Wenger SI is the one.

[ElCuchillo]

I've been EDCing a few knives lately, giving them a test run, and have come to a conclusion. My Wenger Standard Issue is the one that suits my needs best. My CV Mini-Trapper and CV Sodbuster Jr. have not worked out for me. Carbon, CV, whatever, they rust up on me. I know, I know, they are alot more rust resistant then people give them credit for, a thick Patina will help out, a good wipe every night and some oil and it'll be fine. Well, as I've said before, maybe it's the combination of sweat from my body, as well as the fact that the knife is in a pocket that is wet most of the day, but this steel just doesn't work for me. It rusts all up. I left both knives in Vinegar all night long, had a nice, thick, black Patina on them, and they still rust up. I'll go to take the knife out and use it, and most of the blade that sticks out when closed is rusted up. I'm not questioning the cutting or edge holding ability of this steel. It just doesn't work for me. Can't keep it from rusting. I've carried my Peanuts, but they are a bit small for the use I give them at work. My SAK Recruit works good, and cuts the dickens out of anything I put in front of it, but I end up getting tons of sand in the toothpick and tweezer slots, as well as a ton of sand in the scales, which makes for one heck of a crunchy grip. I have an old eighties Boker Lewis and Clarke Carbon Stockman, but considering the results I've gotten with the CV steel, I'm hesitant to use it. My Schrade Uncle Henry is all wobbly, and I won't use a wobbly knife (don't trust the integrity of the blades). So that leaves me with my Wenger SI. Something about the SAK steel that makes it a cutter on Par with most other knives ,and it resharpens very quickly and very easily. Mine holds it's edge ALOT longer then most people here say they do. It's scales are part of the body, which means sand doesn't crunch up inside when I grab it, and although the scales are aluminum, they are very durable and haven't rusted, even after a dip in the ocean (forgot it was in my pocket). Big robust blades can take a beating, and the awl is perfect. I guess until I get me a Farmer, the SI will be THE knife in my life.

 

[db]

If you did want an alox recruit that is what a Vic. Cadet is. The Cadet is probly my favorite SAK. The Farmer is the next one on my list to get also.

 

[sixgunner455]

Nothing wrong with that! What works for you is what works for YOU, and that one seems to make a lot of sense for the environment you work in.

After Basic, when I got to AIT, I bought a Vic Tinker at the PX and carried it exclusively. It was the only knife I had! I think I paid 15 bucks for it. My household stuff caught up with me, and I added other knives to what I carried every day, but the SAK still worked, and I still carried it. It was on my belt in the desert, and got used more than the Gerber Multiplier my unit issued me.

My Case Tru-sharp blades actually seem to hold an edge longer, and they are prettier, but I do sometimes carry that Tinker. We have history.

I'm still working out how I feel about CV. I have my first-ever CV knife now, and we're still getting used to each other. I've had lots of carbon blades before, and I like them just fine, but whenever I've gone someplace hot and wet, I've carried stainless. It makes sense to use the technology when it applies best.

 

[stevekt]

There's nothing quite like finding the right tool for the job. :thumbup:

 

[pinetree]

I have several traditionals and SAK's. If I could only have one, it would be a Vic alox Pioneer. I have the Pioneer Rancher. The knife is muck more stout than my other SAKs. Atleast for the alox series, the Soldier = Pioneer + key ring = Pioneer Rancher - can opener + hook bill blade, no key ring. I got the hook bill for gardening.

 

[jackknife]

Hey ElCuchillo,

The Wenger SI is a very fine knife, no need to make exuses for that choice.

But beware the Victorinox alox models like the farmer or pioneer. I had a pioneer for a number of years, and it had one achilies heel that was a pain, literally. I don't know why they did it, but for some odd reason Victoinox did not use the same angle on the little keyring tab on the rear of the knife as on their plastic handled knives like the tinker I carry.

On the red plastic handle knives the key ring tab is canted back and pretty much out of the way. But on the pioneer and farmers, it is mounted in the knife in such a way it sticks strait up from the rear of the knife almost 90 degrees, and when you grip the knife hard for a heavy duty cut in something, like heavy rope, sharpening a make-do tent peg, the keyring tab digs right into the heel of the hand. I helped out on a move and when breaking down some cardboard boxes, it darn near wore a hole in the skin. Did leave quite a sore spot. With the Wenger SI, they use a shackle that is out of the way, and the Wenger SI is ALOT more comfortable to grip in a variety of ways than the Victorinox equivelent. I gave away my pioneer and went back to my tinker because it dug into me enough to be a nuisence.

Given a choice between the Wenger SI and the Victorinox alox models, I'd stay with the Wenger! Before you order one online, find a store that has some of the Vic alox models like a farmer, and try it out in your hand before you buy it. See if its comfortable for YOU.

 

[mp510]

Hey ElCuchillo,

The Wenger SI is a very fine knife, no need to make exuses for that choice.

But beware the Victorinox alox models like the farmer or pioneer. I had a pioneer for a number of years, and it had one achilies heel that was a pain, literally. I don't know why they did it, but for some odd reason Victoinox did not use the same angle on the little keyring tab on the rear of the knife as on their plastic handled knives like the tinker I carry.

On the red plastic handle knives the key ring tab is canted back and pretty much out of the way. But on the pioneer and farmers, it is mounted in the knife in such a way it sticks strait up from the rear of the knife almost 90 degrees, and when you grip the knife hard for a heavy duty cut in something, like heavy rope, sharpening a make-do tent peg, the keyring tab digs right into the heel of the hand. I helped out on a move and when breaking down some cardboard boxes, it darn near wore a hole in the skin. Did leave quite a sore spot. With the Wenger SI, they use a shackle that is out of the way, and the Wenger SI is ALOT more comfortable to grip in a variety of ways than the Victorinox equivelent. I gave away my pioneer and went back to my tinker because it dug into me enough to be a nuisence.

Given a choice between the Wenger SI and the Victorinox alox models, I'd stay with the Wenger! Before you order one online, find a store that has some of the Vic alox models like a farmer, and try it out in your hand before you buy it. See if its comfortable for YOU.

The other reason why I chose Wenger SI over the Vic Soldier, is that it has the lanyard bail, which can be a very convenient too for carrying it, fishing it out of pants' pockets. It is also easily emovable if the user so desires- the best of both worlds. Not doable with the Vic.

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Nothing wrong with being a SAK packin, gator wrestler. Finding the knife that fits you just right and becomes a treasured companion is one of the true pleasures of this knife thing. We can try to pick a knife or other piece of equipment for intellectual, nostalgia, or emotional reasons. But, in the end, all that logic goes out the window and the knife picks us. Enjoy the partnership.

 

[mnblade]

Something about the SAK steel that makes it a cutter on Par with most other knives ,and it resharpens very quickly and very easily. Mine holds it's edge ALOT longer then most people here say they do.

Yeah, man! I'm a huge fan of SAKs and the steel they use. They indeed do hold a pretty good edge in terms of real world use. And when they do go dull, they're very easy to get back up to screaming sharp in now time.

 

[Mick57]

Made in Switzerland=Quality. No matter what it is, the Swiss do it right & keep it that way.