Why I Love My SAK

J

Josh Feltman

Joined
Feb 12, 2001
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4,501
I've had a Victorinox Huntsman (older model without the package hook) since the early 90's, and it's probably the best money I've ever spent on a knife. I have many other knives, but when it comes time to actually cut something, the Huntsman is one of my favorites. I find that I use it in the kitchen more than some of my kitchen knives. The thin blade cuts like crazy, and though the steel might not be the greatest, it takes a keen edge, seems to hold it pretty well, and is a breeze to resharpen. The tools also work very well. I've taken this knife on virtually every camping trip I've been on since I bought it, and it always comes in handy. Though I have owned it for close to a decade and used it hard during the time I have owned it, it's still in great shape. My friend has a Huntsman as well, and he took his when he went to Russia for two years in the Peace Corps. He didn't sharpen or clean it(other than washing the blade once in a while) the whole time he was there. He liked the can opener so much that he didn't even bother to buy a "real" can opener the whole time he was there. A few months ago, I offered to clean and sharpen his knife for him. I soaked it in hot soapy water for a while, dried it out, lubed it, touched up the main blade on the old sharpmaker, and it was as good as new-- what an amazingly tough knife-- I wonder sometimes how some of my more "tactical" knives would fare under such treatment.
--Josh
 
I agree with you about the great utility of your SAK. As you said, these knives are probably competitive with high priced tacticals and customs that cost dozens of times more money than any SAK. Although I love my tacticals and one handers, if I could only have one knife, it would be an SAK or multitool.
 
>"The thin blade cuts like crazy, and though the steel might not be the greatest, it takes a keen edge, seems to hold it pretty well, and is a breeze to resharpen."

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Bingo! You said it all right there. When I moved to Prague in 1993, the only knife I brought was a SAK, nothing else. It was a constant companion slicing salami and rolls, opening cans, ripping the caps off (MANY!) bottles of beer, and even making me feel a little safer around the train station late at night (it's one of the larger locking models). When it got dull, I went and bought a whet stone. It took just a few minutes to get that blade as sharp as ever.
 
I'm with you on that. I carried a VIC Huntsman for five years during my time in the Boy Scouts and it went on probably 50 campouts with me. I mainly used the can opener, saw, scissors, blades and tweezers. No matter which type of knife is my current fav I always end up coming back to the SAK. I currently carry the economy model of the Spartan and it has the textured scales that the large locking models have so the scales do not scratch at all in your pocket with your keys. As an additional plus, they seem to be more people friendly than the tactical knives.
 
Today I used my SAK to strip wire, turn screws, open a bottle of wine, and pry open plier jaws.

SAKs are great ebcause they are easy to carry, easy to find one that matches your needs, has lots of tools, and the THIN blades cut soooooo well!

A friend recently introduced me to Mora knives, which previously I had dismissed as junk. Man, was I stupid! These knives are THIN and cut like crazy! And they are easy to sharpen too.

SAKs and Moras may not be the most tactical of knives, but they sure are awesome WORK knives.
 
I've had the Tinkerer SAK for a few years now with locking main blade. I love it and use it almost every day, but I have to admit I have hardly ever used the KNIFE itself. For that I have a one-handed tactical on me somewhere...

Knives mark us as human...
Corkscrews mark us as civilized!
 
SAKs have to be just about the best value there is in the world of knives. The craftsmanship alone puts almost every slipjoint manufacturer to shame. It's hard to beleive that SAKs can be offered for such a cheap price. I've been carrying a Huntsman for some time now, and finally just gave it over to the wife. You might find me crazy, but I found a new SAK love, the Tradesman. :)

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And as was said, the blade steel actually holds a pretty good edge, and is remarkably stainless. I can even field sharpen a SAK without a problem. I could go on and on and on, and probably will go on and on and on via the SOSAK website, but my hands are getting tired tonight. I'm doing lots of writing. More to come.


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Buzz, it's mean of you guys to tease us with such a cool looking site and not have it ready yet!!

I have my SAK Rucksack on 24/7 (yes I sleep with it on). It rides in one of Normark's fine concealex neck sheaths...
 
My SAK tinker is the only knife that I'm never without. I rotate my other knives but the SAK stays. Recently I found a SAK Huntsman for a great deal and it has seen lots of use already. One thing is I can't find any use for the cork screw. I don't drink wine and never see a bottle with a cork in it any more. What else can you use it for? Now I need to find a sheath for the Huntsman...



Dean
 
Give me a break guys!!! I just got the idea for the website only 5 days ago. Trust me, there is much more to come. :)
 
I love SAK's. I have small ones on key rings, swiss cards, a swiss tool and I always have an ultima champ with me. I have carried an SAK since I was a little kid. They are the most practical and well thought of versatile tool on the planet. Sometimes when I feel like spending and don't have a clue what to get....I get another SAK.
 
Originally posted by numberthree
I have my SAK Rucksack on 24/7 (yes I sleep with it on). It rides in one of Normark's fine concealex neck sheaths...
Click to expand...

Why do you sleep wearing a SAK ?
 
To the person looking for a use for the Corkscrew on an SAK - VIC makes a tiny screwdriver that actually threads into the corkscrew for storage or reverse it for more torque - the screwdriver fits eye glass screws and very fine sight adjustment screws on target pistols...etc. - that's the best use I've found for the corkscrew.. and my "Amen" to all that's been said about the SAK'S - always have a classic or tinker on or nearby somewhere! It's a great value for anyone's dollar - Last Month my wife went to Germany and Switzerland - what did she bring home for me? 4 pair of sox ! D...mn! :(
 
A big fat vote from the yobster for the Wenger Soldier. I never leave the house without it. A friend for life!
 
At school i had a Victorinox swiss champ (still have it). Today I wear the Rucksack. On my key is a classic sd. In my car a swiss champ with sos case. I have the swiss tool and in my tool box is a spartan. I also wear a spyderco military and i have a lot of other knives but i realy use only the Victorinox´s.
When I sell a Victorinox SAK I can be sure the customer is satisfied :)
 
I'm always carrying some type of Victorinox SAK. Nowadays it's usually a Classic and a Soldier. I own a whole bunch, though, including the Swisschamp, Huntsman, Hiker, Tinker, etc., etc.

I think it's absolutely bizarre how much quality and utility you get for such a cheap price. For these particular knives, I don't think it's necessary to "upgrade" to a different blade steel; they are designed for ease of maintenance and they work fine. SAK's will never go out of style.
Jim
 
I have a Champion XLT which, admittedly, is a bit of an excess. However, I carry and use it daily - I absolutely love it and can't imagine why I've never had one before!
 
I like SAKs. Oddly enough, I have never owned one.

I think I have never bought one of the big locking ones because the pliers on them aren't nearly as useful as a good multitool, and all the other implements are about the same.

For keychain carry I have always found that my Micra had more features in a smaller package than comprable SAKs. I'll have to get one of the smaller models and see how I like it.

Victorinox definately has the "fit and finish" category locked down in the mini-tool niche.
 
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