Author Topic: My multi-tool quest. (Read 40861 times)

David in MN · « **Reply #30 on:** September 30, 2015, 06:16:19 AM »

The SAK pliers are kinda the weak point of the knife... The locking blade (bigger handle) SAK knives don't work for me but YMMV. 100% agree about in-line screwdrivers.

If the knife "works out" you might consider an after market glasses screwdriver that threads into the corkscrew for a couple bucks. Also check if there's a pinhole by the corkscrew to store a pin in the grip.

FreeLancer · « **Reply #31 on:** September 30, 2015, 09:02:07 AM »

Quote from: David in MN on September 30, 2015, 06:16:19 AM

If the knife "works out" you might consider an after market glasses screwdriver that threads into the corkscrew for a couple bucks. Also check if there's a pinhole by the corkscrew to store a pin in the grip.

Mine came with both, found the pin by accident. The size of this beast might not work for me, either, but it's not as bulky as I was expecting.

archer · « **Reply #32 on:** September 30, 2015, 12:04:16 PM »

that looks like the tsp branded one i bought a few years ago. i find it a little large to carry and prefer my standard victronix i've been carrying for decades. but i need to make the plunge and switch, the screwdrivers are better than the older one i carry

FreeLancer · « **Reply #33 on:** September 30, 2015, 01:35:59 PM »

I wish Victorinox would come up with a system where you could build your own SAK, customizing it with only the tools you need in the smallest possible form factor. I'd probably pay twice for that luxury.

David in MN · « **Reply #34 on:** September 30, 2015, 01:51:57 PM »

Quote from: FreeLancer on September 30, 2015, 01:35:59 PM

I wish Victorinox would come up with a system where you could build your own SAK, customizing it with only the tools you need in the smallest possible form factor. I'd probably pay twice for that luxury.

No kidding. And with the modularity (you can watch them be hand built at trade shows) you'd think you could even customize the order of the tools.

FreeLancer · « **Reply #35 on:** September 30, 2015, 02:01:17 PM »

Quote from: David in MN on September 30, 2015, 01:51:57 PM

And with the modularity (you can watch them be hand built at trade shows) you'd think you could even customize the order of the tools.

Exactly. I can visualize an online app that lets you mix and match the various components until you get it just the way you want it.

archer · « **Reply #36 on:** September 30, 2015, 02:43:39 PM »

Quote from: FreeLancer on September 30, 2015, 01:35:59 PM

I wish Victorinox would come up with a system where you could build your own SAK, customizing it with only the tools you need in the smallest possible form factor. I'd probably pay twice for that luxury.

that would be sweet

FreeLancer · « **Reply #37 on:** September 30, 2015, 03:32:05 PM »

Quote from: FreeLancer on September 30, 2015, 01:59:17 AM

It's bigger than the standard SAK, but it feels better in the hand and is less bulky than the Leathermans, although the pliers aren't that awe inspiring.

Crap, after comparing head to head, my assumption of less bulky was totally wrong. The Leatherman Wave is shorter and flatter than the Hercules, but weighs about 1.5 oz more, maybe that's what led me astray. Doesn't bode well for EDC.

David in MN · « **Reply #38 on:** September 30, 2015, 03:51:21 PM »

Bummer. I was keen to hear your thoughts. I'm still looking for the ideal easy carrying multitool.

FreeLancer · « **Reply #39 on:** September 30, 2015, 04:17:32 PM »

I got an Explorer Plus model, too. More because I realized I don't have any standard-sized SAKs and figured I should have one for comparison. It's not as fat as a SwissChamp, but still almost as thick as the Hercules, albeit half the weight.

If I could get rid of the Cracker Jack lens, the small blade and that hook thingy, it might be pretty close to perfect. Maybe if I look a little closer I can find something like that.

FreeLancer · « **Reply #40 on:** September 30, 2015, 10:43:17 PM »

For anyone looking to research SAKs: http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php

I discovered that the inline Phillips is only paired with the magnifier or the led light in the regular size (91mm) and the pliers in the big lock blade size (111mm). And the Hercules is the only model with two inline Phillips.

It's looking like the sweet spot for me may still be the small (58mm) Rambler on my keychain. With scissors and inline Phillips and flat drivers, it's hard to beat for portability.

David in MN · « **Reply #41 on:** October 01, 2015, 07:03:49 AM »

I agree about the worthless magnifier. Why not pair 2 sizes of phillips?

The "hook thing" puzzled me at first because Swiss Army describes it as a parcel carrier which would be useful if I were a paperboy in 1893... In reality it functions as a tool to tug on stuck boot laces and turn wire ties tight.

Maybe we're stumbling on the optimized MN Freelancer model:

large/ small blades
nail file/metal file/hacksaw (all 1 blade on Swisschamp)
scissors
2 phillips
can opener/bottle opener/flatheads
corkscrew w/ small flathead
hook thing
awl
tweezrs/toothpick/ballpoint pen

I gotta admit that would be awesome. One stop shop for everything practical. Would I miss the saw, fish scaler, and wimpy pliers? Not hardly.

FreeLancer · « **Reply #42 on:** October 01, 2015, 11:44:17 AM »

Wonder what the minimum order number would be for a special run of SAKs with those specs?

David in MN · « **Reply #43 on:** October 01, 2015, 01:32:01 PM »

I just emailed asking. Let's not get our hopes up but maybe we can start a fire. Victorinox has a flagship store at the Mall of America (near me) and maybe with some pressure they would do a limited run. Seems possible..?

If nothing else I'm providing feedback. Maybe we could get enough folks around here to agree on the design and get an order in.

FreeLancer · « **Reply #44 on:** October 01, 2015, 02:28:33 PM »

Cool. I'd be up for two or three.

archer · « **Reply #45 on:** October 01, 2015, 04:05:31 PM »

Quote from: FreeLancer on October 01, 2015, 11:44:17 AM

Wonder what the minimum order number would be for a special run of SAKs with those specs?

good question...

FreeLancer · « **Reply #46 on:** October 02, 2015, 10:36:30 AM »

I'm thinking out loud here, so bear with....

Playing with the bigger blade on the Hercules has me loving its utility for food prep. There's something reassuring about a locked blade when you're trying to stab off a piece of crusty bread or cheese.

The Outsider is a layer short of the Hercules, minus the pliers and short Phillips, which brings it down from 5 layers to 4.

If Victorinox could delete the saw blade off the Outrider, leaving just three layers, consisting of the blade, scissors, long phillips, et al., I'd be happy camper. The length doesn't bother me as much as the width.

Carl · « **Reply #47 on:** October 02, 2015, 10:44:26 AM »

Maybe the Super Tinker SAK is closer to your needs. Link to illustrate product.

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Super-Tinker-Pocket/dp/B000MLU8PE/ref=sr_1_36?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1443804206&sr=1-36&keywords=knife

FreeLancer · « **Reply #48 on:** October 02, 2015, 10:49:16 AM »

Quote from: Carl on October 02, 2015, 10:44:26 AM

Maybe the Super Tinker SAK is closer to your needs. Link to illustrate product.

The lack of an inline Phillips is a deal breaker, for me, at least. I'd take the Explorer over any Tinker model.

David in MN · « **Reply #49 on:** October 03, 2015, 09:49:19 AM »

I got a Super Tinker for my wife, she's pretty happy with it.

I went and ordered an Outsider for myself, I don't have any of the locking SAKs and figured I'd give it a try.

Still waiting to hear back from Victorinox about what it would take to build a new design. I hope they take me seriously. We'll see.

David in MN · « **Reply #50 on:** October 15, 2015, 09:40:18 PM »

Got my Outrider today (delivered via Japan, best deal I could find). I gotta say I feel it's a step in the wrong direction for me. I like the tools on it but it's clunky like a Leatherman. And the blade is nothing short of being a scimitar. I'd rather a short blade with an aggressive tanto edge for hard work. I guess there's some personal preference there. It's not bad all in all and I wouldn't feel underpowered carrying it in the wild. It's got my SAK biggies: tweezers, corkscrew, scissors.

Will it beat my beloved Camper for travel? No. Will it beat the Super Tinker in the diaper bag? No. Will it beat the Swisschamp for around the house/cabin? Maybe... And that actually says a lot. Jury's still out.

I'm not hearing anything from Victorinox over a custom knife. I'd like to get close to the "easy carry optimized SAK" that we've hit on here (seems like there's solid agreement on good features) but I don't know how to push further.

endurance · « **Reply #51 on:** October 16, 2015, 08:04:56 AM »

This thread is therapeutic for me. With all my gear obsessions, multitools and SAKs has never really been one of them. It's nice to know that I have room to branch out someday I decide I need another obsession (like the ten pounds of gear and tools I carry in my bunker gear pockets, my flashlight collection that could put out more light than an NFL stadium, my hiking kits that would make McGyver blush, my truck kit that takes up my entire trunk...)

archer · « **Reply #52 on:** October 16, 2015, 08:49:35 AM »

hmm, i looked up how to disassemble/repair/replace blades in a sak, not to hard to do.

FreeLancer · « **Reply #53 on:** October 16, 2015, 09:26:48 AM »

Quote from: archer on October 16, 2015, 08:49:35 AM

hmm, i looked up how to disassemble/repair/replace blades in a sak, not to hard to do.

How easy would it be remove a layer of unwanted tools, shorten the posts and press everything back together?

archer · « **Reply #54 on:** October 16, 2015, 10:36:50 AM »

Quote from: FreeLancer on October 16, 2015, 09:26:48 AM

How easy would it be remove a layer of unwanted tools, shorten the posts and press everything back together?

i need to get a burner knife and try that...

David in MN · « **Reply #55 on:** October 16, 2015, 11:27:28 AM »

Quote from: FreeLancer on October 16, 2015, 09:26:48 AM

How easy would it be remove a layer of unwanted tools, shorten the posts and press everything back together?

It's all pressure fit so pretty easy. It might be easier to buy 2 and sub out the unwanted junk to get one knife of the original size with only the useful tools on it. I'll try to get some used ahd tinker when I get some time. Not quite ready to rip apart the Swisschamp.

Reminds me of the guys who rebuild the old Buck 110s into switchblades.

FreeLancer · « **Reply #56 on:** October 18, 2015, 12:45:26 AM »

Apparently, there are guys who mod SAKs, for a price that I'm afraid to inquire about.

This one has hard anodized alox scales and liners, thicker torx pins, and rearranged tools. Look how he fit both the can and bottle openers opposite the inline phillips in the same layer.

archer · « **Reply #57 on:** October 18, 2015, 08:16:08 AM »

oh nice find...

FreeLancer · « **Reply #58 on:** October 18, 2015, 11:01:14 PM »

Same knife, closed.

Docwatmo · « **Reply #59 on:** October 19, 2015, 05:27:27 AM »

Those red liners really make it POP!! Dang-it, add another item to my "Must Have in place of food" list. LOL

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Author Topic: My multi-tool quest. (Read 40861 times)

endurance