Sell me on a Swiss Army Knife

SOC_MRN_Leon

SOC_MRN_Leon

Joined
Mar 9, 2012
Messages
680
Hey you guys, so whats the point of owning a Swiss army knife? What do they offer besides that they are compact and small? I am thinking about purchasing one sometime in the future but I do not want to regret it. What brands should I look for and I don't want to spend too much. I don't want to spend $50 on a like a 20-in-one tool (over-exaggeration) if i'm only going to be using like three tools. But what do you guys recommend? My limit is probably around $30.

I was leaning a little towards this one but what do you guys think?

http://www.gpknives.com/victorinox-classic-sd-black.html?osCsid=2464edbbb9e9a23898aa9853e6c1e74a

I believe it'll be good as a started multi-tool.

But I'm curious to what you guys own? Any Feedback is appreciated and pictures and recommendations are always welcome! ;D
 
I prefer a leatherman to a SAK.

That's just my pref as I use the all tools for work often. With an SAK I only used a few of them
 
I like SAK's because they're well-made, cheap, and useful. They have barely any quality issues out of the box and are Swiss-made, yet they have found a way to mass produce them cheaply. The one you linked to is a lot smaller than I'd like; you'd probably find more use out of a larger one. The old Alox Soldier was great for that, but it was discontinued. They still make what appears to be the same knife but with the Vic shield instead of the Swiss military one (the Cadet). I have a few SAK's, but the one I use is the Swisschamp. It's too big to carry around comfortably, but I just keep it in my backpack and use it whenever needed.
 
Hello,

Do you mean a swiss army knife in comparison to a folder? because I actually find myself asking the question the other way around, :)

I like the classic you've got linked is good, lots of people like them as key fobs or the "can I borrow you knife" knife to save there "real" knife. But I think a edc level multi is always a good buy. You can get a while range of fantastic ones for under 30 (under 25 if you shop around)

I have a Cadet (travel/ruing), farmer(general edc/day hike/camping), both alox because I like it, and an "office class" I think it's called (day hike bag, backup etc) in standard red plastic. None of them'll cost you more the $25/28 - although a red alox like this one ca run around $50, but I'd be just as happy with the standard silver for $28:

Cadet with leek
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Farmer with JK belt hawk
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Officer class by itself
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I have my eye on a pioneer and a few others as well. :p

I don't think theres much to chose between the swiss army brands but I'll say Victorinox because thats what I have the most experience with. I've tried a few leathermans as well, (juice cs4 and s2, the Psk and have a mica on my keys) the leather mans offer you a pliers in the same price range which I think woudl be sueful as hell for most people, what ca I say, I think I'm just a sucker for the classics because the leather mans got sold (but for the micra on my keys and the saks remain.
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Why carry a sak? I don't know it's different then "why carry a knife" at all, you can collect and get addicted to any type (I think I've become addicted to every type at this point :p) but at the end of the day I think they are useful and Sak's are probably the most useful of all. I've never missed a locking folder when carrying a sak but I've missed a sak when carrying a locking folder - thats not to say it can't happen of course.

I've found myself carrying a SAK alone sometimes now, kinda feeling like I've walked backwards through this "addiction" (carried locking folders first) and sold folders accept my small range which don't get used as much. The SAK's can do what the small folder do most often, and can do some things better (opening cans, bottles making small holes with a reamer, sawing etc) of course sometimes I chose not to chose at all:
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I'd recommend trying the new handle SAKs though because they have the same kinda fit and finish quality "feel" of the folders, but again I'm a sucker for the classics so the red plastic doesn't bother me either.
 
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The only reason why I carry one is I am to much of a coward to carry a real knife everywhere. I applaud anyone on here who carries a large pocket knife meant for cutting. Even better if you walk around with a fixed blade. It makes it easier for the rest of us to carry one. An sak is better than no knife at all. And it's about as sheeple friendly as you can get.
 
I've got a tiny sak on my keychain right next to my spyderco ladybug- believe it's the signature lite model. Comes with light and retractable pen- been plenty useful so far. Then again, if I am out and about- I also have a leatherman with me.
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
The only reason why I carry one is I am to much of a coward to carry a real knife everywhere.
Click to expand...

>implying an SAK is not a real knife because it's sheeple-friendly

I used to look down on SAKs and anyone who carried them. To put my money where my mouth was, I dared myself to carry a Vic Climber for a month to prove what a sham it was as an EDC. Turns out I was dead wrong because I fell in love with its versatility. The scissors were a life-saver when cutting things around sheeple who would freak out around "real" knives. It saved the day during a company picnic when no-one brought a corkscrew to open the sherry. The bottlecap opener even made a handy-dandy prybar when fixing a jammed printer.

Sure, a SAK isn't for everyone, especially for those who feel that its other tools cheapens the masculinity in its main blade. But for the price and handiness, an SAK is quite the tool to have.
 
I carry a SAK Mountaineer Lite, which is a 5 layer tool (i.e. on the bigger side). I carry it with me along with a full size folder. I also carry a Leatherman in my pack.

The SAK, i pretty much use everyday. The toothpick, pen, and surprisingly the flashlight. When I first decided on the ML, it had everything I wanted, but I didn't care for the light. Now I use it pretty regularly. It's not super bright, but when my kid drops something under the table at a restaurant, etc...it really comes in handy.

There are days my Hinderer never leaves my pocket, but the SAK gets used everyday. It's cheap enough to be easily replaced, small enough to be carried on your person, and it's durable enough to take it. Many times i dont feel like taking out a $400 knife to cut a zip tie or those palet bands...the SAK is perfect for that. Plus mine has a small screw driver that'll work on glasses, watch bracelets, etc...a pen JIC you forget to bring one to a meeting or to sign a CC bill when the one they gave you doesn't work, corkscrew that works....you get the idea.

IMO, the most important thing is to pick one that suits your needs. Research the different tools they offer, figure out which ones you like and then go out and find the model that best matches your needs.

Some get so into SAK to the point they will mod a knife by taking out/puting in the exact tools they want.
 
I have owned SAKs for as long as I can remember. In many ways, I find them to be more useful and practical than single-bladed, one-handed openers for every day tasks, even though I like to carry a single-bladed, one-handed opener in addition to my SAK. :)
 
I've owned a few SAK's over the years, but never an Alox model.

I got a Cadet a few weeks back for $20.40 shipped, and was blown away by the fit and finish on a knife of this price. I see more Alox SAK's in my future.
 
SAK gives you tools that you did not have before. They work great with a dedicated folder or fixed blade, so many days I have a multitool and folder on me. For work, it's much easier to have a SAK.

If you want a great model that is full size, I would recommend the Trekker model.
 
I carry an ALOX Soldier every day. Let's see; it cuts like a scalpel, rides in pocket without much notice, it's tight as a drum (all SAK's I have ever owned are the tightest production slipjoints I've come across) and made of a steel that is easily maintained and perfectly suited for SAK (edc) work. The extra tools are icing on the cake, I use all of them with exception of the can opener, which I have used from time to time when necessary. Oh, I paid $20 on Amazon clearance, what's to regret? Check out the ALOX models, you can't go wrong.
 
SOC_MRN_Leon said:
Hey you guys, so whats the point of owning a Swiss army knife? What do they offer besides that they are compact and small? I am thinking about purchasing one sometime in the future but I do not want to regret it. What brands should I look for and I don't want to spend too much. I don't want to spend $50 on a like a 20-in-one tool (over-exaggeration) if i'm only going to be using like three tools. But what do you guys recommend? My limit is probably around $30.

I was leaning a little towards this one but what do you guys think?

http://www.gpknives.com/victorinox-classic-sd-black.html?osCsid=2464edbbb9e9a23898aa9853e6c1e74a

I believe it'll be good as a started multi-tool.

But I'm curious to what you guys own? Any Feedback is appreciated and pictures and recommendations are always welcome! ;D
Click to expand...

I think you will be amazed at how useful that little classic is. The Vic classic is the unsung giant of the pocket knife world. My better half Karen, made me a believer out of me of the classic. I always thought they were sort of a joke, the knife that someone carried who don't really like knives. I was wrong.

In the several years I've been carrying the classic I've lost count of all the stuff I've actually fixed with it. But that goes for sak's in general. With a knife, even a great high end knife, all you can do is cut. With a sak, you can really do things. I've fixed a clothes dryer door latch, fixed a Vespa motor scooter on a dirt road miles from nowhere, fixed an electric trolling motor in the middle of a very large winding lake, home repairs, and lots more. A sak will tighten up a loose radiator hose clamp, loose battery cable, light to moderate prying that may well break off the tip of a knife blade. Victorinox says the tools of a ask are made from a more malleable metal than the blades, so some prying is okay.

A sak with a saw blade can make a shelter out in the boonies, split wood, and and do bush crafts. Saw halfway through a piece of firewood and bang it on the ground and it will split up along the grain as neatly as it were split with a hatchet.

A sak will do many things that you can't do with a knife, but a knife will not do what a sak is capable of doing. That's reason enough to have a few sak's around.

Carl.
 
I have 3 old alox soldiers, one farmer, one solo, and a trekker/trailmaster. Also have a rambler, a classic, and a minichamp.
Alox soldier, my old trusty edc, ready for anything, strong, highly recommended, though today you can find it only as a pioneer, with a lanyard hole and engrave plate.
My wife only used an alox soldier in the kitchen for more than one year, till i bought her an alox solo, and that one never leaves the kitchen area, being her favorite.
I have a classic on my keys, and its a great minimalistic tool to get around. Mostly i use the scissors, and like to have the tweezers for any splinters.. But the blade will open packages with ease. The only drawback to it is the blade position, opening on the lanyard side, so you have to remove it from the keys to use it properly.
The rambler resides on my wife's keys, and the minichamp is hers as well, but stays home, ready for action on a desk.
Why get one ? They have outstanding quality for the price, and they are reliable tools, not to forget sheeple friendly.
I carried a soldier for a few years, and didn't need anything else, it did everything, from your regular cutting, to opening beers, cans, occasional screw duty, and making holes in wood, leather, scraping, light prying, you name it. I even built a net frame door with just a farmer, from making holes for the screws, to screw it together, and to cut the wood to size.

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The Victorinox Climber is in my pocket just about every day and when it isn't, I usually have an alox Soldier. Whenever I leave home without one, I end up needing one of them. They are perfect compliments to a one hand opener in my opinion and they don't freak people out at the grocery store or post office like a Millie or 710 can.

The Classic model you have pictured is smaller than I prefer for a main tool but the ones mentioned above are excellent for daily carry and non-obtrusive in the pocket. Give one a try and you'll probay end up with a few :D

Good luck with your decision :thumbup:
 
That Camper model looks really nice! I actually might have to get 2 SAK's to get a feel for them. I prefer black instead of red but white looks nice too. I think i'm gonna settle for a black classic and a black camper model! Thanks for all the feedback you guys! Really, really appreciate it!
 
High quality, low cost, wide range of functions, compact, great slicers, tough steel, and easy to sharpen. I love 'em. The Farmer is my personal favorite model followed by the Pioneer Harvester. Also, if looking at a keychain model I suggest giving the Executive a look.
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
The only reason why I carry one is I am to much of a coward to carry a real knife everywhere.
Click to expand...

What's not "real" about a SAK? And why carry a "large pocket knife meant for cutting" when a small SAK cuts like crazy? Large for large's sake?

SOC_MRN_Leon, if you want an inexpensive, versatile, compact cutter available in a a huge number of options, then a SAK impossible to beat.

I own a Alox Farmer (great), a Super Tinker (great), and a Classic SD (phenomenal).
 
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