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First SAK, Current SAK

RiverGhost · 28 · 2001
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us Offline RiverGhost

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First SAK, Current SAK
on: July 21, 2015, 06:16:17 AM
Hello all. Long time peeper turned a joiner.  Many many years ago when I was 13 I told my foster mother I wanted a SAK.  I figured since I was a Montana mountain boy I needed it.  She let me pick one out, ended up being the Farmer alox model in red.  It stayed in my pocket for 10 years or so.  Very handy knife; cutting brush, opening cans of lunch, trimming and notching branches to hang the coffee pot over a fire, making fire sticks, fixing my bike and other things, cleaning fish, punching holes....etc etc.  I still have it 39 years later sitting next to my chair on the side table...ready and able for those little chores.  Now I carry a straight Trekker(no thumb hole).  Same tools plus some extras and a longer locking blade.  Still cuts brush, opens cans for lunch, cleans fish.....etc.  To me the SAK is indespensable as duct tape, 550 cord, WD-40 and bailing wire.  I edc duct tape and 550 cord and the WD-40/bailing wire isn't far away.  Figured this was a good way to break the ice and introduce myself.

us Offline captain spaulding

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #1 on: July 21, 2015, 06:24:57 AM
Nice story and welcome to the forum! Glad to have you.  :salute:

Any plans on buying any new SAK's or MT's?
I'm the milk man!

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #2 on: July 21, 2015, 06:33:35 AM
Welcome to the forum RiverGhost.  :cheers:

us Offline strmliner

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #3 on: July 21, 2015, 06:52:53 AM
Nice intro RiverGhost and welcome aboard!     :cheers:
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they go."    -Will Rogers
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au Offline Huntsman

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #4 on: July 21, 2015, 06:56:45 AM
Welcome RiverGhost

And a good intro and nice story

I love SAK stories - especially the long (time-wise in length or from long ago!!) ones  :)
This story is  both!!
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us Offline RiverGhost

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #5 on: July 21, 2015, 07:00:30 AM
Quote from: captain spaulding on July 21, 2015, 06:24:57 AM
Nice story and welcome to the forum! Glad to have you.  :salute:

Any plans on buying any new SAK's or MT's?

Not right at the moment,  I have SAK's in reserve.  As for MT's.....I have a Leatherman PST from 1987, hardly ever use it.

us Offline SAK Guy

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #6 on: July 21, 2015, 07:07:45 AM
Welcome!!!!!! :2tu:
- Robert




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us Offline RiverGhost

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #7 on: July 21, 2015, 07:27:12 AM
 :oops:  One thing I forgot to mention is that I also carry a Zippo lighter.  I started in 1985 when I worked missle security at Malmstrom AFB, used it to burn code material.  Like my SAK it bacame part of my everyday life...feel naked without it.

us Offline GoatDragon

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #8 on: July 21, 2015, 08:02:53 AM
Quote from: captain spaulding on July 21, 2015, 06:24:57 AM
Nice story and welcome to the forum! Glad to have you.  :salute:

Any plans on buying any new SAK's or MT's?
Why are you asking that? I mean I know a lot of us here do buy lots of sak's and mt's, but this forum isn't about buying things, it's about appreciating them.

Or am I wrong, and does this forum exist primarily to get people to buy things?
« Last Edit: July 21, 2015, 08:17:15 AM by GoatDragon »
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00 Offline kirk13

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #9 on: July 21, 2015, 09:07:49 AM
Hi and welcome to the forum! Great back story mate :tu:

Do you have any pic? We love Alox here,especially used red alox :drool:
There is no beginning,or ending,and for this we are thankful,cos now is hard enough to understand!
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gb Offline VoetSak

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #10 on: July 21, 2015, 11:52:12 AM
Welcome.

I don't leave home without my Zippo either. Current one has an 03 stamp on the bottom but I still have the first one I ever bought. First purchase I ever made with money that I had actually earned and well worth it.
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de Offline RT1969

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #11 on: July 21, 2015, 12:54:33 PM
Hi & welcome to MTo! That is awesome that you still have your first SAK, I sadly lost my childhoods Woodsman. But I am reinforced in thinking that a sharp blade, a saw and something to open a soda or a can for mom is one of the best gifts you can make to a boy.  :tu:

As to the lighter: I carry a BIC, because I seldom use it and petrol lighter always dry up in my pocket. I appreciate Zippos, but they are not for a non-smoker as myself.
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us Offline RiverGhost

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #12 on: July 21, 2015, 01:39:50 PM
Quote from: kirk13 on July 21, 2015, 09:07:49 AM
Hi and welcome to the forum! Great back story mate :tu:

Do you have any pic? We love Alox here,especially used red alox :drool:

Not at the moment, I will do something to fix that :)

us Offline Aloha

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #13 on: July 21, 2015, 04:04:05 PM
Welcome, I too enjoy reading these type stories, thank you for sharing.  Its great you have your 1st SAK and its served you so well.  I cant wait to see the pics when you get the posted. 
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us Offline sawman

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #14 on: July 21, 2015, 04:09:49 PM
Hi and welcome to MTO :salute:

Sounds like you'll fit right in here. Look forward to hearing more from you :cheers:
SAW

us Offline Smaug

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #15 on: July 21, 2015, 07:55:36 PM
Great introduction idea, and welcome to the forum!

I think you'll find that most of us don't carry a single SAK from day to day, but mix it up a lot, because there are just too many good models to limit ourselves to one.

My first SAK was an Victorinox EcoLine Recruit. My grandpa brought back six of them from Switzerland for all his grandsons. (The one granddaughter got a Tissot watch!) Before that, I had a cheap Imperial jack knife, whose "large" blade was about 1-1/2" long. The EcoLine Recruit was an order of magnitude higher quality. It was all stainless steel and aluminum, with a shiny red handle, and it fit the hand perfectly. I actually only used the Recruit for special occasions; I felt like I needed to save it for something, it was so nice.

My brother carried his and used it more, but he also lost it, so maybe I was right, hehehe.

Nowadays, I usually carry a small one in my pocket, as I work a desk job in the Chicago suburbs. Today it is a Classic. Yesterday it was a Wenger Pocket Toolchest. My go-to favorite is the Manager. (Classic, but where the tweezers are replaced by a retractable ballpoint pen) On the weekends, when I'm more apt to need proper tools in the SAK, I'll carry different models depending on my plans for the day. The plain edged, one-handed Trekker is my favorite for when I'm out hiking or something. The rest of the time, I favor either the Explorer Plus or Evo 14.

Here's my Classic, with the "Clockwork" scale art:



Here's the Pocket Toolchest:



Here's the Manager:



^ those three are the workday models I like best. If I had to pick just one of them, I think it'd be the Manager.


Here's the Evo 14. It has the brilliant "springless scissors" and a nail file/#1 flat Phillips instead of the small blade:



Here's my Explorer Plus. I got the Emerald Green scales and had the blade engraved with my screen name:



Another weekend favorite is the Cybertool 34 (M); The bit driver is a wonderful piece of engineering:



Last but not least, here's my first, the EcoLine Recruit from the 80s:



Welcome to the Swiss Army Knights! I wish I could be a one-knife-guy, like you, but I just enjoy variety too much. My day-to-day life is so redundant I need variety somewhere! :)
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us Offline toolguy

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #16 on: July 21, 2015, 10:22:37 PM
Welcome RiverGhost,I'm sort of new here as well.
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spam Offline J Mackrel Jones

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #17 on: July 21, 2015, 11:43:56 PM
First - Victorinox Champion (w/ backside nailfile) - lost long ago
Now - Vic Executive w/onboard pen modification - my EDC
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us Offline Barry Rowland

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #18 on: July 22, 2015, 01:54:24 AM
I carried my Huntsman exclusively for decades, but as time goes on I find myself carrying the Classics or my Minichamp more and more.  I have a Recruit which goes out for a ride from time to time as well. 
Barry
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us Offline RiverGhost

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #19 on: July 22, 2015, 02:16:08 AM
If this doesn't work I will feel like an idiot......lol

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us Offline RiverGhost

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #20 on: July 22, 2015, 02:18:41 AM
 :ahhh   woo hoo it worked.....lol

wales Offline magentus

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #21 on: July 22, 2015, 07:43:36 PM
Very nice RiverGhost - you have what we call a 'Grail Knife' there. Welcome.
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us Offline strmliner

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #22 on: July 22, 2015, 09:15:07 PM
Quote from: RiverGhost on July 22, 2015, 02:16:08 AM
If this doesn't work I will feel like an idiot......lol

Congratulations RG...nice pictures!

                         :drink:
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00 Offline kirk13

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #23 on: July 22, 2015, 10:46:27 PM
Quote from: strmliner on July 22, 2015, 09:15:07 PM
Quote from: RiverGhost on July 22, 2015, 02:16:08 AM
If this doesn't work I will feel like an idiot......lol

Congratulations RG...nice pictures!

                         :drink:

+1 Very nice  :tu:
There is no beginning,or ending,and for this we are thankful,cos now is hard enough to understand!
Merit Badges Start a thread with photos of at least five different colored ALOX models in your collection Start a new thread and post a photo of the discontinued sak/mt for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread with a photo of a modded knife or multitool with your EDC Must post a step by step pictorial of a knife or multitool modification (scale swap not included) Start a new thread with a photo of custom or non standard SAK scales in your collection Start a new thread with photos of a Japanese made PST in your collection

us Offline Aloha

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #24 on: July 23, 2015, 01:59:30 AM
Looks great. 
Esse Quam Videri
Merit Badges Start a new thread and post a photo of the pen for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread and post a photo of a traditional folder for thirty (30) consecutive days. Take part in the christmas pool or a rak type giveaway. Those wanting to say thank you for a rak may also nominate for the santa. Must start a thread showing a photo of at least eight BO tools Start a new thread showing photos of your outdoor cooking Start a new thread and post a picture of fire making kit or fire with a multitool Start a new thread and post a photo of a flashlight as part of your EDC Must have a review written in the proper format and posted on the Main Site Start a new thread with photos of camping, including those showing preferred camping equipment Start a thread with photos of at least 5 different Juice models in your collection Start a new thread with photos of a Japanese made PST in your collection Start a thread with a photo of at least ten OPT's in your collection

us Offline RiverGhost

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #25 on: July 23, 2015, 03:23:25 AM
Quote from: magentus on July 22, 2015, 07:43:36 PM
Very nice ReiverGhost - you have what we call a 'Grail Knife' there. Welcome.

Magentus....what do you mean by "grail knife"??


au Offline Huntsman

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #26 on: July 23, 2015, 05:54:35 AM
Quote from: RiverGhost on July 23, 2015, 03:23:25 AM
Quote from: magentus on July 22, 2015, 07:43:36 PM
Very nice ReiverGhost - you have what we call a 'Grail Knife' there. Welcome.
Magentus....what do you mean by "grail knife"??

Here's a guess.....

'Grail' - as in 'Holy Grail' - as in something that is very precious, which many people desperately want - and may spend their whole life searching for  !!

In this case: The 'Old Cross' SAKs seem to be much loved and desired by many members of this forum!!
And of course often command high prices on ebay - But don't ever be tempted to sell yours!!
Merit Badges Must update or add a page on SAKWiki Start a new thread with photos of a Japanese made PST in your collection Take part in the christmas pool or a rak type giveaway. Those wanting to say thank you for a rak may also nominate for the santa. Start a thread with photos of at least 1 MTO branded tool in your collection Must buy an item through the MTo Store Start a new thread with a photo of your custom ALOX with scissors Post your pocket dump photos then challenge two more members who must post their pocket dump photos within 24hrs for you to get the badge. Must post a step by step pictorial of a knife or multitool modification (scale swap not included) Must start a thread with a photo of your birth year SAK Must start a thread showing a photo of at least three BO tools Start a thread with photos of at least eight different colored ALOX models in your collection Start a new thread and post a photo of a flashlight as part of your EDC Start a thread with a photo of a repair you made with duct tape Must put something in order and provide link to the post. Start a new thread with a photo of custom or non standard SAK scales in your collection

us Offline RiverGhost

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Re: First SAK, Current SAK
Reply #27 on: July 23, 2015, 11:45:03 PM
 :climber:   I understand Magentus, don't worry I've had it a long time.....to me its priceless

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