111mm Help choosing!

[Ross]

ok so it's my Birthday coming up and my dad has kindly offered to buy me a new knife - I could go down the route and look for some old knifes that I want (mainly Alox ) but really fancy getting my first 111mm knife.

I was thinking perhaps the latest  Soldier knife (or one from 11/12) or the rescue tool? 

any suggestions other than these or are these a good place to start and choose from?

[enki_ck]

Hm Do you want it to be OHO (one hand opening) or would a 2HO be OK too? My favorite 111mm is the Outrider. 

The problem with the 111mm is that they lock. Not a good thing considering UK knife laws.

[Syph007]

My fav 111mm probably isnt the most exciting, but I really like the plain edge OH trekker.  I avoided the 111 size for awhile as I thought they were all serrated, and I prefer plain.

[Syph007]

Hm Do you want it to be OHO (one hand opening) or would a 2HO be OK too? My favorite 111mm is the Outrider. 

The problem with the 111mm is that they lock. Not a good thing considering UK knife laws.

Oh good one, I forgot about the non OH models.  The hercules is my fav of those!

[Ross]

Hm Do you want it to be OHO (one hand opening) or would a 2HO be OK too? My favorite 111mm is the Outrider. 

The problem with the 111mm is that they lock. Not a good thing considering UK knife laws.

well I do fancy a OHO model as I know I will be sitting at my desk (I work from home full time) opening and closing it while on the phone and like the idea of the OHO thing - is that sad haha?

So I was thinking that even though the UK law states a non locking blade 3" or smaller is ok to carry around - would this be ok to have and use in my own home?

[Ross]

Hm Do you want it to be OHO (one hand opening) or would a 2HO be OK too? My favorite 111mm is the Outrider. 

The problem with the 111mm is that they lock. Not a good thing considering UK knife laws.

Oh good one, I forgot about the non OH models.  The hercules is my fav of those!

(Image removed from quote.)

thats nice and full of tools!

[AdmSlc]

Good luck trying to decide.

[enki_ck]

Hm Do you want it to be OHO (one hand opening) or would a 2HO be OK too? My favorite 111mm is the Outrider. 

The problem with the 111mm is that they lock. Not a good thing considering UK knife laws.

well I do fancy a OHO model as I know I will be sitting at my desk (I work from home full time) opening and closing it while on the phone and like the idea of the OHO thing - is that sad haha?

So I was thinking that even though the UK law states a non locking blade 3" or smaller is ok to carry around - would this be ok to have and use in my own home?

I don't see why not. At home or while camping and such shouldn't be a problem.  



What tools would you like it to have? Have you considered the Wenger Rangers for a bigger SAK option. The Wenger Ranger 79 (78 for the back phillips/ 55 for the 2HO) is very nice and on my to buy list (Well, the 55 model) for some time now.

Wenger Ranger 79


Compared to the 111mm (regretfully all the other pics from that thread have broken links )

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,12362

And the Outrider mentioned before (No OHO version of it that I know of)

[Syph007]

Hm Do you want it to be OHO (one hand opening) or would a 2HO be OK too? My favorite 111mm is the Outrider. 

The problem with the 111mm is that they lock. Not a good thing considering UK knife laws.

Oh good one, I forgot about the non OH models.  The hercules is my fav of those!

(Image removed from quote.)

thats nice and full of tools!

Its small compared to a workchamp xl, but I find it to the be biggest I can comfortably use.



I know Im not helping much.  But my 2 fav 111mm Vics would for sure be the hercules and plain blade OH trekker.

As enki said as well though the wenger rangers are excellent.

[gustophersmob]

My fav 111mm probably isnt the most exciting, but I really like the plain edge OH trekker.  I avoided the 111 size for awhile as I thought they were all serrated, and I prefer plain.

(Image removed from quote.)

+1.  While I like the idea of the 111mm soldier, I like the plain edge OHT more than the serrations. PLus you keep the tweezers and toothpick, if that is important.  The PE OHT is my favorite (and so far only) 111mm model, although I think the factory PE version is getting hard to find. Maybe discontinued   Perfect SAK, IMO, for being in the woods.

[PTRSAK]

Hm Do you want it to be OHO (one hand opening) or would a 2HO be OK too? My favorite 111mm is the Outrider. 

The problem with the 111mm is that they lock. Not a good thing considering UK knife laws.

Oh good one, I forgot about the non OH models.  The hercules is my fav of those!

(Image removed from quote.)

thats nice and full of tools!

Its small compared to a workchamp xl, but I find it to the be biggest I can comfortably use.

(Image removed from quote.)

I know Im not helping much.  But my 2 fav 111mm Vics would for sure be the hercules and plain blade OH trekker.

As enki said as well though the wenger rangers are excellent.

I have a Hercules on the way and am really looking forward to receiving it, Perhaps even more so than the 111 Soldier that should be in the same package.

[django.cj]

The OHT is the best outdoors knife ever IMO.  PE or serrated to your taste, tough, not too big. 

[Ross]

I have not give much thought to a wenger knife at all but only because I am worried I I buy one I am opening Pandora's box - I have a big enough wish list as it it

There is a lot of love out there for the Hercules and the OHT out there indeed and perhaps two knifes I have overlooked - so I will be looking into these and watch a few videos.

There is no love for the rescue tool at all - is this just a novelty item - there is something about it I kind of like.

I noticed SB has a soldier 90 armee knocking about that could be a interesting buy.

Thanks for your input guys. Perhaps ill get my dad to get me two

[greenbear]

Hm Do you want it to be OHO (one hand opening) or would a 2HO be OK too? My favorite 111mm is the Outrider. 

The problem with the 111mm is that they lock. Not a good thing considering UK knife laws.

well I do fancy a OHO model as I know I will be sitting at my desk (I work from home full time) opening and closing it while on the phone and like the idea of the OHO thing - is that sad haha?

So I was thinking that even though the UK law states a non locking blade 3" or smaller is ok to carry around - would this be ok to have and use in my own home?

In short yes.  UK knife law is a bit blurry to say the least.  Effectively the rules are, as quite rightly said 3" non-locking blade - but that is for carrying.  You can carry and use anything providing there is reasonable justification, for example, if you were camping or fishing, working on the land etc it would be fine. Wandering round town, going for a pint etc - would absolutely not be fine and you could reasonably expect arrest. Use at home or on one's own land is perfectly legal.  If apprehended with a larger blade in public it is down to the discretion and judgement of the apprehending officer.  Carry safely and sensibly and all should be well 

PS I regularly use a 111mm forester, plain blade, corkscrew (to hold the glasses screwdriver naturally  ), awl, saw, screwdriver with cap lifter and can opener.  It's a good tool 

[Ross]

Hm Do you want it to be OHO (one hand opening) or would a 2HO be OK too? My favorite 111mm is the Outrider. 

The problem with the 111mm is that they lock. Not a good thing considering UK knife laws.

well I do fancy a OHO model as I know I will be sitting at my desk (I work from home full time) opening and closing it while on the phone and like the idea of the OHO thing - is that sad haha?

So I was thinking that even though the UK law states a non locking blade 3" or smaller is ok to carry around - would this be ok to have and use in my own home?

In short yes.  UK knife law is a bit blurry to say the least.  Effectively the rules are, as quite rightly said 3" non-locking blade - but that is for carrying.  You can carry and use anything providing there is reasonable justification, for example, if you were camping or fishing, working on the land etc it would be fine. Wandering round town, going for a pint etc - would absolutely not be fine and you could reasonably expect arrest. Use at home or on one's own land is perfectly legal.  If apprehended with a larger blade in public it is down to the discretion and judgement of the apprehending officer.  Carry safely and sensibly and all should be well 

PS I regularly use a 111mm forester, plain blade, corkscrew (to hold the glasses screwdriver naturally  ), awl, saw, screwdriver with cap lifter and can opener.  It's a good tool 

thanks greenbear that's some really useful info.

But damm you for throwing the Forester in for consideration this was hard enough - at this point I am going to rule out the rescue tool I think - I am now looking at the forester and comparing it to the others OHT and Hercules

[firiki]

Mmm. The Forester is definately worth considering I think. Or the Rucksack. I have both and I'm torn between the two. The Outrider seems a good choice, though I'd rather have that with the big, fat Philips SD.

I had a Workchamp that I gave as a present, it was too bulky for me and the pliers combined with the miniscule openers put me off. I think SAK pliers work better on the 91mm frame. That said, I do love and carry the Vic Handyman, even though its bulk also compromises some function on the blades and openers.

Rescue tool, I think it's very good but I don't see me getting one soon. The 2008 Soldier can be a savage work beast depending on the task (and I don't like serrations much). The OHO thumbhole is pretty annoying when not using the knife blade if you ask me.

  Hope I made things complicated enough for you... Good luck 

[papercut]

Ranger 78 is the creme de la creme- steel pin construction puts it over the OHT IMO. 

[HankSolon]

Just for inspiration:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5287.msg656063.html#msg656063

Meanwhile it has a corkscrew and a hook:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,44444.msg723465.html#msg723465

Next thing will be:
Replace the One hand rescue blade with a Emergency Tool rescue blade or Fireman rescue blade.
I cannot recommend the  Victorinox Hunter XT if you have heavy work with your main blade. The One hand rescue blade stings into your hand. After my last camping trip I hate that. Making fire with wet wood with a knife which isn't very useful for heavy duty work is painful. I had to make a lot of strands with the knife.... 

A very interesting tool is:
The Fireman One Hand. But I agree with Syph, that I prefere a plain main blade.

A serrated rescue bade next to a plain edge main blade is a absolutely win-win imho.

[Marius]

I like the Wenger Rangers 57/58 myself a bit more because of the additional blade. The Ranger that I personally like most of all is the RangerWood 55, solid beautiful walnut scales (pic from SakWiki):

[greenbear]

I like the Wenger Rangers 57/58 myself a bit more because of the additional blade. The Ranger that I personally like most of all is the RangerWood 55, solid beautiful walnut scales (pic from SakWiki):

(Image removed from quote.)

This is very good on the eye...

[Ross]

Guys this is great and am loving reading all your Opinions - I am totally lost now

I am off from work on Friday and meeting a friend in London so I might pop to the Vic store and have a look at all of these first hand. (Convenient)

I really like the look of the forester if I am honest want the OH version but in the black but my understanding is its only available in the DD.

After that I am going to look at the soldier but taking in to account the serrated blade and the OHT and finally I will look - just look at the work champ.


I did want to though this question mainly to travellers - is this lockable knife ok put in checked luggage from the UK abroad?

 

[nsa-x-file]

I took my 111mm Vic Soldier to Florida a few years back in my checked luggage with no problems at all. 

[Ross]

ok so I was in the store looking at the 111mm knifes and love them all and still not sure what knife to choose -

trouble is I could not wait and ended up buying the Trailmaster standard version - although I liked the OHT version I decided against it.

I must say now I am home and have it in my hands  - I soo wish I could EDC this knife in the UK - it's a great size and  would just love to take this out and about. Gutted that because of idiots who use knifes to harm people and use them for the wrong reasons we all have to suffer -

to all the people who EDC a 111mm knife - good choice

[enki_ck]

Nice choice of 111mm.   I think the standard version is better for when you're using the saw on it. You don't have that OHO bump to press into your hand.

[Ross]

It really was a good choice - I have fallen in love with the 111 mm size

[firiki]

It really was a good choice - I have fallen in love with the 111 mm size

They do have a certain charm, don't they? Keeps tweezers & toothpick, nice 

[nervium]

forester one-hand, or rescue tool.they will satisfy you.

[Corwyn]

No point opening a new topic. I plan to get my first 111mm.

I can buy for 20 Euros a new Forester (last in batch) or a slightly used Outrider Black.

I like the Outrider's locking system, the scrissors are nice too, but the Forrester feels easier to hold, sturdier and it's brand new.

Or should I keep my pennies and get for 40 Euros an OHT or One Hand Nomad (one handers fascinate me, but not double the price of fascination)

Which one should I choose? I don't care much about the Philips as I don't think I'll get many PCs to open in the woods and in town I always carry my trusty Tinker. I heard great things about the Vic saw but I'm not sure I'd use it alot so it's not a must. The corkscrew would be nice as I have 5 saks around and not a single corkscrew in sight. 

PS: What does the hook-thingy on the bottom of the Outrider Philips-screwdriver do? Couldn't find info anywhere... or is it just for show?

[Reinier]

It's there to help you open it, isn't it?

[Thunderpants]

To be honest, if I had to chose any of those chunky OH SAKs I'd cut to the chase and simply get a Wenger. They're big, beefy, and mean business. And they are truly one handed as you can open and close them with one hand, whereas on closing the Vic requires two hands or the sacrifice of one of your finger tips.