What Tool(s) Do You Use the Most On Your SAK?

When I posted the French Army Knife, I neglected to notice the white flag. When it was called to my attention, I tried to take it down. No luck. I asked for help. No luck. I am here to say that I do not question the bravery of the French or the French Army. I got the image from the MEME Thread, so the white flag is probably flying there also.
 
Vic Alox Cadet is my daily carry. Pictured here along with a Case Small Texas Jack, which was a combo I carried for about half of last year.



Probably because I do carry another knife with it most of the time, the main blade is not used as much as one would think. But I do get good use out of the nail file tool. Not only do I use it for the intended purpose of fingernail care, but the tapered and pointed (but not sharp) tip makes a useful tool for any number of things including subbing for a Phillips screwdriver in some cases.

When it's the only knife on me, then the main blade is probably more frequently used. I don't really drink a lot of bottled beers, and when I do it's either at home where I have a bottle opener or out at a restaurant and they tend to open them for you. So I've used the bottle opener maybe a half dozen times in the past couple of years. I've used the large flat-blade screwdriver part of that tool more often.

I don't recall ever needing the can-opener for anything.
 
I use the large flathead so much that I'd still carry my SAK without the blades, or any other tools. I also use the can opener as a Philips driver fairly often.
 
At work, I mostly just carry a classic. Use the main blade for things like packages. The file/ driver makes a nice pryer for stubborn staples. Scissors are helpful for occasional loose strings or hairs, etc.

Around town, I carry the pioneer lately. Used to be the tinker or super tinkers (both pluses.) In any event, main blades and flat driver are most used, again, the driver for light prying, tinkering. I like having a spare pen, but they're usually everywhere so I don't think I've really needed the knife's in the last few years. Caplifters and can openers see occasional use.

If I'm doing stuff outside or the yard, Ill grab one that has a saw, but really only need it on pruning trees, bushes.

I like using the file on my champ to finish off the obtrusive key rings on other SAKs. :)
 
I carry a Tinker Swiss Army Knife and i use the blades a lot followed by the screwdrivers.
 
Second to the knife blade the most used is likely the flat phillips driver. It seems like the flat screw is used for very little on anything these days, but everything I run into is held together by small phillips screws. The small driver on my SAK and both of my Leathermans are used all the time.

15892706293_0aabd4d291_c.jpg
 
Pioneer - can and bottle opener layer sees the most use:
-undoing knots
-light prying and philips driver
-med prying and flat driver
-scraping
-opening beer bottles and tuna cans
-cleaning nails

awl and blade not far behind
 
The scissors on my Super Tinker get the most use without a doubt followed by the large blade. The tweezers get third and the can opener gets fourth place. I have been carrying the P-38 as done by Jackknife and it has taken over can opening duties.:thumbup:​
 
Just received my Victorinox classic SD - stay glow
I mainly used the nail file & scissors
 
Every morning and every evening, the main blade on my GAK/Trekker cuts the baling twine on a bale of hay. Almost every evening with dinner the bottle opener lifts a cap on a Colorado brew. Most days some screw needs tightening around the barn or garage, and it seems it's always a Phillips, which is the one on the back of the knife, next to the awl. As Victorinox counts the key ring as one of the tools in their descriptions, that's probably the most used tool, though. My GAK/Trekker now hangs from a leather thong with a toggle clip from a belt loop, tucked in my pocket.

Zieg
 
I have an electrician. The awl gets used opening boxes every day at work. It works great because it cuts the tape with out going too deep into the box which protects the contents. On some projects that require a hole I also use the awl to drill with. It's also a good pokey thing when you need a pokey thing. :D The main blade I use just as much. From cutting banding at work to making fuzz sticks in camp. I use the bottle opener a bit too. The flat head I use to screw both flat and Philips screws. Works fine for both. The secondary blade is my scalpel/x-acto knife. I keep it razor sharp all the time for precision cuts. The cut out edge on the secondary blade is my fire steel scraper. So...I use every tool on there and I haven't felt like it's missing anything.
 
Since I became total convert to the Cadet (after 45 years of carrying other SAKs), it's the nail file for me. My fingernails get dirty a lot, so I use it for its intended purpose, but it's just a great all around probe thingy... getting bits of nuts out of shells, digging wax out of candle holders, etc. And -- like the corkscrew -- it's good for loosening and dressing knots. And, it's pretty good on small Phillips head screws. And, it's good for cutting or scoring tape on packages, and opening envelopes.

I guess the main thing I use it for is as an excuse... When I'm sitting around, I constantly get out my pocket knife to fiddle with and fondle. With the nail file, I have an excuse. Hey, nothing to see here, I'm just cleaning my nails.
 
BradGad said:
Since I became total convert to the Cadet (after 45 years of carrying other SAKs), it's the nail file for me. My fingernails get dirty a lot, so I use it for its intended purpose, but it's just a great all around probe thingy... getting bits of nuts out of shells, digging wax out of candle holders, etc. And -- like the corkscrew -- it's good for loosening and dressing knots. And, it's pretty good on small Phillips head screws. And, it's good for cutting or scoring tape on packages, and opening envelopes.

I guess the main thing I use it for is as an excuse... When I'm sitting around, I constantly get out my pocket knife to fiddle with and fondle. With the nail file, I have an excuse. Hey, nothing to see here, I'm just cleaning my nails.
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Thanks for your testimonial, Brad. I've often considered getting a Cadet (or several - the variety of colors is a real draw), but the nail file seemed so worthless to me. But your post gives me some ideas about the nail file's potential. I think there's definitely a Cadet in my future! :D:thumbup::D

- GT
 
First time ever welding, metal was very hot and couldn't find pliers around the shop so out came my SwissChamp plier and into the quenching tank.
:thumbup: went OCD when water went inside the plier pivot haha :(
Don't want my new tool to get rusty
 
Rappy said:
First time ever welding, metal was very hot and couldn't find pliers around the shop so out came my SwissChamp plier and into the quenching tank.
:thumbup: went OCD when water went inside the plier pivot haha :(
Don't want my new tool to get rusty
Click to expand...

A drop of oil or spray of WD40 will prevent that. Or, forget about it. I have never seen rust on a SAK, no matter what.
 
znapschatz said:
A drop of oil or spray of WD40 will prevent that. Or, forget about it. I have never seen rust on a SAK, no matter what.
Click to expand...

I have victorinox multi-tool oil so I dropped in some oil, these SAK are tough.. :thumbup:
 
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