What SAK tools do you think should be dropped?

M

MacTech

Joined
Jan 7, 2006
Messages
611
I know, i know, there's a SAK for everyone, and everyone has a different tool set requirement, that said, what tools do *you* see as useless and wonder why they're still used?

for me, it's the mini LED flashlight Victorinox puts in their "Lite" series of full size SAK's, it's a pathetic white 3MM LED, puts out almost *no* usable light, and uses odd sized button cell batteries, to make matters worse, the switch for the LED is hypersensitive, many times i've pulled the Spartan Lite out of my pocket to find the LED lit and eating battery power.....

for some reason, i really started to *hate* the Spartan Lite, the flashlight was craptacular, the phillips head screwdriver had a *gritty* feel when it was opened, for some reason i never warmed up to it, so i traded it for store credit towards my SwissTool....

as i got to thinking, there were other implements i saw no purpose for, for example, the package hook, although....come to think of it, a pair of SAK's with package hooks might be just the thing for tossing hay bales into the hay barn....
okay, the hook stays, provisionally
fish scaler and hook disgorger, well, i *do* fish, but am strictly a catch-and-release angler, the disgorger can stay, but the scaler....nope, don't see any use for it myself
file, never used it, can't see why i would, goodbye....
corkscrew...nope, i never drink.......wine, so no use for that, i don't wear glasses, so i don't need the minidriver either, goodbye corkscrew.....

what tools do you see as pointless, i nominate the LED flashlight, it's beyond useless....
 
I agree on the LED light. There is a lot of room for improvement there. Anyone have a good source for the batteries? i have a Hunstman light. I often pull it out of my pocket to find the light on.
 
There have been several/many mentions in this forum of desires for Victorinox to have a "Build Your Own SAK" custom shop, where users and consumers have the capability to put together SAKs with only those implements that they want and/or use. Personally, I think that would be a terrific addition to Victorinox, however, how much would a one-off SAK cost, versus the mass-production models...?
---------------------
I have one SAK with an LED light, a Signature II Ruby Lite. It's a 2.25" model with a red LED and a ball point pen instead of the tweezers and toothpick. A red LED is probably an even more useless LED than the white LED, but, it's come in handy. The light-switch isn't all that easily pressed, in my opinion, and I haven't, as yet, needed to try replacing the battery.

I'm happy with it, even though it doesn't get everyday use.

GeoThorn
 
One more vote to redesign the light. I ended up getting rid of my Huntsman Lite because I couldn't keep the darn thing off! If they would incorporate a red of white led into the handle, a'la the Midnight Manager, they would have a winner!
 
I think that's the ticket, if they *insist* on putting an LED in the knife, put it in the scale and have the logo as the momentary switch....

the Victorinox knives that have the light integrated well are their keychain knives (Midnite Manager, Signature Lite, etc....), i have a Signature Lite, and have no problem with it's 3MM red LED, that LED isn't made to be a "walkin' around" light, it's there to find keyholes in the dark or sign credit card recipts in dim resturants and such.....

those knives have the light integrated well into the knife design, it's not an afterthought like the toolbay light
 
I think that the parcel hook might work great for tightening shoe, boot, or ice skate laces, if not for carrying string-tied parcels. I've also heard that some Boy Scouts use their parcel hooks for gutting birds, but, I've only heard it, third-hand, never having seen it demonstrated.

GeoThorn
 
I use the hook as a coat hanger: Many's the time I've gone to use a men's room stall and some clever dick has pulled off the hook, leaving a gaping hole. The parcel hook fits into that hole--instant coat hanger.
 
I like the coat hanger idea! I just used my hook today to get out a knot on my shop apron string. It's great for that!
 
Hey berzerker, thanks for the coat hanger tip! I personally would not miss the corkscrew on most models. I'm a big wine drinker but even when I bring wine camping I throw a real corkscrew in the kitchen kit.
 
berzerker said:
I use the hook as a coat hanger: Many's the time I've gone to use a men's room stall and some clever dick has pulled off the hook, leaving a gaping hole. The parcel hook fits into that hole--instant coat hanger.
Click to expand...

Excellent idea! I'm stealing it....MUAHAHAHAHA:p
 
I found the corkscrew usefull for both it's intended purposes of removing the occasional cork and holding the little screwdriver. But I also used it for other things like picking o-rings out of slots. It's an implement I miss now that I've gone from a SAK to a pocket tool for EDC.
 
Nail files. Maybe it's because I care a lot less about appearances and such than most people, but whenever I trim my nails I just use my fingers. I just make a cut on the side of the nail with a thumbnail and pull the rest off, works just fine. I use a cut off nail to clean the rest of them if they ever need it. I've never used a nail file of any sort on a pocket knife I own.

I never found toothpicks useful either. If I do get stuff stuck in my teeth, which is rare in itself, I just let it come out itself. By the time I brush my teeth the next time that day it's already come out.
 
I think about the perfect SAK is either the Victorinox Huntsman or the Victorinox Ranger. I however NEVER use the parcel hook on the bottom. I also prefer the awl that comes on the Alox models but I'm not sure if it is as strong as the ones on the cellidor handled models.

I also don't like the LED. I think it's a waste.

I also think that the phillips screwdriver on the bottom in place of the corkscrew is horrible. It's not easy to use in that place. The better screwdriver is on the top like the one on the Explorer. I do like the cork screw to carry the mini-screwdriver.

I would like to have a Victorinox Huntsman but instead of having the hook on the bottom have a long nail file like on the European Climber. That would be great. :D
 
Vivi said:
Nail files. Maybe it's because I care a lot less about appearances and such than most people, but whenever I trim my nails I just use my fingers. I just make a cut on the side of the nail with a thumbnail and pull the rest off, works just fine. I use a cut off nail to clean the rest of them if they ever need it. I've never used a nail file of any sort on a pocket knife I own.

I never found toothpicks useful either. If I do get stuff stuck in my teeth, which is rare in itself, I just let it come out itself. By the time I brush my teeth the next time that day it's already come out.
Click to expand...

Wow, That's insane man. In about 20 years you're teeth will fall out. I'm sure your nails are really scratchy which will not help with caressing women.

At least clip your nails man. But hey.....whatever blows your dress up I guess...
 
Welcome to BladeForums, GRUNT-1991!

That sounds like another good use for the Victorinox parcel hook!

I think that a part of the "problem" with Victorinox SAKs having some tools and implements that we would 'like to drop' is because we aren't using them to their full capabilities. I think that if we didn't have gloves or a multi-tool's pliers with which to grab that boiling pot from the campfire, we might think to use the Vic parcel hook to grab it. It sure beats the alternative, burning your fingers!

GeoThorn
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top