Why a Swiss Army Knife.

[Aristotle]

I went for a walk in our local woods. A number of trees and boughs had fallen across, or grown down to, paths.

Mostly only partially blocking them.

I whipped out my Swiss Army Knife, opened the saw and went about cutting them back. The bigger ones were first partially cut through and then snapped off.

A set of loppers and a bow saw would have been more effective, but less easy to carry day-to-day in my pocket.

"Why a Swiss Army Knife?" Why not?

Ps. There is a medium sized trunk right across one path that will require a return visit with a bow saw. A petrol chainsaw might not go down too well on public land?

 

[hughtrimble]

Good on you. I know near me people do go with chainsaws to deal with trunks blocking roads, but not into the woods. That's usually reported to the Woodland Trust to 'manage' (often left for ages and then they come and decimate the area).

 

[ged]

... There is a medium sized trunk right across one path that will require a return visit with a bow saw. A petrol chainsaw might not go down too well on public land?

I like to carry one of these:

G-Saw™ 240 - TAJIMA TOOL

G-Saw™ 240 - Japan Pull G-saw (PDF)

www.tajimatool.com

Inexpensive and incredible performance. I have a couple of the saws and I keep a pack of spare blades.

One of those will go through a 12 inch diameter tree trunk in two or three minutes.

With you on (not) using a chainsaw on public land. Even on private land it's difficult enough to make the environment safe enough to use power tools, but if the power tool happens to be a chainsaw you can't afford to take any risks. We have a collie that will cheerfully dive for a stick just before you go over it with the Mountfield mulcher. The engine noise doesn't seem to put him off at all, in fact then he'll put the stick on the mulcher - while it's going - and look at you hopefully. No sense of self preservation. If I get a chain saw out I have to tie him up somewhere.

 

[Aristotle]

I like to carry one of these:

G-Saw™ 240 - TAJIMA TOOL

G-Saw™ 240 - Japan Pull G-saw (PDF)

www.tajimatool.com

Inexpensive and incredible performance. I have a couple of the saws and I keep a pack of spare blades.

One of those will go through a 12 inch diameter tree trunk in two or three minutes.

With you on (not) using a chainsaw on public land. Even on private land it's difficult enough to make the environment safe enough to use power tools, but if the power tool happens to be a chainsaw you can't afford to take any risks. We have a collie that will cheerfully dive for a stick just before you go over it with the Mountfield mulcher. The engine noise doesn't seem to put him off at all, in fact then he'll put the stick on the mulcher - while it's going - and look at you hopefully. No sense of self preservation. If I get a chain saw out I have to tie him up somewhere.

I will take a folding saw too, but I think that a bow saw will be more effective for the trunk in question

 

[Aristotle]

I will take a folding saw too, but I think that a bow saw will be more effective for the trunk in question

My 160mm long Wilkinson Sword folding saw blade was too short for the 10-"12" trunk on the ground. (I have ordered a Vonhaus folding pruning saw for a bigger blade and a better design).

Edit: Returning with a bow saw did the job.
It was hard work though. Two cuts through at the limit of my saw depth, from the top and the sides as much as I could. I obviously couldn't rotate the trunk to cut from the bottom.

 

[Plainsman]

SAKs are one of the original multitools, they give you multiple functions in one handy tool.

For bushcrafting they have several blades rhat are perfect for what we do in the woods. One can even mod a blade or two and make them even more useful.

Main blade for cutting and carving most anything.
Saw for cutting wood, bone, or other similar materials to length, notches, etc.
Awl for creating holes in wood, bone, leather, etc. Usually they have a hole in them to allow it to be uswd as a speedy stitcher.
Chisel or Flat screwdriver can be modded to a create a chisel tip.
Can opener if you carry cans or the rounded edge can be sharpened further for carving, such as spoon bowls.
Tweezers are often jseful.
Toothpick for after eating.
Stick pin has multiple uses.
Some have a pen for note taking.
Scissors for trimming bails, cutting light material and paper.

All this fits in your front pocket in one tool. Whats not to like!?!

 

[CountrysideWanderer]

I had to clear a space on a private car park the other day where a small tree / bush had grown so far it was blocking a space. The owner said thanks I've been struggling with that for ages. About 3 minutes work with Swiss army knife saw to take out at base level .........................

 

[Aristotle]

I had to clear a space on a private car park the other day where a small tree / bush had grown so far it was blocking a space. The owner said thanks I've been struggling with that for ages. About 3 minutes work with Swiss army knife saw to take out at base level .........................

It can't be true. Some people never use them....

 

[Pattree]

This thread was prompted by @TeeDee who wasn’t a user at the time (approx)

I'm not a cave troll ( despite what people may say. ) but I find the Ranger fits my hand quite well.

You use Swiss Army knife now Tee Dee?? Obviously they can be useful as shown by this thread - don’t blame you.

But:
Then I guess I’m on my own.

As repeated so many times here - I have no argument against them other than that I don’t need one.

 

[TeeDee]

You use Swiss Army knife now Tee Dee?? Obviously they can be useful as shown by this thread - don’t blame you.

But:
Then I guess I’m on my own.

As repeated so many times here - I have no argument against them other than that I don’t need one.

Reasonable question.

I use it when I remember to do so .

I think SAKs are a somewhat more socially accepted to the general public rather than a fixed blade. ( in my head ) and they seem as well tolerated as a Multi tool - which I guess they are.

I suppose I would have concerns over other peoples thoughts towards me using a fixed blade ( even if justified ) in todays day and age. That being said I think one could be potentially lethal as a fixed blade.

I guess I got one to see what the hullabaloo was about but to me its less useful than a good multitool I think.

 

[HorseGuy]

An interesting episode about the Victorinox factory from the lighthearted documentary Mega Factories.