Appreciation for the Explorer

[sawman]

Is it just me or does anyone else find the Explorer to have the perfect balance of tools and just the right amount of layers for EDC?  I think it's the perfect SAK.

[tosh]

Is it just me or does anyone else find the Explorer to have the perfect balance of tools and just the right amount of layers for EDC?  I think it's the perfect SAK.

HELL Yes sawman
That's why I've got 3 4 of them. I made one into a "plus" with white scales..

You're obviously a man of taste - no less.

[sawman]

Is it just me or does anyone else find the Explorer to have the perfect balance of tools and just the right amount of layers for EDC?  I think it's the perfect SAK.

HELL Yes sawman
That's why I've got 3 4 of them. I made one into a "plus" with white scales..

You're obviously a man of taste - no less.

Thanks and Cheers Tosh 

[PTRSAK]

I've got three, plus one that has been given custom made Alox Scales plus one that has been a donor to put Scissors, Mag glass and Phillips into a Pioneer. and one that has been whittled down to a Yeoman.
So, I guess that makes me an explorer fan too.

[WiSAKfan]

i prefer the yeoman but for saks you can go into the store and buy it's a good one

[sawman]

i prefer the yeoman but for saks you can go into the store and buy it's a good one

While I can see why you would prefer the yoeman, I personally like the seperate driver and canopener implements over the compact tool.  For my uses, the screwdriver is a better fit and I find the individual canopener quite faster as well.

[WiSAKfan]

^i can see what you are saying about the openers layer, those i don't mind as much.  I just find the small blade to be a waste of a spot.

now put a file in that spot, and the explorer would be a great combo.  or electricians blade... 

[tosh]

^ I just find the small blade to be a waste of a spot.

now put a ............ or electricians blade... (That would be a very good idea, I have to say)

Funnily enough that's exactly the reason why I DO like the Explorer. Here in the UK, it's very unwise to pull out a knife, whether it be non-locking or whatever. But the small blade on the Vic's seems to be perfectly acceptable and totally unthreatening

[jerseydevil]

Great SAK!    Mine's yellow.... 



I think it'll see some pocket time tomorrow.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I'm fond of the Explorer myself.  For my needs, my Yeoman is a more economical choice, but I understand the benefit of the full sized Explorer.  The next two mods I'm planning on doing are both going to be based on Explorers in fact.  One with a saw, to make a Woodsman, and another with pliers.

[WiSAKfan]

^ I just find the small blade to be a waste of a spot.

now put a ............ or electricians blade... (That would be a very good idea, I have to say)

Funnily enough that's exactly the reason why I DO like the Explorer. Here in the UK, it's very unwise to pull out a knife, whether it be non-locking or whatever. But the small blade on the Vic's seems to be perfectly acceptable and totally unthreatening

that's what makes this all so much fun: different needs for different people!

[colt 1911]

 I find it to be quite AWESOME !

[AimlessWanderer]

I'm another Yeoman fan.

I do have an old style Explorer which does get bag carry as back up, but if I want that tool set in my pocket I'll grab the Yeoman 

[Nhoj]

I'm fond of the Explorer myself.  For my needs, my Yeoman is a more economical choice, but I understand the benefit of the full sized Explorer.  The next two mods I'm planning on doing are both going to be based on Explorers in fact.  One with a saw, to make a Woodsman, and another with pliers.

I'm about to make a woodsman too! I have a junky explorer I got for cheap so I'm going to put the mag/philips layer in a huntsman I just got from Lowtech. The only thing I can't decide is whether I want stayglow or plus scales. This decision is tearing me apart! It isn't hard because of choosing between the glowing or the pen, I just can't decide between the colors! 

[powernoodle]

Is it just me or does anyone else find the Explorer to have the perfect balance of tools and just the right amount of layers for EDC?  I think it's the perfect SAK.

Right on.  I own dozens of SAKs, and can't stop buying them.  I ordered an Executive today.  But my years of buying and hoarding and carrying on a daily basis have resulted in the Explorer Plus rising to the top.  I try to downsize to 2 or 3 layers at 91mm, or down to 58mm, and those are great, but I always end up back with the Explorer Plus.  The real kicker for me is the phillips that folds out 180 degrees like God intended.  I have them in red, yellow and sapphire.  But for me, they are the right convergence of size/weight vs. utility.

[North Man]

yes, the Explorer is one of my favorite knives, had it for edc for many years,.

[Syph007]

Explorers are awesome, but I really do miss the old style mag glass.  I like the newer phillips driver better, but definitely prefer the older mag glass.  An explorer with plus scales would cover most of my daily needs.  I still EDC a cybertool 34 but honestly the pliers have not been used yet, but i keep thinking sometime I'll need them, so an explorer would suffice.

[Northern Geek]

Explorers are awesome, but I really do miss the old style mag glass.  I like the newer phillips driver better, but definitely prefer the older mag glass.  An explorer with plus scales would cover most of my daily needs.  I still EDC a cybertool 34 but honestly the pliers have not been used yet, but i keep thinking sometime I'll need them, so an explorer would suffice.

What makes you prefer the old mag glass and the new philips?

Isn't the new philips just shorter than the older one?

[colt 1911]

The Magnifying Glass was first introduced in 1973 and featured a glass lens with a Grey plastic housing. In 2007 the Magnifier was changed to a new model with a transparent plastic housing and a plastic lens. The 2007 magnifier has a slightly lower level of magnification, and a slightly wider area of view due to the slimmer housing and lower magnification.

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

[Northern Geek]

Well yes, I know the difference.. just wondering what he preferred about the older one. (as well as the newer philips)

[Syph007]

The steel on the new phillips is better.  The old ones you can damage the lugs way easier.  So I like the newer one for that reason, more durable.  Longer would be nice, but I pick steel over length.

[J Mackrel Jones]

Nice set of tools, powernoodle.  But why the nailclippers when you have the SAK scissors?  And what do you do with the marker?

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I'm fond of the Explorer myself.  For my needs, my Yeoman is a more economical choice, but I understand the benefit of the full sized Explorer.  The next two mods I'm planning on doing are both going to be based on Explorers in fact.  One with a saw, to make a Woodsman, and another with pliers.

I'm about to make a woodsman too! I have a junky explorer I got for cheap so I'm going to put the mag/philips layer in a huntsman I just got from Lowtech. The only thing I can't decide is whether I want stayglow or plus scales. This decision is tearing me apart! It isn't hard because of choosing between the glowing or the pen, I just can't decide between the colors! 

I'd go with the plus scales myself.  I've probably only used the pen that comes with them less than a handful of times, but it's still nice to have.  But, I think the most important consideration is what your intended use is going to be.  If you're going to make a Woodsman and then squirrel it away in a backpack or BOB, then I'd say the stay-glow is the better choice, because it'll help you find it when you really need it.  On the other hand, if you're planning on doing it for EDC, then I'd say go with the plus scales.  Personally, I'd make a Woodsman with stay-glow, and an Explorer +pliers (still not sure what I'd call it, been thinking "Machinist" would be a good name) for EDC use with plus scales.  But, that's just me.  YMMV of course. 

[Top-Gear-24]

The Explorer is one of my two favorite SAK's, the other one being the Swisschamp  .

[jrp316]

I'm fond of the Explorer myself.  For my needs, my Yeoman is a more economical choice, but I understand the benefit of the full sized Explorer.  The next two mods I'm planning on doing are both going to be based on Explorers in fact.  One with a saw, to make a Woodsman, and another with pliers.

Are you keeping the scissors on the planned pliers mod or taking them off?

[sir_mike]

I love the Explorer but have a hard time with pocket carry as the four layers make it tough so I normally carry the Super Tinker instead.  I wish I could get by that and maybe if I carried it more, I would get used to it.  It has the tools I need as I really use the mag glass quite often.

Maybe I need a custom with the opener layer, blade and mag. glass/inline philips!  That would get me to three layers!

[WiSAKfan]

The Explorer is one of my two favorite SAK's, the other one being the Swisschamp  .

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

good pics

what are those walls made of?

[Northern Geek]

Well yes, I know the difference.. just wondering what he preferred about the older one. (as well as the newer philips)

Didn't know that, thanks.

Now if we could just get them to make a longer one with that steel.. 

[Nhoj]

Well yes, I know the difference.. just wondering what he preferred about the older one. (as well as the newer philips)

Didn't know that, thanks.

Now if we could just get them to make a longer one with that steel.. 

Unfortunately I don't think that can happen. The new magnifying glass and light are larger so the philips had to get smaller to fit them.

[WiSAKfan]

i use the old style on my mods because i like the extra length and haven't had any problems with the steel being too soft.

I've used mine pretty heavy too, not disagreeing but I'd almost think the brass pin on that side would have problems before you could torq so hard to mess up the phillips steel...