What I love about SAKs is....

BePrepared · **on:** November 21, 2019, 10:19:14 PM

What I love about SAKs is....

... the snap on the cap lifter/large flathead on 91mm SAKs.

The snap feels so powerful for such a 'light' tool (especially 2 or 3 layers.) If you had told me this is what I would love about SAKs before I got my first 91mm (a Spartan) I would have dismissed it. Sure, the awl on the Pioneer is great (the cap lifter on the 93mm does not have the same snap as the 91mm). And the SAK scissors on 93mm (and 91mm) are great. But that snap... it's amazing.

The half stop is great too. And I just found out about the friction lock as well.

What do you love about SAKs...?

BClogic · **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2019, 10:51:03 PM

The shininess when you unbox them for the first time!
Also the snap!

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Rapidray · **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2019, 03:44:05 AM

The 111mm are some of the best SAK out there today!

SirVicaLot · **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2019, 04:51:37 AM

I would add the easy cleanup. Get a messed up SAK, give it a good spa treatment and they are good as new

BClogic · **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2019, 05:24:07 AM

Quote from: SirVicaLot on November 22, 2019, 04:51:37 AM

I would add the easy cleanup. Get a messed up SAK, give it a good spa treatment and they are good as new

Good point SVL!

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Aloha · **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2019, 05:56:23 AM

Pocket full of possibilities. I also really love the simplicity of the SAK. They really mastered it.

FolderBeholder · **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2019, 02:07:04 PM

I love the fact that they have been proven reliable and serviceable for over 125 years.
As others have stated, I love the snap too.

VICMAN · **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2019, 02:38:02 PM

I like the fact that they are a work of art and a quality tool that is also useful for solving a multitude of problems.

And I also agree that I like the snap of the blades when you close them.

Barry Rowland · **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2019, 04:31:21 PM

Exactly. I'll add that there is a ton of options in a very affordable package with the best warranty in the business.

Quote from: FolderBeholder on November 22, 2019, 02:07:04 PM

I love the fact that they have been proven reliable and serviceable for over 125 years.
As others have stated, I love the snap too.

smiller43147 · **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2019, 05:56:13 PM

Quote from: BePrepared on November 21, 2019, 10:19:14 PM

And I just found out about the friction lock as well.

I love just about everything about SAKs.
Tell me about the friction lock so I have even more to love about them.

ElevenBlade · **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2019, 09:08:41 PM

Universality.

Call me crazy, but one thing that appeals to me is that the SAK is accepted as a multitool in our global culture... including the legal system in places that are even more restrictive than where I live.

Non-locking, less than 3-4 inches, two-hand deploying... it checks all the boxes for legal carry in most cities in the US, and most countries around the world. I can continue to carry the same one in my pocket when I travel. Wherever I am, there's a decent chance it's not considered a weapon. I don't have to worry about my trusty sidekick getting me thrown in jail or causing people to run away. Moreover, having used it in my travels is part of what makes it so nostalgic.

BePrepared · **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2019, 10:35:16 PM

Quote from: smiller43147 on November 22, 2019, 05:56:13 PM

I love just about everything about SAKs.
Tell me about the friction lock so I have even more to love about them.

Have a look at the far back of the cap lifter. There's a notch there that engages with the backspring. This is what makes the cap lifter snap into place so well, and makes it harder to close on you when in use. The in-line Phillips has the same 'friction lock'.

ElevenBlade · **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2019, 10:44:30 PM

Quote from: BePrepared on November 22, 2019, 10:35:16 PM

Have a look at the far back of the cap lifter. There's a notch there that engages with the backspring. This is what makes the cap lifter snap into place so well, and makes it harder to close on you when in use. The in-line Phillips has the same 'friction lock'.

Is that what also gives it a half-stop at a right angle?

Barry Rowland · **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2019, 11:26:02 PM

Don't forget Wenger's caplifter, which actually pushed back into the body of the knife this locking it in place.

Frailer · **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2019, 03:27:24 AM

Quote from: ElevenBlade on November 22, 2019, 10:44:30 PM

Is that what also gives it a half-stop at a right angle?

No. The half-stop is the result of the rectangular tang.

ulzhan · **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2019, 08:32:38 AM

That snap is legendary.

Sawl Goodman · **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2019, 09:25:35 AM

Quote from: VICMAN on November 22, 2019, 02:38:02 PM

I like the fact that they are a work of art and a quality tool that is also useful for solving a multitude of problems.

That's it for me too. Succinctly put!

Quote

And I also agree that I like the snap of the blades when you close them.

Also agree - on 93mm especially.

The cap lifter's snap is excellent when new. In my experience, though, it's often the weakest on used knives, even when the the knife is cleaned up and full snap is restored on the other tools.

Sos24 · **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2019, 10:52:15 AM

I love the small form factor. The number of useful tools that I can pull out of my pocket in such a small lightweight package. As far as tools, I love the scissors. They are one of my most used tools. Nowadays, it is easy to find a small pocketable version of most of the other tools on a SAK. But you would be hard pressed to find a better pair of scissors that are as easily pocketed.

Top-Gear-24 · **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2019, 11:47:42 AM

Quote from: ElevenBlade on November 22, 2019, 09:08:41 PM

Universality.

Call me crazy, but one thing that appeals to me is that the SAK is accepted as a multitool in our global culture... including the legal system in places that are even more restrictive than where I live.

Non-locking, less than 3-4 inches, two-hand deploying... it checks all the boxes for legal carry in most cities in the US, and most countries around the world. I can continue to carry the same one in my pocket when I travel. Wherever I am, there's a decent chance it's not considered a weapon. I don't have to worry about my trusty sidekick getting me thrown in jail or causing people to run away. Moreover, having used it in my travels is part of what makes it so nostalgic.

It's one of the few knives that people tend to see as a knife/tool instead of just as a knife.

Most of this is the result of great marketing and product placement from Victorinox. They stay away from "tactical" or "agressive" designed blade shapes, making sure to give their knives a non-threatening look.

A local store owner even told me they receive guide lines from Victorinox about how they should display a SAK.

Oh, and don't forget MacGyver

.

VICMAN · **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2019, 12:04:26 PM

Quote from: Sawl Goodman on November 23, 2019, 09:25:35 AM

That's it for me too. Succinctly put!
Also agree - on 93mm especially.

Thanks Sawl!

VICMAN · **Reply #20 on:** November 23, 2019, 12:06:59 PM

Quote from: Sos24 on November 23, 2019, 10:52:15 AM

I love the small form factor. The number of useful tools that I can pull out of my pocket in such a small lightweight package. As far as tools, I love the scissors. They are one of my most used tools. Nowadays, it is easy to find a small pocketable version of most of the other tools on a SAK. But you would be hard pressed to find a better pair of scissors that are as easily pocketed.

WolfyW · **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2019, 11:56:06 PM

I prefer the scales on my oldschool pocket knives such as bone, wood etc. There's a warmth factor there for me. Beyond that I prefer everything else about a SAK. And that's why there's always one on me. A knife and a few small tools.....compact and ridiculously handy. And comparatively, for what you get, they are a good value.

gustophersmob · **Reply #22 on:** November 24, 2019, 12:17:36 AM

In no particular order:

1) High value for dollar.
2) a surprising ruggedness given their price and pinned construction
3) generally non threatening
4) the tools. It’s more than just a blade.

nate j · **Reply #23 on:** November 25, 2019, 03:59:56 AM

They are a great value. The F&F, W&T, and overall quality are as good or better than knives costing many times as much.
They are nearly rustproof. Even other "stainless" steel knives tend to develop rust spots riding around in my often sweaty pockets.
So much more than just a pocket knife. Even the slimmer two- or three-layer models have a variety of useful tools in addition to knife blades.

comis · **Reply #24 on:** November 26, 2019, 09:30:24 AM

1) Consistency of QC --it is hard to find a better brand for fit and finish than Vic, and what amazing is they could keep up the QC over so many decades of knife making.

2) Variety --I was just talking about this in another thread, very few brands could be so prolific as Vic/Wenger over the past hundred years. You are bound to find something that is suitable for your needs

3) Value --again, it's rare to find a brand that could offer both 1) and 2) while keeping the price affordable.

cody6268 · **Reply #25 on:** November 26, 2019, 02:13:14 PM

Too many times; when I'm trying out a new multitool design it's. That don't work, that's a stupid design, "OW! What an accident waitin' to happen". Yet, I don't care what it is. All Vic tools work, quite well. Whether it be a tiny tool like the 58mm's scissors or combo tool, or even the 111mm's massive saw; they work.

Vic steel holds a decent edge, yet you can get it back up to a good one with just a whetstone.

And as mentioned before, quality control. I've almost never had a Vic with problems.