whats a good everyday sak

P

platinummatt

Joined
Aug 31, 2004
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143
something for normal tasks, just things that might pop up during the say. Bottle opener, can opener the usual things.... and how much? Thankyou
 
I go with either a soldier or a tinker.

The soldier is compact, two layers to fit in a pocket well, tough as nails, and has the usual minimmum tools to have alot of versitility.

The tinker is as compact as the soldier, has a touch more versitility because of a few more usefull every day tools, (extra knife blade, phillips screw driver, tweezers for splinters, and a key ring for lanyard attachment.)
 
If you like the Spartan, Target sells them packaged with a Classic for 20$ total. Nice deal. Otherwise I'll second the Soldier mention, it's a great knife. Bantams are nice too, they have the bottle opener but no can opener.
 
I like the alox electrician. I like having a small blade.

Currently, I'm carrying a red alox pioneer rancher. Nice two layer and that red alox is good looking.

:)
 
It depends how big you want to go. It sounds like the SwissChamp is overkill for your needs? - 4 layer 91mm is the max for me when it comes to pocket size.

From the tools (corkscrew, can opener etc) you requre here as some of my favourites:

Waiter (1 layer 84mm)

Sportsman (2 layer 84mm)

Tourist (2 layer 84mm)

Compact (2 layer 91mm)

Climber (3 layer 91mm)

Explorer Plus (4 layer 91mm)

My absoute favourite is the original Yeoman, but that is no longer being made.
 
Alox soldier or Alox Pioneer. The difference is the Pioneer has the splitring.
 
I second the Compact Knife. Everything you need in an EDC SAK. The pin, pen, and mini screw driver beat alot of other SAK of comparitive size.
 
All the above are excellent suggestions. I would add that a possible deciding factor is whether you want to carry it on your person or in a bag. For bag carry, either an explorer or huntsman would work well for most tasks you may encounter. If you want pliers, go with a multitool.

For every day carry or EDC, the one to two layer models are my limit for comfortable pocket carry. Some people can do 3 or more layers, or use a belt pouch. The soldier is one of the standards (or maybe THE standard or archetype); the alox scales are sturdy and don't marr easily if you're into aesthetics. What you trade for in alox's compactness and toughness is weight. I like the Waiter for how light and compact it is, however, I find the blade rather thin (of course better than a classic) so I don't know how well it would stand up to heavier tasks. So models I suggest are: soldier/pioneer, Waiter or Tourist (easily carried in pockets, especially for waiter as it is one layer only), or Spartan/Tinker/Scientist (Scientist is discontinued and somewhat rare to find). Good luck!
 
For EDC at work its either an Executive (the orange peeler is also good for
peeling oranges!) with its long straight screwdriver that does slotted and phillips. The main blade has a thick backbone and a classic like second blade for dirty jobs. The scissors are more useful than the classic scissors because they're bigger.

When I need more knife, its the small (84mm) Tinker. I have lots of the 91mm and they great, but not in the pocket IMHO. I read somewhere that the 91mm was meant, by Victorinox, for a tool box or glove compartment and that the 84mm was meant for pocket carry.
 
You may also take a look at the alox Cadet. A very flat knife and very comfortable for pocket carry in my opinion.

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Sonny Burnett said:
You may also take a look at the alox Cadet. A very flat knife and very comfortable for pocket carry in my opinion.
Click to expand...


platinummatt had specified a corkscrew which all the ones listed has.

If going for a small alox model then I personally would choose the Bantam alox - nearly all the function of a Cadet in a very slim single layer.
 
If you would like to use a corkscrew, get a Spartan. Or, if you want a Phillips, get a Tinker. Otherwise their (Spartan or Tinker) the same.
 
mp510 said:
If you would like to use a corkscrew, get a Spartan. Or, if you want a Phillips, get a Tinker. Otherwise their (Spartan or Tinker) the same.
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I have issues with a back mounted T-angled Philips that you find on a Tinker and other SAKs; awkward to use a best IMO. If I need a Philips I want an in line one such as is found on the Explorer or Spartan Lite ( I also have the no longer produced Yeoman and Scientist which also have a Philips). I have noticed that the Philips on the Spartan Lite (paired with the light) is slightly shorter than the standard ones that are paired with the magnifying glass.

Of course the tip of the can opener can be used as a Philips, although it is not the best because it cannot access recessed screws. Also the tip of a combo tool can be used as a Philips in a pinch.
 
gatch said:
I have issues with a back mounted T-angled Philips that you find on a Tinker and other SAKs; awkward to use a best IMO.
. . .snip snip snip. . . .
Of course the tip of the can opener can be used as a Philips, although it is not the best because it cannot access recessed screws. Also the tip of a combo tool can be used as a Philips in a pinch.
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you feel like. But I've had my small tinker for so long now and have used it now in so many places that I never would have guessed it would've fit that I have a lot of confidence in it. Here's the deal. I only need it to loosen a stubborn phillips, just loosen it. Then I turn to the can opener tip and it works like a champ everytime. BUT! I need to mention that I no longer have a can opener on my tinker. Because I used a dremmel tool and chucked the knife in a vise and easily reshaped the can opener. I removed all the can opener shape and just left myself with a really really good screwdriver that works on slotted and phillips AND that gets down inside of recessed areas! I don't even look to see if I"m working on a slotted or phillips screw because this thing works so well on either!
 
okBookGuy said:
I only need it to loosen a stubborn phillips, just loosen it. Then I turn to the can opener tip and it works like a champ everytime.
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I actually find that the tip of the can opener loosens subborn Philips screws better than Philips screwdrivers, especially if the slots are worn.


okBookGuy said:
BUT! I need to mention that I no longer have a can opener on my tinker. Because I used a dremmel tool and chucked the knife in a vise and easily reshaped the can opener. I removed all the can opener shape and just left myself with a really really good screwdriver that works on slotted and phillips AND that gets down inside of recessed areas! I don't even look to see if I"m working on a slotted or phillips screw because this thing works so well on either!
Click to expand...

I am loath to lose any functionaliy of a tool on my SAK and would not take such drastic action myself, although I have heard if others doing what you have done.
 
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