SAK demographics.

[Jazz]

https://www.scoutshop.org/outdoors/tools-accessories/knives.html

Do they only ship in the U.S., or am I missing something on their site?

[Chako]

I  just found this thread. Here goes...

I am currently in my early 50s, and living just north of the UP of Michigan on the Canadian border (city of 75,000ish). That places me in North Eastern Ontario amongst the Great Lakes. I am a High School teacher. My usual classes center around general science, geography, history, careers/civics, and special education. I get a not boring mix of subjects that differ from year to year which is great in combating boredom. I like a variety.

I found MT.O in 2008 and joined up in 2009 because I decided to h0nour my Dad's memory after finding 20 something multi-tools in his bedroom. I only started collecting SAKs after noticing a vibrant subforum here. I made the mistake of "only getting a few" for my collection. Yeah, once embarked, I couldn't get off the collection train. Oddly enough, I haven't used SAKs much because of work restrictions...but I did use a Leatherman knifeless Fuse happily for over a decade.

I have plenty of hobbies that keep me going. I have been doing something with a camera from the age of 8 when my father lent me his Kodak Retinette 1A rangefinder to keep me out of trouble. I am a collector of lots of things such as: swords, machetes, one piece hunting knives/daggers, multi-tools, SAKs, stamps, coins/trade tokens, survival gear, cameras, etc.

[IMR4198]

Some interesting biographies.  G
 

[Farmer X]

 

[D.Lockhart]

Well in the rural US
Mid 30s
College Educated
Veteran
Patrol Sergeant
I have a small homestead (42 acres) but work in law enforcement and carry a SAK daily, and have never felt "underknifed"

I do understand what you mean by the tactical community being very judgemental, but what I've learned is for practicality nothing beats a SAK. There are plenty of great knives to carry i own Benchmades and Spydercos but time and again I reach for the SAK, cause sometimes u need more than a blade.

[29roadie]

I’m approaching 57 in a couple of weeks.

I grew up in the big city but I live in a rural mountainous area on acreage now.

I’m one of those guys who’s always been chasing more knowledge and I get bored and completely sick of stuff after a couple of years.
I’m a journeyman in several trades (motorcycle mechanic, marine mechanic, millwright). I also volunteer as Captain in local fire department and specialize as a “Human Tracker” in a busy Search & Rescue group. I’ve done those for decades. I’m definitely a type “A” sort of person.
I’m also a certified electronic technician and Amateur Radio operator.

ADHD much you think?

I was given my first knife as a kid in the mid 70s. A Logger with no scale tools and the standard cap lifter not the combination tool. I still have it somewhere in one of my many packs/bags of gear that all have the required tools for the job what ever that is meant to be. It’s likely a backup knife in either my summer or winter SAR backpacks I’m guessing. It’s simply not enough to be a primary tool that I’d be wearing in the field. That opens a topic no one here wants to know about. I’m firmly in the camp of 2 is 1 and 1 is none. Yes, I’m also that guy.

I’ve been retired for years from conventional jobs. I build then sell traditional pre war Hotrods built only with the parts that were available to a guy in the late 40s/early 50’s. Not modern catalog stuff. Yes clearly OCD too.

My path out of high school was going to college to be a Fisheries/Conservation officer but after the first summer of required work experience training I realized it wasn’t a good fit. My problem with authority and all. So I’ve done all the law enforcement firearms training. I did the handgun and long gun hobby thing for a few years but after a while that got boring and just expensive. I ticked that box and moved on.

I think for me aside from the collecting side of SAKs I value more of an urban compact EDC knife now. 2 to 4 layers. I find even the large SAKs are just too much of a compromise for me to be more than just a backup in the bush. Please understand that’s just for me and what I expect and what I need. I’m not making judgements on someone who goes camping a few times a year. That makes total sense to me. See if I get a SAR call I may be hiking through dense forest for hours then be forced to overnight or make an Emergency camp with what I have on me to support someone too injured to move until more resources arrive. I can’t mess around.

In my day to day now I need to be able to cut a rope that a horse got tangled in, tighten some screw just enough so I don’t lose it before I get home, open a package, pull/dig out a splinter, sign my name on something, cut the tag on my shirt that’s making me mental. That kind of stuff.

What was the question again? 🤪

[nate j]

See if I get a SAR call I may be hiking through dense forest for hours then be forced to overnight or make an Emergency camp with what I have on me to support someone too injured to move until more resources arrive. I can’t mess around.

I’m curious what all you’re packing on these excursions?

[29roadie]

I have a bunch of old gear I use. Nothing fancy. Probably first generation stuff too. Never felt the need to upgrade.
Being light weight without compromising quality or strength is number one. Remember my pack was full of stuff but most of it is first aid stuff, lightweight fleece clothes for people I may find, fire starter stuff, fruit bars and water, lightweight tarp and multiple heavy style space blankets. The ones that are silver on one side and orange on the other. Flagging tape to mark the route.  Other stuff too but you get the idea. It’s only a 40L pack most of the time.

- Gerber hatchet probably 14 or 15”. Fits nice strapped to the side of my pack upside down to keep the weight low. I got it when they first came out because of how light they were and with all the weight on the head they work awesome. A few years later I started seeing a Fiskers branded one but it didn’t have the heavy corduroy head cover.

- Something called a Can Saw. I see a lot of them around but they are kind of cheap and flimsy now. A buddy of mine picked up one of those new ones and being a little ackward with it he allowed the blade to flip over and put a pinch in the chain. It’s garbage after that. I got this from the original guy who started the company 30+ years ago. I have used it a tonne. If you get a person on each side of it you can cut through massive logs. Keep a small piece of cloth soaked in gun oil in the bottom on the tin as it seems to stop any rust. Clean it after use too of course. Make a couple of short wooden handles and drill a hole for some short loops of rope to go through. Makes all the difference in the world. T handles. Sometimes I pack an old school bow saw. You know the old red metal ones you see at garage sales? Maybe 16 or 18”. A saw like that is the best tool probably. You don’t get tired using it like you do an axe or hatchet

- Trauma scissors are probably my number one cutting tool by a long shot. I just get super cheap ones so I can just chuck them out if they get gross or damaged.

- For a knife it’s another old one. I think’s called a Gerber LST Ultralight. It’s not huge by any means. I’m not a Gerber fan boy either but in the late 80s early 90s they were about the best/newest technology I came across. Lightweight/weather resistant/tough. Remember this is pre internet. It was a different world. If you didn’t see it infront of you it didn’t exsist. I have probably 2 backups stashed on me or my pack too.

I’m not scared of being in the bush. So many people are. Even professionals. I don’t worry about protection. I’m in bear country and not just the black ones. Lots of cougars too. I Just go with it and whatever. I do take precautions maybe pepper spray, etc but I make lots of noise usually. Yell someone’s name if I’m looking for someone maybe blow and Fox 40 whistle once in a while and listen for a response.
I have lots of lights and headlamps too. But I’ve freaked out a lot of SAR people many times over the years because I walk through the bush without a light a lot of times if there’s a trail. Not thinking I just walk up to people and because they’ve ruined their night vision looking at each other with headlamps on they don’t see me till the last second. Big guys screaming like little 8 year old girls. It’s kind of funny though, I’m not going to lie. 🤣 I’ve probably contributed to their nightmares a little I’m sure.

[nate j]

Interesting, thanks for sharing!

[29roadie]

Oh ya you bet. Probably more than anyone really wanted to know. 😆🤪

[Dane]

Interesting bio 29roadie. You remind me of someone I know.  The "letters" and all.

[nate j]

Probably more than anyone really wanted to know.

Not at all…
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,92619.0.html#top

[J2000E]

I’m approaching 57 in a couple of weeks.

(quote edited by J2000E)


I’m one of those guys who’s always been chasing more knowledge

ADHD much you think?

That opens a topic no one here wants to know about. I’m firmly in the camp of 2 is 1 and 1 is none. Yes, I’m also that guy.

I’ve been retired for years from conventional jobs. I build then sell traditional pre war Hotrods built only with the parts that were available to a guy in the late 40s/early 50’s. Not modern catalog stuff. Yes clearly OCD to

What was the question again? 🤪

I can relate to this (the quotes above). My presentation in this thread earlier was, of course, very condensed. We are all much more complicated/experienced/skilled/more stupid, etc. than what can be explained in a short post.

 I always chase more knowledge/skills. I admit it is not always necessary knowledge/skills but still... I keep seeking out new things to learn.

I do not, I believe, have any "letters" - but learning new things is a strong driving force for me. Education - loads. Does not matter if it is academic or practical - I want it. I need it. Apart from professional matters, I have a sh-t load of "licenses" for - nautical/navigation, skydiving, diving, driving (advanced), shooting, hunting, multiple languages, multiple sports/martial arts. Watchmaking, knife smith/making, leather work, upholstery, welding, painting, etc, etc (too much to list). Not counting truly "worthless knowledge" on/in a lot of different areas. I have been chasing new skills all my life. At 61 and retireing (early) in a year, I plan to go to university studying more languages... What was the question/topic... ah, ADHD/chasing...

Letters or no letters - chasing knowledge is a survival/good thing. The world needs it. There is too much ignorance around.

A language note - what does "in the camp of 2 is 1 and 1 is non" mean?

Next quote - I have been a car/boat/any vehicle nut all my life. Restoring, building, driving. I guess I do not need to explain it more after these "secret handshake" key words: Ardun, Mr E Iskandrian and Halibrand QS... My last hot rod was a 1929 Chris Craft though. With power.

What the question was is not important. We are here.

[J2000E]

Some posters in this thread are bicycle interested. Bicycles or biking. I am all in (as usual). The most energy effective thing invented by man. And beautiful.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45306161@N03/albums/

Found, restored, used and collected by me.

[nate j]

A language note - what does "in the camp of 2 is 1 and 1 is non" mean?

“2 is 1 and 1 is none” refers to the idea that redundancy is desirable for critical equipment, i.e. if something is worth carrying or taking along, then it is worthwhile to have a backup or spare along as well.  In the context of EDC, hiking, and camping, this concept may be applied to knives/tools, fire-starting gear, light sources, etc.

[29roadie]

Haha yes exactly. I don’t have one fire extinguisher in my car I have two. I will always have two because what if the one I have fails or it’s not enough. 😬 Once I’ve had a thought like that I have to follow through with it too. I know I’ll prove myself wrong and pay for it if I don’t.

Ya J2000E I think we’re probably very similar. I’m guessing you may feel the same way when you talk to other people. I’ve got so many things I’ve done and I’ve had so many things I’ve been interested then mastered or got close to mastering that I don’t even believe it myself. How’s that even possible? Everything I say sounds like total BS to me and I was there. 🤣 I don’t know about you but I think it’s kind of a curse but also a super power.

I wish I could do something productive like learn languages but I can’t. I barely know one language…. kind of. I did know French a little at one time but lost most of it. I know it’s not really the same but I’d really like to learn sign language or finish learning Morse code once and for all but I can’t seem to put the time in consistently.

[29roadie]

That’s quite the collection of bicycles there J2000E by the way. They’re like sculptures. At that level they are quite amazing and powerful machines. I can really appreciate the way you’ve displayed them too. That’s a very difficult thing to do obviously.

I did do cycling in the late 80s and early 90s. Cross country mountain biking actually. I raced on a Provincial circuit here as a pro rider and I was just good enough to get into one World Cup race.🤪 Though it was fairly local to me. That was its. Health issues forced me to stop. See that sounds like BS.

[Frailer]

I’m a bit past 60. I’m a retired US Army officer, retired high school teacher, and currently a part-time adjunct at my local community college, where I teach manual machining courses.  I grew up in a rural area in Kentucky, surrounded by farmland, and I retired to a different rural area in Kentucky, surrounded by farmland.

I’ve carried a SAK since 1986, first a Huntsman, then a Compact, and  for the last few years (after discovering the wonder that is Alox) a Pioneer or Soldier.  A Classic  lives on my key ring, and there is usually another within arm’s reach wherever I am in my house. I own modern folders, but I rarely carry one. I do, however usually  carry a small fixed blade by Tom Krein.

I  am not the survivalist type. While I do own more than my fair share of outdoor gear, and I go about my daily life with a small revolver in my pocket,  in the event of an apocalypse my plan is to eat ice cream and drink up my stash of Scotch and bourbon.