SAK hacks

[British Red]

Mors K once said that the best survival knife is the one that you have with you when you need it!

I genuinely believe that the Swiss Army Knife has a lot to commend it as an EDC knife. It's tools are great, it's pretty cheap and it's seen as an inoffensive tool.

But did you know the standard sized SAK can be adapted to hold a pen, a pin for blisters and even to have bright, visible scales?

Our latest YouTube video shows how

 

[Mesquite]

Nice video Hugh.

I have an Alox Farmer and my one bug bear about it is it doesn't have the cut outs for the mini tools

 

[British Red]

I agree Steve, I like the alox ones but...no tweezers. I like the pen but it only comes on knives a bit too chunky for me to carry all the time. Once I found out about swapping scales (and the pin - I honestly never knew it was there) I had a lightbulb moment. It really is super easy too.

Nice video Hugh.

I have an Alox Farmer and my one bug bear about it is it doesn't have the cut outs for the mini tools

 

[Jared]

It's why I carry a Farmer and a Classic SD.

Do have a Walker too, which can do most of what the Farmer does, and has the mini tools. It's a shame Victorinox discontinued it earlier this year.

 

[gg012]

That is a brilliant video and a really good explanation of how, and why, you can change the scales on a SAK.

What I didn't realise is that there is a third slot in the scale with the toothpick in, at the opposite end. I had never noticed it until it was pointed out to me but it's obvious now. I think that on the models with an LED torch built in this is used for a shortened toothpick. If you get one of these you can open the slot up with a knife, put the mini toothpick in there then use your toothpick skit for one of the tiny firesteels you can get now.

Sent from underground

 

[Lean'n'mean]

I doubt many SAK users know all of these functions.

 

[Wildgoose]

Another great video BR. I didn’t realise the pin hole was there on my explorer.
I resisted the red knife for years but I’m a convert now.

Now I’m off to find a pin…

 

[British Red]

Another great video BR. I didn’t realise the pin hole was there on my explorer.
I resisted the red knife for years but I’m a convert now.

Now I’m off to find a pin…

I didn't know about them either for along time - it felt like a little bonus!

 

[Wildgoose]

Does make me wonder why they couldn’t have put a pin in the hole, given that they lost it as a feature on other models

 

[British Red]

Does make me wonder why they couldn’t have put a pin in the hole, given that they lost it as a feature on other models

My Hunsman Light had a SAK pin. My Camper had a hole, but no pin. I wonder if it was there originally but I lost it?

 

[gg012]

My Hunsman Light had a SAK pin. My Camper had a hole, but no pin. I wonder if it was there originally but I lost it?

My camper had a hole but no pin too, it's very odd

Sent from underground

 

[Mesquite]

My Hunsman Light had a SAK pin. My Camper had a hole, but no pin. I wonder if it was there originally but I lost it?

It's easier to make scales that take all the mini tools and will fit multiple models and then only fit the tools they want to for each model

 

[British Red]

It's easier to make scales that take all the mini tools and will fit multiple models and then only fit the tools they want to for each model

But wouldn't they then make a hole for the pen on most models?

 

[Mesquite]

But wouldn't they then make a hole for the pen on most models?

The pen slot is more obvious than the pin hole as it's at the end of the scale rather than tucked away behind the corkscrew.

We need some folks with SAK's that have corkscrews to check if they've got a pin hole

 

[Glass-Wood-Steel]

Thanks for sharing (and making) those excellent videos. You can't help gaining a certain respect for these humble tools. It is no wonder they are so enduringly popular!

 

[Glass-Wood-Steel]

The pen slot is more obvious than the pin hole as it's at the end of the scale rather than tucked away behind the corkscrew.

We need some folks with SAK's that have corkscrews to check if they've got a pin hole

I have checked mine this morning and it now has a pin in the hole that has been there all this flippin time!

 

[Jared]

Of the official current models, 8 come with a pin.

Medium Pocket Knives | Victorinox United Kingdom

Medium Pocket Knife is the original Swiss Army Knife. Over 100 years later, each knife still possesses the DNA of its forefathers – inspired functionality and reliability.

www.victorinox.com

Pin holes might be more common, some say all 91mm corkscrew models have the pin hole, but not sure.

 

[British Red]

Of the official current models, 8 come with a pin.

Medium Pocket Knives | Victorinox United Kingdom

Medium Pocket Knife is the original Swiss Army Knife. Over 100 years later, each knife still possesses the DNA of its forefathers – inspired functionality and reliability.

www.victorinox.com

Pin holes might be more common, some say all 91mm corkscrew models have the pin hole, but not sure.

I do find economising on pins weird

 

[Woody girl]

I have a couple of campers, and there is a pin hole but no pins.
I've remedied that.
The pin hole is so tiny and hidden, you'd never know it was there unless you'd been told. Thanks BR.

 

[Bhod]

No hole and therefore no pin on my nearly 25 year Foresters.