Talk Me Into/Out of a Compact

Charlie Fox

Charlie Fox

Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Messages
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Question for the hive mind; what say you about the Compact? I've been looking at it for a while and think it would be the best compromise of size vs. tools. I carry a Cadet now.

Over to y'all:cool:
 
It's great but in my opinion it costs too much for what it is. It's the most expensive two layer model currently in production and I don't think the high price is justified by what you get. That said, I own two of them, so...

The lack of a real Phillips driver is kind of irritating, but the Compact is still great if you want to combine it with other things in your EDC.

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I have several SAKs and I've often avoided the compact until I bought one off a friend.
I always thought I couldn't live without the awl.

I carry it every day now, and it's a great knife to bring fishing.

the scissors alone is a huge upgrade over the cadet, in my opinion.
 
Charlie Fox said:
Question for the hive mind; what say you about the Compact? I've been looking at it for a while and think it would be the best compromise of size vs. tools. I carry a Cadet now.

Over to y'all:cool:
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I won't talk you out of a Compact but I will try to talk you into a Climber. I don't have the Compact but the Climber is less expensive and you get the full opener layer, awl, small blade. You do lose the plus scales but those could always be added to the Climber. I am not sure if you have a layer limit but to me the Climber and Pioneer X are the best Scissor equipped SAKs you can get. Good luck with your decision!
 
For me, it's a good Saturday go to town knife. The scissors and ink pen have come in handy.
We just got back from a few days out of town and the Compact was the chosen SAK.
 
I think the Compact is a great choice if larger scissors are needed. I had chosen a Compact for that reason, plus it had the corkscrew to hold a micro screwdriver. I've always had a Rambler on my keychain and couldn't bring myself to not having it. So, I realized I didn't need the larger scissors. I now carry this modded Tinker or Spartan I got off eBay. The ends have been ground down so now it's like 86mm. The corkscrew or screwdriver was replaced with a second awl that has been ground to have a micro screwdriver tip. I like having the flathead for prying. The can opener was removed but it gives the smaller flathead/phillips a little more reach. Counting the times I have used the can opener, I consider it a fair trade off. The small blade was filed down to a thin pry or scraper. It has circuit board scales that are thin and lightweight. The Rambler has aftermarket Ti scales w/room for only a toothpick but I always have Uncle Bill's tweezers on the keychain.SAK carry.jpg
 
Charlie Fox said:
Question for the hive mind; what say you about the Compact? I've been looking at it for a while and think it would be the best compromise of size vs. tools. I carry a Cadet now.

Over to y'all:cool:
Click to expand...
"The best compromise of size vs. tools" is definitely how I'd sum it up. :thumbsup:

My most-used SAK tools, from most to least used, are the scissors, nail file, toothpick, tweezers, straight pin, and glasses screwdriver, and I also like to have a blade and a bottle opener. It's weirdly expensive relative to other models...but the Compact is the thinnest current-production SAK I'm aware of that combines all of my most-used tools.

The Compact's nail file, while not as efficient as the Cadet's, is a stroke of genius. It's such a fun little detail!

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I agree with several things that have been said:
- Great but overpriced for what it is
- ""The best compromise of size vs. tools" is definitely how I'd sum it up"

I would add that you consider the context in which you carry. For general hard-working, hiking, or camping knife it would not be my choice. That said I do have two compacts (bought a second just in case) because I liked it so much. It is a great urban/office knife. It can cover 99.9% of all situations that I encounter in those circumstances and yet it disappears in the pocket until one needs it.
 
The Compact is fantastic. Carried one for years, it is what got me to see the SAK light.
For the size you are hard pressed to find a more capable tool.

These days I carry a Deluxe Tinker, but it's a good bit larger than the Compact.
Grab one you won't regret it.
 
Nebuchadnezzar said:
The Compact is fantastic. Carried one for years, it is what got me to see the SAK light.
For the size you are hard pressed to find a more capable tool.

These days I carry a Deluxe Tinker, but it's a good bit larger than the Compact.
Grab one you won't regret it.
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My story went the opposite- my great uncle gave me a deluxe tinker, so I saw the SAK light, and I found my way to the compact.
 
EngrSorenson said:
My story went the opposite- my great uncle gave me a deluxe tinker, so I saw the SAK light, and I found my way to the compact.
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The SAK is always in my left pocket as there is usually a larger knife clipped to my right. So the blades on the SAK are rarely used and the secondary tools become the focus.
The larger scissors like on the compact and Deluxe Tinker have a multitude of uses. Mine are usually found cutting fishing line, assorted things around the house, and straws down to fit in margarita glasses better. You can take the bit you cut off the straw and make a whistle out of it, great fun for the kids at the table. Pliers have become almost as loved. Between the tweezers and pliers you can manipulate all kinds of small and medium sized things. Pliers can also be used to crimp, bend, and pickup hot things. Don't carry a leatherman type multitool as the tools are too big to be convenient and too small to be useful. I have often found myself breaking and abusing leatherman sized tools by asking too much of them. The Smaller SAK tools are not only convenient but small enough to remind one of their limits. If the SAK can't do it I'll go grab the toolbag.

Back to the compact, I go back and forth on my preference for the multi can opener/caplifter or the dedicated ones on the other models.
 
Nebuchadnezzar said:
The SAK is always in my left pocket as there is usually a larger knife clipped to my right. So the blades on the SAK are rarely used and the secondary tools become the focus.
The larger scissors like on the compact and Deluxe Tinker have a multitude of uses. Mine are usually found cutting fishing line, assorted things around the house, and straws down to fit in margarita glasses better. You can take the bit you cut off the straw and make a whistle out of it, great fun for the kids at the table. Pliers have become almost as loved. Between the tweezers and pliers you can manipulate all kinds of small and medium sized things. Pliers can also be used to crimp, bend, and pickup hot things. Don't carry a leatherman type multitool as the tools are too big to be convenient and too small to be useful. I have often found myself breaking and abusing leatherman sized tools by asking too much of them. The Smaller SAK tools are not only convenient but small enough to remind one of their limits. If the SAK can't do it I'll go grab the toolbag.

Back to the compact, I go back and forth on my preference for the multi can opener/caplifter or the dedicated ones on the other models.
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You summed up my own similar thoughts. I also carry a dedicated knife, a flipper in my case. Personally, on the Compact, I would to see a couple other tools instead of the large knife blade and handle gizmo which I never use. OTOH, the small blade is enormously useful on the Spartan and Camper models I’ve had.

Now if the Spartan had scissors it would be perfect. Hmm …
 
For me, I cannot street carry most knives, but SAKs are allowed, and so if I'm off work, my go-to is generally a compact for urban carry. I like my slippy lil'native as it is essentially a modern "penknife" but scissors are a good tool to have. I carried a climber for a long time since I use a corkscrew off the job more than I do a Philips. It's a useful knife, the opener is good enough for the few times you might need it, if you don't already think you need a dedicated can opener. Yeah, it's on the expensive side, but considering the components, it's clearly them not just marking it up because they didn't know what else to do. It's smaller runs, special parts, and those have a price. Also, you can much more easily find custom scales to fit your style.
 
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