Trying to remember a SAK

turbov21 · **on:** April 12, 2009, 02:31:37 AM

Back when I was a younger man, I wanted a SAK just like Macgyver. I finally got one, thanks to my grandmother, and I used it for years. Alas, I wasn't the most responsible person and my poor SAK fell by the wayside, its blades rusted shut, and ultimately it was lost to the ages. The "Lost Tools" thread in the general forum got me to thinking about my first knife, and it's raised a questions I can't answer.

I first thought it was a Sportsman, but having looked through the SAKWiki, I don't think so any more. I distinctly remember my knife having two blades, a large and a small one, along with: the can opener, bottle opener, toothpick, and tweezers. I'm inclined now to think it was either Tinker or a Spartan

What's got me confused is I remember it having both a Phillips head, a corkscrew, and an awl on the bottom. Was there ever such a SAK that had all that? Looking through the wiki turns up a few with that and more, but I'm confident it lacked a magnifying lens, saw, pliers. This would have been around '92/'93 and it was less than $30 dollars.

bren10man · **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2009, 03:38:02 AM

Victorinox, nor did Wenger, to my knowledge, has ever made a SAK with both corkscrew and phillips head screwdriver on the bottom of the knife. The design does not fit that way.

They do make SAK's that have a corkscrew/phillips head with fine flat bladed screwdriver on the bottom.

If yours was like that, then it was fake.

Buzzbait · **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2009, 03:54:51 AM

Quote from: bren10man on April 12, 2009, 03:38:02 AM

If yours was like that, then it was fake.

That would explain the rust.

turbov21 · **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2009, 03:57:13 AM

Quote from: bren10man on April 12, 2009, 03:38:02 AM

If yours was like that, then it was fake.

No, it was real. I must be misremembering.

As for the rust...I say it was rust. It very well could have been dried soda or something. I never cleaned the poor thing.

Thanks!

Ben X · **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2009, 05:30:50 AM

That look familiar? If it was a phillips and corkscrew on a knife in that configuration, sadly neither Wenger not Victorinox made anything like that. However if it was relatively small, like smaller than a Swiss Champ, then it would had to have been the Explorer to have a phillips and a corkscrew.

turbov21 · **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2009, 05:55:48 AM

That looks very familiar! Is that a no-name knock-off?

bren10man · **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2009, 05:59:05 AM

Those are horrible fakes!!!!

Very similar to my "first SAK" I got when I was 8.

The corkscrew broke off of mine when I tried to use it, the first time.

Benner · **Reply #7 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:05:59 PM

Was there ever an oldie SAK made with the squared off phillips and a corkscrew on the backspring that could be what it was?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:38:11 PM

Neither company ever mounted a phillips and a corkscrew to the back side like that. If you had both on your knife, then it was unfortunately a knockoff. Sorry to give you the bad news about what was obviously an important piece of your past, but it's true.

I had a similar occurrence- when I was a kid I had a real SAK, then a year or so later, my uncle gave me a knockoff. I didn't know anything about real and fake ones, and the knockoff had more features and so the Camper took a back seat to my fake for a long time. I never broke it- it was one of the better fakes, but I did notice over the years that rust formed on it, first in spots then eventually over the entire thing.

I'm not sure whatever happened to that knife, but I know exactly where my Camper is!

Def

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #9 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:39:51 PM

Quote from: Benner on April 12, 2009, 07:05:59 PM

Was there ever an oldie SAK made with the squared off phillips and a corkscrew on the backspring that could be what it was?

Could you be thinking about the old triangular awl Mr. B?

Benner · **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:48:36 PM

No, I was thinking about the phillips driver that had a squared shaft on it. Coming to think of it, this 1. May never have existed, 2. Was Never on the backside of a SAK, 3. Did exist and was on the backside but was in place of a corkscrew.

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:58:17 PM

Are you starting a poll?

Benner · **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:59:47 PM

I can do.

Am I going crazy, or does this driver actually exist? I thought I saw one on an old Champ.

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2009, 08:11:35 PM

It does exist in several variations...some have a nail file surface and others have the SPAM key slot.

Benner · **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2009, 08:14:01 PM

Thanks, isn't quite what I expected. I thought the whole thing was squared off (and could therefore go between 2 liners).

So basically, TurboV21 - what the guys have already said.

appletree_man · **Reply #15 on:** April 12, 2009, 08:18:38 PM

Quote from: bren10man on April 12, 2009, 05:59:05 AM

Those are horrible fakes!!!!

Very similar to my "first SAK" I got when I was 8.

The corkscrew broke off of mine when I tried to use it, the first time.

That'll teach you to not drink wine at aged 8

turbov21 · **Reply #16 on:** April 12, 2009, 08:20:51 PM

Quote from: Benner on April 12, 2009, 08:14:01 PM

So basically, TurboV21 - what the guys have already said.

I appreciate all the replies. After all is said, I'm inclined to trust my "it was a SAK" memory over "it had a Phillips and corkscrew one," because I remember the plastic container with the gray backboard and Swiss logo when we bought it. Again, thanks everyone!

Benner · **Reply #17 on:** April 12, 2009, 08:33:49 PM

Couldn't the phillips been on the other side, paired with a magnifyer?

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2009, 04:51:58 PM

Quote from: turbov21 on April 12, 2009, 02:31:37 AM

This would have been around '92/'93 and it was less than $30 dollars.

Around that time I believe the Tinker and Spartan were commonly available blister-packed in retail outlets for about $10-$15 dollars. Also I don't believe the 84mm was available for a number of years in that time period...only the 91mm, that may have been the decision of the importer...or a decision to migrate the Tinker to the larger frame. I'm not quite sure but that was also near the time the 84mm Recruit appeared and they seemed to be pushing that model.

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Trying to remember a SAK

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