Using the old GAK for fire starting

[Spartan19]

I had this idea yesterday to try the GAK saw for striking a ferro rod while building a fire. I was surprised at how well it did. The main blade is great for making wood shavings and the saw does a fair job at cutting small branches. This may end up in my pack on a future hiking trip

[caninesapien]

My GAK lives in my bag as a backup, I find the blade to be really good, even though mine's a bit of a roughed up specimen!

[Mechanickal]

I found mine on a local second hand site from a guy who was selling his german military collection.

The tip of the blade shows some scratches but apart from that it's in great condition. Sawblade cover is present.

I'm afraid to use it given the fact they seem very hard to source here.

[Spartan19]

I got mine at an air show in Reading PA for $10. I was looking in the shop tents, and there were a few of them for sale. So I bought one for myslef and another for my dad. Mine was so dirty that it couldn't snap shut at first, and the blade was bent and dull. After some cleaning and resharpening, it dressed up well. I like it so much I'm thinking about adding it to my EDC in the future

[Spartan19]

I ran up and got some closeup pics of it. Like I said the blade is slightly bent at the tip, and the reamer's point is worn down. But aside from that, it's in great shape. I wish I new how old it is, but there isn't any dating system that I know of

[Mechanickal]

I ran up and got some closeup pics of it. Like I said the blade is slightly bent at the tip, and the reamer's point is worn down. But aside from that, it's in great shape. I wish I new how old it is, but there isn't any dating system that I know of

Vic made the GAKs from 73 'till 83 according to SAKwiki

[Spartan19]

I ran up and got some closeup pics of it. Like I said the blade is slightly bent at the tip, and the reamer's point is worn down. But aside from that, it's in great shape. I wish I new how old it is, but there isn't any dating system that I know of

Vic made the GAKs from 73 'till 83 according to SAKwiki

OK, thanks Mechanical!  Do you know if Wenger ever made any, or was Vic the only contract?

[Mechanickal]

I ran up and got some closeup pics of it. Like I said the blade is slightly bent at the tip, and the reamer's point is worn down. But aside from that, it's in great shape. I wish I new how old it is, but there isn't any dating system that I know of

Vic made the GAKs from 73 'till 83 according to SAKwiki

OK, thanks Mechanical!  Do you know if Wenger ever made any, or was Vic the only contract?

Vic was the only Swiss contractor.
There where others, mostly German, like Adler, Fosco, CCW, etc.
And also Aitor (Spanish)

Seems like I had my dates wrong though.
 
From SAKwiki:

The 108mm GAK was first issued in 1976, and continued to be used until 2003, with the introduction of the new ((Trekker|111 OH GAK]. According to Victorinox, the GAK (0.8770.04) was made by Victorinox from only 1976 to 1986. In 1985 the file was added to the woodsaw. From 1986 to 1997 Victorinox delivered parts for the knife to the Adler Messer GmbH.

[Mechanickal]

And a SAKnight article on the contractors:
http://www.swissarmyknights.com/articles/2005/105-german-army-knife-variants

[Zed]

And a SAKnight article on the contractors:
http://www.swissarmyknights.com/articles/2005/105-german-army-knife-variants

I've not read that artical in years  was on sosak originally, I've had alot of those variations over the years,great camping knife  oddly these days I own none ,another I'll have to pick up again  Great pics Spartan 19 

[Mechanickal]

And a SAKnight article on the contractors:
http://www.swissarmyknights.com/articles/2005/105-german-army-knife-variants

I've not read that artical in years  was on sosak originally, I've had alot of those variations over the years,great camping knife  oddly these days I own none ,another I'll have to pick up again  Great pics Spartan 19 

I encountered only one so far here and bought it cheap.

Which is so strange when you look at it.
Belgium is the neighbouring country of both Germany and The Netherlands, yet GAKs and DAKs are hard to come buy.

That, or I'm just looking in the wrong places...

[Zed]

And a SAKnight article on the contractors:
http://www.swissarmyknights.com/articles/2005/105-german-army-knife-variants

I've not read that artical in years  was on sosak originally, I've had alot of those variations over the years,great camping knife  oddly these days I own none ,another I'll have to pick up again  Great pics Spartan 19 

I encountered only one so far here and bought it cheap.

Which is so strange when you look at it.
Belgium is the neighbouring country of both Germany and The Netherlands, yet GAKs and DAKs are hard to come buy.

That, or I'm just looking in the wrong places...

There is a online shop in the uk that has around 4-5 variations but no vic anymore  there still pretty cheap around £11-12 posted