The World of SAKs

 Swiss Army Knives - or "SAK" for short - are addicting.  Part of the challenge is that they offer so many varieties  - dozens, if not over a hundred - to choose from.  Some discontinued, some still offered, some even modified.  You find yourself searching for that perfect one that will do it all.  Which won't happen.  I own the CHAMP which boasts over 30 different tools.  Great knife, but too bulky to carry for EDC.  Then there are knives that have good tools but also include some one seldom uses, if at all.  I currently own the following in my small, but burgeoning collection: 

• Tinker
• Super Tinker
• Classic
• Rambler
• Bantam Alox
• Pioneer Alox

I bought some for their sheer usefulness, and some partly because they went on sale.  For example, I am expecting the Pioneer Alox to come in today.  Amazon offered a sale of over 50% off.  Couldn't pass that up!  

 

I have also discovered that carrying more than one can offer variety without loading up one knife with everything you think you need.   I never leave the house without the Rambler.  I am convinced that this is the best urban EDC of the bunch.  It has just what I need most of the time and it is incredibly small and convenient for pocket carry, even in dress clothes.  But I often supplement it with a larger SAK in case a bigger blade is needed, such as the very slim and light Bantam Alox.  I am now going to rotate the Pioneer Alox with that model.  Part of it is the fascination with knives used in the military.  The Pioneer is the civilian equivalent of the military version used from about 1961 to 2008 when it was replaced by the current soldier's model.  But it reminds me of the US Utility Knife (the "Demo" knife) used during that same period, the first one I received being my father's from the early 60s.  To the credit of the SAK it uses the identical tools of the US Utility Knife, but instead of it being in all stainless steel it uses the Alox scales which employ aluminum, thus making it quite a bit lighter.  

The Super Tinker is among my occasional carries when the Champ is too big, but I want a few more tools like a dedicated Philips screwdriver and large scissors.  I have also, as documented in the previous post, made some mods to make it even more useful utilizing other outside tools like ratchet heads and small saw blades.

The Bantam Alox is by far a great carry because it is so thin and so light.  I am eager to see how the Pioneer compares with extra layers.  In the end it's about convenience vs. need.  You always have to sacrifice something, but then in an ordinary day do you really need all those tools?  Not really. 

So, like many EDC people I carry multiple tools and rotate, partly depending on what I am wearing and where I am going.  For now I have settled on my usual dialy EDC as: 1.) Gerber Dime, 2.) SAK Rambler, and 3.) a slightly larger blade, either another SAK, or something else. 

But will my addiction cause me to buy yet another SAK?  Undoubtedly, yes.  But the habit is not bad unless it causes me to go bankrupt!   :)