Alox ... what am I missing ... ?

[AimlessWanderer]

... and being a total noob the phrase "Scibeer HA models" means nothing ... yet (Hint Number 2  )

Scibeer has really made some extraordinary SAK mods.  Here's one of many threads:  Calling all Scibeer Fans! 

  Thanks for that matey - all is clear now 

My apologies, I failed to notice that you were talking about the Rambler.  You're right, there's no difference in the tools of a cellidor or ALOX rambler, except for the lack of toothpick and tweezers on the ALOX model.  The blade and tool differences we've been mentioning only apply to the Pioneer series and the Soldiers (93mm ALOX models).

Don't apologise mate - you've cleared up the difference 

So ... where does the Alox Farmer fit in this? Organic or genetically modified?

[AimlessWanderer]

Alox  ...  this is what you missing ... !

(Image removed from quote.)

That's a lot of alox 

I'm a user rather than a collector, but I'm not missing out entirely ... I do have the large debts 

Very impressive collection! Bottom right - Six knives that look like canoe pattern slippies ... what are they?

[Mr. Whippy]

Farmers are organic.

[AHB]

Farmers are organic.

And you're wearing some smashing blue socks today Nate..  

[NutSAK]

So ... where does the Alox Farmer fit in this? Organic or genetically modified?

The Farmer is the best of the organically-produced alox models, IMO! 

A tough, three-layer SAK with the width of a two-layer cellidor SAK.  The three-layer alox models have that perfect "square" feel in the hand.

The one in the center is the Scibeer model, so it's genetically modified.

[jan.]

Alox  ...  this is what you missing ... !

(Image removed from quote.)

That's a lot of alox 

I'm a user rather than a collector, but I'm not missing out entirely ... I do have the large debts 

Very impressive collection! Bottom right - Six knives that look like canoe pattern slippies ... what are they?

[Mr. Whippy]

Farmers are organic.

And you're wearing some smashing blue socks today Nate..  

Why thank you!

[NutSAK]

 

[Swiss Man]

I was a celluloid fan for the LONGEST time. Then I bought an ALOX Soldier to prove Grant/Def wrong. 

I have been a fan ever since.   

[ICanFixThat]

I think the OP gets the picture now.  ...and they walk the talk.

[edcgear]

Alox  ...  this is what you missing ... !

(Image removed from quote.)

That's a lot of alox 

I'm a user rather than a collector, but I'm not missing out entirely ... I do have the large debts 

Very impressive collection! Bottom right - Six knives that look like canoe pattern slippies ... what are they?

(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)

What are you trying? To give me heartattack? 

Great looking collection.... 

[AimlessWanderer]

Cheers guys 

Great comments, great photos, and some very pretty knives and tools.  I think the things that get in the way for me may be cost, lack of scale tools (believe it or not), and the fact that things don't tend to stay pretty with me for very long. I think one part of my mind just keeps nudging me away and saying "leave it - you'll just spoil it". Really enjoyed hearing/seeing what you guys get out of them though. 

So I'm still not feeling the full love at this stage (maybe it's something I'll grow into  ), but I'm very intrigued with the beefed up versions - might need to take a look at one of those at some point when I've got a few pennies spare

(Plus - Good to know I'm not the only guy not fully intoxicated by them  )
Many thanks 

[Pacu]

One of the appeals of alox is that time worn weathered look. I guessin silver alox would look new the longest. For the longest time i didn't want to carry my hard to get blue farmer but now i'm glad i carry it often. Be a shame to let something like that sit in the dark for years.

I can see me kicking years from now and the wife sells all my stuff for 50 cents at a garage sale. I'd better get some use out of my alox.

[NutSAK]

(Plus - Good to know I'm not the only guy not fully intoxicated by them  )
Many thanks 

In your defense, you haven't handled one at this point, so you don't know what you're missing.  Gareth on the other hand has, so I'm not sure what his issue is.   

Worn alox looks great, IMO.  There are some great pictures of worn alox around here...

Here are a couple of examples:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5287.msg398867.html#msg398867

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,14058.msg392892.html#msg392892

It's like BO finish.  It looks great new, then looks rather shabby when it only has a few scratches, then looks great again when it's really worn.

[Mr. Whippy]

Agree.

Alox ages well:

[AimlessWanderer]

That second pic is definitely a used look I could achieve with minimal effort 

I need to look into these pioneer doofers a bit more, as I'm quite liking the idea of a pruning blade in lieu of can opener, as well as a beefed up set of tools.

[LightFR]

This are mine :



I really enjoy the Alox with black tools, very nice contrast:

All Black


and Olive green with Black tools

[AimlessWanderer]

Bump for a very old thread  and nearly two years after asking the initial question, my alox count has increased a little: 

Silver Rambler - carried occasionally
Black Pioneer - carried occasionally with a Style PS
Red Pioneer - still in the clamshell pack 
Silver Harvester - was carried for a while, but very rarely sees daylight now
Silver Pruner - never gets carried
Silver Rancher - never gets carried either
Old Ribbed Silver Cadet - never gets carried and in my for sale thread

I can definitely see the collectability of these for want to persue that line, but from a functional perspective you're still more likely to catch me with a celidor SAK in my pocket than alox. However, my two stainless clad Wengers (Traveller and Pocket Tool Chest) do see quite a bit of pocket time. I think I actually prefer the feel of smooth scaled knives which is why the Wengers get pocket time and the alox doesn't. My Metal 50 made it to my for sale thread too for that reason .... though my Deluxe Cigar Cutter is going nowhere! That's just far too nice 

I guess alox just isn't right for me, and there's a chance I might let more of them go in time. They'll probably just live in a drawer for a few years to let their value creep up a bit  but from a user perspective - celidor or plain stainless for me. Keepers for me will be the Rambler and black Pioneer for occasional carry, and I can see the Harvester getting PSK duty. If any others come my way by being gifted they'd be kept of course, but I'll not be trying to chase any more down.

I've even lost any interest of tracking down a Soldier from my year of birth - I know I'll just stick it in a drawer and think "what did I buy that for" 

[nuphoria]

So you had to go buy a load of them to find this out?!

[Monrogue]

Alox ages at lot more gracefully than Cellidor I reckon 

That's what I think too.  The cellidor is very easy to scratch up, and probably breaks easy too, but I do like the feel of it. 

[AimlessWanderer]

So you had to go buy a load of them to find this out?!

Of course  I wouldn't have found out if I didn't get them to try them 

The red Pioneer was bought as a spare to the black one, but had I been sober at the time that probably wouldn't have happened 

I do like the pruner blade which explains the different variations of those, but I now have a couple of Original Outdoorsman knives from the '70s which get carried instead. That pruner blade beats any of the dedicated clam shell openers on the pliers based tools 

The ribbed cadet was peer pressure  It seemed everyone was raving about them ages ago - so I got one and thought "meh" and stuck it in a drawer  I honestly don't regret getting the Rambler though 

[Monrogue]

Here's what I like about Alox:

1.  For SAKs with the same number of layers, Alox is much thinner than Cellidor SAK counterpart
2.  Alox scales don't pop off, crack or chip
3.  Alox colors are more vibrant than the cellidor counterpart AND are even more appealing with normal wear patterns
4.  The pins and tools are heavier duty (larger diameter pins and thicker tools)
5.  Way better awl.

That's about it.

I agree with all of this (although I have yet to have a worn down colored one).  I've stated before that my only gripes with Alox is the lack of the scale tools, and the fact that the Alox models all lack scissors for some odd reason (unless there is a good reason of which I am unaware).  The lack of scissors is my major gripe as I don't "need" the toothpick and tweezers nearly as much as scissors. 

[Monrogue]

I'm with these two.  While I adore every one of my SAK's, there is something extremely delicious about Alox. The lack of backspring tools has never been a particular issue and they just feel so nice in your hand, work like crazy, and look really good the more you use them.

Yeah, I too don't mind the lack of the backspring tools.  The awl on the Alox models is much better than the backspring awl on the cellidor models.  Plus I do like having that smooth back edge as opposed to the feeling of a few tools sticking out of the back, especially the corkscrew. 

[Monrogue]

Have to agree with everything said so far.
Started with a 1977 Soldier and have not stopped since then.
I've only been collecting just over a month and will have reached 90 Alox by this weekend.

Still lots to find and that's part of the fun for me. 

Just love them!

90 in a month? My hat is off to you. My girlfriend gives me the 'What another knife?' everytime royal mail show up. The rate you're doing it i'd be single in a month. 

I know right?  My wife thinks I have way too many of these things as it is, and I only have a total of 13 (multitools and SAKs combined).  It's tough as SAKs are addicting   I would really like to track down a 1978 SI as it's my birth year and would be a neat one to have. 

[Monrogue]

Alox  ...  this is what you missing ... !

(Image removed from quote.)

Wow, that's a lot of Alox

[Monrogue]

I do like the pruner blade which explains the different variations of those, but I now have a couple of Original Outdoorsman knives from the '70s which get carried instead. That pruner blade beats any of the dedicated clam shell openers on the pliers based tools 

I love the pruner blade on my Pioneer Rancher, and I agree that it's a very versatile little blade, and it looks cool

[Lynn LeFey]

I have only one ALOX, a Farmer. I agree with most of Mr. Whippy's 5 points. I can't speak to point #3, since I got a silver one, and it has no wear on it yet anyway.

The ALOX 93mm seems more for harder use in less pleasant conditions. The grip on the tool is much better than on the plastic scales. The thickness of all of the tools makes it feel more 'trustworthy' in hand. I'd be willing to push the blade farther, and apply more force on the caplifter as a pry tool.

I'm currently EDCing my Farmer, paired with a Rambler (plastic scale version) on my keychain. This way, I get a sort of best-of-both-worlds. I still get tweezers/toothpick, small scissors, and all the heavier duty stuff on the Farmer. Good combo for the weight.

[Monrogue]

I love the solid, heavy click the Alox models make when opening/closing each tool.  These definitely appear to be made for harder use.

[WiSAKfan]

i can see the benefits of alox but i'm still kinda in the cellidor camp for toothpick/tweezer/pen and in winter the metal being cold isn't quite as comfortable.

[crackout]

I carry the tweezers in the coin department of my wallet. Problem solved.
And since my Cadet is always close to my body, it's nice and warm once I use it.