Whats a Good SAK

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Gumby

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What is a good SAK for everyday all around use. There are just so many of them, its to much to handle.

maybe under $50
 
A tinker or solider would be just about perfect for EDC. The solider costs a bit more and has fewer tools, but the main blae is a tad larger and the scaler are made of alox. Either one can be found at Target or such for under $25.
 
It really depends on what you want it for. What tools do you need? Screwdrivers? Scissors? File? Saw? Pliers?

My favourite is the Explorer because it suits my needs perfectly for its size: it has he usual SAK blades and flat screwdriver can opener/bottle opener combo along with a phillips screwdriver and scissors.

dandyandy mentiones the Tinker (the Super Tinker adds scissors and the Deluxe Tinker adds the small pliers as well) but I don't like the fact that the phillips screwdriver opens out on the back of the knife in place of the corkscrew. I find it awkward to use compare to the straight opening one on the Explorer. All a matter of personal perference.

Check out the offical SAK site for all the models ( http://www.swissarmy.com ) to find the one that works for you. Don't buy from here though as they are at full retail prices and you can do much better elsewhere.
 
I'm with andy, I have a Soldier and I use it all the time. And sheeple don't usually fear it. It's a nice knife, and usually the first one I pull out.
 
well just for the all around. Kinda if I need it I will have the general tool.
 
I will suggest the tinker as a good edc. If you spend much time in the bush then the hiker or fieldmaster might be a better choice tho the fieldmaster is a bit thick for pocket carry.
 
I am SAK guy, but I do like the Leatherman Juice (I have two of them). They are Leatherman's answer to a SAK pocket knife. If you need a decent set of pliers in a pocket knife size package then this could be for you. Else I would stick with a SAK.

I wish SAK made a Juice comperable tool.

The Soldier is an excellent pocket knife, but very basic as a tool. It is what you need.
 
Hey Gumby!

I thought I'd add another $.02 standing behind the Tinker.
I've carred one for over 25 years, and I'm on my 3rd or 4th one, but I just keep buying the same knife because it works for me in general.
Nice size for the pocket with no major bulge brought on by pliers or rocket launchers.
It may not be the 'be all' of knives, but they have done a lot of work for me.
It has been said that the phillips screwdriver on it is obnoxious for sticking straight out of the back, and it can be, no doubt. However, that being said, I cannot tell you how many times I have been SOMEwhere I needed a phillips quick, and rather than go find a real screwdriver SOMEwhere in my basement, my Tinker took care of it easilly enough.
Matter of fact, I ended up with the Tinker because of the phillips on it.
There are too many 'loose screws' in the world.... :cool:
Good luck with what you decide you 'need'!

Regards,
DeadFish
 
The Soldier and Spartan are the basic models. If you prefer the phillips screwdriver to the corkscrew, then the Tinker might be more to your liking. Any of these will run under $25.

Paul
 
Keep in mind that the screwdriver tip on the can opener fits #1 and #2 phillips. With the corkscrew you can add the small eyeglass screwdriver if the model you have doesn't already come with one.

Paul
 
I love Swiss Army Knives!
And I have plenty of them in my collection (actually they're a collection in and of themselves).

Over the years I have narrowed down my favorites by category:

Small and minimal tools: Victorinox Cadet (aluminum scales).

Regular sized aluminum scales: Victorinox Pioneer Harvester.

Regular sized plastic scales: Victorinox Fieldmaster.

Large sized plastic scales: Rucksack.


My favorite overall is the Pioneer Harvester.
It has thick nearly indestructable scales like the Soldier model, and it has a terrific wood saw, and the can opener is replaced by a small pruning blade.

It's as close to perfect as I'll ever find in a production slip-joint that costs less than $50.00.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I've been enjoying my latest SAK purchase. It's the new Huntsman with a built in white LED light! It's got everything I need. If I need a magnifier, I can whip out my Swiss card. :)
 
For every day pocket carry, I highly recommend an 84mm SAK. In particular, I carry a Tourist most days (armed with the mini screwdriver of course! I have yet to be in any situation where this wasn't enough knife. The screwdriver on the can opener works quite well with Phillips-head screws which is good because, I decided long ago I'd rather be unable to tighten or loosen a Phillips-head screw than be unable to open a good bottle of wine! So, with this knife, I more or less have the best of both worlds.

In a keychain sized knife, you can't go wrong with the Rambler.
 
I'm just putting in my vote for a Soldier, followed by the Tinker. Mind you, Target doesn't sell the Soldier anymore :( replacing it on the shelf with the OH Trekker. (Not to worry, you can still find the Soldier in other places.)
I find myself flip-flopping between the Soldier and the Tinker for EDC, currently the Soldier is winning, but when it does, I have to add an Esquire for the T&T. For almost everyday use, one of these has whatever I need. That said, I do have a OH Trailmaster in my E&E kit, for it's long saw on that one day out of a hundred. (The OH Trailmaster is the same as the OH Trekker, before a legal scuffle necessitated a name change.) :rolleyes:

Matt in Texas
 
WadeF said:
I've been enjoying my latest SAK purchase. It's the new Huntsman with a built in white LED light! It's got everything I need. If I need a magnifier, I can whip out my Swiss card. :)
Click to expand...

I agree. I've been carrying the Huntsman LITE for two weeks now. The Spartan Lite can be found at target stores and is another good choice.

There are many many SAKs below 50.00, so your only hope is to:

1. look at the cybertool 41 and the swiss champ (among the thickest)
2. List all the tools found on them.
3. Decide (mark on your list) what tools you know you will use.
4. Decide what tools you might use.
5. Cross out tools you know you won't use.
6. Search online and find the models that have the tools you starred on your list.
7. Find the thinnest SAK that has the tools you decide on.

This is by no means easy, but since there are so many choices, it's a smart way to start. (The Cybertool 41 and Champ are both around 50.00 if you want to splurge, but they are too big for pocket carry IMHO).

The leatherman squirt is a good tool also, but it's very different.. the Squirt S4 has superior scissors to a SAK, and the P4 has a small pliers (which is about the same size as a SAK pliers, but with longer wire cutters). BUT the blade is practically non-existant on a small multitool like that and I'd rather have a 91mm SAK, given the choice.
 
The idea of an SAK is to have it with you at all times. This means that you don't want something too thick, too heavy, or too clumsy to carry around constantly. My limit is a knife that is two spring channels thick. For years my carry was the Tinker model. I used all of its blades to death and it was compact. About 15 years ago I moved up to a longer version with a locking blade. The Adventurer model is still only two spring channels thick, but it has a 3.25-inch locking main blade. It has all of the same blades as the tinker except it is missing a little pen knife blade. I likewise use all the tools on the Adventurer. It has very nice ergonomics as a using knife. For me the extra handle length (it is around 4-inches long when closed) is not a problem due to the way that I carry it. I keep this knife standing up along the side of my wallet in my back pocket. That way it does not cause any pocket bulges.
 
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