Why is the saw not included in the SAK Soldier/Pioneer?

[Zhenchok]

If the soldier knife is really used by soldiers, wouldn't they need a saw to survive in the field? I don't understand why its not a tool included in this model.  It would not really make the model thicker either. I own the solider/Pioneer and feel like if this was a knife a soldier used they would want a saw, it almost feels too small without one.

[Ron Who]

I got rid of my alox Soldiers, never liked them anyway, imo they should have issued Farmers from the beginning (I like saws, obviously).

[Zhenchok]

I got rid of my alox Soldiers, never liked them anyway, imo they should have issued Farmers from the beginning (I like saws, obviously).

I agree, the Farmer seems like a heftier knife and more practical if you are soldier.

[zoidberg]

The newer 08 soldier has a pretty good saw.

[Mechanickal]

The newer 08 soldier has a pretty good saw.

Indeed...
So they did add it later on.

[Lynn LeFey]

As I understand it, though, the new Vic Soldier was originally the German Army Knife upgrade, later adopted by the Swiss as their new Soldier knife.

And the GERMAN army knife has had a saw for a while. The older 108mm GAK goes back to 1976, according to the SAKwiki.

EDIT: and the One Hand German Army Knife was essentially a one-hand opening version of the already existing Trekker.

[ironraven]

Is the SAK saw a great saw? Yes, for it's size. As a bushcraft and wood working tool, it works well, but it's too small for serious "survival" tasks, which you honestly don't often encounter as part of a whole smurfing army of guys. The spec was to give every soldier the most minimal, basic toolset needed for daily tasks (equipment and weapons maintenance, and eating), and if he needed an axe there were pioneers tools on almost every vehicle and saws and axes were issued as needed. Besides, I bet the saws were more expensive if in the 50s when the Alox Soldat replaced the old wood handled one that had been around since Queen Victoria's day, and had the same functions.

I'd also say look at every other knife that is it's peer in time. "Scout" type knives, no saw. The "Demo" knife we issued, no saw. The British and French knives of the day, no saw.

Me, I'd have wanted the saw AND a file. And red anodized scales- easy way to tell the recruits and it's easier to see if you drop it in snow.

[EMZ]

Knives for soldiers have to be sturdy, SIMPLE, and as cheap as possible. Only a century ago soldiers died by the millions in Flanders Fields, Russia and so on. Not to forget WW2... Can you image if they all would have had high tec multitools? Then the military forces would have lost millions of good knives and multitools! Knives made of costly steel. In wartime these knives would have been irreplaceable.

The Swiss never participated in wars (except for some post Middle Age quarrels between themselves and a few ancient kings or so  ). If Switzerland would have been attacked, the army would have withdrawn mainly into the mountain regions, which were/are considered to be invincible for any foreign army. Many, maybe most of the defensive actions would have taken place above treeline level. And guess what? Above treeline level there are no trees, so no need to have a saw on your pocket knife!

Wow, it took me a lot of non-alcohol based fantasy to come up with this theory...

[pfrsantos]

Knives for soldiers have to be sturdy, SIMPLE, and as cheap as possible. Only a century ago soldiers died by the millions in Flanders Fields, Russia and so on. Not to forget WW2... Can you image if they all would have had high tec multitools? Then the military forces would have lost millions of good knives and multitools! Knives made of costly steel. In wartime these knives would have been irreplaceable.

The Swiss never participated in wars (except for some post Middle Age quarrels between themselves and a few ancient kings or so  ). If Switzerland would have been attacked, the army would have withdrawn mainly into the mountain regions, which were/are considered to be invincible for any foreign army. Many, maybe most of the defensive actions would have taken place above treeline level. And guess what? Above treeline level there are no trees, so no need to have a saw on your pocket knife!

Wow, it took me a lot of non-alcohol based fantasy to come up with this theory...

And yet, it rings true...

 

[Zhenchok]

Knives for soldiers have to be sturdy, SIMPLE, and as cheap as possible. Only a century ago soldiers died by the millions in Flanders Fields, Russia and so on. Not to forget WW2... Can you image if they all would have had high tec multitools? Then the military forces would have lost millions of good knives and multitools! Knives made of costly steel. In wartime these knives would have been irreplaceable.

The Swiss never participated in wars (except for some post Middle Age quarrels between themselves and a few ancient kings or so  ). If Switzerland would have been attacked, the army would have withdrawn mainly into the mountain regions, which were/are considered to be invincible for any foreign army. Many, maybe most of the defensive actions would have taken place above treeline level. And guess what? Above treeline level there are no trees, so no need to have a saw on your pocket knife!

Wow, it took me a lot of non-alcohol based fantasy to come up with this theory...

And yet, it rings true...

 

Seems legit