Are SAKs Multi Tools

[Benner]

Pliers play no part in my classification.

That's all I have to add. 

[grimm_kaosboy]

I voted no. Although SAK's do fit the definition of mult-tool, and ARE indeed, multi functioning tools they are still swiss army knives. A generic term for multi-function pocket knives regardless of their country of orign.
The term "multi-tool" was coined when the Leatherman tool came to be and shook up the pocket tool world. He wanted to build a full sized pliar, with the convience and usefullness of the beloved SAK as he felt the mini pliars were not up to par with heavy duty use. The emphasis was on the pliar, or the "tool" if you will. While the SAK the empasis was always on adding tools to a pocket knife to make it more versatile in day to day usings.
So is a SAK a multi-tool? Yes it is by definition. But I don't call them that. I call them swiss army KNIVES because at the core, that's what it is designed around.
Leathermans, and by extension all the other companies interpatations of his trend setting tool, I call multi-tools, because they were designed around the tool aspect of the pliars.

[1jump2many]

Technically SAK's are MT's, but for ease of clarity discussing MT's and SAK's I don't refer to SAK's as MT's, I refer to them as SAK's.  <---How is that for clarity?   

[sardauker]

Voted Yes.

It has many tools, ca va sans dire.

[yud]

Voted Yes.

It has many tools, ca va sans dire.

indeed

[Magnus]

I think the are two separate questions here.

1) when using referring to a group including SAKs and multi pliers, do you refer to it as a group of multi tools, or multi tools and SAKs.  Or, to put it another way, is a SAK a correct answer to someone asking for a recommendation for a multitool in your opinion.

2) to be specific, when referring to a SAK, should you call it a SAK, and use multitool to refer to other multitools.

[DaveK]

This is my favourite multitool.

[AHB]

I voted no, of course.  
What the first thing that springs in mind, when you hear: Swiss Multitool.?


There you have it..  

[Mr. Whippy]

Well, it is multipurpose and it DOES have a bottle opener...

[DaveK]

Here's another multitool:

[John]

Here's another multitool:

(Image removed from quote.)

And another TOOL! but he sure aint Swiss 

[Freudian Frog]

By definition YES! I can't fathom why people are saying no!

[Mr. Whippy]

Here's another multitool:

(Image removed from quote.)

Sorry no bottle opener.

[DaveK]

I bet I could open a bottle with it.

[GraysonK]

I voted no, of course.  
What the first thing that springs in mind, when you hear: Swiss Multitool.?


There you have it..  

+1 I'll concede that MT is a broad term that can have a subcategory SAK and Plier Based tool.  But until the particular subject came up, I never considered it.  A SAK was a SAK and MT was anything else, especially plier based tools.  Everything else fell into the category of "Kind of like a Leatherman" "Kind of like a SAK"  "Wow that's cool, but what is it?" and "What in the H*ll is that?"  

[AHB]

I still think Benner hit the head on the nail with his definition:  

SAK's - Anything made by Vic or Wenger in either the "traditional" SAK set up, or any of their OH lines.
Folders - Any folding knives that contain blades and blades only (Wenger or Vic knives with blades only are still SAK's).
Fixed blades - Any fixed bladed knife.
MT's - Any tool with more than one function that doesn't fit into any of the above.

Just because there's a blade that folds on my Sideclip doesn't make it a "Folder" and therefore I don't post pics of it
in "what folding knife did you carry today" threads ect...

 

[DaveK]

We could solve this whole debate by referring to plier based multi-functional tools as "proper multitools".

In fact, I do already

[AHB]

We could solve this whole debate by referring to plier based multi-functional tools as "proper multitools".

In fact, I do already (Image removed from quote.)

Or the short version: REAL MT's..  

[Craig]

This is my favourite multitool.

(Image removed from quote.)

That looks useful for precision work . Here's my favourite general purpose tool.

[cerbera147]

Here's another multitool:

(Image removed from quote.)

That reminds me of joke...

What's brown and sticky?












A Stick 

[turbov21]

I say, yes, on the grounds that they have multiple tools.

That said, I also consider multi-bit screwdrivers multi-tools.

[Neil]

I say, yes, on the grounds that they have multiple tools.

That said, I also consider multi-bit screwdrivers multi-tools.

I think like that as well.  Logic tells me its a screwdriver but all the bits and mechanisms scream MT at me

[ratslash7]

I haven't voted yet because I haven't figured it out yet.

According to Wikipedia:

A multi-tool is a portable, versatile hand tool that combines several individual tool functions in a single grip or in the shape of a credit card.

[sardauker]

ok, let's mediate.

A multitool needs TOOLS and not only knives.
so:
A SAK is a multitool only when it has more than just blades.
not all the SAKs are multitools: some are just folders.

Am I in the right spot?

[Freudian Frog]

I haven't voted yet because I haven't figured it out yet.

According to Wikipedia:

A multi-tool is a portable, versatile hand tool that combines several individual tool functions in a single grip or in the shape of a credit card.

Wikipedia is by no means a standards body. =P

I take it by its name. Multi-tool. If it has multitple tools, it is a multi-tool. Though for a multi-bit screwdriver, certainly it performs in varying tasks but all the tasks are the same - driving. Do you consider each head as being a different tool? Though I suppose one would argue the same for wrenches, and I'd call each individual wrench a tool... so yes, I believe a multi-bit screwdriver to be a multi-tool.

[yud]

I haven't voted yet because I haven't figured it out yet.

According to Wikipedia:

A multi-tool is a portable, versatile hand tool that combines several individual tool functions in a single grip or in the shape of a credit card.

so the answer is YES and LMs are not

[AHB]

I haven't voted yet because I haven't figured it out yet.

According to Wikipedia:

A multi-tool is a portable, versatile hand tool that combines several individual tool functions in a single grip or in the shape of a credit card.

so the answer is YES and LMs are not

Wikipedia  

[ratslash7]

I haven't voted yet because I haven't figured it out yet.

According to Wikipedia:

A multi-tool is a portable, versatile hand tool that combines several individual tool functions in a single grip or in the shape of a credit card.

so the answer is YES and LMs are not

Wikipedia  

Yeah, I know. I was looking for a definitive answer and that's the closest I could find...on the internet anyway. Perhaps ans unabridged dictionary? I don't have one.

Maybe it's up to us to define multitool?

[Whoey]

I think it's pretty black and white to me. A multitool has multiple tools, hence the name. Pliers are one of the many possible tools. I consider a SAK with more than just blades (such as the screwdriver/bottle-opener/can-opener) to have multiple uses besides just a knife and a SAK with only blades is just a folding knife.

[Magnus]

the fact is "multitool" isn't a proper word and isn't in any official dictionary, the correct term is "multi-tool", a compound of multi, meaning many, and tool, defined as:

tool (plural tools)

   1. A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.

          Hand me that tool, would you?

   2. Equipment used in a profession, e.g., tools of the trade.

          These are the tools of the trade.

   3. Something to perform an operation; an instrument; a means.
   4. (computing) A piece of software used to develop software or hardware.

          The software engineer had been developing lots of EDA tools.

   5. A person or group which is used or controlled, usually unwittingly, by another person or group.

          He was a tool, no more than a pawn to her.

   6. (slang) smurf.

so, yes, it is anything with many tools.