Small blade, Large blade?

Daniel Moore

Daniel Moore

Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Messages
2,790
So when you have a SAK with a large and small blade, what do you use each one for? I tend to do it by job: ones that need a larger blade for the large, one that can use a small for the small, but I hear that others use just the large blade with the small for backup or vice versa.
 
Normally I use the small blade for tasks like peeling fruit and first aid stuff. The larger blade gets used for everything else. But since I carry a Yeoman and there's only the big blade I don't have to sweat the small (blade) stuff. :rolleyes:
 
As well as the two options you mentioned, some people keep the different blades differently sharp - a decent using edge on the big one, and a hair-popping edge on the little'un. That way you're prepared if you need to hack off a branch from a tree OR perform an appendectomy. :P
 
Normally I carry a stockman and a Vic Huntsman and a Leatherman, so I have 6 cutting blades !!!.

Most cutting is done by the sheepfoot in the stockman, the SAK main blade is sort of a beater, like for scrapping and such, I do try to keep the small SAK blade sharp so if I only have the SAK I still have a sharp blade, I don't remember when was the last time I used it though.

Luis
 
I grind down my small blades so that they become sheephoot pointed, so I use the 2 ones for different jobs.
 
jim_w said:
As well as the two options you mentioned, some people keep the different blades differently sharp - a decent using edge on the big one, and a hair-popping edge on the little'un. That way you're prepared if you need to hack off a branch from a tree OR perform an appendectomy. :P
Click to expand...

What he said, except I think in terms of a tracheotomy. After 12 years, I haven't used the small blade yet.
:)
 
I tend to use small blade the most, even for larger tasks. I leave the large blade as pristine as possible.
 
For me, the small blade is basically useless. I rarely use the large one as it is, and it's extremely sharp. I consider it as backup for the main blade, which is backup for my main folder.

I'd personally prefer something else in the small blade's place. I especially like the pruning blade. But I'm sure that I'm in the minority. Surely 99& of people who carry a SAK only carry a SAK.
 
I use the small blade for detailed cutting and whittling. The large blade for "general" cutting.

Paul
 
I try to avoid SAKs with two blades, because the second blade is a waste of space and weight. That's one reason I like the Vic Rambler.
 
I use the small blade for messy jobs such as opening packages etc since sticky tape etc gum up the blade. The large blade is for food.
 
One night I used the small blade of my Recruit to open a tablet cell in a package of medicine. A larger blade would have been too large to cut into the cell without damaging the medicine tablet.
 
One of the reasons I don't carry a alox model is the loss of the small blade . The large blade is my go-to blade . General cutting , cutting up fruit for a snack , all kinds of basic stuff . The small blade I keep razor sharp and use for fine detail cutting . I really like the large/small blade combo .
 
Also, the alox models are too pretty to actually use. My Soldier is just for looking at. The cellidor models are for actually using.
 
Grateful said:
One of the reasons I don't carry a alox model is the loss of the small blade . The large blade is my go-to blade . General cutting , cutting up fruit for a snack , all kinds of basic stuff . The small blade I keep razor sharp and use for fine detail cutting . I really like the large/small blade combo .
Click to expand...

Do Alox models eliminate the small blade?
 
Nope.
The following models have smaller blades along with larger ones:

-Pioneer Settler (regular small blade)
-Pioneer Apprentice (electrician's blade with wire scraper)
-Pioner Harvester (pruning blade)
-Pioneer Pruner (pruning blade)
-Electrician (electrician's blade with wire scraper)
-Electrician Plus (electrician's blade with wire scraper)
-Secretary (regular small blade)


There may be more, but those are the only ones I can think of. Grateful probably meant that there were only two models with the regular small blades and only one of those has more tools than just blades (the Pioneer Settler). I think there are drawbacks to both. I think Victorinox's line of one-sided multi-tools and single-bladed slipjoints serves a good purpose- to provide economic and superior (to companies such as Case in terms of consistency and quality IMHO) slipjoint knives for cutting use. Those knives are prodominately Alox models, and having the full backsprings for each implement does wonders for the walk-and-talk and lockup. I, myself, tend to sacrifice lock-up and walk-and-talk for utility, with the varying-backspring cellidor double-sided models, which offer tools like corkscrews, awls, and screwdrivers. I also prefer cellidor to alox for ergonomics, looks, and replacability, and for the most practical reason-the reason for the red cellidor in the first place- to make them easy to find. I often think buying black scales would be cool, but I can't get over the fact that I'm destroying the purpose of the bright red cellidor. For those who really tend to lose things-especially in the dark-StayGlo handles are a great investment. So all-in-all, if you want true Victorinox craftsmanship and a traditional slipjoint multitool, pick up a Soldier or Electrician, but if you want a heavy-use, versatile tool, grab yourself a thicker cellidor model.

Edit: I wonder...would it be possible to remove the useless-but-ubiquitous hook and position that empty backspring where the blade is to give the main blade a bigger backspring like on the Soldier? :confused:
 
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