Blame this one on Douglas, what is your excuse?.......err story

[Butch]

For the Mods I put this in General hoping that others would tell their story, whether SAK or MT.
The weather here is just not conducive to being outside & me being a worn out old geezer I was looking for something to do today. So here is the story. I was talking on the telephone to my son Douglas, yeah that one from MTo. Somehow the story of my first SAK came up and he told me I should tell it here. I told him that I had already told a short version of it here, but he said he had missed it and I should tell the whole story here, with all the whistles and bells. Anyway some parts of this may seem familiar to some of you.
 Douglas was about three years old at the time, 1971. I did not know what or to my knowledge even know there was a such a thing as a SAK. I went to a feed store on the east side of town to work on an air conditioner. It was on the roof of the store so up the ladder I went. I was carrying my heavy toolbox and so it just was not fun. I got over to the AC, short for air conditioner. While looking it over I spotted something red lying under the edge of it. I reached under there and pulled out a red pocket knife with more blades than I had ever seen on one piece of equipment. I continued on and finished the AC repairs and carried that heavy toolbox back down. Only slightly more fun than carrying it up.
 I made out the ticket for the repairs and carried it and that pocket knife into the store where I proceeded to try to find the owner. Nobody would lay claim to it, so I tried to leave it with the store owner. He told me to just put it in my pocket and keep it, " There has not been anybody on that roof in three years. "
 I will add here that one of the most amazing things was that there wasn't any rust on this red piece of hardware. It was still bright and shiney after three years outside on a roof. Yes it had some protection by being under the edge of the AC but not a lot. I learned to love fixing things without having to carry that heavy tool box.
 I have no idea which SAK it was, it was not a Champ. It had the backside phillips, a can opener, a bottle opener, large and small knife blades, toothpick, and tweezers, and possibly another blade or two that are long forgotten. I learned to really love that knife and when I lost it a year or so later I was one very unhappy soul.
 But things seem to work for the best. A short time later I was at a gun show and a dealer there had my knife on super steroids. That started my love affair with the Vic Swisschamp that has lasted almost as long as my marriage to my wife, fifty years last November. I can't give a date for my Champ love affair but it is around forty five years. And I have broken, wornout , and lost a few of them.

Now, let's hear your story.   

[Ron Who]

Much is lost in the mists of time, but I do remember this:

When I was about seven, I was given a Champ-like red scaled pocket knife. Whether Swiss or Chinese, I do not know.  My new ownership didn´t last long, I lost the knife in a knife throwing competition. It missed the tree and disappeared into the bushes.

I was hooked, but I didn´t get a new one (a Champion) for about ten years. I had some other knives though, like a Buck 110. It went MIA long ago.

I still have that Champion.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Mine is pretty well documented these days, but I am always happy to share!  You can read the full article on SwissArmyKnights.com but the gist is that my first SAK was a Camper somewhere between 5 and 8 years old.  My father had sent his sergeant to the Golan Heights as part of an observation mission and when he came back he had Campers for both my brother and I, as well as a Champion for my father.

Here's my Camper, which I still have today:



And my father's Champion, which I also have:



Those are also my father's old binoculars. 

As I was looking for the above articles, I also found this one, which seems relevant as it is all My First SAK stories. 

The thing about SAKs to me, which has had more of an impact on my collection than the first SAK was that no one I knew of was interested in knives.  My father had a few, but at the time didn't really seem to have any particular affinity for them.  I was fascinated of course, and bought them every chance I got, despite feeling like it as something terrible to be interested in.  After all, the only knife collector I'd ever heard of was this guy who had killed someone and hid it for many years, allowing a local Native kid to take the blame.  Lots has been written on that subject (Donald Marshall and as much as I liked knives, I tried to hide it as much as possible because I wanted to be absolutely nothing like the guy that killed someone and then let someone else take the blame.

It was my early forays into the Internet and the discovery of Knifeforums,com that made me realize I could enjoy knives and not be a psychopath. 

Def

[Butch]

Much is lost in the mists of time, but I do remember this:

When I was about seven, I was given a Champ-like red scaled pocket knife. Whether Swiss or Chinese, I do not know.  My new ownership didn´t last long, I lost the knife in a knife throwing competition. It missed the tree and disappeared into the bushes.

I was hooked, but I didn´t get a new one (a Champion) for about ten years. I had some other knives though, like a Buck 110. It went MIA long ago.

I still have that Champion.

 

[Butch]

Mine is pretty well documented these days, but I am always happy to share!  You can read the full article on SwissArmyKnights.com but the gist is that my first SAK was a Camper somewhere between 5 and 8 years old.  My father had sent his sergeant to the Golan Heights as part of an observation mission and when he came back he had Campers for both my brother and I, as well as a Champion for my father.

Here's my Camper, which I still have today:

(Image removed from quote.)

And my father's Champion, which I also have:

(Image removed from quote.)

Those are also my father's old binoculars. 

As I was looking for the above articles, I also found this one, which seems relevant as it is all My First SAK stories. 

The thing about SAKs to me, which has had more of an impact on my collection than the first SAK was that no one I knew of was interested in knives.  My father had a few, but at the time didn't really seem to have any particular affinity for them.  I was fascinated of course, and bought them every chance I got, despite feeling like it as something terrible to be interested in.  After all, the only knife collector I'd ever heard of was this guy who had killed someone and hid it for many years, allowing a local Native kid to take the blame.  Lots has been written on that subject (Donald Marshall and as much as I liked knives, I tried to hide it as much as possible because I wanted to be absolutely nothing like the guy that killed someone and then let someone else take the blame.

It was my early forays into the Internet and the discovery of Knifeforums,com that made me realize I could enjoy knives and not be a psychopath. 

Def

wonderful story

 

[Nix]

Great stories, guys!

I think my first SAK, and one of my first knives, was given to me when I was around 10 years-old. I believe it was a Climber. I'd never seen a SAK before and thought it was simply amazing. I lost it somewhere along the road of life....but not on a Texas roof top. 

[Butch]

Great stories, guys!

I think my first SAK, and one of my first knives, was given to me when I was around 10 years-old. I believe it was a Climber. I'd never seen a SAK before and thought it was simply amazing. I lost it somewhere along the road of life....but not on a Texas roof top. 

 

[Dutch_Tooler]

Great pieces of SAK history all.

I'll just link to this post which tells my story, if I may:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=65662.msg1586441.msg#1586441


Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

[Mechanickal]

Copied my story from the same thread as DT posted the link to.
Beats typing it over of you ask me

I'm 26 now so I only altered a number

As a child I won a chinese knock-off on the fairground at the airgun range.
It felt like the coolest thing in the world

A few weeks later my parents took me on the back of their motorbike to the south of France.
During our stay we slept in a rented room in a house, surrounded by fruit trees.
Beautifull weather, lovely time.

One evening my parents bought themselves a bottle of wine, and some grapejuice for me.
Suddenly they realised: "we have no corkscrew!"

My mom asked: "Nick, do you still carry that pocket knife?"

I sure did, so I handed it over to them.
My dad turned it into the cork, and pulled.

The cork was still in there, and the corkscrew had become a strange, bendy, long awl.

I was devastated!

The next day they took me to a cuterly shop, to make it up to me, and bought me a Victorinox Sportsman.
I had it for 10min. and already cut my finger. Lesson learned!

The sportsman is retired.
I polished it up and it now sits on my display as a novelty, remembering me where it all started.

Amazing that I still remember this after all those years... I must have been like 12 years old, tops.
I'm 26 now...

[Mechanickal]

And I could add that I was probably 10.

[Marc_in_NS]

 

[Poncho65]

Awesome story Butch Great thread and I love hearing stories like this as well

[sir_mike]

I was 11 years old when I got my first sak, a small Tinker as it is called nowadays from the local Tru-Value place!  I always went in there looking at fishing gear then!  I carried and used that thing on anything and everything that came up from fishing to camping/hiking to whatever.  It got to the point that the main blade wasn't safe to use because of the spring so it opened up past 90 degrees and if you wanted to use it, the blade would go back farther when pressure was put on to it.  I carried it and used it for about 26 years before I had to retire it.

I still have it here somewhere, I think but haven't seen it in awhile!  I was gonna get it fixed back then but they wanted around $12 to fix it and I could get a new one for that then so never sent it in!

[Douglas]

 
I'm more than happy to take the blame for this one.    It dosn't involve CAKs and has brought about some mor realy good histories.

[Butch]

I'm more than happy to take the blame for this one.    It dosn't involve CAKs and has brought about some mor realy good histories.

Ok, but I still do not know your story, be it SAK or multitool.

[Douglas]

For years I just followed in my OLD MAN'S foot steps and carried a Victorinox that I got around 11 or twelve at the Boy Scout store.  I lost a couple as kids do and even tryed a Wenger or two, but always came back to good 'ol Vic'.  I often found when I needed another tool it would be pliars or an in line philips.  Enter the Leatherman Wave (OG).  I loved the over all concept and OHO blades.  There were a few issues though.  The hinge and pivot screws would get loose and have to be tightend. That never happened with a Vic.  Then there was the fact that I broke the handles useing the pliars three times in one year.  Yes LM replaced both of the first two but by the time I broke #3 I had given up on the MT concept and just didn't bother with the warranty.  I had seen the SOGs and Gerbers but they just didn't hold any appeal.  Then in '98 while at Sam's Club with my Wife I spotted a bubble card set with a Victorinox Swisstool and a Brinkmann 2 AA flashlight.  Well I knew Brinkman was MagLight's biggest competitor and a good light is always a plus and Victornox had never let me down so it seemed a no brainer.  That's it I've been hooked on the Swisstool ever sense.  I think the light gave out in the first 6 months and relly was no big loss.  Untill joining MTo the Swisstool X plus and a single blade OHO is all I carried for 20 years.  I tried a Spirit for a little while but It just could not handle some of the rough use I put to the Swisstool and after breaking the file on a task I had performed numerious times with my Swisstool I retired the Spirit to light or occasional weekend carry only.  Now here on MTo you have all been witness to me giving LM a second chance with the formidable Suge and it is impressive. I do carry the Surge from time to time and it is always in the truck but my heart still rests easiest with my Swisstool X.  As of today I have added my newly aquired BY SAK to my daily carry.  Who knows what the feature holds.  For now... That's my story and I'm stick'n to it.

[Blackbeard]

can't quite remember the model, but it was black and had a phillips, maybe a climber? no idea, just thought it was very cool. a girlfriend in high school gave it me like 33 years ago, no idea what happened to it, must have misplaced it before I went to college, fast forward about 23 years I got the SAK fever for real and started collecting/using them about 12 years ago. I do remember finding a craftsman digital thermometer on a rooftop package unit years ago, but that offset the many that I left behind in someones house during the job.

[ReamerPunch]

Why blame Douglas? Is Kirky on vacation? 

[Douglas]

Why blame Douglas? Is Kirky on vacation? 

 

[Dutch_Tooler]

Great pieces of SAK history all.

I'll just link to this post which tells my story, if I may:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=65662.msg1586441.msg#1586441


Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Sorry guys, turns out that on Tapatalk I can't link to a specific post or the link goes to the entire thread or so. I'll follow Mechanickal's example and paste the intended text here:

OK, here's a short history of my SAKs (or knockoffs)...

At age 6 or 7 or so my dad gave me what I then considered a truly wornderful and valuable red "SAK" with small and large knife blade, bottle and can opener, and awl and corkscrew  . It even had a lanyard bail. I actually had this for many years, but my attempts at reviving the gradually vanishing blade edges proved futile, as they would not remain sharp. It was beaten around a lot and the liners proved less than perfectly rustproof, and so did the can opener and corkscrew (despite the latter never having been used in anger, honest ). When I grew older and more discerning, I thought "to heck with horse's mouth" and inquired with my dad as to the lineage of the knife. He was quick to point out he had never claimed it was Swiss. I used it on and off for a few more years until the bail fell off, loosening the pivot pin at that end and splitting the scale, and the pins turned out to be no more than 1.5 mm thick and that's being generous. That made it "bin time".

The next one I got, age 12 I think (bought with saved up pocket money), was a much better quality Italian make which I don't remember any more. Same tool complement, slightly longer and with faux horn scales. Felt like pretty good quality. This one I gave to my neighbour boy when I went to college and had temporarily lost interest in pocket knives.

Fast forward to a trip with university to industry and universities in Switzerland, Italy and France. Fateful visit to a Swiss roadside store near Luzern where many nice Wenger knives were on display. Bought one with more or less the same tool complement as above and was immediately aware of the even higher build quality of this knife than those I had before. On a stop in Turin (Italy) a few days later our bus was broken into and my knife must have found a new owner 

First days with my current employer. Wandering around town, I hit upon one of these stores where they sell kitchen cutlery and also Victorinox knives, and bought a SwissChamp after trying several types. I had this for about a decade, taking it on skiing and other trips, until it disappeared due to loss or theft (not sure which). Meanwhile I'd also discovered the first Leatherman PST, later the original Charge. Also acquired a MiniChamp, or rather, my GF had brought it when we moved together and gave it to me since she had no use for it. She also had two smaller Vics.

I've since renewed the acquaintance with a SwissChamp and got quite a few more Leathermans after I joined a certain forum. And I've got at least one more SAK coming

What I'd like to try next is modding a SAK...

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

[Butch]

Why blame Douglas? Is Kirky on vacation? 

I'm his papa, it is fun to agrivate him........Hey Doug

[Grant Lamontagne]

Great pieces of SAK history all.

I'll just link to this post which tells my story, if I may:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=65662.msg1586441.msg#1586441


Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Sorry guys, turns out that on Tapatalk I can't link to a specific post or the link goes to the entire thread or so. I'll follow Mechanickal's example and paste the intended text here:

OK, here's a short history of my SAKs (or knockoffs)...

At age 6 or 7 or so my dad gave me what I then considered a truly wornderful and valuable red "SAK" with small and large knife blade, bottle and can opener, and awl and corkscrew  . It even had a lanyard bail. I actually had this for many years, but my attempts at reviving the gradually vanishing blade edges proved futile, as they would not remain sharp. It was beaten around a lot and the liners proved less than perfectly rustproof, and so did the can opener and corkscrew (despite the latter never having been used in anger, honest ). When I grew older and more discerning, I thought "to heck with horse's mouth" and inquired with my dad as to the lineage of the knife. He was quick to point out he had never claimed it was Swiss. I used it on and off for a few more years until the bail fell off, loosening the pivot pin at that end and splitting the scale, and the pins turned out to be no more than 1.5 mm thick and that's being generous. That made it "bin time".

The next one I got, age 12 I think (bought with saved up pocket money), was a much better quality Italian make which I don't remember any more. Same tool complement, slightly longer and with faux horn scales. Felt like pretty good quality. This one I gave to my neighbour boy when I went to college and had temporarily lost interest in pocket knives.

Fast forward to a trip with university to industry and universities in Switzerland, Italy and France. Fateful visit to a Swiss roadside store near Luzern where many nice Wenger knives were on display. Bought one with more or less the same tool complement as above and was immediately aware of the even higher build quality of this knife than those I had before. On a stop in Turin (Italy) a few days later our bus was broken into and my knife must have found a new owner 

First days with my current employer. Wandering around town, I hit upon one of these stores where they sell kitchen cutlery and also Victorinox knives, and bought a SwissChamp after trying several types. I had this for about a decade, taking it on skiing and other trips, until it disappeared due to loss or theft (not sure which). Meanwhile I'd also discovered the first Leatherman PST, later the original Charge. Also acquired a MiniChamp, or rather, my GF had brought it when we moved together and gave it to me since she had no use for it. She also had two smaller Vics.

I've since renewed the acquaintance with a SwissChamp and got quite a few more Leathermans after I joined a certain forum. And I've got at least one more SAK coming

What I'd like to try next is modding a SAK...

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Still using Tapatalk?  The forum is so mobile friendly these days I don't know why you'd bother using Tapatalk and all of it's weird bugs.

Def

[Dutch_Tooler]

Great pieces of SAK history all.

I'll just link to this post which tells my story, if I may:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=65662.msg1586441.msg#1586441


Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Sorry guys, turns out that on Tapatalk I can't link to a specific post or the link goes to the entire thread or so. I'll follow Mechanickal's example and paste the intended text here:

OK, here's a short history of my SAKs (or knockoffs)...

At age 6 or 7 or so my dad gave me what I then considered a truly wornderful and valuable red "SAK" with small and large knife blade, bottle and can opener, and awl and corkscrew  . It even had a lanyard bail. I actually had this for many years, but my attempts at reviving the gradually vanishing blade edges proved futile, as they would not remain sharp. It was beaten around a lot and the liners proved less than perfectly rustproof, and so did the can opener and corkscrew (despite the latter never having been used in anger, honest ). When I grew older and more discerning, I thought "to heck with horse's mouth" and inquired with my dad as to the lineage of the knife. He was quick to point out he had never claimed it was Swiss. I used it on and off for a few more years until the bail fell off, loosening the pivot pin at that end and splitting the scale, and the pins turned out to be no more than 1.5 mm thick and that's being generous. That made it "bin time".

The next one I got, age 12 I think (bought with saved up pocket money), was a much better quality Italian make which I don't remember any more. Same tool complement, slightly longer and with faux horn scales. Felt like pretty good quality. This one I gave to my neighbour boy when I went to college and had temporarily lost interest in pocket knives.

Fast forward to a trip with university to industry and universities in Switzerland, Italy and France. Fateful visit to a Swiss roadside store near Luzern where many nice Wenger knives were on display. Bought one with more or less the same tool complement as above and was immediately aware of the even higher build quality of this knife than those I had before. On a stop in Turin (Italy) a few days later our bus was broken into and my knife must have found a new owner 

First days with my current employer. Wandering around town, I hit upon one of these stores where they sell kitchen cutlery and also Victorinox knives, and bought a SwissChamp after trying several types. I had this for about a decade, taking it on skiing and other trips, until it disappeared due to loss or theft (not sure which). Meanwhile I'd also discovered the first Leatherman PST, later the original Charge. Also acquired a MiniChamp, or rather, my GF had brought it when we moved together and gave it to me since she had no use for it. She also had two smaller Vics.

I've since renewed the acquaintance with a SwissChamp and got quite a few more Leathermans after I joined a certain forum. And I've got at least one more SAK coming

What I'd like to try next is modding a SAK...

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Still using Tapatalk?  The forum is so mobile friendly these days I don't know why you'd bother using Tapatalk and all of it's weird bugs.

Def

my fault for not trying the obvious

Thanks for the tip Grant, I'll do a browser link instead.

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

[Mechanickal]

Great pieces of SAK history all.

I'll just link to this post which tells my story, if I may:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=65662.msg1586441.msg#1586441


Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Sorry guys, turns out that on Tapatalk I can't link to a specific post or the link goes to the entire thread or so. I'll follow Mechanickal's example and paste the intended text here:

OK, here's a short history of my SAKs (or knockoffs)...

At age 6 or 7 or so my dad gave me what I then considered a truly wornderful and valuable red "SAK" with small and large knife blade, bottle and can opener, and awl and corkscrew  . It even had a lanyard bail. I actually had this for many years, but my attempts at reviving the gradually vanishing blade edges proved futile, as they would not remain sharp. It was beaten around a lot and the liners proved less than perfectly rustproof, and so did the can opener and corkscrew (despite the latter never having been used in anger, honest ). When I grew older and more discerning, I thought "to heck with horse's mouth" and inquired with my dad as to the lineage of the knife. He was quick to point out he had never claimed it was Swiss. I used it on and off for a few more years until the bail fell off, loosening the pivot pin at that end and splitting the scale, and the pins turned out to be no more than 1.5 mm thick and that's being generous. That made it "bin time".

The next one I got, age 12 I think (bought with saved up pocket money), was a much better quality Italian make which I don't remember any more. Same tool complement, slightly longer and with faux horn scales. Felt like pretty good quality. This one I gave to my neighbour boy when I went to college and had temporarily lost interest in pocket knives.

Fast forward to a trip with university to industry and universities in Switzerland, Italy and France. Fateful visit to a Swiss roadside store near Luzern where many nice Wenger knives were on display. Bought one with more or less the same tool complement as above and was immediately aware of the even higher build quality of this knife than those I had before. On a stop in Turin (Italy) a few days later our bus was broken into and my knife must have found a new owner 

First days with my current employer. Wandering around town, I hit upon one of these stores where they sell kitchen cutlery and also Victorinox knives, and bought a SwissChamp after trying several types. I had this for about a decade, taking it on skiing and other trips, until it disappeared due to loss or theft (not sure which). Meanwhile I'd also discovered the first Leatherman PST, later the original Charge. Also acquired a MiniChamp, or rather, my GF had brought it when we moved together and gave it to me since she had no use for it. She also had two smaller Vics.

I've since renewed the acquaintance with a SwissChamp and got quite a few more Leathermans after I joined a certain forum. And I've got at least one more SAK coming

What I'd like to try next is modding a SAK...

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Still using Tapatalk?  The forum is so mobile friendly these days I don't know why you'd bother using Tapatalk and all of it's weird bugs.

Def

my fault for not trying the obvious

Thanks for the tip Grant, I'll do a browser link instead.

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

I find the Tapatalk timeline really usefull!
There's probably a comparable function on the forum itself but haven't found it yet.

And as far as I can see, on mobile the site is just cropped to fit my screen?

[Don Pablo]

Great pieces of SAK history all.

I'll just link to this post which tells my story, if I may:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=65662.msg1586441.msg#1586441


Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Sorry guys, turns out that on Tapatalk I can't link to a specific post or the link goes to the entire thread or so. I'll follow Mechanickal's example and paste the intended text here:

OK, here's a short history of my SAKs (or knockoffs)...

At age 6 or 7 or so my dad gave me what I then considered a truly wornderful and valuable red "SAK" with small and large knife blade, bottle and can opener, and awl and corkscrew  . It even had a lanyard bail. I actually had this for many years, but my attempts at reviving the gradually vanishing blade edges proved futile, as they would not remain sharp. It was beaten around a lot and the liners proved less than perfectly rustproof, and so did the can opener and corkscrew (despite the latter never having been used in anger, honest ). When I grew older and more discerning, I thought "to heck with horse's mouth" and inquired with my dad as to the lineage of the knife. He was quick to point out he had never claimed it was Swiss. I used it on and off for a few more years until the bail fell off, loosening the pivot pin at that end and splitting the scale, and the pins turned out to be no more than 1.5 mm thick and that's being generous. That made it "bin time".

The next one I got, age 12 I think (bought with saved up pocket money), was a much better quality Italian make which I don't remember any more. Same tool complement, slightly longer and with faux horn scales. Felt like pretty good quality. This one I gave to my neighbour boy when I went to college and had temporarily lost interest in pocket knives.

Fast forward to a trip with university to industry and universities in Switzerland, Italy and France. Fateful visit to a Swiss roadside store near Luzern where many nice Wenger knives were on display. Bought one with more or less the same tool complement as above and was immediately aware of the even higher build quality of this knife than those I had before. On a stop in Turin (Italy) a few days later our bus was broken into and my knife must have found a new owner 

First days with my current employer. Wandering around town, I hit upon one of these stores where they sell kitchen cutlery and also Victorinox knives, and bought a SwissChamp after trying several types. I had this for about a decade, taking it on skiing and other trips, until it disappeared due to loss or theft (not sure which). Meanwhile I'd also discovered the first Leatherman PST, later the original Charge. Also acquired a MiniChamp, or rather, my GF had brought it when we moved together and gave it to me since she had no use for it. She also had two smaller Vics.

I've since renewed the acquaintance with a SwissChamp and got quite a few more Leathermans after I joined a certain forum. And I've got at least one more SAK coming

What I'd like to try next is modding a SAK...

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Still using Tapatalk?  The forum is so mobile friendly these days I don't know why you'd bother using Tapatalk and all of it's weird bugs.

Def

my fault for not trying the obvious

Thanks for the tip Grant, I'll do a browser link instead.

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

I find the Tapatalk timeline really usefull!
There's probably a comparable function on the forum itself but haven't found it yet.

And as far as I can see, on mobile the site is just cropped to fit my screen?

What's a timeline?

[Dutch_Tooler]

Great pieces of SAK history all.

I'll just link to this post which tells my story, if I may:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=65662.msg1586441.msg#1586441


Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Sorry guys, turns out that on Tapatalk I can't link to a specific post or the link goes to the entire thread or so. I'll follow Mechanickal's example and paste the intended text here:

OK, here's a short history of my SAKs (or knockoffs)...

At age 6 or 7 or so my dad gave me what I then considered a truly wornderful and valuable red "SAK" with small and large knife blade, bottle and can opener, and awl and corkscrew  . It even had a lanyard bail. I actually had this for many years, but my attempts at reviving the gradually vanishing blade edges proved futile, as they would not remain sharp. It was beaten around a lot and the liners proved less than perfectly rustproof, and so did the can opener and corkscrew (despite the latter never having been used in anger, honest ). When I grew older and more discerning, I thought "to heck with horse's mouth" and inquired with my dad as to the lineage of the knife. He was quick to point out he had never claimed it was Swiss. I used it on and off for a few more years until the bail fell off, loosening the pivot pin at that end and splitting the scale, and the pins turned out to be no more than 1.5 mm thick and that's being generous. That made it "bin time".

The next one I got, age 12 I think (bought with saved up pocket money), was a much better quality Italian make which I don't remember any more. Same tool complement, slightly longer and with faux horn scales. Felt like pretty good quality. This one I gave to my neighbour boy when I went to college and had temporarily lost interest in pocket knives.

Fast forward to a trip with university to industry and universities in Switzerland, Italy and France. Fateful visit to a Swiss roadside store near Luzern where many nice Wenger knives were on display. Bought one with more or less the same tool complement as above and was immediately aware of the even higher build quality of this knife than those I had before. On a stop in Turin (Italy) a few days later our bus was broken into and my knife must have found a new owner 

First days with my current employer. Wandering around town, I hit upon one of these stores where they sell kitchen cutlery and also Victorinox knives, and bought a SwissChamp after trying several types. I had this for about a decade, taking it on skiing and other trips, until it disappeared due to loss or theft (not sure which). Meanwhile I'd also discovered the first Leatherman PST, later the original Charge. Also acquired a MiniChamp, or rather, my GF had brought it when we moved together and gave it to me since she had no use for it. She also had two smaller Vics.

I've since renewed the acquaintance with a SwissChamp and got quite a few more Leathermans after I joined a certain forum. And I've got at least one more SAK coming

What I'd like to try next is modding a SAK...

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Still using Tapatalk?  The forum is so mobile friendly these days I don't know why you'd bother using Tapatalk and all of it's weird bugs.

Def

my fault for not trying the obvious

Thanks for the tip Grant, I'll do a browser link instead.

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

I find the Tapatalk timeline really usefull!
There's probably a comparable function on the forum itself but haven't found it yet.

And as far as I can see, on mobile the site is just cropped to fit my screen?

What's a timeline?

A chronological list of threads in the order of the latest post. I miss it too on the web version of the forum...

The cropping only happens on pics, text is line-broken to fit within the borders. I find it helps to hold the phone in landscape display mode, pics tend to not be cut off.

[Butch]

Great pieces of SAK history all.

I'll just link to this post which tells my story, if I may:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=65662.msg1586441.msg#1586441


Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Sorry guys, turns out that on Tapatalk I can't link to a specific post or the link goes to the entire thread or so. I'll follow Mechanickal's example and paste the intended text here:

OK, here's a short history of my SAKs (or knockoffs)...

At age 6 or 7 or so my dad gave me what I then considered a truly wornderful and valuable red "SAK" with small and large knife blade, bottle and can opener, and awl and corkscrew  . It even had a lanyard bail. I actually had this for many years, but my attempts at reviving the gradually vanishing blade edges proved futile, as they would not remain sharp. It was beaten around a lot and the liners proved less than perfectly rustproof, and so did the can opener and corkscrew (despite the latter never having been used in anger, honest ). When I grew older and more discerning, I thought "to heck with horse's mouth" and inquired with my dad as to the lineage of the knife. He was quick to point out he had never claimed it was Swiss. I used it on and off for a few more years until the bail fell off, loosening the pivot pin at that end and splitting the scale, and the pins turned out to be no more than 1.5 mm thick and that's being generous. That made it "bin time".

The next one I got, age 12 I think (bought with saved up pocket money), was a much better quality Italian make which I don't remember any more. Same tool complement, slightly longer and with faux horn scales. Felt like pretty good quality. This one I gave to my neighbour boy when I went to college and had temporarily lost interest in pocket knives.

Fast forward to a trip with university to industry and universities in Switzerland, Italy and France. Fateful visit to a Swiss roadside store near Luzern where many nice Wenger knives were on display. Bought one with more or less the same tool complement as above and was immediately aware of the even higher build quality of this knife than those I had before. On a stop in Turin (Italy) a few days later our bus was broken into and my knife must have found a new owner 

First days with my current employer. Wandering around town, I hit upon one of these stores where they sell kitchen cutlery and also Victorinox knives, and bought a SwissChamp after trying several types. I had this for about a decade, taking it on skiing and other trips, until it disappeared due to loss or theft (not sure which). Meanwhile I'd also discovered the first Leatherman PST, later the original Charge. Also acquired a MiniChamp, or rather, my GF had brought it when we moved together and gave it to me since she had no use for it. She also had two smaller Vics.

I've since renewed the acquaintance with a SwissChamp and got quite a few more Leathermans after I joined a certain forum. And I've got at least one more SAK coming

What I'd like to try next is modding a SAK...

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Still using Tapatalk?  The forum is so mobile friendly these days I don't know why you'd bother using Tapatalk and all of it's weird bugs.

Def

my fault for not trying the obvious

Thanks for the tip Grant, I'll do a browser link instead.

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

I find the Tapatalk timeline really usefull!
There's probably a comparable function on the forum itself but haven't found it yet.

And as far as I can see, on mobile the site is just cropped to fit my screen?

What's a timeline?

Hummmmmmmm a timeline is a record of when things happened, usually given in relation to other events, but not always...........  

[Don Pablo]

Still using Tapatalk?  The forum is so mobile friendly these days I don't know why you'd bother using Tapatalk and all of it's weird bugs.

Def

my fault for not trying the obvious

Thanks for the tip Grant, I'll do a browser link instead.

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

I find the Tapatalk timeline really usefull!
There's probably a comparable function on the forum itself but haven't found it yet.

And as far as I can see, on mobile the site is just cropped to fit my screen?

What's a timeline?

A chronological list of threads in the order of the latest post. I miss it too on the web version of the forum...

The cropping only happens on pics, text is line-broken to fit within the borders. I find it helps to hold the phone in landscape display mode, pics tend to not be cut off.

Hmmm.... Like this?
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?action=unread

[Mechanickal]

Great pieces of SAK history all.

I'll just link to this post which tells my story, if I may:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=65662.msg1586441.msg#1586441


Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Sorry guys, turns out that on Tapatalk I can't link to a specific post or the link goes to the entire thread or so. I'll follow Mechanickal's example and paste the intended text here:

OK, here's a short history of my SAKs (or knockoffs)...

At age 6 or 7 or so my dad gave me what I then considered a truly wornderful and valuable red "SAK" with small and large knife blade, bottle and can opener, and awl and corkscrew  . It even had a lanyard bail. I actually had this for many years, but my attempts at reviving the gradually vanishing blade edges proved futile, as they would not remain sharp. It was beaten around a lot and the liners proved less than perfectly rustproof, and so did the can opener and corkscrew (despite the latter never having been used in anger, honest ). When I grew older and more discerning, I thought "to heck with horse's mouth" and inquired with my dad as to the lineage of the knife. He was quick to point out he had never claimed it was Swiss. I used it on and off for a few more years until the bail fell off, loosening the pivot pin at that end and splitting the scale, and the pins turned out to be no more than 1.5 mm thick and that's being generous. That made it "bin time".

The next one I got, age 12 I think (bought with saved up pocket money), was a much better quality Italian make which I don't remember any more. Same tool complement, slightly longer and with faux horn scales. Felt like pretty good quality. This one I gave to my neighbour boy when I went to college and had temporarily lost interest in pocket knives.

Fast forward to a trip with university to industry and universities in Switzerland, Italy and France. Fateful visit to a Swiss roadside store near Luzern where many nice Wenger knives were on display. Bought one with more or less the same tool complement as above and was immediately aware of the even higher build quality of this knife than those I had before. On a stop in Turin (Italy) a few days later our bus was broken into and my knife must have found a new owner 

First days with my current employer. Wandering around town, I hit upon one of these stores where they sell kitchen cutlery and also Victorinox knives, and bought a SwissChamp after trying several types. I had this for about a decade, taking it on skiing and other trips, until it disappeared due to loss or theft (not sure which). Meanwhile I'd also discovered the first Leatherman PST, later the original Charge. Also acquired a MiniChamp, or rather, my GF had brought it when we moved together and gave it to me since she had no use for it. She also had two smaller Vics.

I've since renewed the acquaintance with a SwissChamp and got quite a few more Leathermans after I joined a certain forum. And I've got at least one more SAK coming

What I'd like to try next is modding a SAK...

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

Still using Tapatalk?  The forum is so mobile friendly these days I don't know why you'd bother using Tapatalk and all of it's weird bugs.

Def

my fault for not trying the obvious

Thanks for the tip Grant, I'll do a browser link instead.

Sent on my SM-G930F with Tapatalk

I find the Tapatalk timeline really usefull!
There's probably a comparable function on the forum itself but haven't found it yet.

And as far as I can see, on mobile the site is just cropped to fit my screen?

What's a timeline?

Every single post made on the forum from newest to oldest (last 100 or so)

[Don Pablo]

Hmmm.... Like this?
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?action=unread
Also can click "All unread topics" at the bottom.