Champion: the sweet spot of pocket carry

[Singh]

I’ve taken to carrying a Champion which is 5.25 ounces, and  that’s about 30% lighter than my Vic Spirit.  The Champion doesn’t feel bulky or heavy at all. I think the sweet spot on pocket carry might be around the 5 ounce mark (142g).  Anything over that  can feel like a little brick swinging in your pocket as you walk.

Why a Champion? I get all the tools that are on my Vic Spirit, plus some extras, but no pliers.

Why not a Swiss Champ?  The SAK pliers push the weight to the 6.5 ounces, which is too heavy.  Also, the Champion was  HALF the price of a SwissChamp.

I was concerned that since this was a “big” SAK, that it would be BIG. It’s not. Seriously.  A pack of Trident gum is wider.

I’ve worn it with jeans and khaki style pants. It feels comfortable in both. It’s best to situate in the pocket with the corkscrew side facing your leg. It’s more comfortable than having the blade side rub into your leg all day. 

A dangler/belt hanger and that would keep the Champion sitting vertical, which would feel better in the pocket. Or you can have your wallet in there to keep the SAK vertical.

Due to the width of the Champion, it sits better in the pocket than a three layer SAK which can roll around  and rest on its side. (if that makes sense). I’ve had a three layer Climber  (with plus scales) roll on its side in my pocket and it just feels *wrong*.   

The fishscaler: I’ll never scale a fish, but I think this tool would have also saved the day: http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=38521.0 Also, this looks like an ideal pokey/probey tool, and I read  that it’s good for cutting cardboard. The fun of SAKs is figuring out new ways to use the tools.

I really don’t know why Vic stopped (?) making these. Maybe because it  takes away some of the SwissChamp’s thunder? But I think the Champion has a new role to fill in this predominately pliers-based MT world because most people will go for a pliers-based MT if they need pliers.     

[Zed]

I know what you mean by landing on there sides , although i found even the explorer too bulky in my pockets but then i dont even like having change in my pockets, i carry a tinker daily but usualy end up with my very light opinel #5 and my ppp worn horizontaly on my belt, i think its a matter of taste when it comes to pocket carry, i found my explorer swung around in my pocket as well,

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I edc a Swisschamp so I know what you mean about the belt hanger making things much more comfortable

[Waterlander]

Gotta have pliers on a SAK, but that's just me. The Champion is very nice though

....
The fishscaler: I’ll never scale a fish, but I think this tool would have also saved the day:
....

Neither do I, but I have used it for fun at work like this:
(with the pen on the plus scales)

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Personally, I feel that anything bigger than about 4 layers is too big for pocket carry.  My Explorer fits the bill pretty nicely for that, although I'd really like to add a pliers layer to it.  It'll probably be too big for pocket carry afterward though.   

[austin83]

I tried carrying an Explorer, and it was just too big for pocket carry.  I now EDC a Scientist, and a classic on my keychain for the scissors.  Sometimes I carry a SwissTool on my belt.

[Aleister]

My "best" size pocket carry SAK is a, three layer, Climber. Would be a two layer spartan (but misses scissors) or compact (but misses the small screwdriver which works with 99% of computer screws / philips screws).

After that, the next "major" step up in pocket size, for me, would be a five layer Ranger and the next one a SwissChamp.

[jerseydevil]

I had a Champion Plus for a while, and never had any problem pocket carrying it.  Today I'm actually carrying my Wenger S557, again in my pocket with a lanyard for easy access.  Barely notice that it's there. 

[J Mackrel Jones]

I carried a Champion for years, in a pocket-in-the-pocket, next to my groin.  Had to be careful tying my shoes.  Finally broke off the can opener jimmying a window (the best piano on campus was kind of locked up during summer break) - learned something about Strength of Materials...

[Zed]

I find that this is a very personal thing a pocket carry MT/SAK, as i carry a scissor based keyring tool ie classic or micra, so ive no need for scissors on my pocket carry, and the same with pliers as ive a small plier based MT in my backpack plus while at work i carry a sog powerlock or ppp, so in my pocket i find my tinker handy for a quick blade or phillips or flathead driver if needed , plus i used the pin to pop a bloodblister last week 

[AimlessWanderer]

I've tried pocket carrying large SAKs a few times, but it never seems to work well for me as I have my pockets crammed with so much other stuff too. Wenger Tool Chest and Vic Champion are the biggest 85mm and 91mm I have, and both tend to ride in a bag if they make it out of the door

[sergemaster]

Amici,
Here is a hastily taken shot of my vintage Champion with it's new white scales. The Champion is my main EDC 90% of the time. On a side note, I always carry a large MT in my bag so the loss of pliers is not a troublesome issue for me in a SAK.

Cheers,
Serge

[jerseydevil]

Yesterday I got a Swisschamp in a trade, and carried it for the first time today.  It was in my pocket all day at work, and I didn't find it to be too big or cumbersome.  It was actually very comfortable.  Still, it does take up a fair bit of space, so at some point I'm going to get a belt pouch.  I have no problem carrying it loose though.

[bren10man]

I have carried a Champion since DEC 1986.

Served me well in: Alaska, Thailand, Iraq (2 trips there), Korea, and all over the USA.

From the Arctic to the Jungle to the woods to the desert and over water and land.  Now, I jump (airborne operations) with it.

Has never failed me.

[Singh]

bren10man, I figured you've put the Champion through some pretty rough use over the past 20+ years. Given the breadth of your experience over the years and in the military , have you ever worn one out? And how did you clean/maintain it in the jungle environments to keep it from corroding?

[bren10man]

bren10man, I figured you've put the Champion through some pretty rough use over the past 20+ years. Given the breadth of your experience over the years and in the military , have you ever worn one out? And how did you clean/maintain it in the jungle environments to keep it from corroding?

Never worn one out.  Just the springs (I think I am on 3rd scissors spring now).

I keep it oiled and cleaned with toothbrush from M16/M4 rifle/carbine cleaning kit.   I keep blades sharp with diamond sharpener.

[Singh]

have you had to replace the scales?

[bren10man]

have you had to replace the scales?

No...I just keep them clean and polished.

[ICanFixThat]

I just picked up this MOP Champion with T&T.  The MOP versions seem quite a bit harder to find than the other luxury ones like the Stag version.

[Styerman]

I EDC a Vic. Handyman ( pretty chubby little thing ) , I use a Munroe Dangler ( thanks Gadget Guy ) .

Chris

[chip]

I pretty much only pocket carry my +B lumberjack on a p7 suspension clip since receiving it a little while back now.  The tool count is limited but I have a ps4 on my keys and and a soon to arrive swisscard lite for my wallet.

And after carrying this anything else frankly feels like a house brick.

[MultiMat]

I agree  I tend to pocket my Champion a lot more than my SwissChamp. I added a micro screw driver too the corkscrew of my Champion.

[Waterlander]

I find a thicker SAK not so much a real problem for pocket carry, but I find the blade awkward to use on a SAK thicker then 3 layers. (like spreading peanut butter and cutting my sandwich exactly in half, lol)

edit: sorry to go off topic, forget 'bout it, I'm off to the kitchen again