What is your favorite SAK?

J

jsg71

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Sep 17, 2013
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The title says it all. I'm going to see what all fuss is about and would like some direction from the knowledge here about which one I should start with.
 
It depends on what you want it for.
For keyring use, I would get a Classic or an Ambassador (same as the Classic, just a bit longer). In my personal opinion, no other SAK beats the Classic in terms of usefulness/package ratio.
If you're willing to get a bigger one, I guess a Cadet or Tinker would be a nice starting point.

Fausto
:cool:
 
The classic is great for a keychain, but my favorite regular sized version is the tinker. Both types of screwdrivers, bottle openers, awl, and two blades give it all the tools I would need in a package that is not too large.
 
Alox Soldier, it has all the tools I need in a slim profile.

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I have to agree with Fausto here. To me, and my own life style, the 58mm SAK's are the most used. Life in modern suburbia means lots of little jobs for a pocket knife. I've lost count of all the things I've fixed with my little classic. The SD tip on the nail file is a perfect shape to deal with number 2 phillips screws that seem to hold everything together these days. I've worked on a Vespa motor scooter with my classic, as well as Smith and Wesson revolvers, a Briggs and Stratton powered lawnmower, light switches, clothes drier, electric trolling motor, and a lot more. The scissors are great, and the little knife blade cuts twine, plastic blister packaging, and foil seals inside the cap of windshield washer bottles very well. The tweezers have been used to pull small splinters out of me, and a throne or two out my welsh corgi's paw. Even the toothpick has been used for non dental matters. It's fine enough to untangle my better halves gold necklace chains without damaging anything, and you can unlock most police handcuffs with the either the tweezers or toothpick. Just a useful tidbit of info, if you had to.

The classic is small enough to get into federal buildings here in Washington D.C., and the 58mm line of SAK's go onto the Amtrack trains with no problems. They are U.K> legal, and are good for most places with restrictive knife laws. The biggest problem with the classic and the other 58mm's is, they are so small, people tend to under estimate them. They are far more capable in real world use than you would think.

A classic is a good place to start, as it's cheap to buy, small enough to go on a keyring, and if you don't like it, just gift it off to somebody who has no knife. I've gifted many classics, and in a lot of cases, it serves as a gateway drug, leading the gif tee onto more SAK purchases. One thing about SAK's; their tools really work at their intended tsp, and the quality is great. The saw on the Vic farmer is capable of real wood cutting in the boonies, and so the farmer is popular with those who are into bushcraft. You just need to review what tools do you really need/use in your everyday life, and pick a SAK that is reflective of that.
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I like the small Tinker. A little shorter than the regular Tinker, and has everything I need.
 
My most carried/used SAK has been the Spartan.

Big enough to get most jobs done around the house or in the field.
 
The SAK I EDC every single day is a black Victorinox Executive. I like it more than the Classic and its same-sized models; the Exec's size and variety are more comfortable to me. I've even found use for the orange peeler aside from orange peeling. This model doesn't seem to get much love on the forums, though.

Other SAKs I like the most include the Alox Soldier/Pioneer, and I've recently become re-interested in the Spartan. I used to carry an old Spartan for years as my only knife. I recently bought a new one and added a small eyeglass screwdriver into the corkscrew.

But since I EDC a Vic Spirit multi-tool on my belt most of the time, I don't always carry other SAKs besides my Execitive, though I often also carry the Spartan, too.

Jim
 
I would highly suggest the Cadet or the Pioneer (or Farmer if you need a saw) depending on if you're going to carry just the SAK or something with it. I've been carrying just a Pioneer for a week or so and really love it. I also have a Cadet to throw in with my keys when I carry a non-SAK as my main knife.

The Alox models are really great feeling, slim, and just feel much higher quality than their $30 price would suggest. I'be also had a Tinker in my work bag for many years and it's a great and useful knife to have around, but it's never made me want to carry it...just don't love the traditional plastic handles very much.
 
My all-around favorite is the Alox Pioneer. Not too big, nor too small, good combo of tools for my usual needs.

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Though I've been thinking of pickup an Alox Farmer lately...;)
 
+1 The only ones I have are the Alox Saks. Pioneers,Cadets and Farmers. Add the alox Bantam to that.
 
On my key chain I carry an alox Rambler which has a very useful set of tools, bottle opener, Phillips and flat screwdriver, scissors, blade, and nail file. The next SAK that gets the most pocket time is a Cadet and just behind that is a Pioneer. Good luck with yours! :)
 
Smithhammer said:
Though I've been thinking of pickup an Alox Farmer lately...;)
Click to expand...

Do it! I just picked this up recently and it's great

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That said, I have a Fisherman, Traveler, Farmer and a few Bantams...I really like the simplicity, lightweight and small profile in the pocket of the Bantam. I'd really like to see the alox Bantam make a come back.
 
The picture of the black pioneer,pushed me over the edge.I just ordered a back up for my back up.Pioneers are great knives.
 
Alox Cadet. I also have an Alox Electrician for when I need something a little bigger, but the Cadet is my primary knife these days.
 
The alox Cadet has recently skyrocketed in popularity and I understand that it offers a lot of bang for the buck and size. However I prefer models with the combo tool in order to shave off some thickness from the regular arrangement of can opened and cap lifter on one layer. Because of this I have models like the Bantam (alox and cell), the GAK, and the Compact (which I believe to be the finest SAK out there except for the antiquated parcel hook.) That doesn't stop me from accumulating classic versions like the Pioneer and Farmer, but those don't see as much use.

In day-to-day life, though, my most used and appreciated models are the wee keychain versions (surprising nobody.) I had an alox SD Classic that I recently swapped out in favor of an alox Minichamp. This little beast does everything and more...I have used the miniscule Philipps to put together Ikea furniture, lift many a cap, peel many an orange, push back many a cuticle...and it keeps on ticking. What a great little tool.
 
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