Victorinox Troublemaker Mod (or the Deluxe Mountaineer)

[Toolslinger]

So, I finally got around to tackling my forst SAK mod yesterday.

I was originally looking at getting a Troubleshooter, but I prefer the corkscrew over the philips (I already have better drivers on my LM). When I listed out the tools I wanted, I realized there was no model available that had only what I wanted and nothing more. Closest was the Handyman but I already have a saw and I can leave the chise or the Mountaineer, but it had no pliers and no fine driver (seriously, why is there no back tool?). So I decided to make my own.

I took a stock reduction approach on a SwissChamp I had lying around and converted it to meet my needs.

Tool Load Out:
- Can Opener, Cap Lifter, Awl
- Plierss
- Scissors, Hook (no file)
- Metal Saw/File, Fine Screwdriver
- Large Blade, Small Blade, Corkscrew
- Tweezers, Toothpick, Pen, Pin

So, about the name... well, it's the first thing that popped into my head after thinking about what a philips-less Troubleshooter would be. It could be considered a Deluxe Mountaineer if following Vic convention but it isn't as catchy to me.

The mod was fairly straightforward but I would do the next one differently to make it smoother and a little more polished. I kind of messed up the pins a bit and have some small gaps in places between layers (all cosmetic and only if you look). The can opener also looses it's snap once every 20 opens or so (it always comes back) and the small blade has a small stick when opening/closing at a particular spot.

Can I do better? Yes.
Am I happy and going to use the Smurf out of it? YES!

[zoidberg]

Excellent.    You'll never look at a SAK the same again. 

[eddie1115]

Excellent.    You'll never look at a SAK the same again. 

+1 This got bad for a while for me.  Started buying all kinds of SAKs on ebay just for parts and tearing them apart as soon as they showed up.  I've cooled a bit since then, turns out you can just bit them and use them

Good work on the mod, looks great!  I made a Troubleshooter from a SwissChamp (and and phillips driver) that I like a lot, good choice

[SAK Guy]

This is one of my dream configs next to the Deluxe Trail Guide (Trail Guide w/ pliers added)

[Toolslinger]

Excellent.    You'll never look at a SAK the same again. 

Very true. Now that I have my preferred combo of tools, I'll probably save a bunch of money buying SAKS .

[Toolslinger]

This is one of my dream configs next to the Deluxe Trail Guide (Trail Guide w/ pliers added)

I like the Trail Guide for it's thinness but I prefer the dedicated openers layer. Hence not sacrificing my compact to add it to this mod. (Although, it would have given me the hook with file...)

[SAK Guy]

This is one of my dream configs next to the Deluxe Trail Guide (Trail Guide w/ pliers added)

I like the Trail Guide for it's thinness but I prefer the dedicated openers layer. Hence not sacrificing my compact to add it to this mod. (Although, it would have given me the hook with file...)

And brings it in at 4 layers....... 

[Toolslinger]

Swapped the scales for standard black cellidor and added a red lanyard.

[rdub934]

Great job! looks like a really useful load-out. I don't get much use from saws so I really like the end result. Kudos

[Toolslinger]

Great job! looks like a really useful load-out. I don't get much use from saws so I really like the end result. Kudos

Thanks rdub!

I spent a lot of time thinking about what I actually used on a SAK. Quickly realized I wasn't going to find the perfect one 'over the counter' so to speak.

Took me almost as long to get up the nerve to actually do the mod.

Very happy with the result and it hasn't left my pocket since.