Why use a SAK?

shane

shane

Joined
May 20, 1999
Messages
944
I have a few and they are all top models but I do not seem to use them and my leatherman charge gets used all the time. Why would someone use a swiss army knife over a multi tool?

shane
 
Personal preference, portability, doesn't cost as much, plus many more reasons I would imagine.
 
shane said:
I have a few and they are all top models but I do not seem to use them and my leatherman charge gets used all the time. Why would someone use a swiss army knife over a multi tool?

shane
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how do you open a bottle of wine with your leatherman charge?
 
combination of tools (awl/reamer) in a small, lightweight package. And tweezers and toothpick. And the price. I also prefer a knife-based package v. opening pliers to get to a blade.
 
lukaszki said:
how do you open a bottle of wine with your leatherman charge?
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Remove cheap foil/plastic with blade of choice then with all the force you posess snap the top off with the pilers - easy!
 
I have a lot of different multi-tools and the SAKs have their place.

Portability is the main thing. I have a really small Nite Manager attached to my keychain so I can pull out a quick blade to open packages, get a light at night, write a quick note, pry off a staple.

And, I have a WorkChamp in my pocket for slightly bigger tasks. It's lighter and takes up less space than my Leatherman which I tend to keep at home or carry only when I'm going on a working chore where I know I might have to play handyman.
 
Interesting, I've heard someone ask the other way around, why does someone bother to carry pliers all the time?, isn't a SAK enough for everyday use? and much cheaper, smaller and readily available?.

I carry both a SAK and a Leatherman and both get used, sometimes they even work together.

Luis
 
lukaszki said:
how do you open a bottle of wine with your leatherman charge?
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I thought wine only came in boxes??? :D

I carried a PST when I was in the Army and it came in handy when working on weapons and equipment. Now that I am a civilian with a supervisory job in a newspaper production facility I don't really need to carry a pair of pliers on my belt. I carry a SAK and a box cutter at work and it pretty much covers all the bases as far as my needs are concerned. Many of the mechanics at work carry Leathermans and they get used quite a bit.
 
shane said:
Why would someone use a swiss army knife over a multi tool?
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OK, serious this time...

As the old saying goes, "horses for courses". What you carry depends on your needs.

If you do more cutting and driving screws (and wine opening!) than heavy mechanical work, a SAK may be a better choice, and fits in your pocket easier.

If you spend your time working on machinery or cutting wire or such, and don't mind belt carry, a multi-tool might be your best bet.

In reality, though it's not quite that cut 'n' dry: For instance, my Charge and New Wave are actually better for driving screws than a SAK, due to their locking bit-holders and the bit set I carry with 'em; and their one-hand-opening knife blades make them more convenient as pocket knives, too. And then there are those SAK models with pliers (although they're not nearly as strong as the ones on a Leatherman!) and/or removable bits. (There's a reason the SAK I EDC most often is my CyberTool Lite!) But it's hard to argue the advantage a SAK has in portability. Try lugging a Charge in your dress slacks' pocket for a day sometime!
 
lukaszki said:
how do you open a bottle of wine with your leatherman charge?
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Hey, I almost forgot...

It ain't a Charge, but I have a couple Juice models with corkscrews (AND assists, makes the job oh so easy), and I even grabbed a Flair a few years back. You so don't have to carry a SAK just to indulge one's enological procilivities! ;)
 
Ultimate sheeple friendly knife. In the U.K. one is only allowed to carry a slipjoint folder (non-locking blade) of no more than 3" unless you can show very good reason for needing 'more' knife.
Although the law is routinely flouted by even the usually most law abiding of folk, it is no joke. In fact it's a bit of a nightmare! Imagine a night in jail, a court appearance, legal costs, fine or jail time, name in the local paper and a criminal record for carrying something like a Delica.
In fact, people have been convicted and fined heavily for carrying 'lockbacks' (all blade locking systems are called 'lockbacks' by the enforcers in Britain) of 1" and 2". Same thing with multi-tools, and even an idiot can tell they are less than ideal weapons.
So, SAKs look pretty good. I really like the Alox Bantam. Super slim and a beer drinkers friend.
 
Gryffin said:
Hey, I almost forgot...

It ain't a Charge, but I have a couple Juice models with corkscrews (AND assists, makes the job oh so easy), and I even grabbed a Flair a few years back. You so don't have to carry a SAK just to indulge one's enological procilivities! ;)
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I knew someone will point it out :) but juice is the only leatherman series which possesses this useful feature. I don't understand it, can't leave home without corkscrew and bottle opener, you never know...

SAK is cheap, light, well made and nice looking. And it is one more edged tool you can own, besides multitools, folders, balis, fixed blade knives, tomahawks, hatchets, saws, etc. ;)

edit:

one more pro - SAK is the most sheeple friendly knife I can imagine.
 
lukaszki said:
I knew someone will point it out :)
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Glad I didn't disappoint! ;)

lukaszki said:
I don't understand it, can't leave home without corkscrew and bottle opener, you never know...
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You Europeans have it better that way. Over here in the States, public consumption of alcoholic beverages is, at best, frowned upon, and at worst, illegal. Chalk it up to our puritanical Calvinist founders, I suppose. :rolleyes:

I always found it interesting that the Swiss military issue knife included a corkscrew. An army that encourages their soldier to drink wine, sounds like MY kind of army! :p
 
Why should I have to choose? ;) I like both, sometimes carry both, for all the above reasons. When I travel to Europe (infrequently), I *always* go knifeless, and return with a fresh supply of SAK's. Hey, when in Rome...

I like them both, and have LONG since given up trying to choose. :D
 
Gryffin said:
...-I always found it interesting that the Swiss military issue knife included a corkscrew. An army that encourages their soldier to drink wine, sounds like MY kind of army! :p
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Actually the model they issue is the Vic Soldier or Wenger Standard Issue, these have no corkscrew and have similar features as pocket knives issued by the US military.

Luis
 
I own numerous styles of both. I carry my SAKs unless I'm camping etc. Much lighter and easier to pocket.
Matt
 
Don Luis said:
Actually the model they issue is the Vic Soldier or Wenger Standard Issue, these have no corkscrew and have similar features as pocket knives issued by the US military.
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True, that's what they issue now, but when I was a kid, I'm pretty sure the standard military issue had cellidor scales and a corkscrew, basically a Vic Spartan. Or at least, that's what I was told...
 
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