To screw or not to screw?

[donvito]

When choosing a SAK for personal use or recommending one for a friend one has to consider the type of use, needs, and environment as deciding factors. Victorinox and Wenger produce various models suited for just about everyone, from NASA astronauts to regular guys or gals like me and you. The difference in most of these models lies in the implements. The most basic bare SAK would be the Solo where a blade is all you get. A Bantam is next with the combo tool. Waiter adds a corkscrew, everything pretty much goes down the drain right after  .

Next in line are two models that stood the test of time and very popular till this day, Spartan and Tinker. Both offer a main and small blade, can opener and cap lifer, the difference in them lies in the back while both feature an awl spartan boasts a corkscrew (cs) and tinker a philips drive (pd). (same applies to their 84mm cousins Tourist (cs) and Tinker Small (pd))

Climber (cs) would be an upgrade to Spartan, and Super Tinker (pd) in the tinker line. Both add scissors and multipurpose hook.
Deluxe Climber and Tinker are next in line having the above mentioned tools + pliers.
Camper (cs) and Hiker (pd) replace the scissors and the hook on the back with a wood saw.
Huntsman (cs) and Fieldmaster (pd) return the scissors and the hook, while keeping the wood saw.
Handyman (cs) and Craftsman are next in line, both adding metal file and pliers, and a chisel and a small screwdriver on the back.


Some models include an inline philips preffered by many coupled with a magnifier or a led light in newer (light) models.
Swiss Champ and Plus, Explorer, Original Yeoman, Passenger, and Scientist feature Philips/Magnifier layer and all include a corkscrew on the back.
Some models feature only a Philips driver on the back and on very rare occasions will feature a corkscrew instead, Mechanic comes to mind.

My fist choice is a model with a corkscrew to which I add a mini driver that comes very handy in fixing eyeglasses, or fiddling with small screws. An inline philips drive is better suited for most tasks, but a the back mounted one has served me well when need be. The T style position of a sak with back mounted philips adds a bit more torque if needed.

This list is not complete, I've only included Victorinox models.
In the first pic are the 84mm Tourist and Small Tinker.

[donvito]

Next up are the Spartan and Tinker (91mm)

[donvito]

Waiter, Bantam (black eco scales), and an alox Bantam. None of the alox models have tools on the back.

[donvito]

Deluxe Climber and Tinker

[donvito]

Yeoman and Explorer

[donvito]

And two Climbers. I need to get an image hosting account zzz too lazy right now. Hope you enjoyed the read and pics (sry bout the quality).  V.

[Freudian Frog]

Philips. Corkscrew is just waisted space for me, and as for miniscrewdrivers... they're easier to carry seperately than the regular drivers. I myself carry a Tinker. Well, a Farmer, really, but I used to carry a Tinker... I may have to start that again.

[jzmtl]

Depends on what for. EDC I want corkscrew with mini screwdriver. Outdoor I'd like phillips driver.

[Sea Monster]

As you said yourself - Alox models save you all the worry! so just get those.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Normally I'd of said a Corkscrew so i can unpick knots and carry the mini screwdriver , however I've recently got my first ever Tinker (yes I'm slow ) and I'm really fond of the back mounted Phillips, and can't quite understand all the negative thing said about it over the years now, as I think it's a really useful feature

[Dunc]

Depends if you like wine alot .

Dunc

[Benner]

I like the idea of having a corkscrew on a SAK as I always carry a MT as well and all of those have phillips drivers on them.  If I were to carry just a SAK however, I'd want the phillips driver on it.

[J-sews]

I almost used a corkscrew on a cork for the first time ever last week. But the cork was old and crumbly and completely disintegrated. I had to pick it out piece by piece with a small spoon instead.


Give me a phillips screwdriver any day.

[Dunc]

I almost used a corkscrew on a cork for the first time ever last week. But the cork was old and crumbly and completely disintegrated. I had to pick it out piece by piece with a small spoon instead.


Give me a phillips screwdriver any day.

If we ever meet Bob remind me never to accept a glass of wine from you  I must say I'm shocked you have never used a SAK corkscrew before .

Dunc

[rleendertz]

BAHHHH, I carry a Swisschamp!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gareth]

I do like a bottle of wine and most of my SAKs have the corkscrew.  That said I do like the Phillips as well but never seem to find a need for one.  The tip of the can opener covers the job well.

I almost used a corkscrew on a cork for the first time ever last week. But the cork was old and crumbly and completely disintegrated. I had to pick it out piece by piece with a small spoon instead.

By the way that's the reason you should keep a wine bottle on its side.  The fact the wine is in contact with the cork stops it from drying out and eventually letting air into the bottle and turning the wine sour.  That's why you say that a bottle that has gone bad is "corked".   

[Styerman]

I am a corkscrew lover , it an the mini driver come in handy so often.

Chris

[DaveK]

I actually find that phillips screwdriver is my most used tool, and rarely a day goes by without needing one. The corkscrew therefore becomes the optional extra for me.

In fact, when making my last SAK from bits recently, I opted for the phillips instead of the corkscrew.

[NutSAK]

I prefer inline phillips drivers and corkscrews.

[donvito]

I prefer inline phillips drivers and corkscrews.

Same here. The inline works best + gives ya a magnifying glass or a flashlight which both come in handy, while retaining the corkscrew.

[ducktapehero]

I'm a Phillips guy. But that's the beauty of SAK's, they give you a choice.

[DaveK]

I prefer inline phillips drivers and corkscrews.

Me too, but they don't seem too common on easily available & cheap SAKs. The phillips in place of the corkscrew seems more readily available.

[AndyTiedye]

I used to prefer the Phillips, when I was too young to drink.
Back then, the backspring Phillips was a beautifully machined piece that perfectly fit the contour of the knife.
Now it is cut or stamped out of a piece of rod stock,  a shadow of its former self.
This is one of the few places in SAKdom where the product cheapening department has struck.
Since the higher-end offer the "Plus" features, one of which requires a corkscrew, and the larger
of these have inline Phillips screwdrivers anyway, the backspring Phillips has been mostly relegated
to the low end of the line, and "value engineered" accordingly.

And now I do drink wine on occasion, so the corkscrew is useful in its own right.

[Tarrodemierda]

the only multitool that needs to have an corkscrew -IMO- is waiters multi-opener tools.

[DoughDTD]

I prefer inline phillips drivers and corkscrews.

Same here. The inline works best + gives ya a magnifying glass or a flashlight which both come in handy, while retaining the corkscrew.

yuuup, i feel the same way.  Inline philips plus corkscrew and mini screwdriver for the win! Corkscrew also comes in handy for much more than the opening wine