The best SAK

B

Blades2442

Joined
Feb 10, 2016
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Hey guys I love the looks and feel of the original SAK you know the red one, I also like the ones with aluminum handles, both I love, I really would use mainly the knife, I don't need a lot of tools on it maybe a toothpick or something I don't know with the knife being all time use which SAK do you recommend?
 
It's awfully hard to beat the basic 4 blade scout layout of the Victorinox pioneer/Wenger SI model line. It gives you a few basic tools and a stout blade. The few tools have so many uses that they are limited only by the users imagination. I've used the can opener as a hook to snare things, the screw driver is a decent light duty pry bar and paint/stain can opener, as well as a good pot hook for taking a pot off a campfire tripod. The awl does light duty cutting, stripping, and box opening and blister pricking. Very versatile tool.

Plus, the alox models are way easier to clean up from a mess like fish guts, blood, food stuff. I've always felt that the alox SAK's were the heavy hitters of the SAK world.

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[/url]Untitled by Carl Levitan, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
With about a zillion models, it is basically a matter of personal preference. For me, I carry a SAK Tinker lanyarded to a Fenix E05 flashlight. I do wish they made an Alox Tinker. No need for me for a cork screw - only cheap screw top wines and fine Scotch :-)

Rich
 
I have always admired the concept of Alox but so far have avoided them because these have never featured corkscrews. Corkscrews are useful well beyond merely opening wines! So I settled on the red scale Spartan model over the past 50 years despite once in awhile trying out locking blade models and ones with saws and scissors. Spartans (and their smaller cousins Tinker or Sportsman (I think)) are all around wonderfully handy and yet not bulky/weighty enough to wear a hole through a pant pocket. Earlier models (1960s) didn't have toothpicks or tweezers nor the hidden pinhole or the eyeglass screwdriver feature. The small blades in the old ones were of a handier profile than the newer (1980s+) ones but that's a minor detail.
Nice thing about SAKs is the cash outlay is minimal, they're readily replaced if they're lost or misplaced and far as I know the factory will even repair broken ones free of charge.
 
But the alox models do not have the tweezers or tooth pike if that is important to you. It is to me. I think the all around best SAK is the Tinker model when considering size and weight and the minimal tool selection. I carry the Adventurer model that has been discontinued. It's one of the 111mm ones with a side lock. The non-side lock version is the Centurion which I will carry when I run out of my spares for whatever reason. That'll be a while since I have three or four spare Adventurer models.

I also like the Bantam as a minimalist SAK which is still large enough to do most cutting activities, has the full sized tools, and is thin when I carry another knife such as my GEC #42 (Missouri Trapper) or Northwoods Madison Barlow in a pocket slip.
 
The Solo is very office friendly and it matches my money clip and watch so when a hoplophobiact sees them they are less frightened.
 
I always recommend the Bantam as a totally minimalist carry

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- Blade is big enough for food, packages and all everydayday stuff for normal people's needs
- Screwdriver is stout, doubles as an excellent prybar and bottle opener
- Corkscrew is nice: add a micro screwdrier to increase versatility a lot
- Nothing you don't need, lightweight, ultra comfortable and easy to carry

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And with the usual Vic quality!

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I've found the compact a very nice minimalist tool.
You might want to look at the Sportsman and Recruit as well.
 
The One handed Sentinel is a good one too if you like the large size (111 mm) and still want thin and light.
 
The compact ^^^ is a great all around useful, relatively small package. :thumbup: If it is more than you need or want, the secretary is incredibly light and minimal.
 
The "best" SAK is the one that best fits your needs, uses and lifestyle.

For me, it's the Rambler.
 
Velitrius said:
The "best" SAK is the one that best fits your needs, uses and lifestyle.
Click to expand...

This is the correct answer.

As for me, I've found the scissors to be the SAK tool I use most often, and the smallest Victorinox SAK to offer "full-size" scissors is the Compact. If I were to find myself constrained to a single model, this would be it. There has been one riding in my left pocket almost every day for going on 20 years now.

Alox models have a lot going for them, including sturdier tools and greater overall durability, so if I'm going to spend a lot of time outdoors I'll opt for a Pioneer or this particularly nice customized model (photo by the builder, Robert Lessard):

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For me there are two: the Excelsior Alox penknife and the Huntsman. No excuse to ever not at least carry the penknife. Multifunction then don't go too big, its always been the Huntsman and that cork screw has got me into to parties and made friends with, so don't knock it.
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I carry an Explorer myself, probably more than what your looking for. If I were to go minimalist, I'd choose the compact. The main thing is besides the usual tools, it comes with a pen and pin. I don't know how many times I'd been in a situation where I needed to write something down and there was no pen around. I pull the one off of my Explorer and am set. As a pen it sucks, which is good because you will be looking for a regular pen before you use it. It's way too skinny and hard to hold in a proper writing position. When you establish that it's the only pen around, it's priceless. You won't be writing a novel with it, but it'll take care of business.
 
I favor the Hiker. It sees a lot of use, especially when I need a screwdriver.
 
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