SAKs vs Multi-tools

H

hotdog

Joined
Oct 14, 2001
Messages
7
Does anyone else own a multi-tool (like a Leatherman or Gerber) but find themselves carrying their old Swiss Army knife instead?

My wife bought me the Leatherman Supertool and I love it. It's one of the best multi-tools around IMO, but I find myself leaving it in the car and carrying my trusty old Wenger Handyman instead.

I have'nt checked out the Leatherman Juice yet, but I still have'nt found anything that can replace the SAK.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums, hotdog.:)

There a place for both, IMHO. Multi-tools I tend to carry when I think the need will arise for one. The SAK is more likely to find pocket space on a much more frequent basis, even if I don't know if I'll use it.

Then, to add more confusion to the issue are the larger SAKs that are generally carried in a belt pouch, like my Cybertool.

Solution? Get 'em all and switch off.
 
knifenerd is right,although I tend to consider most SAKs as multi-tools as well.To be totally honest,I like my SAK too much to subject it to the chores I put my other multi-tools through.My Victorinox Swiss Tool is probably my nicest piece, but I keep that out of harms way as well.It may be ironic,but I think it's too nice to use!:(
 
Up until I got my Juice S2, I used to always carry a SAK (a Spartan or a Tinker). I think they are lighter, manufactured better and better thought out than the others such as the Micra etc. Having said that, I think I like the Juice S2 better since it has the pliers and is not that much heavier.
 
I lost a lot of SAKs in my younger days (not that I'm an old fart now). But for four years this December, I have carried my Leatherman on my belt nearly every day. I don't notice the extra weight, it doesn't fall out of my pocket, and the pliers make themselves useful all the time. To me, a SAK is a mediocre knife, with a few mediocre tools. I already carry a good knife, so it makes sense to me to have slightly higher quality tools and a plier available.
 
80% of the time I have both. (VicSAK Huntsman and Leatherman Pulse)The other 20% it's just a SAK.
 
Originally posted by knifenerd
Solution? Get 'em all and switch off.
Click to expand...

Mine doesn't even have an on/off switch. :D

I've solved the problem by carrying both a SAK (Victorinox SwissChamp XLT) and a multi-tool (Gerber Legend) with my belt pouch. Being a serious glutton for punishment, I also carry a SOG CrossGrip in my key pocket as a backup...

--Bob Q
 
yeah... i do know what you mean, but i've given up on AKs to some extent...

as good as they can be for some instances, it's rar that my leatherman cn't perform the same functions. i was not especially impressed witht the edge holding of the leatherman, hough, so i bought myself a BM mini-AFCK a fgew weeks ago. other than that, i can't fault the leatherman.

that said, i've had my eye on a swisstool for quite some time.... love the feel of those. seems nicer than the leatherman, for some reason.
 
I carryied a Wenger Handyman II for about 2 years, then I got
a LeatherMan WAVE carryied them both (Wenger in pocket, LM on belt)
for about 2 months, then sharpened, and oiled the Wenger, and put
it in it's box, in these last two year I got it out like two times.

Then I don't want to carry the WAVE I'll carry my Micra, I know
someday, I'll pass on the Spartan my grandfather gave me, and
my HandyMan II will last a few gen.

So to answer your question: No, but I know a few who have done just that! Takes ALL kinds :)
 
Welcome hotdog, I'd guess the answer to your question is it depends on your
lifestyle and your personality. Just as it is with all of us. I carried a military
issue camp knife for years till I wore it out. Now my lifestyle & work require
a multi tool so I carry a Leatherman Supertool all the time. I've grown so used
to it that I feel naked without it. When I can't carry (or don't need) the Supertool
I carry a Leatherman Pulse (casual) and a SAK (formal) as needed. The point
is........Try and adjust to the expected needs of your day so that you have at least
the basic tools on you at all times. Not having them could be more than troublesome.
 
For the past year I've been carrying a Leatherman Pulse every day and also have been carrying a Micra. But I daily carry/use my Victorinox Classic because it's easier to get to than the Micra's small screwdriver. I also often will carry a standard SAK, like a Tinker, Huntsman, or Hiker. In particular, the Huntsman has the wood saw, which complements the Pulse which doesn't, and I rarely feel like switching my Pulse for my Wave or Supertool.

I've also found on some large screws, the Leatherman's large screwdriver will not fit in the slot, whereas the SAK's combo large screwdriver/bottle opener will fit because it's ground thinner.

So I like and carry both. But I find that just pulling out and opening the SAK's tools is so much easier than opening the non-pliers tools on the Leatherman, but I'll use the Leatherman on tougher work than I will the SAK.
Jim
 
There are a few pros and cons about both of 'em:

I carry a Leatherman Wave everyday at school, in a belt pouch. (No problemo!)
I had when i was younger a V-nox Explorer.

The Wave is too big and heavy to carry in a pocket, but it does have a really versatile plier.
It also has both a serrated edge and a saw, wich the Explorer does not. I didn't miss it that much eiter... OK, maybe the serratted edge.


The Explorer is IMHO one of the best SAKs, because it is not too big, and therefore fits good into my hand. (I don't really like those thick SAKs...)
The V-nox can opener is also one of the best i've ever used!

The Explorer is also considerabely chaper than the Wave. I paid about $30 for it, I'm sure you can get it much cheaper in the US, or on the net...


I still miss that SAK. It was one of my most personal things, exept of.. you know...
 
I also have a Victorinox Explorer with black handles, it's been with me practically every day in the last 8 years or so, it's great for every day light cutting tasks and easy to match with casual cloths. I work in electronics so I also use a lot the pliers and the wire cutter in my Gerber Compact Sport, besides its screwdrivers are better than those in my SAK.

I believe this tools complement each other, medium range SAK and Multitool can face many situations and are easier for using/handling instead of having a single big tool (SAK or multitool) heavily loaded with accesories.
 
I have the Leatherman Pocket Survival tool (I think that's what it is called) in my car. For me, it's just not a possibility to carry a sheath on my belt. So, instead I rely on my SAK Solder.
Matt
 
I found a comfortable way to carry both SAK Champ and Leatherman Supertool. I made a sort of sheath out of kydex that holds them; I carry it a small belt pouch. The sheath is really just a piece of kydex wraped around each one - just enough kydex to hold them in place. A couple of chicago screws hold the sheath in the pouch. The entire pouch is flat, looks fine with jeans and is easily covered with a jacket for "formal" occasions - part of my daily wear for just about every occasion. Except flying......
 
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