Considering getting my first Swiss Army Knife

[scotvic21]

Hi guys, I am new here and live in South East Michigan. I have been lurking on the forum and finally decided to join.  I own a few Leatherman tools and really like my wave.  I've been reading about the various multitools and finally decided to get my first Swiss Army Knife.  I owned a classic when I was a kid, but that was mostly used as a nail clipper.  What is a great first Swiss Army Knife to purchase that has all the basics?  I plan to make this my primary daily carry knife that will see heavy use.  Do these hold up well to daily use?  I have done my research and am considering the Huntsman or possibly the Swisschamp.  I am even up for getting a used one on Ebay to save on cost and I like that it was used.   I like the Climber because of the scissors and I like the Camper because of the Saw, the Huntsman seems like a good combination of the two.  Is the extra layer an issue for people?  I don’t need a saw for daily use but who knows I may regret getting one and not the other.  Many decisions.     

[WWW]

Welcome to the forum!!!

In my opinion and for my situation, the Spartan or Climber are what I would usually need. I do, in occasion, find myself in need of a wood saw, and for that I keep a Wave in bag at all times. If you're going for used stuff get both, a Climber and a Huntsman Try each one for while, you may even find yourself switching SAKs based on your needs on a particular occasion. I for one like the Spartan a lot because of how Compact  it is.

I hope I was able to help you! Keep us posted!

[Syph007]

Hi guys, I am new here and live in South East Michigan. I have been lurking on the forum and finally decided to join.  I own a few Leatherman tools and really like my wave.  I've been reading about the various multitools and finally decided to get my first Swiss Army Knife.  I owned a classic when I was a kid, but that was mostly used as a nail clipper.  What is a great first Swiss Army Knife to purchase that has all the basics?  I plan to make this my primary daily carry knife that will see heavy use.  Do these hold up well to daily use?  I have done my research and am considering the Huntsman or possibly the Swisschamp.  I am even up for getting a used one on Ebay to save on cost and I like that it was used.   I like the Climber because of the scissors and I like the Camper because of the Saw, the Huntsman seems like a good combination of the two.  Is the extra layer an issue for people?  I don’t need a saw for daily use but who knows I may regret getting one and not the other.  Many decisions.   

Unless you're really need the corkscrew I'd recommend the phillips variant as the phillips sits flush with the back scale and to me I find that it makes the sak more comforable to hold.

The phillips version of a climber is called the super tinker (my personal fav 3 layer) and the phillips version of a huntsman is a fieldmaster.  So those would be my recommendation.   

[gene stoner]

Hi guys, I am new here and live in South East Michigan. I have been lurking on the forum and finally decided to join.  I own a few Leatherman tools and really like my wave.  I've been reading about the various multitools and finally decided to get my first Swiss Army Knife.  I owned a classic when I was a kid, but that was mostly used as a nail clipper.  What is a great first Swiss Army Knife to purchase that has all the basics?  I plan to make this my primary daily carry knife that will see heavy use.  Do these hold up well to daily use?  I have done my research and am considering the Huntsman or possibly the Swisschamp.  I am even up for getting a used one on Ebay to save on cost and I like that it was used.   I like the Climber because of the scissors and I like the Camper because of the Saw, the Huntsman seems like a good combination of the two.  Is the extra layer an issue for people?  I don’t need a saw for daily use but who knows I may regret getting one and not the other.  Many decisions.   

Huntsman is a great SAK! You get two of Vic's best tools the saw and the scissors.  One of the great things about SAK's is they're inexpensiveness and very easy have different SAK' for different occasions.   

As far as lasting through day to day use. As long as you use and don't abuse your Grandchildren well enjoy it.

The only real problem with SAK's is they are affordable which makes them very addicting.

[Nix]

Welcome, scot.   

I love my Huntsman and Fieldmaster (4 layers), but for EDC I find them a bit thick for pocket carry (although I do pocket carry them to be sure). Like Syph007 expressed, I find a two or three layer SAK to be a good choice for EDC pocket carry. After that I think you should decide which tools most appeal to you.

The Super Tinker is great, and I love the Climber. 

I would also recommend the standard Tinker or Compact as being great EDC knives. The Small Tinker makes an awesome EDC and just disappears in the pocket. The Pioneer/Soldier and Farmer are high on my carry list as well.

Don't spend too much time worrying about which you choose. After your first, you'll want another......

[scotvic21]

Welcome, scot.   

I love my Huntsman and Fieldmaster (4 layers), but for EDC I find them a bit thick for pocket carry (although I do pocket carry them to be sure). Like Syph007 expressed, I find a two or three layer SAK to be a good choice for EDC pocket carry. After that I think you should decide which tools most appeal to you.

The Super Tinker is great, and I love the Climber. 

I would also recommend the standard Tinker or Compact as being great EDC knives. The Small Tinker makes an awesome EDC and just disappears in the pocket. The Pioneer/Soldier and Farmer are high on my carry list as well.

Don't spend too much time worrying about which you choose. After your first, you'll want another......

Thanks for the advice, not sure if I need a phillips on mine but I will keep my eyes out for the Compact, Spartan, or climber.

[scotvic21]

Hi guys, I am new here and live in South East Michigan. I have been lurking on the forum and finally decided to join.  I own a few Leatherman tools and really like my wave.  I've been reading about the various multitools and finally decided to get my first Swiss Army Knife.  I owned a classic when I was a kid, but that was mostly used as a nail clipper.  What is a great first Swiss Army Knife to purchase that has all the basics?  I plan to make this my primary daily carry knife that will see heavy use.  Do these hold up well to daily use?  I have done my research and am considering the Huntsman or possibly the Swisschamp.  I am even up for getting a used one on Ebay to save on cost and I like that it was used.   I like the Climber because of the scissors and I like the Camper because of the Saw, the Huntsman seems like a good combination of the two.  Is the extra layer an issue for people?  I don’t need a saw for daily use but who knows I may regret getting one and not the other.  Many decisions.   

Huntsman is a great SAK! You get two of Vic's best tools the saw and the scissors.  One of the great things about SAK's is they're inexpensiveness and very easy have different SAK' for different occasions.   

As far as lasting through day to day use. As long as you use and don't abuse your Grandchildren well enjoy it.

The only real problem with SAK's is they are affordable which makes them very addicting.

Great Pic!  I would like to stick to 1 or possibly 2.

[gustophersmob]

I personally don't love the cellidor handle models, or more than 2 layers for pocket carry so my normal recommendation is an alox pioneer.

If you want scissors there is the pioneer X, which would be very robust.

[gene stoner]

Hi guys, I am new here and live in South East Michigan. I have been lurking on the forum and finally decided to join.  I own a few Leatherman tools and really like my wave.  I've been reading about the various multitools and finally decided to get my first Swiss Army Knife.  I owned a classic when I was a kid, but that was mostly used as a nail clipper.  What is a great first Swiss Army Knife to purchase that has all the basics?  I plan to make this my primary daily carry knife that will see heavy use.  Do these hold up well to daily use?  I have done my research and am considering the Huntsman or possibly the Swisschamp.  I am even up for getting a used one on Ebay to save on cost and I like that it was used.   I like the Climber because of the scissors and I like the Camper because of the Saw, the Huntsman seems like a good combination of the two.  Is the extra layer an issue for people?  I don’t need a saw for daily use but who knows I may regret getting one and not the other.  Many decisions.   

Huntsman is a great SAK! You get two of Vic's best tools the saw and the scissors.  One of the great things about SAK's is they're inexpensiveness and very easy have different SAK' for different occasions.   

As far as lasting through day to day use. As long as you use and don't abuse your Grandchildren well enjoy it.

The only real problem with SAK's is they are affordable which makes them very addicting.

Great Pic!  I would like to stick to 1 or possibly 2.

One or two  that's the funniest thing I've heard this week. I said the same thing.

[Masel]

I am carrying an Alox X and think it is the best knife for every day darry. It is very robust, after serveral years i cant see any wear on it.
The tools are a bit bigger and more robust than on the 91mm models.
If you dont need the tweezers and toothpick, this is your knife.
If you need them i would recomend you a climber or super tinker.
Have fun with your new knife

[Butch]

If the size is not a problem for you, then by all means get the Swisschamp. pretty much has everything you might want unless you are into IT. If size is a problem then I guess you will just have to make do with one of the lessor SAKs. 

Go ahead I put on my fireproof Fruit of the looms before I said that.......


Welcome to the forum.

[Nix]

I would like to stick to 1 or possibly 2.

 

For no apparent reason, I kinda like the corkscrew. From a practical perspective, the Phillips driver always seems like a good idea, but the corkscrew has some surprising uses at times. If you are inclined toward a corkscrew model, the Climber is fantastic.

The Alox version of that is the Pioneer X. The tools are a bit stouter in the Alox models and might be more suitable for heavy use EDC. I love, love, love the Pioneer X (PX), but some people feel the scissors on the PX are a bit tougher to open. Look closely at the PX.   

[pfrsantos]

Welcome abord, scotvic21!

 

I'd say get (at least) the Climber. If you can, try to get your hands on a Climber and a Huntsman. See which one feels more confortable to you. Are yougoing to carry it in your pocket or in a sheath? For pocket, the slimmer models might be nicer. If you carry them in a sheath, you can opt for a thicker model.

The advantage of the corkscrew over the phillips is that you get to carry a mini screw driver in it (and always have a way to open a bottle). The can and bottle openers can also be used on some phillips, depending on the size. The corkscrew has many uses, there's plenty of Youtube videos on that.

 

[Nix]

[Top-Gear-24]

If the size is not a problem for you, then by all means get the Swisschamp. pretty much has everything you might want unless you are into IT. If size is a problem then I guess you will just have to make do with one of the lessor SAKs. 

Go ahead I put on my fireproof Fruit of the looms before I said that.......


Welcome to the forum.

+1 on the Swisschamp.

The Swisschamp has it all, I also started with a Huntsman, then I got an Explorer (maybe you should also check out the Explorer), and then I got a Swisschamp and it has been in my pocket since then.  I do suggest to buy (or make) a belt loop hanger, this way the "big" Swischamp hangs great in the front pocket of your troussers, and it can't fall out by accident  (same goes for thinner SAK's by the way).

Oh, and welcome to MTO, the best place on the net  .

[Zhenchok]

Welcome to the board Scot.  I own both and like carrying the Climber more frequently as it sits nicer in my pocket.


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[cbl51]

Stop considering and just do it. You know you need a SAK and you'll end up with at least a couple of them anyways. There's no such thing as one SAK doing it all, so you'll need a combination of SAK's to team up. Like a recruit and classic. Or a soldier and rambler. Or a tinker and whatever, you get the idea.

And here's another thing, once you get into SAK's, you find that you can't really do without one. I tried. For years I was involved with he traditional pocket knife. My edc knife alternated between a Buck or Northwoods stockman, a Case peanut, a GEC number 15. But after years of loading down my pockets with multiple knives, I finally got tired of it all, and got rid of all my other pocket knives but SAK's. I haven't looked back.

Beware the alox! It's REALLY habit forming!!!!

[VICMAN]

Hi guys, I am new here and live in South East Michigan. I have been lurking on the forum and finally decided to join.  I plan to make this my primary daily carry knife that will see heavy use.  Do these hold up well to daily use?  I have done my research and am considering the Huntsman or possibly the Swisschamp.  I am even up for getting a used one on Ebay to save on cost and I like that it was used.   I like the Climber because of the scissors and I like the Camper because of the Saw, the Huntsman seems like a good combination of the two. 

Welcome to the forum. The Huntsman would be a fine choice for your first SAK.

I am partial to the Swiss Champ and have carried one since they first came out, however, it is a large knife, and some people find it too large for edc.

You will eventually end up with a bunch of different SAKS once you start using them. They are addictive.

[Steinar]

Possibly a Huntsman? Heavy use? https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,46255.0.html Read the entire thread, it's ver much worth it. 

[cbl51]

SAK's in general are way more rugged than you'd think from the light weight of them. It takes a lot to break up a SAK. I know, I've watched my better half for a couple decades and there's nothing like a woman using the wrong tool for the job to put it to the acid test. If I want to find out how well something works for jobs it was never designed to do, I give it to Karen and stand back and grit my teeth.

She couldn't even Destroy her first SAK, a little classic I gave her. Her treatment of the classic and it's survival made me a fan of them. 

[ColoSwiss]

Hi scot. Welcome aboard!   

If you're looking at used knives, don't forget Wenger. My EDC is a Wenger Traveler, basically a short Climber. I find it rides better in the pocket than the longer Vics. Mine has seen daily use for around 15 years, so durability is not an issue, provided you don't abuse it.

I'm also fond of the Huntsman, which goes into the pocket when hiking.

SAKs are like potato chips; it's hard to stop with just one.   

[Thunderpants]

If you're on a tight budget you may want to skip Switzerland altogether and check out the Chinese offerings, such as this little beauty:

[kottskrapa]

I would say that you should by a huntsman and after using it for a while you will know more about what you want and what you don't. 4 layer are my (and many others) maximum limit, the toolset are awlsome. I have several models but except for my own mod the huntsman is my most used SAK.

if you don't use the saw, get a climber, if you don't use the scissors get a camper if neither of them gets any use get a spartan.. Or sportsman.. If you don't use the t & t then look for an appropriate alox?

And then of course.. Get them all

[It's not failure if you learn something from it]

[VICMAN]

If you're on a tight budget you may want to skip Switzerland altogether and check out the Chinese offerings, such as this little beauty:

Great video Thunderpants! I got a good laugh.

I am 66 and I never saw a real Swiss Army knife until I was in my 30's.
I had always seen the junk knock-offs like the one you showed in the video.
When I saw a Victorinox Champion at a local store I bought it on the spot. I could not believe the difference in the quality of the tools.
It is sad that there are a number of people who have never seen the real thing and think that all SAKS are like the cheap knock-offs.
It makes you appreciate the quality of Victorinox and the Wengers.

[scotvic21]

Possibly a Huntsman? Heavy use? https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,46255.0.html Read the entire thread, it's ver much worth it. 

 

I really enjoyed reading this thread does this person have any more reviews?

[Wspeed]

Hi and welcome 
Go for the champ and you won't go wrong 

[TennTexan]

Don't spend too much time worrying about which you choose. After your first, you'll want another......

Too true!

[cody6268]

SAKs are very dangerous for one's budget--and OCD. I had only three Swiss Army Knives when I joined here (A Pioneer that was my great-grandfather's, a Fieldmaster and Wenger MicroLight Esquire). Now I've got about three dozen, mostly acquired through eBay auctions that ended cheap, in all the Victorinox sizes, and quite a few 65 and 84mm Wengers, as well as a small 70mm "Peanut" knife from 100 years ago that isn't exactly a Swiss Army Knife.

The Huntsman can often be found in the $10-15 range used. I'd strongly recommend that one first.

[Don Pablo]

Possibly a Huntsman? Heavy use? https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,46255.0.html Read the entire thread, it's ver much worth it. 

 

I really enjoyed reading this thread does this person have any more reviews?

SAK knockoff challenge
Cheap Plier tool challenge
Leatherman Rebar challenge
Victorinox Classic SD challenge
Wenger vs Victorinox vs Delemont comparison

[Lynn LeFey]

scotvic21...

Send me a PM with your mailing info. ( I THINK with 5 posts you're allowed to PM now).

When I was relatively new here, someone sent me my first Swiss Army Knife. I have recently been doing some ebay stuff, buying lots, and i think it's time I pass on the 'first one's free' favor. It will be used, but it will be a solid knife.