The best of both worlds.

[Benner]

For a long time, I regarded the best SAK available as the Wenger SI.  This SAK, although limited in functions, had all the basic needs covered and together with the thicker unpolished tools and the brass liners (mine is a '66) it made for one great EDC SAK.


above; Wenger SI

The SI remained my favourite for a long time until I was lucky enough to grab myself a vintage Vic Farmer with the older styled cross and brass liners.  This had a lot of what I liked on the SI and with the addition of the saw layer and the red anodised finish, it made it a nicer SAK to both use and to look at. 


above; Victorinox Farmer

Even though the Farmer was “promoted” to EDC over the SI, there were a couple of features of the SI that I wished the Farmer had.  Firstly, I preferred the “pointier” awl of the SI.  Although the Vic awl is very close, I just preferred that of the Wenger. 


above; Farmer top, SI bottom

Secondly, I preferred having more “belly” in the knife blade like that of the SI.


above; Left SI, right Farmer

Well this week I received what I feel is the perfect combination of the 2, a 1980 Wenger Handwerker.  The Handwerker is a discontinued SAK which was only available to the European market.  It is made of parts from the SI and measures in at 95mm.  This, dare I say it, has only been with me a few days, but has become THE SAK for me.  It has everything I want in a SAK of this type.  It has the comfort and the tool compliment of the Farmer, the blade and awl of the SI and still retains it's superb Swiss quality with it's brass liners and unpolished tools.


above; Wenger Handwerker

The Handwerker also has some other bonuses, the biggest of these being the addition of the pruner blade instead of the can opener that you find on the SI and the Farmer.  This, for me, is a huge bonus as I am not a user of the can opener and feel that the blade will see a lot more use.


above; Handwerker pruner blade

The other bonus is the cellidor scales.  In today's society, and especially over here in the UK, knives are greatly frowned upon and it seems that the most acceptable knife to EDC nowadays is the humble SAK.  People will generally associate a SAK with the traditional white cross on “plastic” scales and this has just that.  Although I have never felt uncomfortable carrying any of my other non-locking SAK's for EDC, I can take great comfort that even people who are not knife users will probably not worry too much about the use of the Handwerker in public.


above; Handwerker

Another bonus, although minor, is the lanyard or keyring attachment. The keyring on my Farmer (my SI has a hollow rivet) is made of brass and although I am very sure it is strong, it is very small in comparison to that of the Handwerker.  I am not one to lose SAK's, but it is nice to know that with a lanyard attached, this old beauty is going nowhere.


above; Left Farmer, right Handwerker

But the Handwerker does have a couple of negatives.  The saw for example IMO is not as good as that of the Farmers as it doesn't have the length that the Farmer has.  As I am not a huge saw user, this isn't necessarily a huge problem to me.


above; Top Handwerker, bottom Farmer

The build quality is also not as good as that of the Vic, the finish lacking that little extra that Vic seem to offer.  This can be seen on the scales where there are a couple of signs of manufacture.  But still, the quality is still superbly good and it is one solid SAK.


above; Scales of Handwerker

Overall I am really pleased with my new SAK.  It has gone straight into EDC duty and I can see the start of a blooming relationship.

[Flash]

Wicked review matey...

when I saw the title "The best of both worlds" I did start to worry what you were on about 

Cheers ears,

Flash

[Dunc]

    Great thread Ben . I enjoyed it very much . I'm on a bit of an Alox experiment that hopefully will see my ramblings in next months SOSAK and should keep Mike happy .


Dunc

[max6166]

Great write up and pics, Ben! 

That is a beauty. Enjoy it!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Bloody fine write up sir , and excellent comparison text and picture's too

Definetly one for January's Sosakonline if you as me

That Handwerker is achingly pretty though

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'm on a bit of an Alox experiment that hopefully will see my ramblings in next months SOSAK and should keep Mike happy .


Dunc

Look forward to it matey

[Benner]

Thanks for the comments guys. 

It would be interesting to know when they were discontinued.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

And how available they still are

I've got to say I'd still rather have the can opener though

[Benner]

And how available they still are

I've got to say I'd still rather have the can opener though

2 reasons why I prefer the pruner;

1. I don't need a can opener.  My kitchen is full of them.

and 2. I always edc a SAK with a MT (and a pile of other crap  ) and I don't know of any other MT (there will be a REALLY obvious one now  ) that has a pruner blade, but they nearly all have can openers.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

And how available they still are

I've got to say I'd still rather have the can opener though

2 reasons why I prefer the pruner;

1. I don't need a can opener.  My kitchen is full of them.

and 2. I always edc a SAK with a MT (and a pile of other crap  ) and I don't know of any other MT (there will be a REALLY obvious one now  ) that has a pruner blade, but they nearly all have can openers.

True , but your a super maximalist, where I'm more of a minimalist these days

[Benner]

And how available they still are

I've got to say I'd still rather have the can opener though

2 reasons why I prefer the pruner;

1. I don't need a can opener.  My kitchen is full of them.

and 2. I always edc a SAK with a MT (and a pile of other crap  ) and I don't know of any other MT (there will be a REALLY obvious one now  ) that has a pruner blade, but they nearly all have can openers.

True , but your a super maximalist, where I'm more of a minimalist these days

T'is very true that. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

And how available they still are

I've got to say I'd still rather have the can opener though

2 reasons why I prefer the pruner;

1. I don't need a can opener.  My kitchen is full of them.

and 2. I always edc a SAK with a MT (and a pile of other crap  ) and I don't know of any other MT (there will be a REALLY obvious one now  ) that has a pruner blade, but they nearly all have can openers.

True , but your a super maximalist, where I'm more of a minimalist these days

T'is very true that. 

No man of 23 should rattle as much as you do, unless he's had a very bad bike smash

[WhichDawg]

Excellent job Benner!

your picture taking is sooooo much better now!
(must be that camera ya won!) great comparisons mate,
I enjoyed that

[Benner]

Excellent job Benner!

your picture taking is sooooo much better now!
(must be that camera ya won!) great comparisons mate,
I enjoyed that

Cheers pal.    They have improved a tad. 

Still can't do all these artsie pics though. 

[donvito]

Really enjoyed the read and the pictures. A+ comparison. I myself prefer the can opener, use em all the time. Thx.

[jzmtl]

A hawkbill blade is a great utility knife. It's very good for opening clam pack, just pierce and pull, can't do the same with traditional shaped blade. Also for peeling oranges, slip the tip under either end and cut the cord connecting both so it's easier to peel by hand.

[David]

Wow Ben cool knives, great write up and pic`s thanks!!!!!

[Neil]

Congrats on your new toy and thanks for sharing it with us.  I guess now you'll be after a Pioneer Harvester

Neil

[Benner]

Congrats on your new toy and thanks for sharing it with us.  I guess now you'll be after a Pioneer Harvester

Neil

Don't encourage me. 

[Neil]

It would make for a fair comparison then 

 

Neil

[prime77]

Great write up Benner. I had never heard of the Handwerker. I like the look of it.

[kwakster]

It sure is a nice knife, wish i had one of those 

[Neil]

It sure is a nice knife, wish i had one of those 

 

I hope you kept at least one for yourself

Neil

[Poncho65]

Great review man I like everyone of those knives and the brass liners very nice 

[J-sews]

Well now that you've found yourself the perfect SAK, you can send off all your other ones to me

I'll PM you with my address shortly...

[Benner]

Well now that you've found yourself the perfect SAK, you can send off all your other ones to me

I'll PM you with my address shortly...

Don't worry Bob I know what it is already. 

[J-sews]

Well now that you've found yourself the perfect SAK, you can send off all your other ones to me

I'll PM you with my address shortly...

Don't worry Bob I know what it is already. 

Ah good, then hopefully the packages will start arriving soon.

[Benner]

Well now that you've found yourself the perfect SAK, you can send off all your other ones to me

I'll PM you with my address shortly...

Don't worry Bob I know what it is already. 

Ah good, then hopefully the packages will start arriving soon.

I feel you may be a little disappointed. 

[Poncho65]

Well now that you've found yourself the perfect SAK, you can send off all your other ones to me

I'll PM you with my address shortly...

Don't worry Bob I know what it is already. 

Ah good, then hopefully the packages will start arriving soon.

I feel you may be a little disappointed. 

Why cause your sending them to me

[NutSAK]

Nice writeup Ben!  That Handwerker is a beauty!!

Now that you don't like the Farmer anymore, I'll take it back.  I'm sending a PM with my address.