argentine writer and knife enthusiast wrote a mistery/horror book for children titled "Victoria entre las sombras." ("Victory amidst shadows"). A bit of a play on words since one of the main characters is called Victoria.

He chose the name in honour of Karl Elsener's mother.

A SwissChamp figures prominently throughout the story.

Victorinox actually supported his book and the local distributor set up some raffles and giveaways. Carl Elsener wrote the author a letter thanking him for his love of Victorinox. For instance, at the book launch event there was a drawing for two SAKs (a Spartan and a SwissChamp).

They even held a short story contest, the three winners got a copy of the book and a SwissChamp as prizes.

Here's Marcelo di Marco presenting his book, I think it was in 2011. On the table you can see Carl Elsener's letter. The big banner with the SwissChamp was made by the local Victorinox distributor.

 

[mnblade]

This rather interesting article makes a fine case that Sherlock Holmes carried - if not a SAK - then a knife that was similar.

(BONUS: If you're a fan of Holmes and Dr. Watson, check out the "Sherlock Holmes Short Stories" podcast on Spotify. Good fun.)

 

[Franciscomv]

I was re-reading some Lovecraft tales over the weekend and noticed that in "The shadow over Innsmouth" the main character uses "...a handy three-in-one device including a screw-driver which I kept on my key-ring.".

A small SAK, perhaps?