Combo Tool Fail

[z1913]

It looks like a tired old basset hound yawning.

My first thought was always Batman but old basset  hound is very good!

[Brock O Lee]

I'm not a fan of the combo tool either. Too many compromises. Standard opening layer for the win.

[nate j]

I'm somewhat fascinated by people who open cans in places other than their home kitchen.  Where, you know, most people have real can openers.

But I know it happens, because I read about it here.

I've just never done it.  And despite my vivid imagination, I'm hard-pressed to conjure up a situation where I would actually need a SAK can opener or combo tool.

It’s certainly possible none of these apply to you, but here are a few scenarios (some already mentioned by others):

Camping - Did you (or someone) remember to pack a can opener?  Where is it?  Is it in working order?  It’s easier and quicker IMO to have something in your pocket that will do the job.

Short-term rentals (e.g. Airbnb) - Similar questions to camping:  Do they have a can opener?  Can you find it?  Does it work?

Large group - Lots of cans to open, lots of hands to help, but maybe only one or a few can openers

[cbl51]

I'm somewhat fascinated by people who open cans in places other than their home kitchen.  Where, you know, most people have real can openers.

But I know it happens, because I read about it here.

I've just never done it.  And despite my vivid imagination, I'm hard-pressed to conjure up a situation where I would actually need a SAK can opener or combo tool.

(Image removed from quote.)

As the wife and I got 'older', we gave up on the backpacking and kept on with our canoe camping, car camping, motorcycle camping. its common for us to be roasting hot dogs on a stick over a small fire while a can of chili is heating by the coals. The chilly comes in a can that has to be opened. chill dogs on a cool night is a nice thing. Many a can of chili has been opened by us by a camp fire. 

Also at a air B&B we couldn't find a can opener for the ingredients of the spaghetti sauce I was making to go over the linguini, so the Wenger SI's can opener was needed for the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.

And, not the least, is when the can that does have a pull tab, and I go to pull the tab and it breaks off, a can opener is a nice thing to have.

[powernoodle]

All good points, Mr. Carl.  I have always appreciated your perspective on things.   

I'm not saying that SAK can openers have never been used in the history of humanity.  Rather, I've never needed one and never will. 

The corkscrew comes in a very close second on my pointless SAK tool list, but I did loan one out one time for emergency cork popping.  So my score is 1 corkscrew use in 6.3 decades, and zero can opener uses.

Hardly worth carrying around every day.  For me, anywayz.     

 

[powernoodle]

I am not most people. Why invest in waste my money on an electric can opener or a crank type when I have a few P-51s and a whole slew of multis?

Spoken like a true MTO Legend.   

[Huntsman]

Couple more important use cases      

I sometimes find that my regular kitchen can-opener fails
You know when the CO 'blade' fails to cut the metal and just pushes it down into the can a bit
- This happens way many more times than it should and also for various different regular can openers.
When this happens to me - out comes the trusty old SAK ....... which never fails on this task!!

Use case II
We are in the kitchen at home, and have an easy can to open, and a regular can-opener or two around.
We whip out our MT or SAK for the job
- As we are all SAK/MT nuts and would much prefer using these tools than the regular ones.
              

[powernoodle]

SAK Derangement Syndrome ("SDS") does explain much of what goes on around here.   

[Brock O Lee]

I have a silver Pioneer that permanently lives in the kitchen utensil drawer.

It is my go-to can opener and "egg shell piercer" (for boiled eggs), and numerous other chores of course. My wife uses another can opener, but I don't think it is easier, faster or more convenient to use or to clean than the SAK.

Her can opener recently stripped the main gear in the mechanism, after only a few years of use. Off to the landfill it went. I haven't even had to sharpen the SAK can opener yet in all this time.

I happened to have old photos of the Berry Pioneer doing these same tasks.

[Farmer X]

Spoken like a true MTO Legend.

I haven't even had to sharpen the SAK can opener yet in all this time.

That's a great SAK testimonial!

One of the key takeaways from this thread, in my opinion, is that there are no useless tools on SAKs. However, the combo tool isn't quite as effective as dedicated openers, and not every user will have a use for every tool. (One tool that I have little to no use for is the metal saw.)

[psyjohn]

One of the key takeaways from this thread, in my opinion, is that there are no useless tools on SAKs. However, the combo tool isn't quite as effective as dedicated openers, and not every user will have a use for every tool. (One tool that I have little to no use for is the metal saw.)

Very well said, sir! 

I will add, there are some tools I don't need on a SAK (small blade) but when I have that tool I will use it. The unnamed tool on every Swiss Army Knife is ingenuity.

[Farmer X]

 

[Huntsman]

Hey - Lots of great discussion here team

I am thinking we should change the title to Combo Tool Fail and SAK Can-opener discussion

Then for future reference folk may find it ?   

What do you all think?       Especially Nate - As it is your thread.

[nate j]

Hey - Lots of great discussion here team

I am thinking we should change the title to Combo Tool Fail and SAK Can-opener discussion

Then for future reference folk may find it ?   

What do you all think?  think:     Especially Nate - As it is your thread.

I’m on board!
 

[fullbreakfast]

One of the key takeaways from this thread, in my opinion, is that there are no useless tools on SAKs. However, the combo tool isn't quite as effective as dedicated openers, and not every user will have a use for every tool. (One tool that I have little to no use for is the metal saw.)

  

...and much as I have criticised the combo tool in this thread and others, a knife with the combo tool is still way more useful than one without any opener / pryer / screwdriver. A Bantam is a very good thing to have about your person, if you don't want to carry anything bigger.

[Storm]

The unnamed tool on every Swiss Army Knife is ingenuity.

This absolute  gem needs to be the motto for the SAK forum 

[Jazz]

I thought I should mention, my first experience with the combo tool as an opener was also on one of these big cans. Really, they work great on household sized cans, like intended. These cans are mainly in restaurants, and are opened with and opener like this. There's my Walker and a small can to give you and idea. Also, after I ground a bit off all my combo tools, they work great in Philips screws. Most I ground a bit off the top, which I like better, and some off the bottom...

[Mattexian]

   I have used the combo tool on a 108mm many times.  Plenty of leverage with that tool.  It is a struggle anyway and messes up the can lid a lot at best.  Makes you wonder about can fragments in your food.  It is better than nothing at all, but not by a whole lot.  Best wishes.  G
 

This was mostly my experience with the 108 combo opener tool. This was a can of corned beef hash, without the typical pull tab.


I definitely prefer using the standard opener on 91/93/111 SAKs, especially the old Alox Soldier.

[Farmer X]

The combo tool on your 108 reminds me of the first iteration of the 84mm combo tool. With that blunted tip, it's quite difficult to open a can, as your picture so accurately shows.

[IMR4198]

     You would be surprised how easy it is to shut that nasty thing on your hand.  Especially when you are using it for a screwdriver.  Mine never had a metal saw guard.  That would help.  It really needed a liner lock.  Best wishes.  G
 

[fullbreakfast]

     You would be surprised how easy it is to shut that nasty thing on your hand.  Especially when you are using it for a screwdriver.  Mine never had a metal saw guard.  That would help.  It really needed a liner lock.  Best wishes.  G
 

Having one of those without a saw guard is a liability! If yours is anything like mine, the teeth on that thing are vicious.

[nate j]

     You would be surprised how easy it is to shut that nasty thing on your hand.  Especially when you are using it for a screwdriver.  Mine never had a metal saw guard.  That would help.  It really needed a liner lock.  Best wishes.  G
 

Yes, the designers of the TL-29 knew what they were doing.  The blade doesn’t need a lock, but the wire stripper does if it’s going to be used as a screwdriver.

[rep]

The GAK tool does make a fine beer opener, and it really impresses some folks when you use it (mine doesn't have a saw guard either).  Beer in much of Europe does indeed come in glass bottles.