Introduction and request for advice and suggestions

[Greybeard]

Hi everyone. This is my first post, so please be gentle.

I only bought my first ever SAK this year, but I'm already well down the rabbit hole.

My hobby is Birding (= OE Birdwatching), and I found that with advancing age I need to carry water with me. That got me thinking about what else I should take in case of emergencies. (We are talking English countryside here, not wilderness survival – only minor emergencies.) And I decided a multi-tool would be a good idea.

TLDR: I started with the biggest, and worked my way down to the ones I can carry comfortably. The Champ got left in my car's glove box, and the Micra is now in my daughters handbag (=US purse). And I have a Manager in my jean's watch pocket and a Super Tinker with my wallet in my left pocket.

That's my urban EDC and also covers most of my BDC (Birding Day Carry). I decided I didn't want to replace the Super Tinker whenever I went out, what I wanted was a complementary set of tools to leave in my pack – particularly a Wood saw. I would really have liked Pliers as well (lot of barbed wire in the English countryside), but I didn’t want the weight of a Handyman, so I've settled for a Camper. (Which also gives me Corkscrew and Spectacle Screwdriver). I'd love to get my hands on a Motorist, but eBay UK no longer lists knives, and there are only so many Collectibles shops I can visit.

Do any of you have any other suggestions?

I've just got a Climber Lite Winter Magic Special Edition 2021 (told you I was well down the rabbit hole!) It seems to me that it is the perfect 4-layer urban EDC – three sizes of flathead screwdriver, an in-line Phillips, Scissors and a Light. And I'm tempted to try and get used to the extra bulk compared to the Super Tinker. But I am worried about spoiling the graphics on the handle.

What do you think – keep it pristine in box, or try using it as a real SAK?

Sorry, waffled on a bit – that's old age.

[Rich S]

Welcome Greybeard

As another grey beard, I've been through all the line. I don't need a saw, (suburban environment). I have a Champ in the glove box. I have carried a Tinker for about 30 years (2 knives with third in waiting). I have also carried the Super Tinker in my front pocket, but rarely used the scissors; I can carry the Deluxe Tinker in a belt pouch (too big for pocket IMHO). All are standard red scales. For me the Tinker does 98% of what I want.

I've been down the rabbit hole for a long time (can't see daylight). Now up to about 60 SAKs in my collection (older Wengers and Victorinox).  I personally don't care for anything under 84 mm. The small SAKs are just too hard to handle and work with in my aged arthritic hands. 

I'm sure you will get lots of suggestions from the membership. Try what you can; one day one knife or two will hit you as IT.  Then your all set. Enjoy looking around the rabbit hole 

I would suggest if you haven't already to look around SAKwiki. Lots of variations to choose from (sadly many discontinued). Best of luck and welcome to the forum.   

Rich

[FolderBeholder]

Welcome Greybeard,

No beard here, but if my face could grow one, it would be grey! 
As for the question about carrying something and spoiling the graphics, I understand this concern.  I do like to keep my knives pristine, even in the original box, but as I get older (and grayer), I'm easing up on myself a little bit.   I might even be tempted to carry something that is a special edition if that is the toolset I really want/need.

[Echotech]

Welcome Greybeard, I’d suggest considering a Hiker, Huntsman or Walker, or to stick with the alox you like in your PioneerX (don’t we all!) a Farmer or Farmer X. Then you could keep your LE PX pristine, although they’re there for using of course

Another suggestion which would help with the barbed wire would be a LM Rebar. Quite light for its utility and one of my faves
Grey beard here too

[Swisster]

Your ready for a Compact as your EDC. You won't regret it but the price on them now is kind of high compared to other models

[Barry Rowland]

  or a Yeoman if you can find one at a good price.

[VICMAN]

Welcome Greybeard!

[PitCarver]

Welcome aboard, Greybeard.

[Craig]

Welcome aboard 

[Simon_Templar]

Welcome to the forum,  Greybeard.

Regarding the Winter Magic Climber Lite, I had the same dilemma: I love the toolset and consider it a brilliant urban EDC, yet was reluctant to carry it on account of the LE price tag and the inevitable wear and tear. I resorted to the "standard solution" (at least on this forum ) and bought two, but even knowing that I have a pristine second copy in the cupboard I still hesitate to carry my designated user.

The reason is simple: I also own a Huntsman Lite. When you compare the two, it's obvious that the difference in size is just not enough to warrant carrying a LE Climber Lite at almost twice the price. Which doesn't mean you shouldn't if you want to, but if any amount of rationalty remains (and even if not and you just need an excuse to get another SAK;-)), I strongly recommend looking at the Huntsman Lite (which I for one have carried in my pocket for the last year comfortably). And unlike me, you even want a saw. What's not to like?

Cheers,

Simon

[Rizio Il Ghiro]

A belated welcome, Greybeard! You could always go down the modding route to make the knife you want…. Have peek into the mod squad if you’re feeling brave! Modding is not as hard as I feared it might be, and I’ve made my own ideal knives and a Yeoman which simply cost too much if you do see them! 

[Greybeard]

Thanks for all the replies! As expected there isn't a clear concensus, but there are some really useful suggestions. After I've have time to ruminate on them, I'll let you know what I've decided to do. But that may take a little time...

[SteveMr170]

Hi Greybeard. I like birdwatching too, a peaceful and interesting hobby/pastime. Can't help regarding barbed wire. I own a farmer and farmer x which both have saws in Alox scales. The saws are good but bear in mind their 'pocket' size...ideal for cutting yourself a walking stick from hazel for example. The "x" means the tool has scissors, ideal for cutting yourself a length of plaster after you cut yourself on barbed wire!

I like the Alox scales, I'm confident enough they won't break if I drop them and they look and feel nice. I EDC the farmer x, I don't mind that it will show signs of wear and tear, it adds character and history. I have a couple of pioneer x Ltd Ed alox's which will probably be carried only when I have my larger folding saw on me, mostly when camping.

If you're thinking of 'what if...' scenarios then it's unpredictable what you'll need and so the more tools the better, but that becomes impractical. Possibly you're better off with one of the plier type multitools?

[nate j]

As several others have mentioned, I wouldn’t feel underprepared going into the woods with a Huntsman or Farmer X as my only SAK/MT/folder.  I think either one of these in the pocket wouldn’t be much of a jump to get used to from your current Super Tinker, and could replace both your Super Tinker and Camper.

As an aside, it may be worth noting that the 91mm/111mm SAK pliers are quite small and not really suited to handling barbed wire.  For that task, you would want to step up to a heavy-duty MT or dedicated pliers/cutters.

With regard to using limited editions, my general philosophy is “use it”.  There’s nothing wrong with collecting (I also collect), but if it was a model I would get pleasure from actually carrying and using, that would trump any enjoyment I might get from having a pristine model in a box.  For your heirs, getting a tool that they remember seeing you carry and use is going to mean more than getting a mint-condition tool that they didn’t even know you had squirreled away.  With regard to future monetary value, even the rarest of limited editions is unlikely to ever be worth a life-changing amount of money (e.g. not enough to send someone to college, buy a house, or finance a retirement).

[GrouchoM]

or a Yeoman if you can find one at a good price.

Explorer

Typos courtesy of Samsung Auto-Incorrect™

[Greybeard]

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I thought it would only be polite to tell you my decisions based on your advice.

The tools I find I use most often (in my suburban environment) are the scissors and the Phillips screwdriver. So my initial thought was that both the Compact and the Tinker are unsuitable for my EDC. (I know that the corner of the combo tool can be used at a push for Phillips, but only if the screw head is accessible - I want a proper 3D tool.) However, as I mentioned in my initial post, I always carry a Manager as well as my main SAK. The Manager is so small that it is un-noticeable in my jean's watch pocket, so it's no carriage. Its scissors are really too small for many jobs (so the Tinker is still out), but its little Phillips is often capable of dealing with full-sized screws. I still think the Compact's lack of a proper Phillips in this day and age, means that it is fundamentally flawed for a single SAK urban EDC. But combined with my Manager, it may prove to be acceptable for dual carry. I'm really quite happy with my Super Tinker, but I do like the idea of an even thinner and lighter SAK, so I'm going to give the Compact a try. If I find I'm having to use the Super Tinker for Phillips screws, then I'll revert to that as my main SAK. (I had missed the existence of the Yeoman – I would really like to try one of those, with its in-line Phillips, but I've not been able to find one so far.)

As for 4-Layer SAKs, I've given my Deluxe Tinker some more pocket time, and decided that 4-Layers are just a bit too bulky for me to use as a pocket EDC. So my Climber Lite can stay Mint in Box. And the Explorer, Huntsman Lite, and Farmer X are also ruled out.

For my Birding Day Carry to complement my EDC, I think I'll just have to settle for a model with a Woodsaw. I already had a Camper, and I've just picked up a Farmer (an Old Cross red Alox). But I never looked at 84mm models. According to the WIKI, the Walker is significantly lighter than either of them. But I can't find a reference to whether the Woodsaw blade is shorter. (I was surprised that the woodsaw on the Farmer was the same as on the Camper).

And that's probably enough from me…

[Sos24]

I don’t know if you’ve seen the July Fundraiser Giveaway, but the Urban X would probably fit your needs real nice.  So if you can afford a donation, you might consider entering.

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,89522.msg2351512.html#msg2351512

[nate j]

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I thought it would only be polite to tell you my decisions based on your advice.

The tools I find I use most often (in my suburban environment) are the scissors and the Phillips screwdriver. So my initial thought was that both the Compact and the Tinker are unsuitable for my EDC. (I know that the corner of the combo tool can be used at a push for Phillips, but only if the screw head is accessible - I want a proper 3D tool.) However, as I mentioned in my initial post, I always carry a Manager as well as my main SAK. The Manager is so small that it is un-noticeable in my jean's watch pocket, so it's no carriage. Its scissors are really too small for many jobs (so the Tinker is still out), but its little Phillips is often capable of dealing with full-sized screws. I still think the Compact's lack of a proper Phillips in this day and age, means that it is fundamentally flawed for a single SAK urban EDC. But combined with my Manager, it may prove to be acceptable for dual carry. I'm really quite happy with my Super Tinker, but I do like the idea of an even thinner and lighter SAK, so I'm going to give the Compact a try. If I find I'm having to use the Super Tinker for Phillips screws, then I'll revert to that as my main SAK. (I had missed the existence of the Yeoman – I would really like to try one of those, with its in-line Phillips, but I've not been able to find one so far.)

As for 4-Layer SAKs, I've given my Deluxe Tinker some more pocket time, and decided that 4-Layers are just a bit too bulky for me to use as a pocket EDC. So my Climber Lite can stay Mint in Box. And the Explorer, Huntsman Lite, and Farmer X are also ruled out.

For my Birding Day Carry to complement my EDC, I think I'll just have to settle for a model with a Woodsaw. I already had a Camper, and I've just picked up a Farmer (an Old Cross red Alox). But I never looked at 84mm models. According to the WIKI, the Walker is significantly lighter than either of them. But I can't find a reference to whether the Woodsaw blade is shorter. (I was surprised that the woodsaw on the Farmer was the same as on the Camper).

And that's probably enough from me…

I suspect you’ll find the Manager and Compact to be a solid combo for urban EDC.  If you still miss the backside Philips and fancy trying your hand at modding, changing out the corkscrew for a Philips is a straightforward swap.

I wouldn’t necessarily reject all four-layer SAKs on the basis of experience with the Deluxe Tinker.  It’s a great toolset, but also among the thickest and heaviest of the four-layer SAKs due to the pliers.  In contrast to the pliers layer, the wood saw layer is fairly thin and light.  I think you would find a Huntsman noticeably thinner and lighter than the Deluxe Tinker.  Due to its alox scales, the Farmer X is thinner still, very close in thickness to your Super Tinker (but noticeably heavier).

[SurgeUk]

I suspect you’ll find the Manager and Compact to be a solid combo for urban EDC.  If you still miss the backside Philips and fancy trying your hand at modding, changing out the corkscrew for a Philips is a straightforward swap.

I wouldn’t necessarily reject all four-layer SAKs on the basis of experience with the Deluxe Tinker.  It’s a great toolset, but also among the thickest and heaviest of the four-layer SAKs due to the pliers.  In contrast to the pliers layer, the wood saw layer is fairly thin and light.  I think you would find a Huntsman noticeably thinner and lighter than the Deluxe Tinker.  Due to its alox scales, the Farmer X is thinner still, very close in thickness to your Super Tinker (but noticeably heavier).

Good evening Gb,

I too would like an in-line Philips but, apart from Mods (which are beyond my skill set/price point  ) they are not going to happen 

However, I would urge you to consider the FX  It really is so much more pocketable than you may think and, unless the Philips is a real dealbreaker, should solve most issues you describe 

I don't have the S/T to compare the above with but here is my D/T, F/X & T. The F/X really does fit in the coin pocket of your jeans and, as such, the weight really isn't an issue. Probably 

[Greybeard]

I don’t know if you’ve seen the July Fundraiser Giveaway, but the Urban X would probably fit your needs real nice.  So if you can afford a donation, you might consider entering.

That is a very cool knife!

The Lego company have a scheme where fans can submit a design to the company site, and if it gets 10,000 votes then Lego will issue it as an official set on a time-limited basis. It would be great if Victorinox was that responsive to its users.

I wouldn’t necessarily reject all four-layer SAKs on the basis of experience with the Deluxe Tinker.  It’s a great toolset, but also among the thickest and heaviest of the four-layer SAKs due to the pliers.  In contrast to the pliers layer, the wood saw layer is fairly thin and light.  I think you would find a Huntsman noticeably thinner and lighter than the Deluxe Tinker.  Due to its alox scales, the Farmer X is thinner still, very close in thickness to your Super Tinker (but noticeably heavier).

That's a very good point, and I will get a Huntsman to try (or possibly a Fieldmaster - see below). I think the weight of the FX rules it out for me.

Good evening Gb,

I too would like an in-line Philips but, apart from Mods (which are beyond my skill set/price point  ) they are not going to happen  ::

However, I would urge you to consider the FX  It really is so much more pocketable than you may think and, unless the Philips is a real dealbreaker, should solve most issues you describe 

I don't have the S/T to compare the above with but here is my D/T, F/X & T. The F/X really does fit in the coin pocket of your jeans and, as such, the weight really isn't an issue. Probably 

Thanks for the photo. The Phillips isn't a deal breaker if I'm looking at dual carry with the Manager. But I am worried about the weight: My existing Super Tinker is 84 gms. Losing the Phillips to go to a Compact I drop to 64 gms. Losing Phillips but gaining a Saw I go up to 97 gms with the Huntsman. But I could keep the Phillips and gain the Saw with the Fieldmaster for only 4 more gms at 101 gms. However the Farmer X is 109 gms, and I lose the mini screwdriver as well as the Phillips.

It really is a maze!

Thanks for all your input.