One Layer SAKs, Alox vs. Celidor

[Don Pablo]

Victorinox has a decent range of one layer SAKs. The likes of the Waiter, Bantam, Excelsior, Solo, etc, in Alox and Celidor, in a range of sizes.
Obviously the Celidor models are very slim, but the Alox versions disappear when you look at them sideways, because they're so skinny. 

Alox Bantam vs Celidor Bantam, Alox Excelsior vs Celidor Excelsior, they are the same except for the Alox/Celidor difference and are directly comparable.
Celidor Waiter vs Alox Bantam is more of a stretch, but can be compared as well.

So basically what I'm asking you all, one layer Alox, or one layer Celidor? 

[GoatDragon]

If you're going for a one layer SAK, you clearly want it to be thin. And if you want it to be thin, alox is the answer. Why only go 1/2 way to the slimmest possible SAK with celidor?

[Don Pablo]

If you're going for a one layer SAK, you clearly want it to be thin. And if you want it to be thin, alox is the answer. Why only go 1/2 way to the slimmest possible SAK with celidor?

That's one way to look at it. 
On the other hand, is there such a thing as too thin? 

[Aloha]

If you're going for a one layer SAK, you clearly want it to be thin. And if you want it to be thin, alox is the answer. Why only go 1/2 way to the slimmest possible SAK with celidor?

That's one way to look at it. 
On the other hand, is there such a thing as too thin? 

I think so.  The one comparison for me is my Cadet 2 and my Recruit 84mm.  While my Cadet 2 is a wonderful knife my Recruit has nice hand feel do to its thickness ( as compared ).  Some love the way tools disappear in their pockets and I can agree but I also like the feel of thicker vs thinner scales. 

This will certainly be a matter of what each person likes.  There are certainly those that just love "thinner is better".   

[strmliner]

If you're going for a one layer SAK, you clearly want it to be thin. And if you want it to be thin, alox is the answer. Why only go 1/2 way to the slimmest possible SAK with celidor?

That's one way to look at it. 
On the other hand, is there such a thing as too thin? 

I think so.  The one comparison for me is my Cadet 2 and my Recruit 84mm.  While my Cadet 2 is a wonderful knife my Recruit has nice hand feel do to its thickness ( as compared ).  Some love the way tools disappear in their pockets and I can agree but I also like the feel of thicker vs thinner scales. 

This will certainly be a matter of what each person likes.  There are certainly those that just love "thinner is better".   

+1 

While I have both, the 1-layer cellidor 84's that feel a little bit better in the hand while using and have T&T get my vote. However the Pioneer Solo at 93mm is really nice, very light, and strong enough to do a lot of cutting/whittling...perfect candidate for neck-carry or hiding in your kit somewhere.

[Sazabi]

I look at it two ways, if one is comparing Bantams, I'd choose the alox version hands down, as it's stronger, but between the alox Bantam and Waiter, the Waiter gets my pick, due to T&T and the eyeglass screwdriver.  Ultimately, in the spirit of the forum, they're all inexpensive enough to get one of each and see what strikes your fancy the best, or just alternate out on various days.

[AimlessWanderer]

I carry Swiss knives for the excellent scissors. No scissors = no carry. I'll carry one of my traditional knives instead (and a pliers based tool with decent scissors).

It's funny how I'll put a traditional one/two bladed knife in my pocket, but not my Tourist. Even though the Tourist offers more function, I can't help feeling it's incomplete without the scissors

[theonew]

I carry Swiss knives for the excellent scissors. No scissors = no carry. I'll carry one of my traditional knives instead (and a pliers based tool with decent scissors).

It's funny how I'll put a traditional one/two bladed knife in my pocket, but not my Tourist. Even though the Tourist offers more function, I can't help feeling it's incomplete without the scissors

You have a bad case of scissors obsession. Get help
 

[Don Pablo]

Interesting viewpoints everyone. 


I'm planning a one layer 93mm Alox mod, with just the bottle opener and can opener. 

It will be a companion SAK to my bladeless Woodsman because the bladeless Woodsman can-not open cans, due to the position of the can opener. 
And also because it seems like a cool mod. 

And if I don't feel the need for a Corkscrew or Saw on some days, it will pair very nicely with a Rambler I think. Very minimalist. 

[AimlessWanderer]

I carry Swiss knives for the excellent scissors. No scissors = no carry. I'll carry one of my traditional knives instead (and a pliers based tool with decent scissors).

It's funny how I'll put a traditional one/two bladed knife in my pocket, but not my Tourist. Even though the Tourist offers more function, I can't help feeling it's incomplete without the scissors

You have a bad case of scissors obsession. Get help
 

It's called enlightenment 

[Sneider]

Alox are thinner and have (my opinion) more style.
I would prefer celidor only when I really need the scale tools.

[shadowrider]

I'm planning a one layer 93mm Alox mod, with just the bottle opener and can opener. 

It will be a companion SAK to my bladeless Woodsman because the bladeless Woodsman can-not open cans, due to the position of the can opener. 
And also because it seems like a cool mod. 

And if I don't feel the need for a Corkscrew or Saw on some days, it will pair very nicely with a Rambler I think. Very minimalist. 

I like this.

[GoatDragon]

Interesting viewpoints everyone. 


I'm planning a one layer 93mm Alox mod, with just the bottle opener and can opener. 

It will be a companion SAK to my bladeless Woodsman because the bladeless Woodsman can-not open cans, due to the position of the can opener. 
And also because it seems like a cool mod. 

And if I don't feel the need for a Corkscrew or Saw on some days, it will pair very nicely with a Rambler I think. Very minimalist. 

Why so many bladeless mods. And how is the Woodsman's can opener positioned that it can't open cans? 

[Don Pablo]

I'm planning a one layer 93mm Alox mod, with just the bottle opener and can opener. 

It will be a companion SAK to my bladeless Woodsman because the bladeless Woodsman can-not open cans, due to the position of the can opener. 
And also because it seems like a cool mod. 

And if I don't feel the need for a Corkscrew or Saw on some days, it will pair very nicely with a Rambler I think. Very minimalist. 

I like this.

Thanks. I'll make a thread in the mod squad with pics when I do it. 

[Frailer]

I carry Swiss knives for the excellent scissors. No scissors = no carry....

Scissors + thin = awesome...which is why the Compact is king of the cellidor SAKs.

Back to the original question, I love the single layer 93mm Alox models, but in 84mm Alox the Cadet is already thin enough for me.

I'd love to see a 93mm incarnation of the Bantam.

[Don Pablo]

Interesting viewpoints everyone. 


I'm planning a one layer 93mm Alox mod, with just the bottle opener and can opener. 

It will be a companion SAK to my bladeless Woodsman because the bladeless Woodsman can-not open cans, due to the position of the can opener. 
And also because it seems like a cool mod. 

And if I don't feel the need for a Corkscrew or Saw on some days, it will pair very nicely with a Rambler I think. Very minimalist. 

Why so many bladeless mods. And how is the Woodsman's can opener positioned that it can't open cans? 

Regarding the can opener, I put it in the position of the large blade, with the bottle opener in the position of the small blade, because there is no other way to do it neatly without grinding tools and springs, as far as I know.
Unfortunately, this means that the SAK itself gets in the way of opening cans right handed, so it won't work opening cans right handed because it can-not hook the rim of the can, if you know what I mean. Left handed works, but the can opener is grinded for right handed use. So it makes a mess of the job left handed. 



Knife laws in Ireland are worded such that they don't allow for carrying of blades, needles, pencils, etc without a "Reasonable Excuse"(Such as camping, but not EDC), which is a legally defined term. Practically, you won't get arrested if seen with a sharp pencil in public, unless you are sulking around a nightclub, clearly up to no good, at 2am.
You can probably get away with a 91mm SAK in the day, if you are a respectable office worker and the Garda in question is sensible, but theres always a risk, if carrying a SAK for edc purposes. I can probably get away with it, but I prefer not to take the risk.

And a funny thing. Personally, I don't use the blade for much that I cannot use the scissors for, out and about. So I don't feel like I'm missing anything, and I have a few unmodded bladed SAKs and a slipjoint knife, to use if I so desire. 
And taking out the blades reduced my woodsman from a hefty 5 layers, two of them thick, to a more manageable 4 layers. Lots of function in a medium package.

[ThePeacent]

I like T&T in a single layer, gentleman carry knife.
Consistent with the elegant and do-it all character of the gentleman in a very slim, inconspicuous and carriable package

[this_is_nascar]

Yes, a knife can be too thin in my opinion.

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[theonew]

It's called enlightenment 

But only if you're a member of the Cult of Inefficient Tool Redundancy 
 

[gene stoner]

Bantam and Premier.  I love the sleekness of the Alox but it's so thin I'm always afraid I'll lose it. The Premier sees most of the use between these two.

[this_is_nascar]

I'll admit, the Alox Bantam feels too thin in my hands.


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[AimlessWanderer]

It's called enlightenment 

But only if you're a member of the Cult of Inefficient Tool Redundancy 
 

 

It's called using the right tool for the job  just cos you can pry with a screwdriver doesn't mean you should. Knives will never be a replacement for scissors, even if they can do some of the tasks in a rough arsed fashion 

[MacGyver]

It's called enlightenment 

But only if you're a member of the Cult of Inefficient Tool Redundancy 
 

 

It's called using the right tool for the job  just cos you can pry with a screwdriver doesn't mean you should. Knives will never be a replacement for scissors, even if they can do some of the tasks in a rough arsed fashion 

Agreed... in a way...

But remember the knife blades where invented to cut things, the scissors are basically two knife blades opposed to each other connected on a pivot point that's meant to make specific types of cutting jobs easier.

Both serve the same function (or job...   ), cutting stuff, the scissors just make certain types of cutting jobs easier...    

 

Jokes apart, there is never exactly "the right tool for the job" on a sak, i think the beauty of Sak's is just that: Improvise   

[ironraven]

For one layer, I prefer cellidor- the alox is too skinny for comfort in the hand.

If you could find an Apprentice, it would be an excellent minimalist EDC. Or make one out of a Waiter.

[strmliner]

For one layer, I prefer cellidor- the alox is too skinny for comfort in the hand.

If you could find an Apprentice, it would be an excellent minimalist EDC. Or make one out of a Waiter.

Made from a Waiter, and it is a worthwhile smaller EDC...   

[Don Pablo]

For one layer, I prefer cellidor- the alox is too skinny for comfort in the hand.

If you could find an Apprentice, it would be an excellent minimalist EDC. Or make one out of a Waiter.

Made from a Waiter, and it is a worthwhile smaller EDC...   

I want to mod a SAK with just a can opener, and bottle opener. It appears that the most elegant way of doing it would be a 84mm Recruit with no blade layer, or an 93mm Alox with no blade layer.
Since this SAK is to be a companion to a Celidor SAK, I think that I'd like it to be as thin as possible, hence the 93mm alox choice. 

The Apprentice looks very nice though. 

[El Corkscrew]

Tough question. 

My alox one layer choice is El Settler or Solo

My Cellidor choice is El Waiter or Ambassador

I have a couple Populars but I'm really just not in to them other than for collecting purposes...


If I had to just pick one out of those...   El Settler.  If there was a 93mm Bantam, I'd go with that.


 

[shibafu]

Bantam and Premier.  I love the sleekness of the Alox but it's so thin I'm always afraid I'll lose it. The Premier sees most of the use between these two.

More than once I've nearly lost my alox bantam as a result of it just slipping out of a pocket unnoticed.

[Don Pablo]

Bantam and Premier.  I love the sleekness of the Alox but it's so thin I'm always afraid I'll lose it. The Premier sees most of the use between these two.

More than once I've nearly lost my alox bantam as a result of it just slipping out of a pocket unnoticed.

I'm hoping to be able to put a bail on the 93mm Alox mod I'm planning. 
Mags said that you can drill a dimple in the rivet for the bail to sit in.
The rivet is 3mm, and I'm imagining drilling a deepish 2mm hole in each side for the bail. 

[Mechanickal]

Bantam and Premier.  I love the sleekness of the Alox but it's so thin I'm always afraid I'll lose it. The Premier sees most of the use between these two.

More than once I've nearly lost my alox bantam as a result of it just slipping out of a pocket unnoticed.

I'm hoping to be able to put a bail on the 93mm Alox mod I'm planning. 
Mags said that you can drill a dimple in the rivet for the bail to sit in.
The rivet is 3mm, and I'm imagining drilling a deepish 2mm hole in each side for the bail. 

So now you're going to drill into your SAKs?!

Carefull Pabs, you made it to the watch list already.
And the confiscation order is awaiting approval at the round table of the SAKnights...