What is the best SAK in the smallest package?

Quarter Tank

Quarter Tank

Joined
Dec 30, 2010
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I've ever been into the Swiss Army Knives but recently I have found them very appealing

they offer a good bit of features for a small size.

is the Alox Farmer the most bang for the buck?
 
Quarter Tank said:
is the Alox Farmer the most bang for the buck?
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Thats very subjective. For some, the Classic on a keychain is da bomb. Others like an Explorer Plus riding in the bottom of their pocket. The Alox flavors have their appeal as well, being thin but very well constructed and with a certain aesthetic appeal not found in plastic. I have been preferring the Farmer and Cadet recently, each of which complements my Leatherman Kick. But you are right, the Farmer is a favorite among SAKophiles. It really depends on if you want the thin construction of Alox, which loses the tweezer and toothpic, or something like a 4-layer SAK that gives you everything from a real 3D phillips to a magnifier.

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Farmer.

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Cadet.
 
If you want something good in small package id go for the Midnite manager with white LED.
 
the old alox soldier is my favorite, as for the small ones, i enjoy using my rambler everyday.
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farmer
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rambler
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yeah, also the regular red minichamp is a 'beast' of a knife :D
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next to the farmer
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i have to get me some day one of the alox minichamps too, as they look magnificent.
 
I really like the Waiter; really thin and light package...more for an urban environment though. For the woods, my ideal streamlined package would be a Farmer with scissors instead of the bottle/can opener layer.
 
I like the Alox Pioneer range a lot. They are at the same time thinner (due to the slimmer scales) with the knife blade being twice as thick as a regular SAK. This makes it a surprisingly sturdy knife. If you need a saw - which works amazingly well - go for the Alox Farmer, if not go for the Alox Soldier.

Additionally what I like about the Alox versions is the lack of tools in the back. Makes it much smoother to hold, allowing for finer whittling. Because of this, the uniquely shaped reamer, is positioned at the end of the tool, as opposed to the middle (which I don't like). This allows you to use the reamer in a knife fashion, again more precise.

Because I used the Farmer so much, and so intensely, I got scared I may break it, and I bought the 111mm Soldier '08, with the excellent dual density OD scales. It has the same tools as the Farmer, plus a Phillips screwdriver. Each blade / tool is slightly bigger and even sturdier, however the reamer is positioned at the back, making its use a little more dangerous for my taste. Nevertheless, it allows me to offload the Farmer a bit, yet it's the Farmer I really like.

The trouble is, after the Farmer, which one do you buy... you got the very best one already... I got a whole collection, but no other SAK has surprised me as pleasantly as the Farmer. The Alox Pioneer range is very different from your regular red scaled SAKS... find a good deal and buy yourself one, you won't regret it.
 
Another vote for the Mini Champ, I carry one on the keyring with my motorcycle key, a handy little BIG knife, also gotta get me an Alox version, that was sweet.
 
defaultuser said:
I really like the Waiter; really thin and light package...more for an urban environment though. For the woods, my ideal streamlined package would be a Farmer with scissors instead of the bottle/can opener layer.
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+1 on the Waiter.

The Waiter has a screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew, toothpick, tweezers and a nicely sized spear point blade.

I never leave the house without mine, and I have a brand new one in my "top drawer" just in case I ever break or lose the one I have been carrying for years.

I do have an Alox Farmer, and it is a great knife, but it is noticeably heavier in pocket, you never notice the Waiter as it is light and slim.

The Farmer does have a saw, but like defaultuser said, the Farmer is more for the woods and camping etc, whereas the Waiter is better equipped for the kinds of survival needs you would encounter when out on the town with a young lovely.

best regards -

mqqn
 
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+1 for the Compact. I think it has the most features for its size. It's only 2 layers, it's one of the very few models with combo tool (flat screwdriver / bottle opener / can opener / wire bender), and it comes with "Plus" scales (adds pen, pin, and micro screwdriver for the corkscrew).
 
Sep said:
+1 for the Compact. I think it has the most features for its size. It's only 2 layers, it's one of the very few models with combo tool (flat screwdriver / bottle opener / can opener / wire bender), and it comes with "Plus" scales (adds pen, pin, and micro screwdriver for the corkscrew).
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Although I EDC a Super Tinker, what Sep said. :thumbup:
 
The Alox Soldier is a great little knife unless you want the tweezers and tooth pick which I do. Hence I like the Tinker more.
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the alox harvester. It's essentially the same as a farmer. Except it has a little pruning blade instead of the can opener. I realize the can opener can come in handy with it's flax head screwdriver. But for the woods, I like having an extra blade I can abuse instead of the main blade. That way the main blade stays sharper longer.
 
Like all "best SAK" questions, it comes down to the tools you need and the size you're willing to to carry. When I want compact with the most tools, I like the Rambler. I like the in line Philips and nail file/driver, although I really prefer a larger blade...

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Next would be the Cadet...

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Compared to SAK's like the Tinker, Explorer, Camper, etc, I think the 93mm alox is compact. The Pioneer or Soldier feels compact for the tools offered...

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DrivebyTrucker said:
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the alox harvester. It's essentially the same as a farmer. Except it has a little pruning blade instead of the can opener. I realize the can opener can come in handy with it's flax head screwdriver. But for the woods, I like having an extra blade I can abuse instead of the main blade. That way the main blade stays sharper longer.
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I've considered mentioning this one as well but figured I wouldn't complicate matters that much. Still the Harvester is indeed an even better choice than the Farmer because of the pruning blade. Excellent for carving a wooden spoon by the way...
 
How come my Mini-Champ is different, it has all the same tools but in a different configuration also it doesn't have that Phillips/Cap lifter like the ones shown here.
 
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