I picked up a NOS Explorer...

[glorn]

I haven't owned a SAK since I was a child. I used to have many of them then.
I was shopping an old hardware store (where I found the Latshaws), and was dismayed that they had no multis or good knives. And then... as I was headed to pay for the Latshaw.. a Vic display catches my eye.

Oh, why not have a look then..

Tinker.. Fisherman.. all the usual suspects. But there is the display model Explorer. With the older magnifier. I like the look of that, and have been coveting a Scientist. Why not have this then?

So I asked them if they could pull one for me. The boxed version had the new style mag. So I ask if I can buy the display model. It has tape on the scales and such. The man says, "Sure. No problem. I'll give you ten percent off for the tape marred scales."

I cannot put the damned thing down. Snap, snap, snap. Now I want to go back and buy the Fisherman.

Yeah, the scales are a bit marred... so I'll need to order some new ones. But that's alright. I want to get black ones in the plus style anyway. And I need the pen, pin, and corkscrew mounted mini driver. So Rotokid will be getting an order from me this week.

I can't say I am addicted... yet...  but I had forgotten how nice SAKs are. So different from a MT. My Surge has a new EDC mate now. And when I go lightweight, the SAK is where it's at.

Call me an Explorer... 

 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Welcome back to the sak brotherhood mate

[Neil]

...

I can't say I am addicted... yet...  ...
 

[glorn]

So... the damned thing is like a magnet. I can't leave it alone. That avatar here.. I forget who it is.. but it shows an opened SAK chocolate bar.. that's what the thing is like. It's like candy. Like a jewel. I don't know how to describe it, but I see where the addiction comes from.

The blade steel certainly takes a keen edge. That's rather nice. There was a small little nick in the small blade (it was a display model after all), and it took nothing at all to restore the edge to a factory look. And the large blade is shaving sharp.

Rotokid got me sorted for scales, and thanks to all of you in the modding forum, that was easy to get changed out. So now it is a perfect black Explorer plus. Added a small lanyard of course.

Question: why does one of the two mini drivers I ordered have PAT on it and the other does not?

Question 2: Why do I now want more saks even though I do not really need them?

Question 3: How long will I hold out before I send Ben X some cash to make me a custom sak?

Question 4: Why can't there be alox plus scales? I want that. And alox with backspring tools. Hell, I want it all.

Question 5: Will anyone give me one good reason why I don't need a Farmer?

Final Question: Why do I now spend so much time looking at the larger models from both Wenger and Vic? The Outrider and all of the Rangers keep taunting me.

[Jmora]

you're a textbook case, refer to axis 6 of the DSMIV, SAK disorders

[Gareth]

Question 1: why does one of the two mini drivers I ordered have PAT on it and the other does not?
It's just an age thing. 

Question 2: Why do I now want more saks even though I do not really need them?
'Cos you're the type of guy that hangs around on a forum about multitools.  And there's nothing wrong with either.

Question 3: How long will I hold out before I send Ben X some cash to make me a custom sak?
The fact you're even thinking about it means you're going to give in soon.

Question 4: Why can't there be alox plus scales? I want that. And alox with backspring tools. Hell, I want it all.
You and everybody else mate.

Question 5: Will anyone give me one good reason why I don't need a Farmer?
'Cos the Hiker or Camper have exactly the same saw's, add the small blade, and a Phillips or corkscrew. (sorry Mike )

Welcome to the SAK club glorn, might I also recommend you try one of the smaller 84mm Vic's?  Something like a Sportsman or Tinker Small.  Or a 85mm Wenger to get a blade with a touch more belly and better tool selection.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Ignore Gareth! You need a Farmer because of how much more robust they are over the 91mm line

[Neil]

I think the important question here is do you want to be like Mike... or Gareth

[John]

About the mini driver the pat ones are longer(which I prefer) than the new ones ask me how I know   thanks again Neil BTW I used on my eye glass today  

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I think the important question here is do you want to be like Mike... or Gareth

That's a tough call alright

[Gareth]

Ignore Gareth! You need a Farmer because of how much more robust they are over the 91mm line

Ignore Mike!  Personally I've never managed to break a 91mm SAK.  Perhaps Mike is heavy handed and klutzy enough to have done so though.

[nuphoria]

For me, Alox is mostly about aesthetics and ergonomics. They are very sexy knives 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Ignore Gareth! You need a Farmer because of how much more robust they are over the 91mm line

Ignore Mike!  Personally I've never managed to break a 91mm SAK.  Perhaps Mike is heavy handed and klutzy enough to have done so though.

(Image removed from quote.)

Ben, the button if you will

[Gareth]

Ignore Gareth! You need a Farmer because of how much more robust they are over the 91mm line

Ignore Mike!  Personally I've never managed to break a 91mm SAK.  Perhaps Mike is heavy handed and klutzy enough to have done so though.

(Image removed from quote.)

Ben, the button if you will

    

[radioz]

Question: why does one of the two mini drivers I ordered have PAT on it and the other does not?

Hey, I'm Pat. You can send that back to me!! 

Based on your questions, there is no hope for you now.
You are completely lost.

Welcome to our world!

[Sazabi]

Question: why does one of the two mini drivers I ordered have PAT on it and the other does not?

Hey, I'm Pat. You can send that back to me!! 

Based on your questions, there is no hope for you now.
You are completely lost.

Welcome to our world!

Just before the switch from the older, longer shank, round PAT. marked mini drivers to the new, shorter, squared-off edge mini driver, the PAT marking was dropped for an unknown amount of time.  If memory serves, three or four variations of the mini driver included the PAT marking, whether with or without bumps in the grooves.

[Neil]

Question: why does one of the two mini drivers I ordered have PAT on it and the other does not?

Hey, I'm Pat. You can send that back to me!! 

Based on your questions, there is no hope for you now.
You are completely lost.

Welcome to our world!

Just before the switch from the older, longer shank, round PAT. marked mini drivers to the new, shorter, squared-off edge mini driver, the PAT marking was dropped for an unknown amount of time.  If memory serves, three or four variations of the mini driver included the PAT marking, whether with or without bumps in the grooves.

Ninjaz has got them dated on his 91mm tools page, with colour pictures

[Sazabi]

Question: why does one of the two mini drivers I ordered have PAT on it and the other does not?

Hey, I'm Pat. You can send that back to me!! 

Based on your questions, there is no hope for you now.
You are completely lost.

Welcome to our world!

Just before the switch from the older, longer shank, round PAT. marked mini drivers to the new, shorter, squared-off edge mini driver, the PAT marking was dropped for an unknown amount of time.  If memory serves, three or four variations of the mini driver included the PAT marking, whether with or without bumps in the grooves.

Ninjaz has got them dated on his 91mm tools page, with colour pictures

That's the page I remembered; the last time I looked at it was a couple months ago, so I was just going off of what I could remember.

[glorn]

Thanks to this: http://victorinox.saam007.com/91mmtools.php#miniscrewdriver

I now know that my Explorer is 18-19 years old. That's a long time in the display case waiting to be purchased. I suppose it was it's destiny to wait patiently for the right buyer. 

[glorn]

On the Farmer issue... I have decided that I will wait for Vic to produce a black one. Whenever that happens. Will one of you kind souls be sure to alert me when they come out? I am sure you will all know and have access to them long before I will.    Just hold one for me. 


In the meantime.. I have decided that there is an alox SAK that really speaks to me: the Pioneer Harvester

I need one. Must have one.

Now if only it came in cool colors..