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

[Syph007]

So the moral of the story is that everyone should just buy a swisschamp and have it all then?

Or start with a swisschamp and remove the layers you never use?

[twiliter]

+1

Trying to think of what tool on the SC that I never used though.

[kkokkolis]

Probably. Or, since Cybertools have Philips drivers, get a CT41 (and some lens or the SOS kit compass with which you can examine the SAK) although that costs more.

[Syph007]

+1

Trying to think of what tool on the SC that I never used though.

For me I would remove the fish scaler and wood saw.  Ive only ever used the metal saw.  Id love the mag plastic (not mag 'glass' anymore) to go as well, but im not sure what I would put in its place.

[Taxi Dad]

the 'fish scaler' is a wonderful pokey tool !
it's better have it and not need it, that need it and not have it.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

So the moral of the story is that everyone should just buy a swisschamp and have it all then?

Or start with a swisschamp and remove the layers you never use?

Yup.  For me, it would depend on what I was doing and/or where I was carrying... 

For camping, hiking, etc., outdoorsy stuff in general, I'd drop the pliers and the file, and maybe even the mag-glass/phillips layer (but not likely).

For urban EDC, I'd drop the saw and fish-scaler, and keep everything else.

[kkokkolis]

54 votes and the pliers makes an astonishing photo finish while the wood saw is threatening to steal the second place. I feel we reached the forum's active population but even 1-2 votes might make a difference.
But, as Double O Seven said, it is a practical tie. We want them all and we want them now. And in various combinations, vintages, colors and incarnations. One for EDC and one for the cabinet and one as a back up and one to sell in case the price goes sky high and one to disassemble in order to mod.
Because we are the Swiss forum and we don't care!   

[Grateful]

 I voted for the wood saw and for along time 4 layers was enough. Some days it still is, some days 3 layers is ok. My Swisschamp however is getting carried more and more.
Jim

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

I feel I'm too new to vote. But since it's very close .... pliers.

[marcel.reijerse]

I love the magnifier/philips layer, with pliers as a close second.

[Outback in Idaho]

  Three-way tie! 

[Syph007]

That settles it! Swiss champs for all!

[Grumpy]

The mag glass

[jerseydevil]

I voted pliers.  The Vic and Wenger pliers are actually surprisingly handy if you're aware of their limitations.    That vote also puts the pliers and the mag glass into a tie! 

[Outback in Idaho]

That settles it! Swiss champs for all!

  Want my address to send one? 

[twiliter]

+1

Trying to think of what tool on the SC that I never used though.

For me I would remove the fish tscaler and wood saw.  Ive only ever used the metal saw.  Id love the mag plastic (not mag 'glass' anymore) to go as well, but im not sure what I would put in its place.

Agree, but I do like the LED light, I use it more than I ever used the magnifier. At least the old mag matched the tweezers and pen. Also, a longer reach on the phillips is a plus (old style). I don't particularly like all the liners required for the LED, but it does eliminate pocketing a separate flashlight. Also, the magnifier is light weight and doesn't have the solid feel of a pliers layer or the LED with the extra liners and batteries.

[kkokkolis]

After 65 votes the pliers win, with lens/philips and wood saw close behind. Metal file/saw was left far away. But the results didn't convince  me. I was going to get a 4 layer SAK as a pocket EDC and got the Mountaineer, because the metal file is what I use mostly. As soon as I got my Surge I exchanged the wood saw with the metal file and that is an evidence. But the Victorinox file is more versatile, because it has the pointed tip. And I find the old style file eve better, with rough and fine surfaces.
Anyway, de gustibus non est disputandum as they say.

[Marius]

One more vote from me, no change overall. Used to be the wood saw for me and recently became the metal saw/file.

[Gareth]

After a few late votes it seems the wood saw has caught up with the Phillips.   I have to say that I am kinda surprised to see how popular the pliers are, they're just not a SAK tool that I get much use out of personally. 

[Monrogue]

After a few late votes it seems the wood saw has caught up with the Phillips.   I have to say that I am kinda surprised to see how popular the pliers are, they're just not a SAK tool that I get much use out of personally.

I agree.  I think of pliers as a tool for a MT like Leatherman (and any other plier based MT), not a SAK.

[Gareth]

It is not that I think they are bad at all, in some situations they are just the tool for the job.   However I find those situations are few and far between for me.

[firiki]

Well, it was a Vic Handyman that I gave as a present that got me into amassing SAKs as frenetically as my wallet allows 
Those pliers really can come in handy in a pinch for those McGuyverish tasks and not only. I too see them as an extra pair of thumb and index only stronger. Opening or closing broken zippers is a very good excuse for having them. I hate broken zippers. I admit I don't use them very often though.

[GuyWood]

What, broken zips or the pliers on your Sak  ?