A good working pair.

[cbl51]

I love the 58mm's. There, I wanted to get that out first thing. Since my last great downsizing, the humble classic has been my real world every day EDC. It does 98% of what I need in a picket knife. BUT... sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes, it's just not enough. Sooooo, my old war horse, the well used Wenger SI gets put into service. I like the smaller 58 because I don't like heavy or bulky objects in my pocket, especially if they only get used once in a while. Enter the flat belt sheath.

I found a nice little heavy duty nylon flap belt pouch at a gun show, and with the Wenger SI in it, it rides very un-noticed behind my right hip out of the way of everything. Even sitting in the car, the bucket seat does not press on it or create any discomfort.  So, while I still think of my teeny tiny little SAkm the classic as my real world every day pocket knife, now I am carrying the Wenger SI up in back of my right hip as a sort of stand-by, or back up.  I love the feel of the alox, and the idea that it is a bit more bomb proof than the cellidor that I really don't like at all. I feel the "new" cellidor scales with the hollow spaces is just not as good as the old stuff. YMMV.

I still wish they would make a cadet X!!!!!!

[gustophersmob]

My carry combo for over 12 years has been an alox classic on the keys and Pioneer in the pocket, so not that much different than yours.  Any more and I always feel like its too bulky/cumbersome.  I briefly entertained the idea of going 58mm only, but I do need a larger blade fairly frequently and the opener layer on the pioneer gets quite a bit of use at work.

I also don't care for cellidor, mainly because I don't love plastics in my EDC, but I also don't like most of the back tools and especially hate the sunken back springs used.

If they made a cadet X, I could see that replacing both t he classic and pioneer for me.

[Farmer X]

Victorinox could probably trot out a Cadet X and see their sales go through the roof. I'd be in line to buy one...a Cadet Plus X (with a wood saw) would be even better!

[gustophersmob]

Victorinox could probably trot out a Cadet X and see their sales go through the roof. I'd be in line to buy one...a Cadet Plus X (with a wood saw) would be even better!

 

I think we saw a similar phenomenon with the pioneer x release. Before that, on forums, reddit, and youtube, it seemed like the 93mm discussion revolved around the farmer.  Now it seems the Pioneer X is the go to recommendation.

I think a Cadet X would sell like crazy and swamp the sales of the Cadet.

[nate j]

I’ve been carrying a Rambler and a Waiter lately.  I’m finding it a nice lightweight but capable combo.  And with replacement cost under $20, I don’t hesitate to hand the Waiter to anyone who wants to borrow my knife.

I haven’t been quite convinced to give up my big OHO locking folders though.  Is having a OHO knife clipped to my pocket really so convenient, though, or is it my adult security blankie?
 

[cbl51]

[ snip]


I haven’t been quite convinced to give up my big OHO locking folders though.  Is having a OHO knife clipped to my pocket really so convenient, though, or is it my adult security blankie?
 

You really want an answer to that??😀

I think that a heck of a lot fit is driven by the various knife magazines and media. In all my years that I've spent growing old on this rock, I've yet to need a one hand opining knife. I've been a camper, kyaaker, backpacker, soldier in a war, and soccer/lacrosse/ baseball dad driving a minivan of kids.  Somehow the SAK of the time, no matter a tinker, recruit, Spartan, hiker, cadet, classic, all did what I needed to in a very wide variety of places and weather.

My life has been around people in trades, and most of them all used some Old Timer or Buck pocket knife. Or plain old Stanley utility knife. The whole one hand thing was an invention of the dying knife industry to get a "new and improved" product to stimulate sales. With the post WW2 great migration to the cities for more technical jobs than working on pop's back 40, more and more people were not even bothering to carry a pocket knife. Camillus, Schrade, and many many other knife companies were going under for lack of business.

Then Lynn Thomson of Cold Steel invented the tactical knife movement. Then came Sal Glesser of Spyderco, then bench made, and others selling a knife that really wasn't needed, using smoke and mirrors and Hollywood hype to sell an image. Meanwhile, a whole bunch of people that were not obsessive knife nuts, (meaning most people) who knew they needed a pocketknife, kept on buying SAK's. Victorinox is the world's largest knife company for a very good reason. They make pocket knives for real people, living a real life, doing real things. People who are not super heroes saving the world from a terroist plot.

I've never in my long life had any other pocket knife that got me out of soooo many jams. Even in a small rented boat off shore from Key West, my SAK let me take apart the grungy carborator and clean it up enough to get the boat running before we drifted all the way to Cuba.  Or fixing a conked out Vespa motor scooter on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. No one hand operation needed. The advertising of the early tacticool knives made a very big deal out of the fast one hand opening of the "new and better" knives. But again, in all my decades on this planet, I've never been in a fast draw contest with my knife, nor have I been on a ladder and needing to open my knife with one hand. It's all advertising bull hockey and hype. Now as a white bearded old timer doing more fishing and woods walks with my wife and dog, I still haven't found need of a one hand knife. And if I did, the age old solution, the small fixed blade like my old Buck 102 woodsman, will do nicely.

[LoopCutter]

Hehe, I am old too!  Born last century in 53😜

Enough little electrical jolts desensitized my fingers, that OHO is not a thing unless it assisted opening!

Many off those are uncomfortable and the most they cut are their owners fingers.

A CADET with scissors, an added layer. Will change the dynamics of the slim 64 size gem.  JMHO

A Trapper I bought when 8, (still have), was first and most dependable cutting tool.

Then, working trades I found a MT, and the SAKs, and that one is never enough.

Just my two cents…

[Steelej1976]

I agree that the Pioneer and Classic SD make a great pairing.    I will carry the Pioneer, Cadet, and Recruit with a Classic SD.  I agree with gustophersmob about back tools, I prefer the smooth back springs. 

[nate j]

You really want an answer to that??😀

I think that a heck of a lot fit is driven by the various knife magazines and media. In all my years that I've spent growing old on this rock, I've yet to need a one hand opining knife. I've been a camper, kyaaker, backpacker, soldier in a war, and soccer/lacrosse/ baseball dad driving a minivan of kids.  Somehow the SAK of the time, no matter a tinker, recruit, Spartan, hiker, cadet, classic, all did what I needed to in a very wide variety of places and weather.

My life has been around people in trades, and most of them all used some Old Timer or Buck pocket knife. Or plain old Stanley utility knife. The whole one hand thing was an invention of the dying knife industry to get a "new and improved" product to stimulate sales. With the post WW2 great migration to the cities for more technical jobs than working on pop's back 40, more and more people were not even bothering to carry a pocket knife. Camillus, Schrade, and many many other knife companies were going under for lack of business.

Then Lynn Thomson of Cold Steel invented the tactical knife movement. Then came Sal Glesser of Spyderco, then bench made, and others selling a knife that really wasn't needed, using smoke and mirrors and Hollywood hype to sell an image. Meanwhile, a whole bunch of people that were not obsessive knife nuts, (meaning most people) who knew they needed a pocketknife, kept on buying SAK's. Victorinox is the world's largest knife company for a very good reason. They make pocket knives for real people, living a real life, doing real things. People who are not super heroes saving the world from a terroist plot.

I've never in my long life had any other pocket knife that got me out of soooo many jams. Even in a small rented boat off shore from Key West, my SAK let me take apart the grungy carborator and clean it up enough to get the boat running before we drifted all the way to Cuba.  Or fixing a conked out Vespa motor scooter on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. No one hand operation needed. The advertising of the early tacticool knives made a very big deal out of the fast one hand opening of the "new and better" knives. But again, in all my decades on this planet, I've never been in a fast draw contest with my knife, nor have I been on a ladder and needing to open my knife with one hand. It's all advertising bull hockey and hype. Now as a white bearded old timer doing more fishing and woods walks with my wife and dog, I still haven't found need of a one hand knife. And if I did, the age old solution, the small fixed blade like my old Buck 102 woodsman, will do nicely.

Well, I have to admit to not having taken out any terrorists with my OHOs.  But, when I already have a stubborn package or whatever in one hand, it is dang convenient to be able to draw, open, cut, close, and replace in pocket, all with the other hand.

Also, perhaps…

[Storm]

I would also like to add my name to the "would buy multiple cadet X's "club, and to add that sometimes I do like to use a OHO at work. I could just use a two handed one , yes, but I also appreciate having the choice .

[marlowe221]

Day 12

Had a couple of uses today. First was cutting this packaging strap on a new baseball bag for my son.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

The second was using the can opener to wedge open a broken latch on the dog’s lease so I could get it off of the harness.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[Storm]

@marlowe221 I think you might have meant the above post for the Macgyver challenge thread

[psyjohn]

I'm not really a big fan of the 58s, although I do carry an Alox Mini Champ on my keyring. The 74mm size is more hand friendly and useful to me, and I almost always have an Executive in my pocket. I pair it with one of a few favorites from my collection: Pioneer, Alox Bantam, Alumnus, Companion, Sportsman, Cadet, or Cadet X. Yes, I have a Cadet X that I built a few years ago, but I don't carry it as much as I thought I would. The Pioneer is my favorite full size SAK, and the one I reach for most often. The inline awl is such an incredibly useful tool.