The bigger 91mm Vics are speaking to me - what do you guys think?

Humppa

Humppa

Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
7,432
Hi guys & gals!

I´ve become lately to the point that I closely tend to carry a 4-layer-or-more Vic in my pocket or on my belt (in a pouch) due to the great tools they offer. Usually a Vic or multitool next to a traditional knife (folder or fixed blade). May it is just because of lazyness but I really like the choice these knives offer. I really understand the point when people say that they are bulky and won´t replace a complete toolbox. That´s sure. But I really like 'em :)

How about you, guys?

Here are some of mine - others are around in the house, the car and on my other places :o



 
I'm going through this stage too as my daily requirements have changed...

This one seems to have everything I need most days and fits me perfect.

Trailguide2green_zps8939dee0.jpg


http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Trail+Guide



I've been working through these this month to find one that is perfect my new EDC requirements:

SAKs_zps70fd8d5e.jpg


L to R

Early Golfer, Mountaineer, Climber (not shown), Troubleshooter, Outdoorsman and Swiss Champ,
 
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I retired my 35+ year old Passenger model in favor of carrying the alox. That said, I never found a 4 or 5 layer SAK to be an issue when pocket carrying, and only wish for a 4 layer Farmer that would add the can opener. Now that would be the bee's knee's.:)
 
I like to carry the thicker models as well. The Cybertool 34 and 41 are awesome. Looks like you need one for your collection. :D
 
I carry a Deluxe Tinker on my belt all the time I'm out and a
regular Tinker around the house.

Rich S
 
Capt. Spaulding said:
I like to carry the thicker models as well. The Cybertool 34 and 41 are awesome. Looks like you need one for your collection. :D
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Oh yeah the Cybertool - I have the Cybertool 29, it lives in the drawer of my desk at work. And it works fine there. Good tool for office environment.
 
Once you get past 4 layers any of the Vics are best carried by belt pouch, which all but eliminates the weight/size differences among them, so get the Swisschamp and be done with it. That's what I did 2 decades ago and never felt the need for anything else in that category.
 
3 layer is about the thickest I will go and carry it in my pocket. I prefer 2-layer SAKs. I keep a few of their pouches around should I want to carry a thicker one. The multi-tool already makes my pants sag on that side.
 
The Ranger is my favorite. The most basic and practical tools and at least one in every layer on both sides, and it feels fine in jeans or pants or even some shorts. I also like the Craftsman quite a bit. As a commuter on mass transit, and having a desk job in an office, it's perfect for the briefcase.
 
I have an Explorer that I like a lot. If I were going on a long trip and could only take one knife that needed to be able to do it all, the Explorer would be my pick. I don't really notice it in jeans or cargo pants, but pocket carry in dress pants feels a little wonky. That Explorer was my only knife for about a year...yeah, now I'm going to have to get that Explorer back out and carry it for a while.
 
Dale Gribble said:
I have an Explorer that I like a lot. If I were going on a long trip and could only take one knife that needed to be able to do it all, the Explorer would be my pick. I don't really notice it in jeans or cargo pants, but pocket carry in dress pants feels a little wonky. That Explorer was my only knife for about a year...yeah, now I'm going to have to get that Explorer back out and carry it for a while.
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The easiest way to carry any of the larger SAKs is in a sheath, and these days you can get away with it in dress clothes. Once was, a SAK carried on a belt while formally attired would attract attention and might, to some, appear eccentric. Times have changed, however. People have grown accustomed to associating belt pouches with cell phones any more and don't really take notice. SAK pouches don't really look very knifey, anyway. If anything, whoever takes any notice will subconsciously assume you are a busy guy that needs to be in constant touch with the home office, or something like that, especially if you also have an actual cell phone on your belt. I don't spend a whole lot of time in suits or dress slacks, but when duded out I have never let that stop me from belt carrying a SAK or Leatherman. The only comment I ever got about that was from someone who said he was inspired to do the same.
 
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I wouldn't worry about it too much, Andi. For life in the 21st century, a SAK, any SAK, makes more sense than a heavy duty dedicated knife. MOst of the world is pretty settled now, and Europe, Scandinavia, North America, and parts of Asia, have a marked shortage of marauding mongols, huns, Comanche's on the warpath. Most of the worlds population in developed countries live in a suburban, if not outright urban area. Modern life is more technical now than ever. When you need a knife, pretty much any octet knife with a couple inches of sharp bled will do.

But…we also sometimes need a screw driver badly. Or a can opener. Or a small file, or saw. Or a pliers. Or some other tool that is needed to correct a small problem in our daily life. We are now surrounded by high tech gadgets for our 21st century life style. The more complex things gt, themore chance of a problem, and hence, the more chance of needing some tool to fix the problem.

We may not need to skin our a buffalo, but the light switch may need to be fixed, or that something we just bought has the dreaded words on the package:"Some assembly required." Get the SAK out. Sometimes in my everyday life, I've had more need of a screw driver than a knife. I've been on a hike where someone fell and broke an ankle. A SAK saw would have been nice to have. I've had to fix a dead motor scooter in the middle of nowhere, and the SAK gave me the tools I needed.

Of course, the bigger the SAK, the more tools you will have on hand. It's a trade off, and a careful balance of life style vs need. How often will you need those extra tools? Only you can know that.

So, to me, a SAK makes more sense than a large dedicated knife that perhaps will never see a real need. But there's always something that will need a quick fix. Tools are good. :thumbup:
 
Indeed, Jack.

That´s the way it goes. Honestly, I don´t need a 5 inch blade each day. A 3.5 inch blade is great for food prep and for the other (dirtier or multiplier) tasks, a SAK is the right tool to do the job. I won´t use a GEC or CASE as a screwdriver or whatever. Even a Classic features that item. But pliers or files or whatever more special needs the right tools.

znapschatz: I know what you mean, but not just because of the tools and weight also comes in mind. I don´t need magnifier glasses and a fishtool everyday - didn´t need the fishtool ever - so sometimes when I can downsize it, I downsize it. The Craftsman is great, as well as the Swisschamp but each on its own "league". ;)
 
Way back when, I got by with an old huntsman I bought in 1969 as an edc. I found the 4 layer not too big for everyday stuff back then, and the scissors came in very handy. Now I have the little classic on my keyring, so I have scissors, but I think at my age now with some arthritis problems in my fingers, the small pliers would be nice. I can see myself using a 3 or 4 layer SAK again instead of the 2 layers I stay with now.
 
Humppa said:
Indeed, Jack.

That´s the way it goes. Honestly, I don´t need a 5 inch blade each day. A 3.5 inch blade is great for food prep and for the other (dirtier or multiplier) tasks, a SAK is the right tool to do the job. I won´t use a GEC or CASE as a screwdriver or whatever. Even a Classic features that item. But pliers or files or whatever more special needs the right tools.

znapschatz: I know what you mean, but not just because of the tools and weight also comes in mind. I don´t need magnifier glasses and a fishtool everyday - didn´t need the fishtool ever - so sometimes when I can downsize it, I downsize it. The Craftsman is great, as well as the Swisschamp but each on its own "league". ;)
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Andi, might look at the Marlboro Troubleshooter...lots of utility in a 5 layer pkg (1 less than the Craftsman)!

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Troubleshooter

I have one in my collection and it's pretty neat.
MarlyTroubleshooter2_zpsdb5e02f2.jpg
 
Long time Victorinox fan. For me it begins and ends with the Tinker. Best combo of size and tools IMO. Has the philips screwdriver in place of the corkscrew and no silly tools. If they would make a Tinker with a saw it would be the end all for sure.

I had bigger SAK's, especially in my Boy Scout days, but I found when they got to a certain size they became less comfortable and balanced to use as a knife.
 
I always carry a SwissChamp on my belt, and a MiniChamp also in the belt when I'm using a dress suit.
 
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