Why a Swiss Army Knife.

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I have carried a SAK Huntsman in my left front pocket virtually every day since I was at school. I have found good use of every tool and blade on it so many times I'm glad I had it when I wanted it. It has been all around the world with me and has, on more than one occasion, been the saviour of a situation that would have bene difficult without, either for me or one of my travelling companions.
In places where the local water cannot trusted it opens crown-top bottles for everyone when no other member of the group has the tool for the job. It opens cans of food. It cuts firewood up to 3" thick .. I could go on.
It doesn't frighten people. That's probably it's biggest selling point. If needs be you can use a SAK pretty much anywhere, even in these days of panic about knives, and people see it for what it is ... a tool for a job, and they don't become hysterical about someone carrying or using a knife.

I did once lose mine. I dropped it at an Autumnal Bardsters get-together (If new here ask and 'oldie ;) ). First thing once home I ordered another, upset at losing my trusted companion of so many miles and explorations. The following Spring I retraced my steps at Bardsters and found the original just where I had lost it in the long grass and buttercups. I pocketed it and the 'spare' now lives in the Landy 'just in case' :lol:

I'll admit it, it's not my automatic go-to for cutting with a strong, sharp blade. For that I reach for the knife pocket-clipped to my right front pocket, but that's another matter ;)
 
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It doesn't frighten people. That's probably it's biggest selling point. If needs be you can use a SAK pretty much anywhere, even in these days of panic about knives, and people see it for what it is ... a tool for a job, and they don't become hysterical about someone carrying or using a knife.
I have a SAK sat on my desk at work and no one gives it a second thought. It would probably raise a few eyebrows if there were any other kind of sharp knife sitting in it's place though.
 
What do you lubricate your SAK with?
As HorseGuy says it might not need it, but I very often use my Officier Suisse for food and often wash it under the tap so it does need lubrication now and again. A tiny amount of very light oil (SWMBO's sewing machine oil in my case) is all it takes. Animal fats (e.g. from my skin and hair) would probably do it if I didn't have the Singer oil. I can't remember the last time I oiled the Soldier; I don't use that for food so often and then I usually just wash the blade without dunking the rest of it -- that's easier because it's a much bigger blade.
 
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I have never felt the need to. My oldest SAK is 15 years old, well used and is quite grubby inside now. But that hasn't affected the performance or smoothness of movement in any way.
My pockets must be grubbier than yours.
I find that if I don't clean mine it gets harder to open. This is more noticeable with the smaller and less used blades. After cleaning under the tap with washing up liquid and an old toothbrush it's better. Sometimes I lubricate with cooking oil, sometimes I don't bother. Not much difference!
 
No wonder it gets harder to open! Cooking oils are more heat transfer fluids than lubricants. Some will set solid if you leave them exposed to the atmosphere.
Absolutely, it gets pretty gunked. For joints, Camellia oil is a decent food-grade option, or food-grade silicone too.
 
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Now this I do understand.

In my youth this was the only knife I would carry. I identified with all the dads in the village.
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However:
To misquote Flanders and Swan:

I very rarely meet a horse and that’s what makes me sad.
And when I do it hasn’t a stone in its hoof,
But I would if I did and It had.


Aren’t tin openers and bottle openers also becoming obsolete?
That's nice, WWII period or shortly after ? I've recently come to realise that its actually a form of marlin spike for splicing rope and getting tight knots apart etc. But with modern ropes, like horses and can openers, it's becoming obsolete. Bottle openers though, still seem to common on better classes of beer, I'm glad to say.
 

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