Whats the "cham and appeal" of SAKs to you?

I went camping last weekend and I found myself constantly using my Tinker. I whittled with the large blade, struck a firesteel with the awl, dug out candle wax with the flat screwdriver, used the very well designed can opener. It's a "little" knife, but a lot of functionality is built into it. I've owned an SAK for most of my life, and only recently have I started to appreciate the quality as I collect other blades. If all you owned was an SAK, you might think all knives were made this well. I was gifted a leatherman, but it sits in my car emergency kit. The leatherman is cold, clunky and bulky. My SAK feels good in hand and joyfully rides in a pocket. It's like a trusted friend.
 
I like the Dutch/European look of it and their quality and durability. Especially the Alox ones.
Just the other day I found back my old issue Victorinox Pioneer from my mandatory army days.
Back then I wasn't into knives very much and for 14 months used the knife for things that would make me cringe now.
Scraping prying, you name it.
Sharpened the blade flat on sanding paper and even pried loose a tile in my back yard with the screwdriver blade.
And still not a hint of play:thumbup:
Sure the knife is beat up, gritty and not a pretty thing to look at, but I'm sure that with a good bath and lubing it would stand the same buse for another 14 months and beyond.
It was my only knife for quite a few years after leaving the service.
Whittled varous daggers out of wood and branches for my son when he was young (he's 15 now)
Was lost for half a year and found back by my son in my car:o
Not a spot of rust.
Heck, they even send our special forces on survival training with the very same style Pioneer.

So any Sak is just one of the best no nonsense knives you can buy:thumbup:
 
My very first SAK was a Champion that I found when I was 11. That knife started me on the path to SAK enlightenment! The utility and the elegence of these tools is unmatched, and they've stood the test of time with very few changes. Charming and appealing about sums it up!
 
SAK's are amazingly handy. You will find uses for most of the tools.

There's also a lot to be said for a thin flat ground blade.
 
kozak6 said:
There's also a lot to be said for a thin flat ground blade.
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Those blades are easy to sharpen will take a pretty good edge too. I have found all my SAK blades to be plenty capable, performing well enough for all the normal knife tasks that you might expect of that sized blade.

One of the best features of the SAK is the screwdriver/caplifter/pry tool - thanks to that you don't need to pry with the blade so you won't break the tip off like some people might on a knife that doesn't also have a pry tool. On my Trekker & OHT the pry tool locks and is quite beefy - an excellent tool to have on hand!
 
Gadgetaholic said:
of the best features of the SAK is the screwdriver/caplifter/pry tool - thanks to that you don't need to pry with the blade so you won't break the tip off like some people might on a knife that doesn't also have a pry tool. On my Trekker & OHT the pry tool locks and is quite beefy - an excellent tool to have on hand!
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These two tools packaged together, take care of 99% of what I run into on any given day :thumbup:.
 
SAKs allow you to manipulate your environment, but don't take up much space. Same idea with small but powerful flashlights, guns, Blackberry and other EDC items. Lots of utility in a small package. And for me its not just the utility that matters, but the peace of mind of knowing that I have my bases covered and am not going out into the world unprepared.
 
powernoodle said:
the peace of mind of knowing that I have my bases covered and am not going out into the world unprepared.
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^ This! This is pretty much the why as far as my EDC items I choose to equip myself with. I have my SAK + Multi-tool+flashlight+lighter+cellphone+USB Flash drives & a few other items, then I head out into the world well prepared for whatever I may face. If I didn't have my SAK then I would feel somehow 'lacking' and there would be some tasks that I may need to perform that I wouldn't be adequately prepared for. It doesn't even matter if I need to use my SAK or not, just having it available in case I need to use any of its many useful tools is enough to give me that 'peace of mind'.
 
A good SAK is part of my knife EDC trio, along with my stockman, and one large 1-handed folder! I also keep an extra SAK in my BOB along with a multi-tool. Just perfection in a small package.
 
Never leave home without it. I have settled on the Explorer, having carried a variety since Viet Nam. The magnifying glass was too handy for getting splinters out of my kids legs and hands.
Now that they are grown, I find that some of the people out there like to put some of the gotcha's in very small print and I need a magnifier to protect myself.

The rest of the tool is excellent as noted by all above.
 
I would have to say that I do have some better tools than on my SAK - better Phillips screwdriver, better can opener, better scissors, etc.
But when you are not at home and your 'better' tools are then what use are they? Having a good can opener could be handy when camping and faced with a can of food that you want to open. Having that can opener with you is especially handy.
Since I don't leave home without a SAK there isn't a problem, I always have a nice collection of tools with me that work very well.
 
agree.... its better to have tools when you need... than have better tools but you dont have it at that moment hehehe..
 
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