Which Sak to get

22-rimfire said:
Earl1, when you choose, be sure to be aware whether the model choice is two or three layers. Makes a difference in pocket comfort.
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This agrees with my experience.

Weight and thickness affect comfort for front pocket carry and thickness matter more than weight.

Beyond a certain limit, tools end up somewhere else like rear pocket, sheath or pack.
 
I always seem to carry my two layer Alox Soldier more than my larger SAKs. Like the relative simplicity. Good luck in your decision and enjoy!

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It is interesting that I found this post today. My 3rd Alox Cadet just arrived in the mail. This flat little knife is very useful and does not dig into my leg as some other SAKs can do because they are so thick. I suggest you start with a Cadet. It will do most of the things you need a pocket tool to do, even open packages and cut apples.
 
Does anyone besides me carry his sak in a belt case? Mine is a cloth like material that the huntsman fits well, and is kept really close to the side. As close as one of those clips that some are fond of. Just curious, as I do carry a small buck 303 in a pocket also.
 
pinnah said:
This agrees with my experience.

Weight and thickness affect comfort for front pocket carry and thickness matter more than weight.

Beyond a certain limit, tools end up somewhere else like rear pocket, sheath or pack.
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The "certain limit" will vary by individual, their common use and mode of carry. This is important unless you don't care about buying one and telling yourself, "this is too thick" or the tools are not what I want. My impression is that Earl1 wants a small SAK, something easy to carry and to carry pretty much unnoticed.

The varying responses clearly show different experiences with SAKs and personal use. Some will only look at Alox versions. I like the tweezers and tooth pick available, so I go plastic.

I have a number of different SAK models and I always keep going back to the tinker tool set. The Pioneer is good too. I'm not a scissors guy with a SAK. It often adds an extra layer for something I would almost never use. In essence, the scissors are too small for me in general and only would be used in an emergency. That would apply to the Leatherman Ps4 Squirt that I edc carry as well. I like them so much that I have one of each car key ring and an unused spare.
 
22-rimfire said:
The "certain limit" will vary by individual, their common use and mode of carry. This is important unless you don't care about buying one and telling yourself, "this is too thick" or the tools are not what I want. My impression is that Earl1 wants a small SAK, something easy to carry and to carry pretty much unnoticed.

The varying responses clearly show different experiences with SAKs and personal use. Some will only look at Alox versions. I like the tweezers and tooth pick available, so I go plastic.

I have a number of different SAK models and I always keep going back to the tinker tool set. The Pioneer is good too. I'm not a scissors guy with a SAK. It often adds an extra layer for something I would almost never use. In essence, the scissors are too small for me in general and only would be used in an emergency. That would apply to the Leatherman Ps4 Squirt that I edc carry as well. I like them so much that I have one of each car key ring and an unused spare.
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I am one of those that prefers the Alox over the plastic.

You write about an extra layer in a SAK. I have found that the Alox Farmer is better in your hand than the Pioneer but, rides just a little too thick in your pocket. I can see why some people claim it's the best Alox knife Vic offers.

I do have a complaint about all the 93mm Alox knives though. They tear up my nails. That is why part of me reaches for a Cadet over the Pioneer series. I really like the 93mm size over the Cadet but the Cadet is easier to open.

The Cadet carried as a dress knife or, as a back up to a modern folder is hard to beat. I miss the one I gave to my daughter.
 
For me there are three SAKs that I use even though I have >20
1) My go to SAK is an Alox Rancher. The pruning blade is just amazing for opening boxes, cutting string, etc. Given my wife seems to have an Amazon delivery daily it comes in handy
2) Alox Soldier. Perfect combination of tools and heft without the keyring that is on the Pioneer
3) Alox Cadet. Smaller package but the perfect office carry. I even appreciate the fingernail file because who does not need to hone their thumbnail to be able to open the knife? The three Cadets that I own are the release without the keyring which I love.
 
sabre cat said:
I do have a complaint about all the 93mm Alox knives though. They tear up my nails.
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I like the Alox line but had a Pioneer and a Pioneer X and had to gift them because my nails broke off trying to open them. Thought they were all the same; hard to open. My next impulse buy will be a Cadet :).
 
Earl1 said:
I've been looking lately at getting a little smaller knife like a cadet. I'm not able to work at the moment so just need a small knife to open a small paxkage,cut a loose string from a shirt . I also will carry something like a buck spitfire or a native 5 in case I need a bigger more heavy duty blade. With money being tight right now just looking for some reccomendations on what everyone carries that can be had for a few bucks
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Earl, could you say a bit more about the kinds of things you do on a regular basis that might have you reaching for a pocket tool?

Are you open to suggestions other than Victorinox/Wenger?
 
mushka said:
Does anyone besides me carry his sak in a belt case? Mine is a cloth like material that the huntsman fits well, and is kept really close to the side. As close as one of those clips that some are fond of. Just curious, as I do carry a small buck 303 in a pocket also.
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Yes! I have a Vic Zermatt leather case for my Woodsman (basically a Huntsman without toothpick or tweezers, 40+ years old) and one that fits both my Tinker and my Walker (one at a time, of course!). Especially for the thicker SAKs I think this is a good solution.
 
pinnah said:
Earl, could you say a bit more about the kinds of things you do on a regular basis that might have you reaching for a pocket tool?

Are you open to suggestions other than Victorinox/Wenger?
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Am always open to any suggestions. I use my pocketknives to do food prep open packages cut cords, cut smal limbs out of the way. I always habe a separate knife for food prep so I almost always carry 2 knives. It is either 2 traditional or 1 traditional and one modern
 
Earl,

Do you prefer to use different blades for food prep and cutting back branches? Or are you OK with using the same blade for cutting brush and doing food prep?

The reason I'm asking is this bears on how big of a main blade would be most useful on your second knife. If you prefer to keep your brush blade (your modern folder) and your food blade separate, it would make sense to me for your second knife to be normal 3"-ish traditional with a blade in the 2.5" range, no? On the other hand, if you can deal with your brush knife and food knife to be the same (I'm fine with that but others may not be), then might you be able to deal with a second knife (like the Vic classic) that only has a small pen blade? IMO, this decision on blade size really determine which class of knife will work best for you.

Also, are there specific tools that are super important to you other than scissors? Cap lifter? Screw-drivers?
 
bolabeenz said:
I like the Alox line but had a Pioneer and a Pioneer X and had to gift them because my nails broke off trying to open them. Thought they were all the same; hard to open. My next impulse buy will be a Cadet :).
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Yeah, I have found the Cadet to be much easier. It is slowly becoming my favorite SAK.
 
pinnah said:
Earl,

Do you prefer to use different blades for food prep and cutting back branches? Or are you OK with using the same blade for cutting brush and doing food prep?

The reason I'm asking is this bears on how big of a main blade would be most useful on your second knife. If you prefer to keep your brush blade (your modern folder) and your food blade separate, it would make sense to me for your second knife to be normal 3"-ish traditional with a blade in the 2.5" range, no? On the other hand, if you can deal with your brush knife and food knife to be the same (I'm fine with that but others may not be), then might you be able to deal with a second knife (like the Vic classic) that only has a small pen blade? IMO, this decision on blade size really determine which class of knife will work best for you.

Also, are there specific tools that are super important to you other than scissors? Cap lifter? Screw-drivers?
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I think the can openers are handy for cookouts with opening beams chili outsude. In a pinch the screwdriver could come in handy. I have a buck 301 I am carrying right now, which is why I wanted a smaller thinner knife for days when I don't wanna carry a bigger folder. Gotta get my edc rotation built back after selling just about al the knives I had recently. I always carry 2 knives like I said one for food.and one for everything else . Then the most important reason is if I lose one I still have a backup. I use my pocketknives at least a couple times a day many days much more often. Just can't stand to be without one
 
Earl1 said:
I think the can openers are handy for cookouts with opening beams chili outsude. In a pinch the screwdriver could come in handy. I have a buck 301 I am carrying right now, which is why I wanted a smaller thinner knife for days when I don't wanna carry a bigger folder. Gotta get my edc rotation built back after selling just about al the knives I had recently. I always carry 2 knives like I said one for food.and one for everything else . Then the most important reason is if I lose one I still have a backup. I use my pocketknives at least a couple times a day many days much more often. Just can't stand to be without one
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I meant to also say that with being sick right now I'm not able to work right now and am limited a great deal as to what I can do at home. So one of the reasons I was looking at the smaller knives like the cadet is because 90 percent of the time for right now my main use for a knife is food prep, opening mail and packages. Maybe something like cutting a toy out of the box for my little girl. I'll add this also,for years my carry consisted of a buck 301 and a case medium stockman with cv.handles with yellow handles. When I went hunting or fishing in a rough area my buck 110 was always on my side. Sadly the 301 is the one I have left from those.im thankful though that times might get tight bit.the LORD always makes a way to survive and if we trust HIM it isn't long until we do more than survive HE causes us to thrive.
 
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