The one layer SAK's.

[Sawl Goodman]

Sometime back I started a thread on what I thought was the most efficient SAK with the least amount of tools(or something along those lines). I talked about adding some back tools to a Lumberjack/Walker, similar to what T tiguy7 did with his custom build. My first SAK was a Small Tinker, and it has served me well. But the SAK that has really hit home for me with the least amount of tools, having the most capability is a Camper, or Hiker if you really wanted a dedicated Phillips?(Without using the can opener as one) Sometimes the Camper may be just a bit large to truly disappear in a pocket.

I too like a saw, and I don’t really use scissors that much. So in the 84mm range a really versatile SAK to me would be something like this....

This was a special run for SwissBianco, the Micro Farmer. Being Alox, it’s still really thin and disappears in the pocket. The difference between this and a Cadet is not much since the saw blade is a thinner layer. While I don’t use it much, they could put a reamer on the back side and that would add a bit of versatility to it. Make an 84mm version of the camper or hiker and you’d have a lot in a small package. Heck, a small Camper might just be the perfect SAK for me.

I love the Camper, too. I agree about the size in the pocket. The Camper is as thick as I’ll go there.

That Micro Farmer looks fantastic. Pity it’s not a standard model. I like the saw and small blade and I’m sure I’d find the little extra thickness over the Cadet would make it nicer to hold. I’ve not bothered getting a Cadet partly because I find my Voyageur too thin in use.

 

[pipedreams308]

The tools in the opener layer (i.e., can & bottle openers) are simply outstanding. I like compacts but their combo tool is not a complete replacement to the separate tools. They really handle pretty much any flathead or #2 Phillips screw out there and, as I recently found, it can even pull out Torx 25 screws if needed. Clearly it wasn't made to handle Torx screws, but with some care it undid 4 screws of a bed frame that I needed to move and for which I had forgotten to pack a Torx bit. SAK saved the day once again!

The opener layer is the best! That’s why this is the only one layer SAK for me.

 

[tiguy7]

I agree that the fulcrum leading can opener is faster and more efficient than the fulcrum trailing combination tool, but I eat so little canned food outside the home that I can put up with the combo tool. The combo tool might work better if it were sharpened.
The F/L can opener is great for removing staples. Don’t do a lot of that in the woods.

 

[Storm 8593]

Cant say as I agree here to the 84mm blade size. I recently carried my Bantam for a month straight, and found the blade to be just that little bit too short for what I wanted it to do with regards to food prep. Normally I carry a 91/93mm so may just be what I was used to. Ironically , most of the time my blade use is the small blade , but I like having the two options, which is why the Recruit spins my wheels. I am also firmly in the 2 seperate openers camp, just find the combo tool to be too much of a compromise for me .
As always YMMV and it'd be a boring world if we all thought alike

 

[jackknife]

I agree that the fulcrum leading can opener is faster and more efficient than the fulcrum trailing combination tool, but I eat so little canned food outside the home that I can put up with the combo tool. The combo tool might work better if it were sharpened.
The F/L can opener is great for removing staples. Don’t do a lot of that in the woods.

I guess I love the combo tool because it does work, and if I need a really better can opener, my old P-38 is in my wallet. I've yet to have any SAK can opener match the P-38 for opening a can. With my P-38 and Sear's 4-way keychain screw driver in my wallet, that lets me eliminate the whole layer of opening tools.

 

[tiguy7]

The P-38 type opener now comes in 2 sizes, regular and large. It also comes in 2 materials, plated steel and Titanium. The Swiss Card Lite now contains a 4-way screwdriver.

 

[jackknife]

The P-38 type opener now comes in 2 sizes, regular and large. It also comes in 2 materials, plated steel and Titanium. The Swiss Card Lite now contains a 4-way screwdriver.

I knew about the bigger P-38, called the P-51, but I didn't know it was available in titanium. That could be interesting!

I have retired my old Sear's 4-way keychain screw driver for the Victorinox Quatro. It has two Phillips bits that are way better at their job than the old flat Sear's driver. I only wish it was a tad bigger for better leverage, but on the other hand, for the small pop-up jobs its needed for, it does quite well. Its amazing what can be done with just those two items.