Recommendation Needed

[DocTrooper]

Hi SAK Friends,

I must admit that I am a lurker here, but mostly in British Blades / KnifeForums. MT that I have in my collections (SOG Power / Leatherman Charge TTi / Leatherman SuperTool).

Where else my collection of SAK is only Victorianox SD Classic Yellow. I usually travel in these combi (Leatherman SuperTool + SD Classic / Leatherman TTi + SD Classic) for vacations. Finding it cumbersome at times especially when on Free & Easy Travels, I am in search of a SAK that have these essential tools ....

1] Blade
2] Can / Bottle Opener
3] Scissors
4] Corkscrew
5] Toothpick
6] Tweezers
7] Magnifying Glass (not essential)

Can anyone point me the right direction ?

Main use is for EDC Travelling on the road.

Thanks in advance.

[Mr. Whippy]

Welcome!

What you're after is a Vic Compact.  Everything but the magnifying lens.  It's Vic's thinnest 91 mm knife.

The Yeoman adds the magnifying lens (and Phillips).  They're not common though.

[GraysonK]

I agree with the Vic Compact but if you don't mind the thickness and want the magnifying glass...get the Explorer or Explorer Plus (add a ball point pen).  Both are excellent!  Welcome to the forum!

[sawman]

Welcome to the forum!  I also recommend the Explorer - you get the Philips screwdriver as an added bonus.

[DocTrooper]

Heartfelt thanks Mr Whippy & GraysonK.

what is the thickness difference between Compact & Explorer ?

Thanks again for your speedy response.

[DocTrooper]

Welcome to the forum!  I also recommend the Explorer - you get the Philips screwdriver as an added bonus.

Thanks Sawman ... your avatar is the the Explorer ?

[sawman]

Welcome to the forum!  I also recommend the Explorer - you get the Philips screwdriver as an added bonus.

Thanks Sawman ... your avatar is the the Explorer ?

No, that is a road-tour Climber.

[kirk13]

I'd go with Kelly and the Sawman,and plum for the Explorer,especially the Plus option.If you feeling rich,or dont mind modding look at the Yeoman.Compacts are very carismatic little SAKS but they do lack a Philips...

[DocTrooper]

I'd go with Kelly and the Sawman,and plum for the Explorer,especially the Plus option.If you feeling rich,or dont mind modding look at the Yeoman.Compacts are very carismatic little SAKS but they do lack a Philips...

hmmmm .... I might got for Explorer and removed the ones in RED

Large blade
Small blade
Can opener with small screwdriver
Bottle opener with large screwdriver & wire stripper
Scissors
Magnifying glass
Reamer with sewing eye
Phillips screwdriver
Corkscrew
Hook
Toothpick
Tweezers

And maybe mod with Voyager Lite Ruby Scales.

[Chako]

That hook is very useful and takes up no space. Think of it as a freebie as it resides in wasted space otherwise.

Compact on top, Explorer Plus on the bottom.



The compact is basically the first two layers. The Explorer gives you two more layers, the typical cap lifter/can opener layer and the magnifying/Phillips layer. You could say that a Compact is half an Explorer Plus

[Reinier]

And maybe mod with Voyager Lite Ruby Scales.

That may not be as easy as you would think. I believe the Voyager scales may break if you remove them They are not made of cellidor.

[Jmora]

looks like the other guys have most of the bases covered. I would just mention also that there are two different types of magnifying glass, the old 8x one with glass, and the newer 4x one out of plastic. The older ones are still relatively easy to find on ebay if you want one of those. some people like the new form better, some the old, its a matter of preference.

[Jmora]

...photo for reference:
http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Magnifying+Glass

[Carlos]

If the magnifier is not essential you can also check the wenger offer.
The "14" models fill your needs except the magnifier, and there are 4 versions available.

evolution 14 http://www.wenger.ch/evolution-14-1-014-009-300
evolution 14.600 http://www.wenger.ch/evolution-14-600-1-014-009-400
evolution 14.616 http://www.wenger.ch/evolution-14-616-1-014-009-416
evowood 14 http://www.wenger.ch/evowood-14-1-014-009-830

The evowood and the blue one are gorgeous.

[ironraven]

Another vote on the Compact. I rotated for years between one of my several Climbers and Huntsmen and occasionally a Fieldmaster, but I got a Compact on the cheap and it has become my EDC.

For the magnifier, your best bet is to try the Explorer, and if you can get a Vic with plus scales do so- the pen is usefull, and the pin comes in handy all the time. You could try for a Yeoman, but they can get pricey. If you don't mind hunting for another discontinued model, possibly the Classic 23 from Wenger. They feel different from the Vics, but they are still good knives.

As for moving the scales from the Voyager... err, don't know. I've destroyed several pairs of scales that were on a couple of TSA seized SwissLights to put them on a Manager (also TSA donated) for someone. Broke down and ordered them a Midnight Manager.

[DocTrooper]

Thanks for all your inputs, Fellow SAKer's

Tomorrow I will go hunt them down.

[MultiMat]

G'day & welcome Doc  .

Well I am going to ignore your list & suggest you need a proper SAK a Vic Spirit  .
More list ignoring    I really like my SwissChamp , its a whopper but it still fits in my jeans pocket no worries  .
I think you need to keep experimenting 
Experimenting is code for buying as many cool MTs SAKs as you can afford & get away with(if you are married  )

[DocTrooper]

One last question .... before I take the plunge 

Is it possible to add a SAW unto the Explorer ?

[ironraven]

Add a saw to an Explorer and you get the old 91mm Woodsman. (If you look it up, make sure it is the right Woodsman, there are a couple, one a 93mm Alox, the other an old Huntsman variant.) They are rather uncommon, but if you are brave and willing to spend a little more money you could build one.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,9808.0.html

[jazzbass]

One last question .... before I take the plunge 

Is it possible to add a SAW unto the Explorer ?

Yes. Like Ironraven said, Vic actually made this knife; it's one of three different knives they called a "Woodsman". They're odd, somewhat HTF, and idiot collectors like me tend to pay way too much for them. Not what you want for an EDC.

You can buy an Explorer and make this knife, but since the resulting knife is thicker, you'll have to make all new pins for it. The smart money would buy a Champion Plus (or regular Champion) and remove the fish scaler and metal file. Same result, and you can reuse the Champion pins because you're making the knife smaller. Used Champions can be had on eBay all day long for $15.

[DocTrooper]

Just to re-confirm ... the better option is to get the Champion and mod from there, removing tool bits that I do not need.

I have done modding on my old Leatherman and home-made neckers for friends and family members. Tools are basic hand tools. Kinda got me all excited to start modding once more 

Thanks again for all supportive SAK members here for the speedy ...... especially -
Mr Whippy
GraysonK
Sawman
Kirk13
Chako
Reinier
Jmora
Carlos
Ironraven
Multimat
Jazzbass

Thanks again ..... this Forum ROCKS !!!

[Jmora]

no problem DocTrooper, if you want to get even more excited about mods, check this thread  :
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5287.0.html 

[DocTrooper]

That's pure EVIL POISON  ............ but I like it !!!

no problem DocTrooper, if you want to get even more excited about mods, check this thread  :
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5287.0.html 

[DocTrooper]

I have browse through the whole collection of 91mm / 3.5inch

Now ... I know what tools that is frequently used by myself during my travels. They are mainly -

1] Blade
2] Can / Bottle Opener
3] Scissors
4] Corkscrew
5] Toothpick
6] Tweezers
7] Magnifying Glass
8] Wood Saw
9] Metal saw with metal file & nail file
10] Awl
11] LED Light

Based on Swiss Champ ... if I strip it down, it would be thinner and only get spare parts with unused parts. However, if I get 2 (two) models, I can mod it and make a Camp SAK and EDC SAK. Appreciate if the experts here would advise on which model , that way , I economize and maximize the mods as well as achieving 2 SAKs instead.

Thanks in advance once again for your inputs, my friends.

p.s. Planning to put Buffulo horns and the other Redwood for the 2 SAKs.

[ironraven]

Oh, I was just going to let you find the collection of SAKporn on your own. Caution, that thread can lead to missed bedtimes and forgotten meals.

I don't know if I'd go all the way to the SwissChamp if you are going to mod this. If you want the light, you'll have to get a philips/light layer from something like the Spartan-Light, and the magnifier/light combo while doable might be a little finicky as there is nothing that currently has that combo. If you do go with that, IIRC you'll probably want a new style magnifier as they are shorter than the older 8x ones. And if memory serves, they never did the LED light inline until they introduced the newer phillips, but if you've never tried one... yeah, check them out. You might decide you want a real flashlight, as I've always found the inline LED rather underwhelming.

[jazzbass]

the magnifier/light combo while doable might be a little finicky as there is nothing that currently has that combo.

Actually, there is. Check out the Cybertool Lite. They do just this - (new) mag and LED lite in the same layer. The Phillips would be redundant since it's a Cybertool.

DocTrooper - Sounds like now you want a Ranger w/ a LED/mag layer a la the Cybertool Lite. I'd still suggest starting with a Champion Plus (get one with a new mag glass & new metal file) and combine with LED from a Spartan Lite. Final size will be slightly wider than a Champion, so you'll need new pins. Given the size of the final knife here, I doubt you could start with a SwissChamp and reuse the pins... but the time they were drilled and everything, they'd be too short. New pin stock is dirt cheap, so don't let that deter you.

[ironraven]

*face palm* You're right, jazzbass- I completely forgot about that, never having seen one in person.

[DocTrooper]

Actually, there is. Check out the Cybertool Lite. They do just this - (new) mag and LED lite in the same layer. The Phillips would be redundant since it's a Cybertool.

DocTrooper - Sounds like now you want a Ranger w/ a LED/mag layer a la the Cybertool Lite. I'd still suggest starting with a Champion Plus (get one with a new mag glass & new metal file) and combine with LED from a Spartan Lite. Final size will be slightly wider than a Champion, so you'll need new pins. Given the size of the final knife here, I doubt you could start with a SwissChamp and reuse the pins... but the time they were drilled and everything, they'd be too short. New pin stock is dirt cheap, so don't let that deter you.

Jazzbass,

The LED Light and Magnifier is just a bonus. Not Essential . While the rest is important because I use it often in my daily work.

I am in the Environmental Protection Industry and very often, I need to be in the forest. Supervising Forest Restoration for ECO-Community Driven Projects. At times, I have to be deep in the forest which can last from 4 days - 3 weeks.

I carry my Leatherman Charge in my backpack for camp craft, while EDC Key Fob consist of Button Compass / LED / Whistle / Reflective Dog Tags / Fire Steel / Swiss SD Classic . With a File Neck Knife, made by myself. I hope to have SAK for my belt for emergencies situation.

I am comfortable with DIY PINs and other crafts. Not a major issue, as I have got main hand tools to get me by.

[kirk13]

Doc sounds very much like you need to use the classic MTo approach to this:Buy several,field test them,love them all and start again!

I have the Huntsman Light(Love the inline driver),built a Golfer using a Spartan Light as a basis,and found in dire straits(cue the music boys...)the built in LED is much better than usually thought(had to use it to help find my way arround rural York on a business trip after lending my torch,which I'd only taken as a gut feeling,to the girls in the party),but as folks here have pointed out before,fake Photon mini LEDs are cheap on ebay,and very effective.

My Astronaut is my serios go-to SAK,usually theres a Photon,a glow in the dark paracord lanyard,and a water tight capsual with £10 in it.

[DocTrooper]

Doc sounds very much like you need to use the classic MTo approach to this:Buy several,field test them,love them all and start again!

I have the Huntsman Light(Love the inline driver),built a Golfer using a Spartan Light as a basis,and found in dire straits(cue the music boys...)the built in LED is much better than usually thought(had to use it to help find my way arround rural York on a business trip after lending my torch,which I'd only taken as a gut feeling,to the girls in the party),but as folks here have pointed out before,fake Photon mini LEDs are cheap on ebay,and very effective.

My Astronaut is my serios go-to SAK,usually theres a Photon,a glow in the dark paracord lanyard,and a water tight capsual with £10 in it.

Kirk13,

I am tempted to go for Explorer and Ranger, take it apart and grab the Wood & Metal File SAW. Leaving the rest as spare parts. On the other hand, I want to maximize in order to get two (2) different SAKs.

I guess I am being GREEDY