Tools on sak that can double as something else

J

jec88

Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Messages
833
Just curious about some tools on a Sak that could double as something else. I always thought I would only want a model that had a phillips head rather than corkscrew, .....until I read where the small driver on the can opener will work as a phillips. That gave me more models to consider, even though I won't use the corkscrew much, I kind of like the way they look since it's kind of a trademark look.
How about the metal saw?? I really like a sak with a wood saw for when I'm out deer hunting and I have to move an occasional branch. I'm not going to be cutting down a huge tree, but an occasional branch or small sapling. I would think the metal saw would work for this????? Plus it would be nice to have to clean a battery terminal. The mountaineer is around $20 dollars cheaper, and just has a metal saw rather than a Ranger with both the woodsaw and metal saw.
Also, I kind of like a fish hook remover. Wood the multi purpose hook work almost as well as the real hook remover?
Thanks.
 
I'd break down and get the SAK Deluxe Tinker; has everything you'd want in a small package.

RIch
 
The bottle opener makes a pretty good finger nail cleaner. I never tried using the metal saw for wood but if I remember right, the teeth on the metal saw are fine and kind of shallow, so I don't think it would work. The main blade might be a better choice. I never used the fish tool for anything besides a back scratcher.
 
I like to magnitize the tools I use less often so they can serve another purpose.
 
The hook can pull tent stakes and boot laces real well. Can hang it on something and use the SAK as a coat hanger, of sorts.
Hook disgorger can be a really weird fork, or maybe an olive fork.
The back of the wood saw throws amazing sparks on a ferro rod.
Corkscrew can help untie tight shoelaces by working it into a knot. Same for the Wenger awl.
 
Can opener is the best orange peeler known to man, in addition to a Phillips screwdriver as previously mentioned. Also the tip of the spear blade makes a serviceable light duty Phillips if nothing else available.
 
Seems like the "Orange Peeler Blade" on a 58mm version like the Victorinox Mini Champ would be good for opening blister packs (once you punch through that clear plastic, the hook type blade) that seem to be so hard to get into. Seems like I remember reading about that somewhere. I have several Mini Champs, next time I buy something in a blister pack I'll have to try that out.

John
 
Every implement on a SAK has multiple uses, limited only by the mind set of its owner. That's a large part of the fun :D and good exercise for the brain, as well.
 
The nail file on the Cadet has lots of different uses: scraping, probing, light-duty prying, small phillips screws, etc. Often non-cutting tasks come up for which one might be tempted to use a small blade, but the nail file would be safer, and there is no delicate point or edge which might get damaged.
 
I use the awl on my Vic Farmer for all sorts of things, besides the obvious use, works great making holes in wood, as a scribe, it always seems up on a ladder your drill bit looses its magnet so I've used to start a hole to hold a long screw in place, I've made stuff camping with it ( start a spoon, fishing hooks, bobbers, cedar pipe ) scraping PVC , untying knots ( like a marlin spike), I've used to retro fit things like grommets, core out, make a existing hole bigger, I'm sure the list goes on and on at least for me. I will say the Swiss Army farmer ( and other similar alox models) have the best awl (IMHO). I find it saves a knife blade for its intended use. I also want to add splinter extracting and popping blisters.

The Vic Executive ( I have the Director model, same just stainless scales and no tweezers or toothpick ) the orange peeler blade/screwdriver that a lot of people don't like I find very useful, I use the throut to score wire shield, open something I don't want to cut too deep, light prying, scraping, it's essentially a serrated blade so anything fiberous it works well for, so you can keep the knife blade sharp, and it works as a bottle opener, pry around the perimeter of the cap and you are in. The tip of the nailfile can be used on small Phillips screws.
C515DFFF-2702-45BA-8433-67DDD9109395-2609-00000400FF38B811.jpg
 
the awl on the alox models (old soldier, farmer, etc) is an awesome striker for fire steels
 
The flat screwdriver can be used as a bottle opener. The knife blade can also be used as a bottle opener. The can opener can be used as a bottle opener. The nail file can be used as a bottle opener. The awl can in fact also be used as a bottle opener. Many don't know this, but the saw can actually also be used as a bottle opener. The plastic handle on the knife is unfortunately a little
awkward to use as a bottle opener, due to it's rounded edges, but IF no other tool is available, you could probably find a way to open a bottle with that one as well, using a bit of imagination.

:D
 
Pardon my pathetic attempt at humor. I actually often find use for the toothpick when handling very small jobs like thread, thin cellphone lanyards or untangling the thin gold chains of my girlfriends jewellery etc.
 
Chee! I took you seriously and set out to see how many implements actually can be used to open bottles. That's the kind of scientific experiment I can get behind. On hand was a six-pack of my favorite beverage, so I went to work. Hit a snag on #5, the saw, however. So far, I have been unable to find my hand. This will take a long time, maybe. You can't rush science.
 
There is a cap lifter at the end of the saw on the GAK (great design but a little hazardous). I just bite off the neck of the bottle. Openers are for sissies.
 
Last edited:
To me one of most useful tools is the cap lifter, which is also a flat screwdriver and often I use it as a light duty pry tool (a crowbar or claw hammer are what you should use for heavy duty prying).
The blades are useful for 1001 different tasks.
The file is useful for grinding a little plastic or wood or metal off something or as a metal saw (kinda like a hacksaw), I like to have a file on me for when I need to debur or grind something.
The awl as mentioned is useful for scrapping or making holes.

Overall the real trick is to get a SAK and carry it all the time, you will find plenty of uses for most of the tools!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top