Special occasion SAK for the Big City?

Singh · **on:** July 02, 2015, 01:22:55 PM

I’ll be going to a friend’s wedding in New York City this Fall and I think that would be a good occasion (excuse) to buy a SAK for the trip. I’m open to suggestions. The only firm requirement is a SAK with pliers. I need scissors but I can get by with the ones on my Classic SD. I find the corkscrew more handy than the backside phillips, but it’s not a deal breaker.

I’m sure there are lots of choices, but the ones I can think of right off the top of my head:

Mechanic (has everything I need and nothing I don’t).
Angler (it has a corkscrew AND a fish-scaler!)
Deluxe Tinker (it would fit the bill, but it’s rather mundane)
Delemont 557 ( but are the pliers as good as Victorinox’s?)
Cybertool 34 (I rarely encounter torx screws, if ever)
Handyman (maybe too heavy)
Swiss Champ (probably too heavy)

thoughts?

coSAK · **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2015, 01:41:29 PM

Quote from: shamus on July 02, 2015, 01:22:55 PM

Mechanic (has everything I need and nothing I don’t)

You gave yourself the answer.

hiraethus · **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2015, 01:43:09 PM

Mechanic is great - one of my favourites - and pairs really well with a Classic. Special/Junior Mechanic is nice too, if you can find one.

dks · **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2015, 01:55:31 PM

Singh · **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2015, 02:03:36 PM

dks, too bad it's discontinued.

dks · **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2015, 02:06:28 PM

Wenger PocketGrip

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Wenger+PocketGrip

Not so easy to find, but it does have proper pliers, in a small package.

You can also get proper pliers in larger SAK models too

Smaug · **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2015, 03:44:50 PM

A knife with a pliers is not a good one to commemorate a trip to The Big Apple.

Get something that would be practical in a big city, but still fun.

How about a Vic Classic with some cool design on the handles?

I'm going to order myself a "Clockwork" model pretty soon...

pfrsantos · **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2015, 04:03:40 PM

Quote from: shamus on July 02, 2015, 01:22:55 PM

I’ll be going to a friend’s wedding in New York City this Fall and I think that would be a good occasion (excuse) to buy a SAK for the trip. I’m open to suggestions. The only firm requirement is a SAK with pliers. I need scissors but I can get by with the ones on my Classic SD. I find the corkscrew more handy than the backside phillips, but it’s not a deal breaker.

I’m sure there are lots of choices, but the ones I can think of right off the top of my head:

Mechanic (has everything I need and nothing I don’t).
Cybertool 34 (I rarely encounter torx screws, if ever)

thoughts?

Flip a coin.

firiki · **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2015, 04:10:42 PM

I love my Vic Handyman, so that one gets my vote

zoidberg · **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2015, 04:12:02 PM

Special Mechanic and swap in a corkscrew or Angler.

eddie1115 · **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2015, 04:16:19 PM

Quote from: Smaug on July 02, 2015, 03:44:50 PM

A knife with a pliers is not a good one to commemorate a trip to The Big Apple.

Get something that would be practical in a big city, but still fun.

How about a Vic Classic with some cool design on the handles?

I'm going to order myself a "Clockwork" model pretty soon...

Pretty sure you need to get BOTH a Mechanic and a Classic...

ToolJoe · **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2015, 07:37:59 PM

Deluxe Tinker gets my vote..

cbl51 · **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2015, 01:51:45 PM

Just keep in mind that some places in NYC don't allow any knives. ANY knives. When the better half and I spent a weekend up there, I had to leave my little classic behind in the hotel room because the Empire State building and Statue Of Liberty have a strict no knife policy.

VoetSak · **Reply #13 on:** July 03, 2015, 02:14:44 PM

I like the Swiss Champ.

Whatever you choose do not brandish. Have never been but I cannot think of a place on earth where I would be less tempted to take my knife out in public.

For some reason I am getting a mental picture of Crocodile Dundee waving a Ranger Series around.

toolguy · **Reply #14 on:** July 03, 2015, 02:19:54 PM

This certainly doesn't fit your criteria but it would make for a nice gift and is on sale.

http://www.rei.com/product/868690/swiss-army-spartan-rei-cities-pocket-knife

Etherealicer · **Reply #15 on:** July 03, 2015, 02:37:40 PM

There are only two correct answers to questions like this: FARMER AND/OR SPIRIT

Seriously, if you want pliers, get a Spirit. Its the best tool under many circumstances and its main drawback (non-OHO) is a plus in cities.

However, I would go with the smallest SAK you feel comfortable with. I mean a Wenger Ranger is nice, but if you have to leave it in the car, all the time its useless, right.
So my suggestion: Executive 74mm or Alox Classic

inkster · **Reply #16 on:** July 03, 2015, 02:42:16 PM

I lived in NY City my whole life. I carried a large folder and a SAK every single day. As long as you don't flash it around you will be fine. But like he said there are buildings that will search you, and you can not bring a knife in. These extra strict knife laws are new to NYC, it wasn't always like this. I think they might even include multitools in the law now as well, although I am not positive.

I think the mechanic is your best bet, or a custom of some sort.

PTRSAK · **Reply #17 on:** July 03, 2015, 04:24:07 PM

Yeoman-Mechanic. But it might be hard to source one.

Wenger pliers are actually pretty good. The slip joint means they can grip larger items than Victorinox pliers.

Singh · **Reply #18 on:** July 03, 2015, 07:27:27 PM

Quote from: toolguy on July 03, 2015, 02:19:54 PM

This certainly doesn't fit your criteria but it would make for a nice gift and is on sale.

http://www.rei.com/product/868690/swiss-army-spartan-rei-cities-pocket-knife

Interesting.....

cbl51, there's no plans to do any traditional sightseeing, but thanks for the heads-up. It's probably safe to assume that anything sharp and pointy isn't allowed at such places... homeland security and all that..

Yeah, pliers are indeed necessary. In addition to be infinitely useful to me, those little SAK pliers have been used to help my wife fasten her earnings on several occasions. I couldn't go on a trip without them.

My current SAK is a modded Pioneer with scissors and pliers. This is pretty much the same setup as a Deluxe Tinker, so the DT would feel repetitive.

Oddly enough, I'm thinking either the Mechanic or a Handyman. The Angler is also in the running because of the corkscrew and fishscaler.

cody6268 · **Reply #19 on:** July 03, 2015, 09:08:06 PM

I own the Craftsman, essentially the Handyman with a Phillips screwdriver in the corkscrew's place. I keep it on a rather nice looking leather sheath on my leather belt. I have a much classier looking Alox Pioneer, but don't carry it as lacks 2/3 the stuff my Craftsman has and mostly due to the fact it was my great-grandfather's and worth over $100.

It's your call. I say go with the Handyman, as I have essentially the same thing. But, the pliers on all models but Wenger Rangers can't be used on the stuff you'd use a multitool like a SwissTool or Leatherman. I like having everything I'll likely need at my side, but there are limitations to that like church (I have brought my knife to church, especially when the church goes on the trip to the state park, when I'll be in the wilderness with friends), weddings, funerals, etc. And, what if I have to go to the Sheriff's Office, court, town hall, etc. that have security and if I bring my knife, chances are I won't come out with it.

Smaug · **Reply #20 on:** July 04, 2015, 03:43:54 PM

OK, seeing again that the pliers really IS necessary, check out the Rangergrip 74: http://www.victorinox.com/us/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Collections/Del%C3%A9mont-Collection/RangerGrip-74/0.9723.CUS2

The Wenger pliers is the best needlenose in the business. It has a nice firm return spring, is precision-made, and a pinch-type wire cutter that doesn't lose effectiveness over time when/if the pliers joint loosens up. (as the shear-type does) I have a Leatherman Surge whose shear-type wire cutters loosened up a bit after not much use, and now, it is only useful on either solid gauge wire or wire with coarse strands.

The big knife blade is actually quite useful for food prep on the go, such as peeling or slicing fruit.

The self-locking flat screwdriver head on the bottle opener is good as well.

Lastly, the lock release mechanism that is integrated into the shield is MUCH nicer (if you're right-handed) than the Victorinox liner lock.

Add an eyeglass screwdriver to the corkscrew, and you're golden.

Smaug · **Reply #21 on:** July 04, 2015, 03:45:23 PM

I checked NYC knife laws, thinking they'd have some ridiculous length limit. But they don't. (Chicago does, probably un-enforced, like so many of our laws...) They don't like automatics, but other than that, I think you're in good shape.

Singh · **Reply #22 on:** July 08, 2015, 01:21:59 PM

I'm still thinking about it. I've narrowed it down to either a Mechanic or a Vic Delemont 557.

I've always been interested in the Wenger 557. Now that Victorinox owns Wenger, the 557 now has the Vic awl, bottle and can openers (which I prefer over Wenger). My only reservation is the pliers; are they as good at fine work as the Vic?

Smaug · **Reply #23 on:** July 08, 2015, 11:52:26 PM

Quote from: shamus on July 08, 2015, 01:21:59 PM

I've always been interested in the Wenger 557. Now that Victorinox owns Wenger, the 557 now has the Vic awl, bottle and can openers (which I prefer over Wenger). My only reservation is the pliers; are they as good at fine work as the Vic?

It still has the Wenger style bottle opener, which is better, since it has the self-locking screwdriver.

The pliers are as good as Vic's at fine work, and can handle bigger jobs, since they're slip joint. Better spring design too.

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