Are SAKs and multitools designed mainly for drinkers?

[dks]

So, as far as most people are concerned a SAK has the bottle opener/caplifter/compo tool, and the corkscrew. These are mainly for alcoholic beverages, mainly.

Yes there can be a screwdriver, can opener, screwdriver holder there, but that could have been achieved otherwise too.

Most multitools also have the bottle opener, and many the corkscrew.

Are they for drinkers, or just for historical reasons, from when people drunk more? (did they?)

??

[matzesu]

Nobody said you have to use it to open bottles whit alkohol..
You could also open a bottle whit water or Cola whit the bottleopener of your SAK,
And the Korkscreew is also great to tie up a knott, or to house the usefull little screwdriver..

Swiss Army Knifes, where basicaly designt for the higher rank military members as officers, and they need to open a whine bottle there and where..

Even on the child versions of the swiss army knifes, where bottle opener and korgscrew..

[Shuya]

I call this BS.
These knifes where designed at a time when a lot of bottles had a cork, even juice. And, to be fair, there a A LOT of bottles today with crown cap that DONT contain beer or stuff.
And the swiss are kind of traditional and keep what they have for long time for historical reasons. And, if you dont like it, just buy the ones with Phillips. 

[SteveC]

I call this BS.
These knifes where designed at a time when a lot of bottles had a cork, even juice. And, to be fair, there a A LOT of bottles today with crown cap that DONT contain beer or stuff.
And the swiss are kind of traditional and keep what they have for long time for historical reasons. And, if you dont like it, just buy the ones with Phillips. 

 

[strmliner]

So, as far as most people are concerned a SAK has the bottle opener/caplifter/compo tool, and the corkscrew. These are mainly for alcoholic beverages, mainly.

Yes there can be a screwdriver, can opener, screwdriver holder there, but that could have been achieved otherwise too.

Most multitools also have the bottle opener, and many the corkscrew.

Are they for drinkers, or just for historical reasons, from when people drunk more? (did they?)

??

Just functional for the days before everything having twist-off caps!   

Still functional though I find I'm carrying the SAKs with backside Phillips vs CS more often now.  Can't get away from the cap-lifters on a day-to-day basis.   

[twiliter]

Evidently at first, very much food and drink oriented, in whatever was tinned, corked, or needed cutting, plus an awl for new belt holes after the feasting! 

Agree that not all that has been corked or tinned or capped necessarily contains alcohol (though I personally would be OK with that!) 

[Gryffin]

Ever notice the “Officer Suise” tang stamp on your SAKs?

There were originally *two* “Swiss Army” knives, one for officers, one for enlisted. The modern SAK is the descendent of the Officer model. A hundred years ago, European officers regular enjoyed wine, so a corkscrew was appropriate.

That’s no longer the case, but wine *is* still pretty popular on the Continent, so the tradition has continued to this day.

[cody6268]

Soda used to be in bottles that required a cap lifter to open them.  Coke products bottled in Mexico (found in many grocery stores in the US) still have them, and so do Cokes bottled in other countries. They can't be twisted off, but the modern US glass-bottled Cokes are twist-off.   I used my SAK almost exclusively when my grandparents bought a case of the Mexican Cokes (because they use real sugar, not corn syrup, and they do taste much better) at Sam's Club once. Europeans are big on drinking wine.   


Except for the Explorer, all of my SAKs have the back side Phillips on them. The corkscrew, however, has other uses.  I've undid tough knots with it, removed erasers from mechanical pencils after they've been erased to the brim of the cup that holds it.  Ninety-nine percent of the time, however, it just holds the eyeglass screwdriver.   If someone figured out how to get the Wenger 65mm eyeglass driver in a 91mm SAK (preferably replacing the small blade), I'd have no need for the corkscrew tool at all.   The most useless SAK tool nowadays is the slot in the older models Phillips--I've never seen anything in the grocery store (well, other than some fish) that needed a can key.  I use it almost always to roll up toothpaste tubes.   

[toolguy]

I call this BS.
These knifes where designed at a time when a lot of bottles had a cork, even juice. And, to be fair, there a A LOT of bottles today with crown cap that DONT contain beer or stuff.
And the swiss are kind of traditional and keep what they have for long time for historical reasons. And, if you dont like it, just buy the ones with Phillips. 

LOL.

[Huntsman]

I'd say 'No'

They are designed to be general purpose multitools for everyday use for anyone.

However they do have a couple of tools that are useful for drinkers.
And this was part of the original design intention - a hundred years ago!

However due to modern packaging of liquids these tools are less useful these days.

One other interesting point:
Reading the challenge threads - It's amazing how many of us use our SAKs (and other multitools) for some form of food (and drink) prep!

[ReamerPunch]

I would also have to say no.
The bottle opener is just easy to include, so why leave it out?

You've got large flatheads in most multitools, so why not put a tooth on it and increase its functionality?

Others include a claw opener, which opens bottles and cans. It's one tool, with two functions. Ring-pull cans are more popular now, but there are many traditional still around, and a full size multitool without a can opener would just get criticized for the omission. So, if you've got a can opener, why not make it a claw to also be able to open bottles?

Hell, even one-piece tools have a cutout for opening bottles.

The corkscrew is more for traditional reasons nowadays. Whenever I hear "SAK" I think of a corkscrew on the back. But not everyone needs it, which is why most models with it also come with the Philips head.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I think what most folks are saying is accurate- for the most part.  The thing about bottle openers is that they are easy.  It's basically just a notch.  If you have such an easy tool to add, why not add it?  The same could be said for flathead screwdrivers- most multitools have several simply because they are easy and a great way to fill space and add features, especially when you add them to the end of bottle openers, or find some way to twist them into corkscrews. 

Plus, even though there are lots of videos and tutorials online of how to open bottles without a bottle opener, bottle openers do make the process a lot easier.  And, with regards to twist off metal crown caps, ask any bartender why they use a bottle opener on them and they will show you numerous scars along the palms of their hands.

Def

[anditsgone]

I have used my swisstool's cap lifter a lot for opening beers 

I think it is more the marketing idea: lets make a little notch here so they can open a beer so we can advertise it as an extra tool to the list.

[dks]

forgot about this thread ...

I will let it run another day and then lock the poll 

[dks]

I have used the bottle opener and the corkscrew way more times than the can opener (which I used, I think, 3 times, the first one being over 30 years ago and the last, one week ago, on average once every 10 years    ...)

[powernoodle]

I have never used a SAK can opener or cork screw, and almost never use the cap lifter.  I would be happy if all of them disappeared to save space and weight, or to make room for other tools.

[SteveC]

 

[Etherealicer]

My latest "SAK" has neither cork-screw nor bottle opener, so the thesis must be wrong .

[eamo]

well, my take is a SAK is an MT - so designed for a multitude of tasks. Eating and drinking are some of the tasks closest to us - everyone eats and drinks so tools to facilitate some of the most basic human functions would be expected on a multitool ??

I use both the cap lifter and can opener, corkscrew not so much, but my partner recently bought a bottle of wine with a cork and all she had handy was an LM juice so the corkscrew was used for it's intended purpose - probably the only time it'll ever be used, but it saved her night

[Sea Monster]

I don't roll with a lot of a wine bottles / corks, so corkscrews are a bit of a "meh" for me (having said that, the only corkscrews in my house are on SAKs, so if the situation does come up, I guess at least I've got one)


cap lifters on the other hand - I don't use them every day, but it tends to be handy when I need it - and since they're generally either a can opener or screwdriver at the same time, the "tool" gets plenty of play overall.

[twiliter]

I use the openers quite a lot, it's a habit. Even with dedicated openers stashed away and easy open containers, I tend to use whatever I'm carrying simply because I'm used to it. Modern packaging is mostly plastic so scissors get a lot of use too. Not to mention how many different size screws the Vic can opener fits, a true multi within a multi.

[twiliter]

My latest "SAK" has neither cork-screw nor bottle opener, so the thesis must be wrong .

Which is? 

[twiliter]

The Flair does come to mind, kind of mission specific that one. 

[Dem]

While I use the can opener and bottle opener functions on occasion, I'd say to me those two are primarily flathead and phillips screwdrivers. I certainly use them as such more often. I use the eyeglass flathead in the corcscrew more often than the corckscrew itself, too. But I'm certainly happy to have all available if I need to open a can or a bottle of whatever or uncork wine.

Seems to me it's just what you use them for. There's a reason swiss army knife is synonymous with jack of all trades.

[Sea Monster]

mission specific

Hey Hey, Wink Wink, 



On a SAK note -
"and a Corkscrew!" has a sort of early TV, or catalogue charm to it.

Our intrepid hero, saving the day and getting the gal by having a corkscrew handy, otherwise the entire evening would have been ruined.

I am pre-breakfast speculating wildly that it's survived this long more on it's icon status than actual use, and I'll be mildly surprised if it survives another decade, given that I have not seen a cork in quite some time.


Someone alluded to it earlier - I suppose the SAK has a history as a bit of a "gentleman's knife" - with it's pen knife, can opener and corkscrew and leather punch for resizing sabre belts after too many tins of preserves and bottles of wine.

All things that can be done in the comfort of an officer's tent, whilst the dogfaces, groundpounders and grunts creatively use a bayonet for every task that comes up.

[Huntsman]

I have used my swisstool's cap lifter a lot for opening beers 
I think it is more the marketing idea: lets make a little notch here so they can open a beer so we can advertise it as an extra tool to the list.

Gotta disagree with that one!!
When you think that the bottle opener has been around for 70 plus years - I don't think it was for marketing reasons they put it on the SD.
Back then, and sometimes even now, you need a BO to open a bottle ........  Yep got one on my SAK 

As someone mentioned above - a SAK is a multitool - But many tools in the SAK are mini multitools themselves.
So as opposed to a marketing orientated design principle - I think it is more...
"Let's pack as many functions as possible into a small a space as possible for maximum usefulness to the user" ! 

Even if you use a function only once - your SAK has helped you and fulfilled its purpose    
You say yourself you use the BO!! 

My latest "SAK" has neither cork-screw nor bottle opener, so the thesis must be wrong .

Which is? 

Agree with the statement Mr. E

But I am also curious as to which is your new SAK !! 
Plenty of SAKs have no CS - But nearly all have a BO - usually on the SD.
Apart from, I guess, the 58mm range!
Actually thinking about it - I guess single bladed SAKs have no BO

Anyway still let us know please 

[twiliter]

Apart from, I guess, the 58mm range!

And a few 74's, and a few 111's, and a few others I suppose.

Or it could be a Swiza D02...

Inquiring minds want to know E! 

[yud]

Well not being a drinker, only drinking stuff from open bars or if someone else insist on buying me a drink.  I have never needed to use the corkscrew or bottle opener, and outside of one time on vacation I don't remember having to use the can opener.  So to be honest I don't really see a point in there continued existence.

However, for the openers on a Vic SAK or a SOG the loss of the associated screw driver and "pry bar" function would be great and sorely felt.  And I don't see any better use for thoses then as openers.  Likewise I don't recall ever using any corkscrew but I prefer th small screwdriver is far better then the Phillips.

So at any rate if the prime function of these tools changed it would be great.

[zoidberg]

Better have a beer while I think about it.   

[Etherealicer]

My latest "SAK" has neither cork-screw nor bottle opener, so the thesis must be wrong .

Which is? 

Agree with the statement Mr. E

But I am also curious as to which is your new SAK !! 

Well, it is not a SAK, it is a "SAK"...