Why a Swiss Army Knife.

[Pattree]

This thread was prompted by @TeeDee who said “I’ve never owned a Swiss Army knife” (approx)

That’s almost true for me too. I have been given a tiny one equipped with nail file and scissors and another on a bit bigger. I can’t remember what’s attached to it; it’s in a drawer somewhere. Both were gifts and promotional items for companies with whom I had business.

I was very surprised to find them so popular here. I had largely disregarded them as “Jacks of all trades.”

So: genuine question. I shall not attempt to counter any reply. I may ask more questions.

Why a Swiss Army Knife?

 

[nigelp]

Classic pocket knife with an excellent tin opener. EDC - it has the look of a classic pocket knife (doesn’t look all pointy or tactical) so I would say zero chance of any issues if stopped for any reason and it being found in your possession. Can easily justify the carry and say it’s used to cut up you lunch fruit or open your picnic wine.

Good value - can have a few for different uses. Small one to chuck in a rucksack for food preps and an all singing one if you want to take for a few days and use more tools as part of a just in case kit.

I’ve found carrying small pliers and SAK more useful on a canoe trip or bikepacking than a leatherman. Can hold something steady with pliers like a mini vise and use SAK or bike tools in other hand.

 

[nigelp]

I’ll add that the stainless blade can hold a very sharp edge and is very easy to maintain. The wood saw is capable and a useful tool at camp - I’ve used the wood saw on multiple day walks when I used to use a bush buddy wood stove to process ideal lengths of wood.

 

[ijohnson]

I was very surprised to find them so popular here. I had largely disregarded them as “Jacks of all trades.”

Your reason for disregarding them is precisely why they are so popular.

 

[Broch]

As I said on TeeDee's thread, I've carried one pretty much every day since around 1976 and I wouldn't be without one - in fact I feel lost without one. I use it several times a day. Working outdoors I break nails on a regular basis so I keep them short using the scissors; I'm always getting splinters or thorns and I can extract them straight away when it's so much easier to do so; the wood saw makes short work of that walking stick in the hedge that will be gone if I don't take it now; the large blade is big enough to carry out many tasks and the small one is almost as good as a scalpel; I can drill a hole in many materials (including aluminium) with the awl ...

I would ask the opposite question, why not carry a swiss army knife?

 

[Kepis]

As I said on TeeDee's thread, I've carried one pretty much every day since around 1976 and I wouldn't be without one - in fact I feel lost without one. I use it several times a day. Working outdoors I break nails on a regular basis so I keep them short using the scissors; I'm always getting splinters or thorns and I can extract them straight away when it's so much easier to do so; the wood saw makes short work of that walking stick in the hedge that will be gone if I don't take it now; the large blade is big enough to carry out many tasks and the small one is almost as good as a scalpel; I can drill a hole in many materials (including aluminium) with the awl ...

I would ask the opposite question, why not carry a swiss army knife?

Well said, i was going to post in reply to Pattree "why do you carry a Opinel?", i guess the answer is because you like it and it suits your needs, same with many of us carrying a SAK, not only that the sheeple also don't see a SAK as an offensive weapon. Broch nailed it for me with his answer though.

 

[Pattree]

Well. I sort of do have something like one.
Sitting in the bottom of the hardware pocket on my Bergen is a cheap multibladed pocket knife - I think it is branded “Marksman”. Little better than a pound shop job. The point is that I’ve never attempted to use it whether or not it would work.

I have big hands and am in the habit of adapting knife handles. I have been impressed by modifications to Swiss Army knives done by folk here but I don’t think of them as a comfortable thing to use.

To be fair I don’t use ANY knife much. Other than food prep and ferro scraping I didn’t use one at all at Summer Moot. My last solo camp even less.

I do use secateurs a lot and have an old brass “Amateur Gardener” pocket knife that has secateurs built in but that is a museum piece.

What is the advantage of a Swiss Army knife over a small, more typical multi-tool?

Edited to add:

I don’t carry an Opinel.
It’s in my rucksack.
I don’t habitually carry any knife.
(or screwdriver, or hammer or stapler)

I’m just curious about the popularity of this one particular brand.

 

[TeeDee]

So as an adjunct - what Model does everyone carry ? I'm guessing people have found the 'right' for them and would be interesting to see if there is a common theme or trend regarding model.

 

[Broch]

Every day is a Swiss Champ in a belt pouch (in black if you want the detail); smart dress it's an Alox Farmer X on a loop from my belt in my pocket - I can't stand stuff sitting in the bottom of my pocket and that way it keeps tidy trousers smart.

 

[Kepis]

So as an adjunct - what Model does everyone carry ? I'm guessing people have found the 'right' for them and would be interesting to see if there is a common theme or trend regarding model.

I use a Hiker as it suits my needs, the addition of the screwdriver over the corkscrew is more useful for me, but also as i modify the small blade on all my SAK's for whittling, the flush screwdriver being nice and smooth is lot kinder on the hands than the corkscrew. I also use a Farmer and Forester (straight blade)

 

[Pattree]

So as an adjunct - what Model does everyone carry ? I'm guessing people have found the 'right' for them and would be interesting to see if there is a common theme or trend regarding model.

……… And how often do you really use the tools on it?

I think my thread has just gone for a Burton - we’re going to get a million descriptions that won’t answer my question.

 

[Silverclaws2]

After being Victorinox Handyman carrier and user since 1978, I deemed to replace my trusty Victorinox that had seen me through both my scouting and military experience with the new kid on the block, the Leatherman Juice Xe6. Roll on 24 years, the Juice has long since failed due to not wear but material failure and am back to using the worn but hardy Handyman to have recently bought a new Handyman as my pal was getting rather long in the tooth, part because I thought I couldn't do without on board pliers to find I really can, I always could but I carry a pair of separate pliers, cheap pliers I can abuse with abandon if need be and not risk the destruction of my pocket knife.

 

[Broch]

……… And how often do you really use the tools on it?

I think my thread has just gone for a Burton - we’re going to get a million descriptions that won’t answer my question.

As I said, several times a day pretty much every day; I've used the scissors once today, the large blade once, and the pliers once.

 

[Kepis]

……… And how often do you really use the tools on it?

Every day, i used the toothpick, large blade and Phillips screwdriver this morning alone, cant see me using the saw today though, but you never know.

 

[TeeDee]

……… And how often do you really use the tools on it?

I think my thread has just gone for a Burton - we’re going to get a million descriptions that won’t answer my question.

Annoying isn't it.

When a random person comments or manages to redivert a thread with a related or unrelated comment.

 

[Silverclaws2]

Most days I use something on the thing, like last evening, the tweezers to lift an errant hair out some paint I had just applied to a tool I was restoring, hoping for a good finish.

Oh sure I could have gone into the house to hunt around for a pair of tweezers whilst the paint was drying, but I had my SAK on me to be carrying tweezers.

Oh yeah and at some point over the last few says, can't locate exactly when, age ya know I presented with the mess I had made of a shoelace knot was impressed with the trying out of the idea to use the corkscrew to finagle the knot out, first time I'd tried that.

Ah yeah the above painting job, I pried the lid off the paint with the SAK screwdriver

 

[Pattree]

Ho hum.

I had no intention of being adversarial, just intrigued as to why this particular brand of pocket knife is so popular here in BcUK when so many multi tools have been developed since its introduction.

I can see that it is popular of course but can’t see why.
I don’t use any tool as often as you people seem to use your Swiss Army knives +. Thus far today I’ve used a couple of spoons.

 

[Silverclaws2]

Ho hum.

I had no intention of being adversarial, just intrigued as to why this particular brand of pocket knife is so popular here in BcUK when so many multi tools have been developed since its introduction.

Conservatism I guess, in that perhaps it is when we find things that work we become comfortable with those things to perceive no reason to change and to be fair Victorinox has been a part of European identity for decades to create an air of at least European familiarity.

And yes the things don't do ' everything ' we need of them and even do some things badly but they inspire ingenuity and perhaps it's that, we through being inspired to exercise ingenuity feel part of something, capable even.

 

[Broch]

I suppose the real reason I choose a SAK over something like a Leatherman is that I'm not, generally, using it for mechanical jobs - so I don't need multiple sized Philips tips or hex drivers. For my needs the SAK is neater, smaller, lighter, with the design emphasis in the right place. Then, I suppose, there's an aesthetic, there isn't a multitool that looks as nice or as slim as an Alox Farmer X that I would dream of carrying with me when wearing 'tidy' clothes

 

[British Red]

So as an adjunct - what Model does everyone carry ? I'm guessing people have found the 'right' for them and would be interesting to see if there is a common theme or trend regarding model.

Ranger. With plus scales I added.

I need a wood saw, scissors (fantastic on cable ties), small blade (feed sacks), large blade (parcels, bailer twine), pin (splinters), tweezers (thorns & splinters), biro, bottle opener (liquid refreshment).

My scales are bright yellow so I don't lose it!