30 SAKs in 30 Days for December 2021. All are welcome!

[Jackpine54]

Nice work! An explorer plus is a good idea! I did that to the one I gave my Dad. He shows off the pen to anyone who'll listen, and even some that won't listen 

[Jackpine54]

Day 23

Two for Thursday 

Anyways, here's a fieldmaster and huntsman.
The huntsman I've had for quite a while and used to carry it quite a bit. The field master I bought at a yard sale, new in the box but missing both scales.  I think I paid almost nothing for it. Slapped a set of black plus scales on it when I got it home and it's good as new. Figured I'd give it away to someone, but I kind of like it. So it's still here.

[Farmer X]

Here's a workchamp. Not better than a swisschamp, but different. I think it's a bit easier to use with gloves on.

I can see it being easier to use with gloved hands; OHO would make it more so. Cool 111mm...and is it sitting on a manual for an M1911?

Day 22
Another two-fer day - two with-hook Explorers.

Nice Explorer duo! I think I'd most likely leave the red one as-is...

Two for Thursday...

They look very clean, especially the Huntsman. Guess you carried it pretty lightly and gently?

Day 23

I'll be showing challenge alumni for the next three days. First up is the Wenger Watchmaker. I got it in a trade earlier this year. Since I never have a need for a watch case opener, I don't carry it, yet I'm still happy to have it. As can be seen, it's in pretty dang good shape as well!

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[Jackpine54]

They look very clean, especially the Huntsman. Guess you carried it pretty lightly and gently

Actually the huntsman is pretty scratched up but the black scales don't show it in the picture. Always rub scales down with Johnson's paste wax after I clean them, that probably helps too!

Also you're close, it's for a Beretta M9/92FS.

[Jackpine54]

Day 23

I'll be showing challenge alumni for the next three days. First up is the Wenger Watchmaker. I got it in a trade earlier this year. Since I never have a need for a watch case opener, I don't carry it, yet I'm still happy to have it. As can be seen, it's in pretty dang good shape as well!

 

That looks almost new! Great knife, I never see those around.

[SteveP]

Day 23

Two for Thursday 

Anyways, here's a fieldmaster and huntsman.
The huntsman I've had for quite a while and used to carry it quite a bit. The field master I bought at a yard sale, new in the box but missing both scales.  I think I paid almost nothing for it. Slapped a set of black plus scales on it when I got it home and it's good as new. Figured I'd give it away to someone, but I kind of like it. So it's still here.

Very nice. Your Huntsman is in a lot better shape than my nylon one.

[SteveP]

I can see it being easier to use with gloved hands; OHO would make it more so. Cool 111mm...and is it sitting on a manual for an M1911?
Nice Explorer duo! I think I'd most likely leave the red one as-is...
They look very clean, especially the Huntsman. Guess you carried it pretty lightly and gently?

Day 23

I'll be showing challenge alumni for the next three days. First up is the Wenger Watchmaker. I got it in a trade earlier this year. Since I never have a need for a watch case opener, I don't carry it, yet I'm still happy to have it. As can be seen, it's in pretty dang good shape as well!

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Looks great. Definitely a unique piece for a collection. Seems I've seen the case opener blade on SAKs with more layers? I don't remember. Maybe I need a trip to SAKWiki...

[SteveP]

Day 23

A slight step up to an Explorer Plus. I was browsing eBay in July looking for another Explorer when I found this Plus model for no more than the non-Plus ones I'd been seeing. Score!

Based on the tang stamps, it was made between 2005 and 2008.

So if I put Plus scales on my red Explorer from yesterday, I'll have two Explorer Pluses. 

[SteveP]

Nice work! An explorer plus is a good idea! I did that to the one I gave my Dad. He shows off the pen to anyone who'll listen, and even some that won't listen 

The Plus pen, pin, and mini screwdriver are so handy that I put Plus scales on every SAK that I might carry regularly.

[Jackpine54]

Day 23

A slight step up to an Explorer Plus. I was browsing eBay in July looking for another Explorer when I found this Plus model for no more than the non-Plus ones I'd been seeing. Score!

Based on the tang stamps, it was made between 2005 and 2008.

So if I put Plus scales on my red Explorer from yesterday, I'll have two Explorer Pluses. 

Nice collection of explorers! 

[Jackpine54]

Day 24

I'm off to the woods today looking for some Christmas eve quiet time (and a couple of rabbits for dinner). Seemed like a good time to break out the Ranger, complete with camping scales.
The ranger is barely thicker than the huntsman and is crammed with tools. If I didn't carry a swisschamp so often it would be a great edc.

For enquiring minds, that's a smith and Wesson K22 with 6" barrel and elk antler grips. Cottontail accurate farther than I can shoot it..

[Farmer X]

Seems I've seen the case opener blade on SAKs with more layers?

You have indeed. The Minathor is an example.

I was browsing eBay in July looking for another Explorer when I found this Plus model for no more than the non-Plus ones I'd been seeing. Score!

That is a great score. Always wonderful when such a thing happens!

Day 24

"Camping" scales and a sweet .22 revolver...I this photo a lot! (I used to have great fun shooting a S&W 617.)

Day 24
The second challenge alumnus is the Victorinox Evolution 23. While the Wenger Watchmaker only appeared in one photo, I carried the Evo 24 throughout October's Delemont Challenge. It's shown with a different lanyard and two of my favorite tools open. The Blue Monster is there to explain the tardiness of today's entry (I am running new plumbing for a water heater).

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[SteveP]

Day 24

I'm off to the woods today looking for some Christmas eve quiet time (and a couple of rabbits for dinner). Seemed like a good time to break out the Ranger, complete with camping scales.
The ranger is barely thicker than the huntsman and is crammed with tools. If I didn't carry a swisschamp so often it would be a great edc.

For enquiring minds, that's a smith and Wesson K22 with 6" barrel and elk antler grips. Cottontail accurate farther than I can shoot it..

Nice grips on that S&W.

[SteveP]

You have indeed. The Minathor is an example.

The Minathor is exactly the one I was thinking about! I've never seen one in person, but remember running across its SAKWiki page for some reason.
 

[SteveP]

Day 24

So here's what the Explorer and the Deluxe Tinker led to...

The Deluxe Explorer Plus.

I really liked that estate sale Explorer I brought back to life. And I really liked the pliers on my Deluxe Tinker and Champs. So what if I combined them?

I picked up a used Explorer in good shape, got the pliers from viktryls in Ukraine, and so began my first mod. Of course, I had to document the build on this forum: https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,87744.0.html

This or a Swiss Champ are my main at-home carries.

I've thought about re-doing it or creating a second one, but adding a scaler, another really useful tool. But that would put it just two thin saws short of a Champ.

This is an older photo, from not long after I built it. The weather was much nicer back in July. I added the ruler to the pliers after this photo was taken.

[Jackpine54]

The Deluxe Explorer Plus.

That's a great knife! Very handy toolset and one of a kind.

[Jackpine54]

Day 25

Merry Christmas!

Today we have some Swisschamp action.

In the spirit of the holidays - green, red, emerald and ruby.

[Farmer X]

The Deluxe Explorer Plus.

That's a very cool mod. A job well done!

Today we have some Swisschamp action.

I need to step up my SwissChamp game...

Day 25

Merry Christmas to awl!

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the final challenge alumnus is the Farmer X. I picked up this one because it has all the SAK tools I regularly use, and very little else. It has served me admirably in the short time I've owned it. Today I'm showing it with a (bacon-covered) cheese ball.

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[SteveP]

Day 25

Merry Christmas to awl!

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the final challenge alumnus is the Farmer X. I picked up this one because it has all the SAK tools I regularly use, and very little else. It has served me admirably in the short time I've owned it. Today I'm showing it with a (bacon-covered) cheese ball.

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Mmmm... bacon...
 
Nice SAK too.

[SteveP]

Day 25

Merry Christmas!

Today we have some Swisschamp action.

In the spirit of the holidays - green, red, emerald and ruby.

And I love the Christmas colors.

[SteveP]

Day 25

Merry Christmas! I hope you all are having a great time with family and friends.

Today is the Outdoorsman Plus. I wanted a Woodsman, but couldn't find one at a price I was willing to pay. Then I discovered the Outdoorsman. Same thing as the Woodsman, but with the addition of the always-useful scaler. I'm in! I wasn't a big fan of the Marlboro scales so replaced them with yellow Plus ones, making this my first yellow SAK. I like it, but do miss the pliers.

(I took this photo over the summer while the weather was nice. Busy day today so didn't have time to take a current one.)

[Jackpine54]

A FarmerX with cheese &  bacon! plus a bright yellow, custom Outdoorsman plus! Awesome Christmas photos awl 

[Jackpine54]

Day 26

I have to drive the wife into the "big city" today. This requires the proper EDC. So I decided the Evolution S52 would cover anything I might need.

Along for the ride- an old citizen titanium chronograph dive watch and a Wilson Combat Beretta M9A1

 

[Lemonizer]

Really nice EDC, Jack ! 

[Farmer X]

My first yellow SAK.

I wasn't going to get any sunshine yesterday, but a yellow SAK made up for it. Thanks for posting that one!

I decided the Evolution S52 would cover anything I might need.

More than likely it will. Nice watch and handgun, too. (I am really wishy-washy about what handgun I'd carry.)

Day 26

With a hand's worth of days remaining, it's time to chase up those models I own but haven't posted yet. I'm starting with the original MiniChamp. I got the one at bottom used but fairly priced. Of course, not long after I received it, a new in package one cropped up at an absolute steal, so now I have two. They are shown with the paperwork that I also freed from the clamshell package and a neck lanyard (the carrier is presently attached to said lanyard, which is around my neck).

Two Cellidor and two Alox models to go!

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[SteveP]

Day 26

Today I'm sharing the Delemont Evolution S557.

I picked this one up new back in May. I was intrigued by the smaller size, the wrench, and the slip-joint pliers. But as I used it, I became less than impressed.

Hoping to improve it, I did a few mods: added the corkscrew mini-screwdriver, burned in a hole for a pin, and ground a hook blade into the can opener. Still wasn't wild about it.

Hoping to give it one more chance, I entered the Daredevil Challenge back in August with it. It was a challenge. Here's what I wrote at the end of the month:

So how did it do for the month?

Well, it did nearly everything I asked it to do. I don't hate it. It won't be relegated to the Drawer of Shame. But...

Pros:

• I like the 85mm size vs. the larger 91mm SAKs.
• I found the contoured scales comfortable.
• I liked having the nail file in a larger SAK. (Though I did  miss having the smaller second blade.)
• I did appreciate the locking knife blade a few times as a safety feature. Especially as the blade on this new SAK is plenty sharp.

Cons:

• The blade lock release lever was always getting caught on my pocket or in my belt pouch. Why Vic would keep something sharp that sticks out that far is beyond me.
• The finicky scissors that struggle to cut anything pliable. I use scissors regularly so not knowing if the Wenger-designed ones would cut the item was pretty frustrating.
• The useless "Universal" wrench. I couldn't come up with a use for it the whole month, not with it stuck in the middle of a five-layer SAK so there's no way to get a grip on anything remotely flush with the surface. I'll stick with my Swiss+Tech Micro-Slim or Leatherman By the Numbers 3 flat wrenches in my pocket EDC kit.
• The fiddly pliers. Seems like everytime I opened the pliers the slip joint slipped to the wide position (or just part way), unless I opened them very carefully. I could rarely just open and use them.
• The very tight and very short inline Phillips driver. Yes, it works, but it's hard to use.

For a concept, the S557 is great. But for execution, I'm not so sure.

Several of you have said that your challenge tool was OK, but not in comparison to what you usually use. I'm in the same boat. If I didn't know there were better choices out there, I might think the S557 a great SAK. But the tools (scissors, pliers, inline Phillips) are executed far better in mainline Vic SAKs or just don't work at all as part of a thick SAK (wrench).

For me, the S557's main competition is my Swiss Champ or my Deluxe Explorer mod (Explorer + pliers), and it just doesn't match up to them. I'll be going back to them, with a useful small wrench in my pocket.


Now with all that said back in August, I haven't given up on the Delemonts. I just bought a used Evolution 18 (though I thought it was a 16 from the description) and am looking forward to giving it a try.

And I've been eyeing the S52. Though I wish there was a variant without the wood saw.

[SteveP]

Day 26

With a hand's worth of days remaining, it's time to chase up those models I own but haven't posted yet. I'm starting with the original MiniChamp. I got the one at bottom used but fairly priced. Of course, not long after I received it, a new in package one cropped up at an absolute steal, so now I have two. They are shown with the paperwork that I also freed from the clamshell package and a neck lanyard (the carrier is presently attached to said lanyard, which is around my neck).

Two Cellidor and two Alox models to go!

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Nice original Mini Champs! I had one of those, then had to get a Mini Champ II when it came out and the original I gave to my wife.

[Jackpine54]

Bonus pic...

Here's an Alox electrician. I got this one in a trade for a cheap china old timer lock blade 194OT. I think I got the better end of that deal.

[Echotech]

great stuff awl

[SteveP]

Bonus pic...

Here's an Alox electrician. I got this one in a trade for a cheap china old timer lock blade 194OT. I think I got the better end of that deal.

I'd say so. It looks brand new.