Composite "Favorite SAK" Tally

[BradGad]

With some time on my hands, I Google'd for threads and polls on people's choices for things like "best Swiss Army Knife" and "favorite SAK", and compiled the results into one list.

Nothing scientific about this... no doubt some individuals' preferences are represented in more than one list; I had to make some subjective judgments when people got chatty about multiple models they like; and no doubt I missed a few good lists.

Victorinox Adventurer 1
Victorinox Apprentice 1
Victorinox Bantam 3
Victorinox Cadet 43
Victorinox Cadet II 1
Victorinox Camper 26
Victorinox Champion 5
Victorinox Classic 41
Victorinox Climber 27
Victorinox Compact 14
Victorinox Craftsman 2
Victorinox Cybertool 1
Victorinox Cybertool 34 4
Victorinox Cybertool 29 2
Victorinox Cybertool 41 3
Victorinox Deluxe Tinker 4
Victorinox Electrician 4
Victorinox Executive 5
Victorinox Explorer 37
Victorinox Farmer 172
Victorinox Fieldmaster 21
Victorinox Forester 3
Victorinox GAK 3
Victorinox Handyman 1
Victorinox Harvester 5
Victorinox Hercules 2
Victorinox Hiker 30
Victorinox Hunter 5
Victorinox Huntsman 88
Victorinox Huntsman Lite 1
Victorinox Locksmith 2
Victorinox Manager 4
Victorinox Mechanic 4
Victorinox MiniChamp 5
Victorinox Money Clip 1
Victorinox One Hand Fireman 1
Victorinox One Hand Trekker 56
Victorinox Outdoorsman 1
Victorinox Outrider 13
Victorinox Pioneer 33
Victorinox Rambler 17
Victorinox Rancher 1
Victorinox Ranger 8
Victorinox Recruit 5
Victorinox Rucksack 10
Victorinox Scientist 1
Victorinox Sentinel 1
Victorinox Signature 1
Victorinox Signature Lite 1
Victorinox Small Climber 1
Victorinox Small Tinker 1
Victorinox Soldier (old) 50
Victorinox Soldier (new) 8
Victorinox Spartan 27
Victorinox Spartan Lite 1
Victorinox Sportsman 2
Victorinox Sportsman II 1
Victorinox Super Tinker 40
Victorinox SwissChamp 54
Victorinox Tinker 61
Victorinox Voyageur 1
Victorinox Waiter 2
Victorinox Woodsman 1
Victorinox Yeoman 2
Wenger Brushed Stainless Pocket Tool Chest 1
Wenger Brushed Stainless Traveller 1
Wenger Clipper 1
Wenger Esquire 1
Wenger EvoGrip 18 1
Wenger Evolution 17 2
Wenger Evoloution S10 1
Wenger Evoloution S14 1
Wenger Ranger 78 4
Wenger Soldatenmesser 1
Wenger Standard Issue 3
Wenger Survivor 3

Observations:

Top 10:

Victorinox Farmer 172
Victorinox Huntsman 88
Victorinox Tinker 61
Victorinox One Hand Trekker 56
Victorinox SwissChamp 54
Victorinox Soldier (old) 50
Victorinox Cadet 43
Victorinox Classic 41
Victorinox Super Tinker 40
Victorinox Explorer 37

The Farmer is the runaway favorite... no surprises there, but the margin is still impressive.

As a fan of smaller SAKs, I was gratified to see the Tinker's strong showing.

There seems to be rough a correlation between tolerance for thickness and preference for the corkscrew over Phillips: Tinker 61; Spartan 27 :: Hiker 30; Camper 26 :: Super Tinker 40; Climber 27 :: Fieldmaster 21; Huntsman 88 .

Although there are many more celidor SAKs, three of the top 10 are Alox models (four of the top 11).

It's too bad Victorinox named the Waiter the Waiter. Such a good little knife. I'm sure its very un-sexy name has a lot to do with how little love it gets: 2 votes!

A subjective observation: regardless of that the numbers show, fans of the Farmer, the Explorer, the Compact, and the Rambler are the most passionate when arguing the merits of their preferred SAK.

Search terms used and threads tallied:

"favorite swiss army knife"
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/752228-What-s-your-favorite-Swiss-army-knife-POLL!
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?209556-What-s-your-favorite-Vic-Swiss-Army-Knife
http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=190480
http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/topic/6593/So-whats-your-favorite-Swiss-Army-Knife?page=1#.URAqpL_LTi4
http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=21087.0
http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?153603-What-is-your-favorite-Swiss-Army-Knife
http://survivalbunker.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=knives&action=display&thread=732
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php/65531-Favorite-SAK

"favorite SAK knife"
http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=182603
http://edcforums.com/threads/what-is-the-best-all-around-swiss-army-knife-and-why.68711/

"best swiss army knife"
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/921705-What-is-the-best-your-favorite-Swiss-Army-Knife

"most useful SAK"
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/976023-Which-SAK-is-BEST
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?271396-Which-swiss-army-knife-do-you-use
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?271396-Which-swiss-army-knife-do-you-use
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=37796.15
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php/52818-Ideal-SAK

[volbu]

Wow!

Thats quite a survey!!

 

I m really impressed with the margin of the farmer as well although I think number 1-2 are not surprising !
Harvester only 5 well thats dissapointing!!

[Mr. Whippy]

I like Farmers.  I think it's the best SAK.

[AimlessWanderer]

Wenger Brushed Stainless Pocket Tool Chest 1
Wenger Brushed Stainless Traveller 1
Victorinox Yeoman 2

Such low scores  and no Original Outdoorsman or Golfer

Victorinox Rambler 17
Victorinox Climber 27

That's better 

Oddly NONE of that top ten would be in MY top ten, but that just shows how different everyone's tastes are   

Nice bit of research 

[ColoSwiss]

Not a single hit for the Wenger Traveler? Tsk, Tsk.

[sawman]

That's some interesting research.  I can't say I agree with it entirely but some of it sounds right.

[AimlessWanderer]

Not a single hit for the Wenger Traveler? Tsk, Tsk.

Filed under "B", Karl   Brushed Stainless Traveller, my regular carried kind - right next to my favourite 65mm, the Brushed Stainless Pocket Tool Chest I agree that some of the low values are quite surprising ... but then again those folks on the other forums aren't as educated and refined as we are 

 

[Outback in Idaho]

  Get more of them up there, then make a poll. Haven't you heard, we like polls!

  Might want to add "Other- Modified" as an option too, but that's just me 2¢ in.


  Climber here, since it's my first. Wants an Explorer though, or a magnifier & electrician's blade added to my Wenger SI.

[PTRSAK]

  ... then make a poll. Haven't you heard, we like polls!...

How about this for a mini poll...(answer in a post, no buttons)

Q. How many of the top ten do you own?

I've got 8 of them, only missing Swiss Champ and OH Trekker.

[Syph007]

Ive got 8 of the 10 as well.  No classic or old soldier.

[Nikos]

I'm sure Mike alone could justify the large margin of the Farmer...

[WoodMan]

8 of 10 also.  No Huntsman or Old Soldier (Wenger SI though, does that count?).

[jerseydevil]

I've owned 9 of 10 at one point or another, no old Soldier.  Right now though I only have 6.  Guess I'd better get to it again.... 

[Monrogue]

I'm such a loser   I only have one-the Explorer, but it's one of the best as far as I'm concerned

[sawman]

I'm such a loser   I only have one-the Explorer, but it's one of the best as far as I'm concerned

[AimlessWanderer]

  ... then make a poll. Haven't you heard, we like polls!...

How about this for a mini poll...(answer in a post, no buttons)

Q. How many of the top ten do you own?

I've got 8 of them, only missing Swiss Champ and OH Trekker.

Three - Classic, Old Ribbed Cadet and (old) Explorer.
I do have a Tinker Small (no 91mm though) in my for sale/modding pile for pondering over along with the Cadet.

No interest in the others, for me the Classic and Explorer are the only ones I'd carry on that list

[kkokkolis]

Just two from the top ten.
The list doesn't depend only on subjective opinions but also on availability and low price. Wengers have lower availability although they are equal to Vics (well, maybe almost equak) and Cybertools, Ramblers, Minichamp and IMHO, XLT deserved more attention but are more expensive than the simpler models and thus more rare for the general population. There is also a geographical bias. English speaking googling would produce mostly American and then a lower percentage of British and ANZAC product. A French or other language might prove other models more popular. Few people would choose the Tinker over the Spartan in the wine drinking Mediterranean I believe.
So, these aren't the best SAKs but the most popular among the most reachable SAKs in the portions of the English speaking world that are connected and like to give feedback online.
Only for the Swisschamp I would never argue.

[Monrogue]

I'm such a loser   I only have one-the Explorer, but it's one of the best as far as I'm concerned

Ahhh...a fellow Explorer fan

[sawman]

I'm such a loser   I only have one-the Explorer, but it's one of the best as far as I'm concerned

Ahhh...a fellow Explorer fan

Count me in 

[Mr. Whippy]

 


But NIB, only 4

[BradGad]

  ... then make a poll. Haven't you heard, we like polls!...

How about this for a mini poll...(answer in a post, no buttons)

Q. How many of the top ten do you own?

I've got 8 of them, only missing Swiss Champ and OH Trekker.

Four here...  Farmer, Huntsman, Tinker, Classic. (But, at one time or another have owned eight of them.)

[BradGad]

...
The list doesn't depend only on subjective opinions but also on availability and low price...
 
So, these aren't the best SAKs but the most popular among the most reachable SAKs in the portions of the English speaking world that are connected and like to give feedback online.
Only for the Swisschamp I would never argue.

Agreed...

I think availability and price are part of why the Compact doesn't score higher. I've never seen it in a store, and it is (at first glance at least) more expensive than comparable models. It deservedly gets very high marks amongst SAKaholics, but I think most non-SAKaholics don't even know it's an option.

But then, you gotta wonder... Why doesn't the Spartan score higher? It's arguably the most widely available and it's inexpensive. Plus, it's arguably the "quintessential SAK", it has an excellent pocket-friendly yet hand-filling form factor, and a great set of basic tools.

Most importantly, as you allude, it's a very non-random population... a self-selected group of people like us: nerds folks who don't just like pocket knives and multi-tools, but also spend time reading and sharing their opinions about them.

[nuphoria]

Either 8 or 9 at the moment for me I think. Hard to keep track!

Really great post BTW

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

I suspect the Spartan doesn't score higher because people don't want to be seen as choosing something "boring." You may say that is contradictory with the Classic scoring so highly. But I think the Classic gets some special affection because it's probably the world's most ubiquitous knife model ever, and because so many carry it on keychains and, therefore, use it more than any other knife. The Spartan is probably a model nearly anybody who owns more than a few SAKs happens to own or has owned, but it's got a lot of close mates. And the Tinker is on the Top Ten list, which may reflect the over sampling of Americans in this non-random poll of polls (the idea being that Americans don't value corkscrews as highly as folks in other parts of the world).



And out of the Top Ten, I own eight of them (as follows), only missing the One Handed Trekker and the old Soldier model (though I do have a Wenger SI now).

Victorinox Farmer 172
Victorinox Huntsman 88
Victorinox Tinker 61
Victorinox SwissChamp 54
Victorinox Cadet 43
Victorinox Classic 41
Victorinox Super Tinker 40
Victorinox Explorer 37