Advice wanted

Gaucherie · **on:** March 10, 2025, 05:35:03 AM

Hello. Looking for a 3-layer SAK, I realized I'd like a Victorinox Climber with Plus Scales and a pen, but with an inline phillips screwdriver (there are 3 layer 91mm SAKs that replace the corkscrew with a phillips, but I'd like to keep the corkscrew and prefer the phillips inline). Would you give up the Climber bottle opener or smaller knife blade to fit it? The smaller knife blade is handy for packages and more accurate cuts or cuts where you need to apply more strength, and if you give up the bottle opener you're giving up a wide flat-head screwdriver (I don't need the bottle opener).

Antti Lammi · **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2025, 07:44:12 AM

So basicly you want Explorer but its 4-layer.

nate j · **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2025, 11:16:34 AM

While it’s nice to have two blades, and some may prefer the small blade for certain tasks, there is obviously a great deal (arguably 100%) of overlap/redundancy of the small blade on a knife that already has the large blade.

In contrast, the bottle opener is providing some functions not otherwise present on the SAK.

So, the direct answer to your question, IMO, would be give up the small blade and keep the bottle opener.

However, I don’t think this mod would fit together (at least not without a good deal of custom work), because the inline Phillips screwdriver is not a “drop in” replacement for either the small blade or the bottle opener.

What I’m getting is that you want a 3-layer SAK with large blade, scissors, corkscrew, and inline Phillips. And I think you have a couple of viable options that would require only basic layer removal and or drop in tool replacements:

1. Start with an Explorer. Remove the opener layer (you’ll also lose the awl of course). You’re left with a 3-layer SAK that has large blade, small blade, corkscrew, scissors, hook, inline Philllips, and mag glass, plus scale tools.

2. Start with #1, but then additionally swap a donor combo tool in for the small blade. I think this is a better, more capable option than #1 for reasons discussed above, but YMMV.

3. (Not something you asked about, but a nice ugrade if you’ve already got a donor Compact from #2.) Starting with #2, replace the plain hook with the hook w/ nail file.

Farmer X · **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2025, 12:46:37 AM

There are at least a couple of other options. One is the Yeoman. (I think I got the name right; as the SAK Wiki is unavailable as of this post, I can't confirm 100%.) It's pretty much a Compact with the inline Phillips/magnifier layer. But being discontinued, they can be quite expensive. Taking a Compact and adding in the ILP/magnifier layer would probably be more cost-effective.

Another option would be adding the ILP/magnifier layer to a Pioneer X. That would work if the awl is more important than the corkscrew and secondary blade.

IMR4198 · **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2025, 01:44:07 AM

I would just buy a Climber and put a small phillips screwdriver on my keychain. The Climber is such a great combination of tools and carries so well. Easy to find a pocket-sized screwdriver. Best wishes. G

BPRoberts · **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2025, 04:30:57 PM

Smartknives is pretty good. Not quite as nice as the Wiki. https://www.smartknives.com/Victorinox-Standard-Knives/Yeoman.htm

If you buy a "franken-yeoman" as opposed to an original, they're a lot cheaper. That's how I got my wife's.

Farmer X · **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2025, 01:27:15 AM

The keychain screwdriver is another good suggestion, especially if you don't need the magnifier. A General 744 is a great pocket screwdriver if you turn mostly small screws.

Huntsman · **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2025, 01:03:48 PM

Quote from: BPRoberts on March 11, 2025, 04:30:57 PM

Smartknives is pretty good. Not quite as nice as the Wiki. https://www.smartknives.com/Victorinox-Standard-Knives/Yeoman.htm

Glad to hear that !!! I might have had to ban you otherwise

SteveP · **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2025, 04:42:53 AM

You might not know this, but the small flat-tip screwdriver at the end of the can opener also works as a 2D Phillips screwdriver.

I've heard of folks grinding down the pointy part of the can opener to get more reach with the screwdriver tip - but of course you lose the can opener capability.

Just a thought...

Java1911 · **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2025, 05:43:37 AM

I have both the Climber with Plus scales and all of the additional tools, as well as, the Explorer with Plus scales and all of the additional tools. I love them both, but for my money, I would choose the Explorer with Plus scales. Yes, you are going from 3 layers to 4, but the addition of the inline Phillips screwdriver is truly worth it. I really feel that the Explorer with Plus scales is just about perfect when it comes to an Urban EDC.