ARRGH! the Corkscrew vs the Phillips debate!!! (again)

[WhichDawg]

I can't stop bringing this back! I remember being "them" and wanting the Phillips driver on the back of my Saks,
I never used the Corkscrew! what a waste of space....NOT!

Not long ago I tried getting a Wenger in this country (usa) with a Corkscrew and it was not happening, to
many here or enough wanted the Phillips and now... arrgh!

I luuuuv the Corkscrew and all it's "Multi" uses, I hate the backspring Phillips and it's limited use.

Yes it's just my opinion and I know others feel different (god bless your wee bitty hearts) but I
like multi-use tools!

sorry rant over, carry on

[Nikos]

It all comes down to screwing cork or phillips...

EDIT (post FF's post): I'm all for corkscrew as I find the backspring phillips virtually useless...

[Freudian Frog]

It all comes down to screwing cork or phillips...

Agreed, I don't understand how he'd consider the corkscrew multi-functional?

[WhichDawg]

lol! I dunno corkscrew=awl/knot-untier/digger/puller/reamer/holder(like for the mini-driver and works on cork!

[donvito]

I was tightening the handle on one of my doors in the morning before work and my Vic Mechanic was at hand. The backspring philips was useless as the handle was in the way and only allowed a few mm of movement, out came out the can opener and a few seconds later the job was done. I prefer corkscrew to philips as well, but since the Wenger style can opener can't turn philips screws I go with Vic

[bren10man]

my vote is for Phillips.  99% of the time, I use the corkscrew on my Champion (my EDC knife) to store the mini-screwdriver.

then again, the Champion has the top-mounted Phillips. 

[Magnus]

I have never been in a situation where I needed to open a wine bottle, and wasn't in a place that had a corkscrew.

[SlackOne]

I've used the backspring Phillips on my old Wenger so much that it's a little loose now.  It and the awl were probably the most used tools on that thing in the near-decade I was carrying it.  The Phillips might be slightly less useful on the Vics because of the larger knife body.  I haven't used the one on my Super Tinker at all yet.

BTW, the Wenger awl is the ultimate "I need something pointy and metal to poke this" tool.  It has popped out so many plastic tabs holding electronic devices together that it could be called the "Broken DVD Player Repair Tool"

[Kmarr]

I encounter philips heads ten thousand times a day, and I'm not in any profession that requires it! it just happens that a lotta philips around me need tighening. Thats why I'm putting the cybertool driver in my swisschamp so there's more choices. I considered the corkscrew vs. philips scenario but ended up keeping the corkscrew...not cuz I need to open wine bottles in a flash but because of the tiny screwdriver that has helped me more than a backside philips.

plus it doesn't hurt to have a corkscrew when you go hob nobbing with the elite and fancy folk

[Sea Monster]

The backspring phillips is more or less useless.

(Less useless *but not actually useful* on its own, and more useless if you carry a decent Multi)

but I like it for the feel when using the knife. The corkscrew sticks out and is a bit quirky in the hand.

It is, however, a lot more valuable in the situation of being a multi carrier, because so few Multis have corkscrews.

I don't have a corkscrew-phillips insert, but that adds some more use to the beastie as well.

I have more Phillips SAKs than Corkscrew saks, but in future I think I'll be favouring Corkscrew - I don't like them on the knife, but I hate not having one when needed.

[django.cj]

Corkscrew, for sure.  It opens not only wine, but my lady's Lambic.  I can't count how many times we needed a corkscrew and all I had was the phillips on my OHT.

As far as I'm concerned, that phillips is useless.  The handle is just too wide to fit anywhere.

[Benner]

As the creator of the last debate  , you all know it has to be a corkscrew.

[WhichDawg]

I don't know Ben, I'm trying to keep pace with you!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Simply got to be the CS hasn't it

[cgk]

Screwdriver!!!!  Drink beer!!!!

[thebullfrog]

I have never, and there's a good chance will never use the corkscrew. Maybe for untying a knot or something. I don't even drink, let alone needing to open some wine. That being said: I will still take the corkscrew every time. The eyeglass driver is too important to me to have the uncomfortable, awkward Phillips. Besides, I carry a CT 34 paired with a Spirit S, so another Phillips is pretty redundant lol. But really in general I find more use for the eyeglass driver than a Phillips that won't fit in most places you need a Phillips anyway. And having the corkscrew as an available additional option is kinda nice, since half the point of carrying multis is having options in any given situation.

[Freudian Frog]

Okay so let me get this right. You guys like the corkscrew because it holds the mini-scredriver (sorry, but that's actually ANOTHER tool... why are you attributing the use of this tool to the tool that merely holds it?) and that it's a little pokey thing.

I don't know about you, but I carry TONS of little pokey things.

And there's generally corkscrews near wine. Maybe if you were a wine snob... but then you'd have a proper wine opener now wouldn't you?
Snobby McSnobpants.

It's a dang corkscrew versus a number 2 phillips. You're all tool guys, aren't you?



Don't get me wrong, I like the corkscrew and inline phillips combo my Explorer has. But if I'm going for 2 layers there is no question on what should be done.

[thebullfrog]

If the argument was for a 2 layer SAK, AND I was carrying nothing else, AND the mini-driver wasn't an issue, then yes, the Phillips would win.

But the fact is I have 4 other Phillips drivers of varying sizes on me at all times already, I wear glasses and consider the mini driver a necessity so need the corkscrew to hold it, and adding a corkscrew to the mix means I have an additional (albeit mostly useless) tool as opposed to a completely redundant and poorly placed driver. Therefore, corkscrew FTMFW!!!!11

On it's own merit, yes the driver is in theory better, but in the real world for my EDC set-up and personal needs, the corkscrew makes more sense.

[CUTZ SIX]

I only rarely! use the CS, BUT I hate the backspring tools exept the CS, so I would take CS allways. Allso a SAK needs a CS imo to be a sak

I do love inline phillips though.

[Santos]

I am a fevert member of the Church of the Backspring Philips

As i am a small sak with combo tool user the can opener argument doesn't work for me. i like the feel of a philips despite not using it much.

 this is because i EDC my Hustler on my keyring and it has a quattro screw driver punkchain

The quatro punkchain probably makes a Compact super-funtion-y 

[Swiss Man]

And the corkscrew SAK's are the official SAK of the fellowship. Has anyone read our pledge lately?

"For a century now, the Secret Order of the Swiss Army Knife has kept a careful eye on mankind, ensuring that it always has the proper tools at hand. Wherever there is danger, uncertainty or a bottle of wine in need of opening, a knight of SOSAK is assuredly there."

I always carried a corkscrew for the mini driver but the only time I used it it wasn't worth the effort.  But then again I HATE the t-handle phillips.

I do though like the smoother lines of the phillips over the corkscrew.

[Santos]

...and if we had a 1/4 inch driver that is on the minigrips it would be that

[Benner]

Okay so let me get this right. You guys like the corkscrew because it holds the mini-scredriver (sorry, but that's actually ANOTHER tool... why are you attributing the use of this tool to the tool that merely holds it?) and that it's a little pokey thing.

I don't know about you, but I carry TONS of little pokey things.

And there's generally corkscrews near wine. Maybe if you were a wine snob... but then you'd have a proper wine opener now wouldn't you?
Snobby McSnobpants.

It's a dang corkscrew versus a number 2 phillips. You're all tool guys, aren't you?



Don't get me wrong, I like the corkscrew and inline phillips combo my Explorer has. But if I'm going for 2 layers there is no question on what should be done.

A phillips does one job - drives phillips screws.

A corkscrew does a few jobs so function wise you gain more with a corkscrew.

The bottom line is the backspring phillips is pretty cack and bordering on useless IMO (if you find a screw it fits, a flat head would probably work anyway), but the corkscrew may be usefull one day.  For that reason, gimme a corkscrew.

[Chako]

I agree with Benner 100%. Now when is he running for Mayor I ask?   

[Gareth]

I actually quite like the Phillips, the head is well formed and it's lower profile is more comfortable when doing more prolonged cutting tasks.  Yes it's not the most convenient of placements but I have used one successfully on a couple of occasions no problem.   


BUT I almost always carry a corkscrew.  Partly because I rather like wine, partly because I like the fact that it can carry the micro driver and can be used as a poky thing.  But mostly because in my mind SAKs are supposed to have a corkscrew.  Just as they are supposed to have a blade and are supposed to have a can opener.  They're all things that make a SAK a SAK. YMMV though.

[django.cj]

I agree, the backspring phillips is a great driver, just not where it's located.  Unless the screw you're working on is on a  completely flat surface with nothing obstructing access, the SAK handle just gets in the way.  I find the can opener works well enough as a phillips that the corkscrew is the better option.
 

[J-sews]

Corkscrew = 

Phillips = 

[Kmarr]

I think I missed the point, if I were to have a 2 layer, I'd definitely have the philips instead of corkscrew.  But in a larger tool(swisschamp  or a 3+ layer) I'd have the corkscrew because I would most likey have the slightly better inline philips. I'd still go with the cyber driver cuz you get like 8 functions in one layer(I count the bit adapter's wrench capibility, not to mention you get TWO PHILIPS ).

[Sean]

Honestly I'm happy they put both on their knives, just not on the same one's of course.
If I'm heading to a party I'll take a unit with the corkscrew, if it's just a gereral carry
then most likely the phillips.

[HighlandPark]

the last time i had to decide i found myself buying handyman AND craftsman 
how do they say - when in doubt ...