What's your preferred 4th layer tool? Please, vote!

kkokkolis · **on:** February 21, 2013, 10:41:22 PM

Most MTF users vote for scissors as their tool of choice for the three layered SAK. Let's say you'd like something more than a

Or you'd like a special additional layer with your mod Alox knife What tool would you like to have with that 4th layer? Wood saw or Metal saw? Huntsman or Mountaineer? Or maybe neither and become an Explorer? Or a Deluxe Climper?

captain spaulding · **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2013, 10:43:28 PM

Hmmm..... Very tough decision, but I have to say Pliers. I just love the pliers on a Victorinox.

Taxi Dad · **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2013, 10:49:50 PM

phillips and magnifier are probably the most usefull (specially for us old folk with poor eyesight)
but i do like a wood saw

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2013, 02:25:44 AM

I voted none/other. The reason for this is that beyond the basics I want options, one with saw, one with mag/phillips or Cybertool etc etc. The Climber /Traveller gives the bare bones of what I generally want from a SAK, beyond that it depends where I'm going and what I'm doing - however I still don't want to be carrying a larger knife than necessary

Syph007 · **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2013, 02:29:32 AM

Pliers! I use them alot.

stax · **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2013, 03:42:36 AM

I have a soft spot for the mag lens. Lens/phillips layer for me.

PTRSAK · **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2013, 03:45:09 AM

My 4^th layer mod I finished last night turned a Yeoman into a Yeoman-Mechanic... is that considered cheating for the purpose of this thread?

Outback in Idaho · **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2013, 03:59:58 AM

Lens and Universal Wrench - which means a custom.

WoodMan · **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2013, 04:21:14 AM

I agree with the Captain. Pliers it is.

396988 · **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2013, 07:30:21 AM

Personal choice is the woodsaw. But I am sure this will change in time.

I don't own anything with a marlin spike but I could see that being kind of useful day to day.

Northern Geek · **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2013, 08:45:09 AM

Torn between the pliers and the philips.

I really like the pliers but I think the philips has seen more use so it gets my vote. Tha mag glass is just an added bonus, not something I've really needed much.

AHB · **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2013, 08:49:03 AM

Quote from: WoodMan on February 22, 2013, 04:21:14 AM

I agree with the Captain. Pliers it is.

Me too..

Outback in Idaho · **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2013, 08:51:30 AM

Quote from: AHB on February 22, 2013, 08:49:03 AM

Quote from: WoodMan on February 22, 2013, 04:21:14 AM
I agree with the Captain. Pliers it is.
Me too..

Which pliers are better, Victorinox or Wenger?
never seen a SAK in person with pliers yet. Wenger's appear to be a slip joint, but not sure how pliers feel in a knife based tool.

Gareth · **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2013, 09:16:16 AM

Tough choice this. Historically I've always gone for a saw, but lately I have been leaning towards the metal file. I think the saw still just has the edge, but it does depend on what I am doing and where I am going.

kkokkolis · **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2013, 11:08:56 AM

Quote from: Xelkos on February 22, 2013, 08:51:30 AM

Quote from: AHB on February 22, 2013, 08:49:03 AM
Quote from: WoodMan on February 22, 2013, 04:21:14 AM
I agree with the Captain. Pliers it is.
Me too..

Which pliers are better, Victorinox or Wenger?
never seen a SAK in person with pliers yet. Wenger's appear to be a slip joint, but not sure how pliers feel in a knife based tool.

Wenger's pliers is better on paper (better spring, wider opening, clever slip joint system) but Victorinox pliers is very usable and KISS savy with excellent fitting. I like the V for what it is. If V doesn't suit you W might not also and one should consider a plier centered multitool or the Wenger's big plier from the 130 series.

Outback in Idaho · **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2013, 11:41:24 AM

Quote from: kkokkolis on February 22, 2013, 11:08:56 AM

Quote from: Xelkos on February 22, 2013, 08:51:30 AM
Quote from: AHB on February 22, 2013, 08:49:03 AM
Quote from: WoodMan on February 22, 2013, 04:21:14 AM
I agree with the Captain. Pliers it is.
Me too..

Which pliers are better, Victorinox or Wenger?
never seen a SAK in person with pliers yet. Wenger's appear to be a slip joint, but not sure how pliers feel in a knife based tool.

Wenger's pliers is better on paper (better spring, wider opening, clever slip joint system) but Victorinox pliers is very usable and KISS savy with excellent fitting. I like the V for what it is. If V doesn't suit you W might not also and one should consider a plier centered multitool or the Wenger's big plier from the 130 series.

No stores in the area have any SAK with pliers. Have used Leatherman tools of all sorts throughout the years, even down to a Squirt P4 (a family member ran off with it). But I've been a pliers based multitool (Leatherman) since the early 90's, and a SAK user for barely 1 & 1/2 months.

Slip joint pliers are okay until the slip out when you don't want them to. Is why wished could get my paws on one to try out. Think my fascination with the Wenger S 557 is mainly due to the Universal Wrench. Pliers having a slip joint would have more functionality than one without - providing they could weren't annoying during use.

In most cases where I would grab a pair of pliers from the toolbox I go for the normal pliers unless the offset channel pliers were there. God I miss those offset channel pliers!

Maybe when I get out to Boise will try and find a normal (LOL) knife shop to test a few out hands-on. Maybe The Cutlery Shoppe in Meridian might be a better choice. Hopefully they have display models so I can play with them.

Thanks for the replies.

Monrogue · **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2013, 03:26:30 PM

I voted for the mag/phillips layer. I have an Explorer and I love the mag/phillips layer. I haven't seen/handled a SAK with any of the other options, so I can't speak on them. However, I do know that I prefer to have things like the saw, metal file and pliers on a full size, plier based multitool, not on a SAK. A small nailfile is fine on a SAK though, and I actually like that. Tools like the saw and pliers just don't seem to belong on something like a SAK, whereas the mag/phillips layer seems appropriate, imho of course

kkokkolis · **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2013, 08:06:56 PM

After 35 votes, the Explorer wins, with silver metal for the Deluxe Climber.
SAKs seem to be so different from the multitools! The saws there are essenttial (both saws). But a lens seems to be much more popular on SAKs.

Syph007 · **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2013, 10:04:06 PM

But of the people who chose mag/philips only picked it for the phillips driver?

Nhoj · **Reply #19 on:** February 22, 2013, 10:23:34 PM

I only pick it for the mag glass

powernoodle · **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2013, 02:06:53 AM

Everything seems to be held together with phillips screws, and having a phillips driver that fold out 180 degrees like God intended is awesome. Those back mounted stubby phillips drivers with no reach just don't do it for me. And the magnifier does come in handy. So that got my vote.

Monrogue · **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2013, 06:42:50 AM

Quote from: kkokkolis on February 22, 2013, 08:06:56 PM

After 35 votes, the Explorer wins, with silver metal for the Deluxe Climber.
SAKs seem to be so different from the multitools! The saws there are essenttial (both saws). But a lens seems to be much more popular on SAKs.

Hooray for the Explorer

kkokkolis · **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2013, 09:12:57 AM

I find that the combination of Can Opener's driver, Metal File's tip and mini Corckscrew's driver can manage most (if not all) Philips's screws. That's why I thought that lens is the secret.

twiliter · **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2013, 03:11:32 PM

Pliers for me, but this is a close second.

enki_ck · **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2013, 05:23:18 PM

Quote from: twiliter on February 24, 2013, 03:11:32 PM

Pliers for me, but this is a close second.

(Image removed from quote.)

Very cool pic.

kkokkolis · **Reply #25 on:** February 24, 2013, 06:54:07 PM

Lens & Philips are feeling the hot breath of Pliers and the Wood Saw observes from close distance, ready to attack! Nothing has really finished!

Mercury · **Reply #26 on:** February 24, 2013, 06:57:55 PM

I prefer the phillips/mag glass layer. I love vic pliers but i always have a leatherman on me as well so I don't need them on my sak. My edc sak is an explorer.

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using crapatalk two point oh.

twiliter · **Reply #27 on:** February 24, 2013, 08:20:58 PM

Quote from: enki_ck on February 24, 2013, 05:23:18 PM

Very cool pic.

Thanks!

Taken with my maxIpad. It has a decent camera, but I must say some of the photography on this site is absolutely spectacular! Not to mention some of the beautiful subject matter, truly some works of art here!

Monrogue · **Reply #28 on:** February 25, 2013, 05:41:26 AM

Quote from: Mercury on February 24, 2013, 06:57:55 PM

I prefer the phillips/mag glass layer. I love vic pliers but i always have a leatherman on me as well so I don't need them on my sak. My edc sak is an explorer.

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using crapatalk two point oh.

+1-Same for me. That's the way I feel about the saw and metal file/saw as well. I have my Leatherman (or Spirit) for those type of tools. The Explorer is pretty much the best available SAK for my needs and wants (although I would love a Yeoman...someday I hope

)

twiliter · **Reply #29 on:** February 25, 2013, 03:18:10 PM

Pliers appearing to make a comeback, tied after 52 votes.

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