Thickness of SAK

A

anewguy

Joined
May 8, 2003
Messages
165
Could anyone please tell me how thick the rucksack or trailmaster is. I really like these two knives but I don’t want something that is too bulky which may result in my leaving it at home when I actually may need the tools.
Oh yeah, I couldn’t find any info on the locking mechanism, if anyone knows how the blades lock I would be very grateful for that info as well.

Dang…one more question, has anyone rigged up a good way to wear these things so that they are not just loose in your pockets (I know there are belt pouches but I was thinking more along the lines of a pocket clip type of arrangement)?

Thank you for your help!
 
Don't have either so I can't give you a measurement.
The lock is a textured grey square on the scale that moves forward as the blade opens, and locks into place. Pulling it back towards the butt releases it. Only the main blade locks, and it is also under pressure from the backspring, still being a slipjoint.
Good idea to handle or check the measurements. I had an Outrider, which was wonderful, and had the best assortment of tools I've seen (for me, anyway), but just wasn't comfortable in my hand. Had an Uncle Mike's magazine pouch that fit it well, but never came up with any other carry methods.
 
anewguy said:
…one more question, has anyone rigged up a good way to wear these things so that they are not just loose in your pockets (I know there are belt pouches but I was thinking more along the lines of a pocket clip type of arrangement)?
Click to expand...


I normally carry SAKs either on a chain (which hangs from my belt) or clipped to a belt loop with a small carabiner. Which of the two solutions I use depends more than anything else on what pants I'll be wearing. Some have the beltloops in the right position for use of a carabiner, some don't. Typically, I'll have to use the chain for dress pants and the carabiner for jeans. Anyway, the effect is the same: the SAK remains hanging at mid - pocket level, without creating unsightly and uncomfortable lumps. Eliminates the risk of losing the knife, too.
 
anewguy said:
has anyone rigged up a good way to wear these things so that they are not just loose in your pockets (I know there are belt pouches but I was thinking more along the lines of a pocket clip type of arrangement)?
Click to expand...

Here is what you want. Victorinox happens to make the best pocket knives in the world, as well as the best belt hangers.

http://www.swissarmy.com/webstore/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=3312&category=133

33548_l.jpg
 
I just measured my One-hand Trailmaster and Hunter (which should be the same as a Rucksack) and they are very close to the same thickness (.695 for the Hunter and .689 for the Trailmaster).


The Rucksack (along with the Hunter) has a sliding bar lock that blocks the blade from pushing the back spring open and the Trailmaster uses a liner lock. Both are basically slipjoints with locks added. And both locks are released from the left, so they are more convenient for lefties than right handers.





- Frank
 
the locking mechanism of the Rucksack uses a bar over the tang of the blade to stop it from closing and is unlocked by a grey colored slider on the backside - as shown in this pic of the Alpineer:
53621_l.jpg


The one-hand Trailmaster - now called the Trekker (as well as the non-one-hand Trekker) are I believe Liner-Locks.
54854_l.jpg

look at the pic of the Trekker above closely - see the metal protrusion from the handle - by the can-opener and main blade tang - that's the liner-lock.

Being 111mm or ~4.4" long personally I find they are a bit too big/long for in-pocket carry so I would use a belt pouch
33249_l.jpg


or because of the length they'll "stand" vertically in the pants pocket - so if one attaches a wrist loop/lanyard - to act as an extractor/puller and hang the line out of the pocket?

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
 
The liner lock in the Trailmaster is a steel inner liner and locks the main blade on one side and the screwdriver on the other, it is set up like a left hander lock.

I have a homemade cord belt loop with a small carabiner-like clasp, the knife has a lanyard whinch hangs from the biner so the knife is in my pocket but not loose. My loop really does the same thing as the belt loop shown by Buzzbait.
 
One of the primary ways to guesstimate the thickness of a SAK is to count the spring channels (or blade channels) in the knife. If you look at the Trailmaster you can see that it is a three channel (or three spring) width model. You see this by noting the maximum blade stack of saw+knife+canopener on one end. Each channel will add about 1/8" of thickness to the knife on top of about 5/16" of side panels and one liner not included in the above. So a quick estimate for a three spring SAK is 11/16" = .688". The 5/16" overhead is for the longer models of SAK.

I always have a somewhat thick wallet in my right back pocket. I stand up my Adventurer model SAK adjacent to my wallet parallel to the right seam of my pocket. This makes it easy to get to and eliminates bulges in my pocket. I can even get to my knife while sitting in a chair. I have to reposition the knife in the pocket any time I have dropped my pants though.
 
Thank you all for your replies. the info helped out greatly (special thanks for the pics). I think I am going to go with the trailmaster, but when I went on onestop, they had the option of a "one handed trailmaster." is this a missprint and the knife they are selling actually a trekker? I understand the similarities but I would prefer the total plain edge over that of the trekker. thanks again
 
anewguy said:
when I went on onestop, they had the option of a "one handed trailmaster." is this a missprint and the knife they are selling actually a trekker? I understand the similarities but I would prefer the total plain edge over that of the trekker. thanks again
Click to expand...

The Trailmaster has been REnamed the Trekker -
they are/were the same knife (the model #'s remain exactly the same).

There is the regular Trekker (US # 54854)
and the One-Hand Trekker (US # 54874)

The Trekker has a plain blade -
the One-Hand Trekker has a mainly serrated blade from the tip to just over 1/2 way.

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
 
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