Tools on SAK's that you do not like

[glassjaw]

The only one I typically never use is the reamer on the tinker

 

[blee]

What's a roach clip? Maybe that's something specific to you guys up North.

Roach = "the butt of a marijuana cigarette". The cigarette is smoke until there's not enough to hold with fingers, so some type of tweezer is used for the last bit.

 

[knarfeng]

Standard parlance in San Francisco. Not so much in the Navy. Ed was a 20-year man if memory serves.

 

[SAK Guy]

Roach = "the butt of a marijuana cigarette". The cigarette is smoke until there's not enough to hold with fingers, so some type of tweezer is used for the last bit.

I have an old TSA seized Swiss Champ that came complete with heat discolored tips on the tweezers.

 

[Alnamvet68]

I have an old TSA seized Swiss Champ that came complete with heat discolored tips on the tweezers.

That heat discolored tweezer is the same color what one finds on the fingers of those who smoke that nasty %&*#.

 

[SAK Guy]

That heat discolored tweezer is the same color what one finds on the fingers of those who smoke that nasty %&*#.

I'm golden!

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Standard parlance in San Francisco. Not so much in the Navy. Ed was a 20-year man if memory serves.

Not sure a sailor gets a pass on that, just for being a sailor.

I was in the Navy from '81-'87, as an electronics technician. We commonly used 'alligator clips' as part of our standard electronics troubleshooting gear (on test leads for multimeters and other test equipment, also as heat sinks for soldering). I think about half the guys I worked with, and went to tech school with, referred to them as 'roach clips' (and I'm sure, knowing what that implied). I was only in for six years, but it didn't take long to wise up to what they were referring to. Could even be risky getting noticed in possession of such things, off-duty, as it might result in being 'randomly selected' for urinalysis testing. Our superiors, being '20-year men' themselves, often warned us about these things.


David

 

[Arredondo]

Around home I like the Phillips head ILO the corkscrew; however on a trip I always bring one with a corkscrew. Never found a use for the hook but I'll keep in mind that comment on knots.

Tom

 

[Woodrow F Call]

I find them all useful to be honest. There are only two that I might not care for.

1. Corkscrews mess up the aesthetics of the knife..... but I occasionally like a bottle of wine.
2. The wire stripper could be a little better, but it's okay.

Love the tooth pick, tweezers, scissors..... and everything else.

 

[Modoc ED]

Actually, I do know what a roach clip is. It's hard not to know these days after having kids and grandkids and watching TV for more than thirty minutes. Besides, I used to laugh like heck at Cheech and Chong in their heyday. Personally, I've never used or tried marijuana. I just wanted to see/know how many of you guys would fess up to being "wacky-tabacy" fans/followers.

 

[flarp]

The least-used tool on SAKs for me is the hook. I used to carry around a Super Tinker regularly. Now, it's a Yeoman.

 

[scattershot]

Most of you guys don't like the corkscrew, but I have actually used it a time or two to open a bottle of wine, but I find it especially useful to store that little eyeglass screwdriver. About the only tool that I have no use for is the scaler on the fisherman.

 

[Lemmy Caution]

Oddly enough, I frequently use most of the tools which have been listed as unwanted.
I use the corkscrew for opening an occasional bottle.
I use the scissors for all sorts of snipping issues.
The toothpick. I carry a Vic Classic with me at all times, just so I have access to it.
I use the nail file as a metal file to remove sharp corners on things. It works.

Which is all to say, it's all a matter of preference and YMMV.
Fortunately there are so many SAK models that you can pretty much get whatever tools you want.

I found another good use for the corkscrew. You can wind it into a tight knot and loosen it up. Also fits the eyeglass screwdriver.

 

[JR1]

I found another good use for the corkscrew. You can wind it into a tight knot and loosen it up. Also fits the eyeglass screwdriver.

i also use the corkscrew to untangle knots. i use the scissors, pliers and cap lifter a lot.

i haven't found a use for the fish descaler and the hook yet.

 

[ljusmc]

I have never had a use for the corkscrew or scissors on a SAK. I do not like these tools and I try to avoid a SAK containing them. These tools seem as useless as teats on a bull to me.

I use the scissors all the time, but I never use an awl or a hook or a corkscrew, and likewise I tend to avoid SAK's that contain those tools.

 

[fatcorgi]

I always have to have a manager on my keyring, because I can't live without the scissors, this frees me up to carry whatever traditional knife I like in the watch pocket. I like all the tools on the various SAKs, the corkscrew is useful for lots of things, undoing knots, drilling into a tree to create a hook, the package hook is useful for pulling a jammed oily bike chain. I think the only thing that lets SAKs down is the cellidor, it is not very durable and the scales inevitably come loose.

 

[pinnah]

The blade.

.
.
.


I get the old "sharpen it on a river rock" thing, but really, a few more points higher on the Rc scale would transform these knives, atmo.


In terms of tools, I strongly dislike the mid mounted Phillips heads. I actually carry a ratcheting t-handle screw driver in my XC ski wax kit for doing binding repairs in the field which require a lot of down force, so I under the basics of a t-handle driver. But this is lost when the blade is a slip joint and really, the blade is too short to put to real use for my big hands. And for normal use, I find an end mounted position much more useful.

I don't use can openers on campers for anything. I've been known to hack them off even.

I prefer cap lifted beverages to cork screw beverages with just about any meal.

I'm with OWE on the plastic scales and the toothpick. I actually consider the propensity of the toothpicks to fall out and get lost a feature, not a bug.

The scissors are wonderfully precise, albeit very frail and too small for my taste. Out of the box, they are much more precise than the Leatherman Micra scissors. I do a fair bit of sewing to repair gear and like scissor that will snip thread easily. The Micra's often have enough slop in them that they will fold the thread between the blades. Never ever had this problem with the Victorinox scissors. But, if you are willing to tune the scissors on the Micra a bit for my use they leave the Vic scissors in the dust. I keep my Micra scissors sharp and can push cut through a full length of wrapping paper easily. I just never could do that with the teeny Vic scissors. Moderately size zip ties go bye-bye with authority with the Micra scissors. I've even cut flashing with them. The Victorinox scissors are better for trimming nose and ear hair though which may be a consideration for some (ahem).

 

[Charlie Fox]

Fish scaler/hook disgorger😐

 

[Chris Larrikin]

For me it's mostly the toothpick as well. Not only is it too flimsy I think it's probably also a little unhygienic to just stick it back into it's little dark recess after a quick wipe down. I haven't used the corkscrew to open a bottle yet (the whole screw top wine bottle thing started here) but I guess I'd like to think I will one day and it sees some use doing random poking work. I haven't had any use for the hook at all and I doubt that I will; I think it's poorly positioned opening to the middle of the knife not one end. I use the scissors all the time to trim the beard (which is why my avatar pic looks so dapper).

 

[Halfneck]

Actually used my toothpick a few times - never would on one I bought used.

I use my corkscrew to hold the eyeglass screwdriver, other than that not a big wine drinker.

The hook - don't have any use for it.