Why SAK as a survival tool?

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popedandy

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Dec 8, 2006
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It seems that when someone asks what knife they should get as part of their survival gear, there are always a lot of posts that say a SAK is the one to get. I've been hesistant to ask why because I don't want it to sound like I'm anti-SAK, but my curiosity has finally gotten the better of me, enough so that I'm willing to admit that I'm totally clueless on this matter.

By way of background, I've always carried either a fixed blade or a folder and some sort of field sharpening rod/hone to keep the knife sharp with. I've been able to get by with that.

So, folks, what will the non-blade tools accomplish in a wilderness survival situation that is both necessary and that can't be accomplished with a good knife?

Thanks in advance for the help :-)

Dave
 
Dave,
Looks like I might be the first to answer. This is a question I have asked myself, but I have to admit I might be a convert. I used to be somewhat anti-SAK, but I carry one in my pocket everyday now. Would I like to always carry a multi-tool? Yes, but it isn't always convenient. Your question specifically asks about a survival tool though. I have made fuzz sticks with one, used it as an eating utensil, fixed eyeglasses with the small screwdriver, used the leather punch to poke a hole and loop fishing line through a few times to hold a torn pack together, etc. The scissors can be real handy in a tight. The tweezers are pretty lame, but that toothpick has saved me from a long night of something being stuck in my teeth. I won't go so far as to say they are disposable, but they aren't very expensive. Why not have one? And especially since you can chose from one that is keychain-small to one that might as well be a multi-tool. To some folks, they are kinda catchy. I have often carried one on a college campus, and if you need to get out a knife, people seem to react a lot different to a SAK than they did to the Kershaw Whirlwind that fell out of my pocket and OPENED on the floor of the classroom. If other companies made similar knives I'd probably try them, too. It just depends on preference. It depends on your question in that do you mean survival with just what nature provides or survival with the possibility that you have salvaged items that you might need to keep working.
P.S. Schrade made a small multi-tool called a Tough Chip that is awesome. I wish Leatherman made one like it.
 
My job is very restrictive in what I can carry,so it's a Rally on my key chain. It's that or nothing and you can't use what you don't have,right? There is wilderness survival and there is urban/suburban "survival." For me a crisis situation is not being able to open a beer bottle. As Dave alluded to, alot depends on your definition of "survival" ;)
 
I think its the versatility that a SAK offers that make it a good survival tool. Your ability to improvise and make use of what you have can be the difference between surviving or not.
 
The Victorinox brand that I use, require very little maintenance and as far as I can tell, come with a lifetime warranty, because the Swiss stand behind their product 100%. They come in an assortment of flavors and colors and cover a wide range of needs. I've used every tool on each of those that I own and find nothing but quality in materials used, construction and design. I have SAKs for urban carry, hunting and all purpose field use and I defy any traditional folder to do this.......................;)

bundevaluation003a.jpg


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Actually, the saw blade on a knife goes way back, as do other special purpose blades. The Swiss Victorinox (And the other brand they now own) were not the first to develop the "multitool" knife, just the most popular producers now. I have knives imported by Adolph Kastor from Germany before WWI which have all those blades and more. I have a Schrade made in the late 1950's-early 1960's with a saw blade on a five blade camp knife. I also have a New York Knife Company ad from circa 1913-14 which touts their "Camping, Radio and Autoist Knife", used and endorsed by William F. Cody. Of course I own and use the American MIL-K 818 utility knife as well (built like a tank).

Back to the question... are they handy? Sure. Are they indispensable? Not to me. I get by just fine with a handy slipjoint with traditional stockman blades and a small fixed blade knife. Each to his own though.

Codger
 
Codger_64 said:
Back to the question... are they handy? Sure. Are they indispensable? Not to me. I get by just fine with a handy slipjoint with traditional staockman blades and a small fixed blade knife. Each to his own though.

Codger
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About a month ago I started EDCing a Case trapper with yellow handles and CV blades. I have yet to feel under knifed.
 
Why a SAK?
They are simply the best (IMO), most compact, easiest to carry pocket tool kit and knife combination. Multi tools are too heavy/bulky for everyday pocket carry and I don't need the piers for everyday use. I used to carry simple folders (both light and heavy) but found that the SAK was more than capable for every job that I have expected it to do (ranging from cleaning game through deburring metal). If I expect to need a bigger knife (hunting/camping) I carry a large folder or fixed blade in addition to the SAK; giving me both the durability of a large blade and the multiple tools of the SAK.
I'm now on my third Victornox Tinker in 27 years; I lost one (around 1980) and wore one about half way out before finding a replacement on sale.
Enjoy!
 
a sak or a multitool in general is the one tool that is easiest to carry, with the least amount of objections, that can do most of what you need. For many this is the knife mostly likely to be carried.

It doesnt do everything, and isnt the best of anything. But its probably the better compromise for most people. And most saks are under $30 retail.

They also sell them everywhere so its easy to take a look before buying.
 
The Last Confederate said:
The only thing that limits the uses for the blades in an SAK is the imagination of the user.
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I have found the unusual blade selection on my SAK useful at the strangest times. I was shipping 10 large Rubber made tubs full of personal belongings, back down south by plane. Due to the isolated location I couldn't get the heavy grey duct tape that I used to seal the tubs with on the way up. I was able to get a pile of zip ties though so I used the aul blade on my SAK to hand drill through the lids and upper tub edges, and pull zip ties through to seal them up. This is a solid way to seal/ship these tubs and reveals any tampering instantly. This is not the first time that I have used a SAK aul. I have also used this unique blade to clean gunk out of mechanical parts and loosen rope knots in the cold, with half frozen fingers. All in aul :D a very useful and versatile knife that comes in handy at the strangest times.
 
The Last Confederate said:
The only thing that limits the uses for the blades in an SAK is the imagination of the user.
Click to expand...

You know, I wired my entire house with a sak. Under the house in the cold, those nice comfy handles kept me going, the sharp blade removed wire covering like nothing, lets just say It was surprizingly short work ;)


I believe you can never have to many sak's, their light small, and carry a wide arrangment of tools, I would go out with a sak and an axe and not feel under equiped.

For the price, theirs really no reason not too :D
 
I find the scissors to be invaluable for trimming painful hangnails, cutting off torn skin and minor surgery. Have you ever cut youself on something jagged and had a flap of skin hanging there? Perhaps you can use your knife for things like that, They do not work so well for me. I also like the tweezers and toothpick. I have seen people that will use their knife for a screwdriver also but i will not as it usually ruins your edge.

As to the blades themselves they are wonderfully thin and take a good edge. I use the large for rough work and the small is left really sharp for those times I need it.

Although I chafe at people's views of my knives (Spyderco Endura is my EDC) the SAK is almost universally viewed as a tool. Pre 9/11 they did not even give it a second look getting on airplanes. They always looked and sometimes measured my Spyderco Delica.

Oh yeah...the saw on my Vic BSA Huntsman works better than most saws twice its size IMO. I don't go in the woods without it.
 
I will not leave the house with out my vic farmer. It is an excellent edc. The saw although rarely used is invaluable when needed. The awl comes in very handy. The blade works well around people that my griptilian or RAT-3 would make nervous.
 
messer454 said:
I find the scissors to be invaluable for trimming painful hangnails, cutting off torn skin and minor surgery. Have you ever cut youself on something jagged and had a flap of skin hanging there? Perhaps you can use your knife for things like that, They do not work so well for me. I also like the tweezers and toothpick. I have seen people that will use their knife for a screwdriver also but i will not as it usually ruins your edge.

I echo what you say about the scissors. I use them for everything from mustache trimming to cutting fishing line. The SAK's I carry always have scissors (classic and climber are the two I most carry). Another useful item while camping is the can opener. I use the toothpick and twissors alot as well.

The main blade I use for everything from sharpening pencils to cutting oranges. What strikes me is how easy it is sharpen as I can get it razor sharp with a small sharpening tool in under a minute.

Though I usually carry a larger fixed blade or hachet as well while backpacking the SAK is alot of good funtionality in a small package.
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Why? For me there a couple reasons. First is that they are good, well built solid knives. Second, they are extremely versitale. While they may not be the best tool for a lot of things, they have lots of tools that work in a pinch. They are a great value. I have a bunch and they are everywhere - hunting bag, survival kit, glove box, brief case, shaving kit, tackle box... lastly, while I do like carbon blades, these stainless blades are very low maintenace which is good for a stow and forget knife.

I have the GSAK as pictured above and the saw it great.

While I mostly carry traditional slip joints for EDC in my pocket, I have to admit, asthetics aside, that most SAK are better built and QC from knife to knife to top notch. Oh and did I mention they are a great value.

tjg
 
Quote:
#I used to carry multitools everywhere I went, but have given them all up
because a simple SAK on my keychain is more practical both in the
woods and in the city.


My opinions only,
Mike Swaim


On Thu, 03 Jan 2002 05:28:27 GMT, "Francis" #


and he is worth listening
 
SAK or multitool is the first thing I carry. A SAK or multitool has numerous uses. Off the top of my head, I've overcome a few roadside breakdowns using only a multitool, such as wiring around a bad relay and temporarily repairing a broken accelarator cable. This is where the multitool excels over a SAK, but I probably could have gotten the job done with a SAK. Now these breakdowns weren't off the beaten path and thus they were merely inconveniences. However, many "true survival" scenarios begin with a mechanical failure of a vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, bike or whatever.

The advantage of a SAK over a leatherman style multitool is lightweight. However, the pliers are the most common thing I use, even more than the blade, so it is a compromise I'm not willing to make.

A fixed blade isn't in the top 50 things of my list of must carry items. In fact, I look at most of these kits with 4-9 inch fixed blade knives and think that you'd be better served with a SAK/multitool and a tarp and canteen cup in lieu of the weight and bulkiness of the large fixed blade.
 
I have carried a SAK for years. Mine has a saw also. The tooth closest to the handle rarely gets used and is sharp. its wonderful, in conjunction with the tweezers, to remove slivers.
I am more prone to slivers than mosquito bites.
Del
 
I really appreciate all of you who have taken the time to respond to my question, and I'd be glad to hear from anyone else who would like to contribute. As I assumed when I asked the original question, there were a lot of things I had not even thought about. I'm definitely going to start out with a small one for the office and something a bit bigger to go with my camping gear.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm!

Dave
 
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