Your favorite...most useful....most often carried....best SAK?

[Altis]

Alright, so I put some thought into it. 

The Farmer X is my favorite model if I had to choose one for the following reasons:

- Perfect size in hand and pocket with a fairly square handle shape
- Heavy duty tools and scales, very strong
- Easy to clean so I don't have to worry about getting it messy or wet, swimming with it, etc... I always worry about getting stuff under the cellidor scales
- Very good toolset, including the inline awl, for outdoors use and most EDC applications

However, while it is my favorite and I do carry it quite a bit, it isn't necessarily my most used or most carried. I EDC a CyberTool 34 (M) for work since I deal with electronics, but it is not very well-suited for the outdoors. I also frequently carry the Executive, another favorite. And this got me thinking -- if I could only have one, it would have to be one that covers all the bases. The smaller SAKs are great but they're kind of a luxury -- I carry them when it is appropriate, but if I could only have one, I'd want the one that gets the most jobs done while still being easily carried enough.

So if I could only have one model, it would probably have to be the Handyman (which I don't even have  )... I gave this model to my dad as his only SAK so that confirms my thinking about it being appropriate if you only have one. It's the largest I feel is still easily carried and nice to handle. It has pretty much all the tools of the SwissChamp except for the inline Phillips / mag glass and fish scaler, but that makes all the difference. I would add plus scales, of course.

Having said all that, due to sentimental reasons, my discontinued Woodsman (Explorer + wood saw) is the one that I'd actually keep as it was my first SAK/MT and a gift from my parents. Explorer is a great EDC and the added saw makes it a Huntsman for the outdoors -- best of both worlds. I would never want to part with it so this specific sample would be the one I'd keep and be perfectly happy with.

[McStitchy]

EB, huntsman was my first choice and T&T (or firefly), back tools etc very convincing, just extremely attached to the FX and reckon the inline awl is that useful it goes along way to balancing it out.

I’ve just ordered a ranger, so reckon it might end up being that, although using that logic I might as well just go straight to the champ and be done with it  

  

[Nix]

Oooooh, the Handyman is nice. I just got my first Handyman a few months ago. I need to start carrying and using it.

"Is there a challenge for that?"

[Altis]

If you don't own a Huntsman..... 

OK....

1. Stay calm...... SAK knights are on the line to assist you..... 

2. Google "Victorinox Huntsman". A screen full of advertisements will present itself shortly. Until you see the ads, try taking slow, deep breaths. It is important to stay calm!

STAY CALM!!!!!

3. Just go ahead and order the Huntsman that looks like the best price/color/delivery time. No one will judge you for spending the extra cash for expedited delivery. Seriously.

4. If third parties attempt to block your efforts, you may need to egress and make your way to a neutral zone WiFi spot. Do NOT stop for pizza/doughnuts/lattes! 

5. Once your Huntsman has been successfully ordered, you may experience feelings of panic. This is normal. Don't worry; your Huntsman will arrive shortly. Try breathing into a paper bag or drinking substantial quantities of Vodka until the the Huntsman arrives. Once the Huntsman is in your hands you can stop taking Valium, put the paper bag down, and resume a normal, healthy life.

Look; don't feel badly. Many people suffer from Huntsman Depreivation Syndrome (HDS)....others from that closely related malady, Fieldmaster Utility Compromised Knowledge & Experience Despair (F.....uh.....insert acronym here.). You have the power to change all that!  Order now! 

This has been a Swiss Army Knight Public Service Announcement.   

Now you listen here sonny 

The Huntsman may be fine, but only amateurs who haven't spent their entire disposable income on their collection and hidden mail deliveries of SAKs while telling their wife that "of course I've had that SAK for ages honey  " think it's the one to rule them all.   

The Farmer X is much more robust and has the inline awl. 
The Ranger is only ever so slightly thicker but adds the metal file and a few backside tools. 
The Woodsman is also only slightly larger and adds the mag + inline Philips layer from the Explorer. 

When I replied about the one SAK model I would commit to and not owning, I was thinking of the Handyman (not the Huntsman from the post I was replying to). I suppose I must now walk the walk and get a Handyman.   

[Nix]

I do like the in-line awl.   


But.....Handyman......whot's not to like?   

[Echotech]

If you don't own a Huntsman..... 

(Image removed from quote.)


OK....

1. Stay calm...... SAK knights are on the line to assist you..... 

2. Google "Victorinox Huntsman". A screen full of advertisements will present itself shortly. Until you see the ads, try taking slow, deep breaths. It is important to stay calm!

STAY CALM!!!!!

(Image removed from quote.)



3. Just go ahead and order the Huntsman that looks like the best price/color/delivery time. No one will judge you for spending the extra cash for expedited delivery. Seriously.

4. If third parties attempt to block your efforts, you may need to egress and make your way to a neutral zone WiFi spot. Do NOT stop for pizza/doughnuts/lattes! 

5. Once your Huntsman has been successfully ordered, you may experience feelings of panic. This is normal. Don't worry; your Huntsman will arrive shortly. Try breathing into a paper bag or drinking substantial quantities of Vodka until the the Huntsman arrives. Once the Huntsman is in your hands you can stop taking Valium, put the paper bag down, and resume a normal, healthy life.

Look; don't feel badly. Many people suffer from Huntsman Depreivation Syndrome (HDS)....others from that closely related malady, Fieldmaster Utility Compromised Knowledge & Experience Despair (F.....uh.....insert acronym here.). You have the power to change all that!  Order now! 

This has been a Swiss Army Knight Public Service Announcement.   

[Altis]

I do like the in-line awl.   


But.....Handyman......whot's not to like?   

It's pretty well perfect IMO    I spent a long time thinking about which one to get my dad who hasn't had an SAK in years (only ever had the Explorer) and eventually decided on the Handyman for his only one (though he's getting a red Farmer X for xmas).

The Handyman feels great in hand, easy enough to carry in the pocket, and has nearly all the tools. 

The only reason I haven't gotten one yet is that I have the CyberTool 34 (M), which has the bit driver instead of the two saws. I also have the Ranger which is only missing the pliers, and the Swiss Champ... so it's not exactly a gap I need filled, but I like the model so much that I'll probably just do it anyways at some point. 

[SirVicaLot]

Me too 
Although collectors might hate me for that

It's the LE 2017

 

I carry my 2018 LE too, guess we are both Rebels 

[SirVicaLot]

If you don't own a Huntsman..... 

(Image removed from quote.)


OK....

1. Stay calm...... SAK knights are on the line to assist you..... 

2. Google "Victorinox Huntsman". A screen full of advertisements will present itself shortly. Until you see the ads, try taking slow, deep breaths. It is important to stay calm!

STAY CALM!!!!!

(Image removed from quote.)



3. Just go ahead and order the Huntsman that looks like the best price/color/delivery time. No one will judge you for spending the extra cash for expedited delivery. Seriously.

4. If third parties attempt to block your efforts, you may need to egress and make your way to a neutral zone WiFi spot. Do NOT stop for pizza/doughnuts/lattes! 

5. Once your Huntsman has been successfully ordered, you may experience feelings of panic. This is normal. Don't worry; your Huntsman will arrive shortly. Try breathing into a paper bag or drinking substantial quantities of Vodka until the the Huntsman arrives. Once the Huntsman is in your hands you can stop taking Valium, put the paper bag down, and resume a normal, healthy life.

Look; don't feel badly. Many people suffer from Huntsman Depreivation Syndrome (HDS)....others from that closely related malady, Fieldmaster Utility Compromised Knowledge & Experience Despair (F.....uh.....insert acronym here.). You have the power to change all that!  Order now! 

This has been a Swiss Army Knight Public Service Announcement.   

  

[SirVicaLot]

I do like the in-line awl.   


But.....Handyman......whot's not to like?   

As i found out in our EDC challenge, it’s the limited ability to handle screws. Which is a quintessential function in an MT for me. The backside tools are too weak and awkward to use. The can opener too weak compared to the Alox models.

At least these were my findings. Before that, I considered the Handyman the one SAK that can do all i need, in the smallest package possible. Turns out, it is not 

[Swiss Guy]

When I replied about the one SAK model I would commit to and not owning...

This isn't one of those "If you could only have one..." threads, this is just asking which one you like, use or carry the most. No need to hypothesize bring stranded alone in the wilderness or being attacked by a squad of ninjas. Which SAK gives you the warm and fuzzies before tossing it in your pocket?

 

[Altis]

This isn't one of those "If you could only have one..." threads, this is just asking which one you like, use or carry the most. No need to hypothesize bring stranded alone in the wilderness or being attacked by a squad of ninjas. Which SAK gives you the warm and fuzzies before tossing it in your pocket?

 

OP is asking about "the one" 

Quite a few of them give me the warm and fuzzies... but what would you have if you could only have one?

[ElevenBlade]

This isn't one of those "If you could only have one..." threads, this is just asking which one you like, use or carry the most. No need to hypothesize bring stranded alone in the wilderness or being attacked by a squad of ninjas. Which SAK gives you the warm and fuzzies before tossing it in your pocket?

 

Oh.....I do love me a SAK.

There are so many SAKs to choose from. I suspect that SAKs are like potato chips: you can't have just one.

(Image removed from quote.)


Every occasion...every event....every day.....seems to demand a new SAK. I have a SAK for hiking, one for camping, one for going to the market, one for going fishing, one for a car trip, one for a motorcycle trip, and one for lying in bed awl day (Compact). It seems I could change SAKs faster than I could change socks..... Cadet...Executive....Fieldmaster....Deluxe Tinker....Classic....

If you were to chose just one SAK...one SAK for awl occasions....the one SAK to take to the beach for the day or the South Pole for a couple of months....which SAK would you choose?

For me this is a tough question.....but.....I think....I'd chose the Huntsman. There...I said it. The Huntsman is not my most carried, maybe not my most favorite,....but...."push come to shove" it might be the Huntsman that is my "Go to" SAK. (It is the SAK I have stashed in my "Bugout Bag".)

So...what is your "One SAK"?   

[Nix]

Yeah....well....it is a rather ambiguous question.....and there is no right or wrong answer here....just....what is your favorite...most useful....most often carried....best SAK? 

[Sos24]

“ Your favorite...most useful....most often carried....best SAK?”

VS

If you were to chose just one SAK...one SAK for awl occasions....the one SAK to take to the beach for the day or the South Pole for a couple of months....which SAK would you choose? 

The above section from the OP is why I said the Spirit.

If it was just “Your favorite” and “most often carried”, it definitely would have been the Yeoman for me.  But as much as I love the Yeoman for my daily needs, I do have to admit there are other SAKs that would be more useful and “better” for certain situations.

[ElevenBlade]

The title is a little different from what the post seems to ask.
“ Your favorite...most useful....most often carried....best SAK?”

VS

If you were to chose just one SAK...one SAK for awl occasions....the one SAK to take to the beach for the day or the South Pole for a couple of months....which SAK would you choose? 

Your bold and underlines section from the OP is why I said the Spirit.

If it was just “Your favorite” and “most often carried”, it definitely would have been the Yeoman for me.  But as much as I love the Yeoman for my daily needs, I do have to admit there are other SAKs that would be more useful and “better” for certain situations.

Fair enough...   I must admit that I answered the questions in a way that i thought would get more unique answers.   

With the intention of having a lively conversation.

[Altis]

Yeah....well....it is a rather ambiguous question.....and there is no right or wrong answer here....just....what is your favorite...most useful....most often carried....best SAK? 

I think your original question is actually quite interesting. Because, as least for me, 'the one' SAK I would choose to live with isn't necessarily my favorite or most carried, which is what is normally asked.

I like it. 

[Marcellus]

The title begged to be interpreted differently by  numerous people  in this special interest group.

That said, the first SAK that came to my mind was the welterweight champion,  The Tinker.

See what I mean? 

[Barry Rowland]

    Love that knife Magsie!
Hope you and the boat crew are running gentle seas my friend.

I reeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaallllllllyyyyyyy love my Farmer, but if it had to be just the one SAK, (very cruel of you Nix), I would opt for Greenwood, my Woodsman mod, with its in-line awl - got everything the Farmer has, plus scissors, mag and philips, plus pin, mini sd and plus scale tools. It's packed full o SAK goodness!

[Nix]

The title begged to be interpreted differently by  numerous people  in this special interest group.

That said, the first SAK that came to my mind was the welterweight champion,  The Tinker.

See what I mean?

No questions: the Tinker is a great SAK. I'm sort of partial to the Tinker Small (84mm), a pocket full of SAK awesomeness....without filling up your pocket.....or something.

[pomsbz]

Spartan. Boring right? but it's the one for me. I'm a city boy, I don't need scissors and it's the perfect combination of utility and simplicity. Oh and I use the corkscrew as a fidget toy.

[Nix]

“ Your favorite...most useful....most often carried....best SAK?”

VS

If you were to chose just one SAK...one SAK for awl occasions....the one SAK to take to the beach for the day or the South Pole for a couple of months....which SAK would you choose? 

The above section from the OP is why I said the Spirit.

If it was just “Your favorite” and “most often carried”, it definitely would have been the Yeoman for me.  But as much as I love the Yeoman for my daily needs, I do have to admit there are other SAKs that would be more useful and “better” for certain situations.

You raise an interesting observation, though. If the Spirit is the SAK you would choose to take to the beach or to the South Pole (a great choice for either activity, in my opinion.), why is it the case that the Yeoman is the SAK you actually carry most of the time?

I confess to being in the same boat. I love the Spirit X and would probably choose it as the "one" SAK best suited to most occasions. However, the Huntsman or Climber is the SAK that I actually choose to carry most of the time. (Or Cadet....or FX.....or PX.....or most any other SAK...aside from the Spirit X.)

This is an interesting inconsistency. I say the Spirit X is the 'best' overall SAK....but my actual practice tends to be otherwise. Part of the reason is that I just like carrying the 'form-factor' of a pocket knife like the Huntsman. And I think....my opinion....the Huntsman will cover 90% or more of my needs on any given day.  The Spirit may cover 95% of my tool needs on any given day, but the Huntsman is just a bit easier and more fun to carry. (The Spirit is a bit heavier in the pocket.) So...the Huntsman gets the nod. Most days.

 

I think I choose the Huntsman because it is my "90% solution" and is fairly easy to carry anywhere.  Who knows.....in a few months I might choose the Hercules or the SwissChamp. I'd go so far as to say that the Outrider is my favorite SAK....but I don't carry it awl that often.

The reality is that I would be better off with a Spirit X for awl but the most formal of occasions. (And even those are pretty rare these days.) The Spirit is just an outstanding pocket tool (set). However, give me a Yeoman or Explorer and I'll be as pleased as anyone could be most of the time. And those are more fun to carry (sez me).

[Nix]

Spartan. Boring right? but it's the one for me. I'm a city boy, I don't need scissors and it's the perfect combination of utility and simplicity. Oh and I use the corkscrew as a fidget toy.

Boring? Not at awl! There is a delightful elegance and simplicity to the Spartan. I love 'em!

(But.....really? You don't need scissors.....?  )

[Sos24]

You raise an interesting observation, though. If the Spirit is the SAK you would choose to take to the beach or to the South Pole (a great choice for either activity, in my opinion.), why is it the case that the Yeoman is the SAK you actually carry most of the time?

I confess to being in the same boat. I love the Spirit X and would probably choose it as the "one" SAK best suited to most occasions. However, the Huntsman or Climber is the SAK that I actually choose to carry most of the time. (Or Cadet....or FX.....or PX.....or most any other SAK...aside from the Spirit X.)

This is an interesting inconsistency. I say the Spirit X is the 'best' overall SAK....but my actual practice tends to be otherwise. Part of the reason is that I just like carrying the 'form-factor' of a pocket knife like the Huntsman. And I think....my opinion....the Huntsman will cover 90% or more of my needs on any given day.  The Spirit may cover 95% of my tool needs on any given day, but the Huntsman is just a bit easier and more fun to carry. (The Spirit is a bit heavier in the pocket.) So...the Huntsman gets the nod. Most days.

 

I think I choose the Huntsman because it is my "90% solution" and is fairly easy to carry anywhere.  Who knows.....in a few months I might choose the Hercules or the SwissChamp. I'd go so far as to say that the Outrider is my favorite SAK....but I don't carry it awl that often.

The reality is that I would be better off with a Spirit X for awl but the most formal of occasions. (And even those are pretty rare these days.) The Spirit is just an outstanding pocket tool (set). However, give me a Yeoman or Explorer and I'll be as pleased as anyone could be most of the time. And those are more fun to carry (sez me).

The Yeoman is for me as you say the Huntsman is, it is the 90% solution.   For that other 10%, I am usually either at home or another location where another tool is readily available.  Part of that 10% is also times I may anticipate needing something more or not having additional tools available so I will carry what I expect to need in lieu or addition to the Yeoman.

The Yeoman is the nice balance of what I need the most in the smallest, lightest most comfortable package.  The Rambler could probably do many of the tasks, but for me it is not as comfortable to use, as good at the tasks, or as durable; which is why it is my keychain back-up.  The Yeoman is easily dropped in a pocket, even loungewear/pajamas so it can easily be pulled out and used.   

[Simon_Templar]

You raise an interesting observation, though. If the Spirit is the SAK you would choose to take to the beach or to the South Pole (a great choice for either activity, in my opinion.), why is it the case that the Yeoman is the SAK you actually carry most of the time?

It's the survival/outdoor aspect implied in your question that makes the difference. It implies a situation where you are far from civilization and your life might depend on your gear (which in addition should be as light and effective as possible). For me, that means the (wood / metal) saws are a must whereas a dedicated Philips driver isn't. Quite contrary to my real life, where I never use a saw but appreciate having a Cybertool driver on me at all times. Quality of life improvements are "in", survival stuff is "out".

[McStitchy]

(Image removed from quote.)

 

I carry my 2018 LE too, guess we are both Rebels 

I'm working on this one too   

[McStitchy]

Yeah....well....it is a rather ambiguous question.....and there is no right or wrong answer here....just....what is your favorite...most useful....most often carried....best SAK? 

[McStitchy]

Spartan. Boring right? but it's the one for me. I'm a city boy, I don't need scissors and it's the perfect combination of utility and simplicity. Oh and I use the corkscrew as a fidget toy.

I do like the Spartan too 

[Altis]

Spartan. Boring right? but it's the one for me. I'm a city boy, I don't need scissors and it's the perfect combination of utility and simplicity. Oh and I use the corkscrew as a fidget toy.

It's much less boring when you get the Spartan PS.   

[nitram]

(Image removed from quote.)

 

I carry my 2018 LE too, guess we are both Rebels 

I can outdo both of you. I used to carry and  really use the first  2010 Victorinox Damast Pioneer. It started to develop a very nice wear patern on the scales. Then I somehow managed to lose it. 

On topic, it’s hard to choose, almost difficult but I believe my answer would be Climber. I carried one of those exclusively for years and it always came through for me.