The mindset of choosing a SAK

I try to keep it as thin as possible while getting everything I will usually need. I prefer Alox over the plastic handles too, which makes getting exactly what you want even harder. But at $30 or less, they are great useful knives.

For me needs are:
1. Knife
2. Bottle Opener
3. Flat Screw Driver
4. Phillips Screw Driver
5. Scissors are nice but not necessary
6. Tweezers are nice but not necessary
 
I limit my normal carry to a two layer SAK. I have three layer SAKs but find they are just too thick to carry in my pocket. I dislike belt pouches for a SAK as it is just not as handy for me. Guess I'm used to reaching into my pocket for a knife. I started with a Tinker and use it for years (like 10 years). I changed to a 111mm Adventurer model as I really like the side lock and the longer blade length and have been carrying one for more than 10 years.

The other tools on this knife are things I use with the awl being only occasional in use, but it does come in handy from time to time. I want a tooth pick and tweezers with eliminates the Alox handled SAKs. I like the bottle opener for the occasional beer bottle cap, and use both the flat head and phillips screw drivers often enough to want to have them on a knife. The scissors never grabbed me as I felt they were too small.

I have a Alox Soldier, which is similar to a Tinker which I carried for a while. That was my evolutionary change from Tinker > Soldier > Adevnturer. I own other ones; One Haned Trekker (non serrated), older Electrician, Parachutist, and Dual Pro X, One handed Sentinal, Classic, One Handed Sentinal, Bantam, Spartan and maybe a few others that I am forgetting. I like the Dual Pro X a lot with both a plain edge blade and serrated, but it is too thick for me to carry in my pocket. Always wanted a Farmer, but just never got around to picking one up since I have gravitated to the 111mm size.

I got the Bantam to twin my a GEC slip joint as I still like to have the tweezers and toothpick available.

Of all those, I carry the Adventurer in my pocket daily (I have two spares.) and now I started wearing a Vic Spirt multi-tool in its leather belt pouch routinely. I find the pliers and wire cutters to come in very handy. The other tools only get occasional use and some I don't even remember being there.
 
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I own a few, what I like about what I have and what I don't like often influences the next purchase.

I really like my Rambler but I found my Minichamp a bit cluttered with stuff I don't use, it is also harder to open up the tool you do want when there are too many tools to choose from.
For work I decided that I would like on my keyring a Rambler, but I also need a pen sometimes - so I bought a Manager, it is just the ticket for my keyring!
I don't like the Midnite Manager - I'd rather have the Manager + a nice 1 x AAA flashlight.
I do really like the Ramber - super little keyring SAK and very nicely compliments some other SAKs that don't have scissors or tweezers (like the Alox models that are quite popular).

I like to have a sharp knife, scissors and a pry tool. The pry tool has other names like 'cap lifter' and 'flat screwdriver', but I name it after its primary function - pry tool. For camping the saw can be handy and for some cans a can opener can be vital. The Farmer is really nice and has very useful tools on it. I like my Victorinox Ranger for having a great tool density for its size. Another good camping SAK is the Victorinox One Handed Trekker, you get a nice big one handed opening blade that locks and a bigger saw than the smaller SAKs have plus there is the beefy locking pry tool that can be used as a cap lifter or screwdriver and the potentially useful can opener.

My Victorinox Cybertool 34 is immensely useful for urban carry, more so when I used to be a computer tech. It has really useful stuff like a couple of sharp knives, scissors, pliers and pry tool - plus the bit driver and 7 different tips for all sorts of screws commonly used in computers and gadgets.

Some people don't like the clutter of the SAKs that have a lot of tools and for them I'd suggest something like a Victorinox Climber - all the basics like knife & scissors & pry tool for a really cheap price.
Basically there are SAKs available to meet all sorts of wants & needs.
 
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