I have a few swiss army knives but they are all tiny like my Mini Champ or they are old and damaged medium sized knives that I have. I'd like to buy some of the newer products. I plan to buy one of those giant Rangergrip knives sooner or later but for now I'm looking at the normal medium sized stuff. I was poking around their website and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. I want:large blade, small blade, bottle opener, can opener, awl, inline phillips screwdriver, light, and wood sawThere are a few tools that I don't need but also wouldn't mind having like the little hook thing, or the cork screw.I'd rather not have any scissors, pliers, nail files, fish scale tools, etc. The Spartan lite seems perfect for me but it has no saw. The huntsman lite seems to have everything I want but it also has scissors and something next to the awl. Am I missing anything??? Does anyone know if they make a tool with the stuff I want but without a bunch of other tools? Any suggestions??? The huntsman lite seems to be about $20 more. That might end up being a factor because I'm poor. Also, does anyone know if the phillips head driver on these tools is a #2 or a #1??? and how are the wood saws on their medium sized tools. I love the Leatherman wood saw. When I was about 10 years old I had a knock-off of a swiss champ and the saw was not great, but I always assumed that it was because it wasn't victorinox.
What you need is a Camper Lite. That's a Spartan Lite with woodsaw added, or a Huntsman Lite minus the scissors. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist. The nearest is a Master Gardener (see SAK Wiki http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Master+Gardener) which may be difficult to obtain. BTW the Vic woodsaws are excellent.
Edit: It's backside phillips but the Hiker is another option. That one and the Camper are VERY affordable. Especially used, you can find one in excellent condition for <$10
I don't know if you know that the tip of the can opener acts as a Phillips driver. Maybe you can skip the Phillips/light layer and get a Camper?
I'd go for the Hiker.Its close and really cheap too.You can get small LED lights separately and the backside phillips will do in a pinch.Also the can opener has power to open phillips screws.
The light brings up a question I've had about the care and feeding of the SAKs with lights and/or Timekeeper scales.I use my SAKs kind of rough. They get pretty dirty after awhile. I just pull the toothpick, tweezers, and straight pin out. Then I open all the blades and tools...and toss it in the dishwasher. Once it comes out, I apply a small drop of 3-in-1 Oil to the joints and hinges which restores the smooth movement and snap of the tools. Then it's back in service.So how do you guys wash your SAKs with lights or Timekeeper scales?P.S. IIRC, there's also a model with a compass. So my question applies to that as well.BTW, I'm sorry. I'm not trying my to hijack the thread. Since we are talking about acquiring a new SAK, I thought these considerations were relevant. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Tired_Yeti on August 21, 2017, 03:43:59 PMThe light brings up a question I've had about the care and feeding of the SAKs with lights and/or Timekeeper scales.I use my SAKs kind of rough. They get pretty dirty after awhile. I just pull the toothpick, tweezers, and straight pin out. Then I open all the blades and tools...and toss it in the dishwasher. Once it comes out, I apply a small drop of 3-in-1 Oil to the joints and hinges which restores the smooth movement and snap of the tools. Then it's back in service.So how do you guys wash your SAKs with lights or Timekeeper scales?P.S. IIRC, there's also a model with a compass. So my question applies to that as well.BTW, I'm sorry. I'm not trying my to hijack the thread. Since we are talking about acquiring a new SAK, I thought these considerations were relevant. Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkI'd probably carefully remove the scales before cleaning if it's really gunked up. I don't have a timer model, but I've got a Midnite MiniChamp. Usually I just get into crevices with a cotton swab and toothpick with a bit of alcohol.
Quote from: WoodsDuck on August 21, 2017, 10:38:36 PMQuote from: Tired_Yeti on August 21, 2017, 03:43:59 PMThe light brings up a question I've had about the care and feeding of the SAKs with lights and/or Timekeeper scales.I use my SAKs kind of rough. They get pretty dirty after awhile. I just pull the toothpick, tweezers, and straight pin out. Then I open all the blades and tools...and toss it in the dishwasher. Once it comes out, I apply a small drop of 3-in-1 Oil to the joints and hinges which restores the smooth movement and snap of the tools. Then it's back in service.So how do you guys wash your SAKs with lights or Timekeeper scales?P.S. IIRC, there's also a model with a compass. So my question applies to that as well.BTW, I'm sorry. I'm not trying my to hijack the thread. Since we are talking about acquiring a new SAK, I thought these considerations were relevant. Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkI'd probably carefully remove the scales before cleaning if it's really gunked up. I don't have a timer model, but I've got a Midnite MiniChamp. Usually I just get into crevices with a cotton swab and toothpick with a bit of alcohol.Thanks for the reply. I don't have any models with clocks or lights partly because I saw those features as vulnerabilities because of the possibility of failure from water intrusion.I have been eyeing a model with the magnifying glass. Do you know if the lens is acrylic or if it's glass?I wonder about cleaning difficulties with the magnifier.Perhaps this thread is the wrong place for me to ask. I'm not trying to hijack the thread.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Prfsantos is right (never thought I'd say that )I myself clean my SAKs with a humidified toothbrush and hand soap.Works perfectly.I re-oil it afterworths.Keep in mind:To hot temperatures of the dishwasher will lead to the heat treatment of your SAK getting ruined, weakening the steel and dulling it faster.
I have been eyeing a model with the magnifying glass. Do you know if the lens is acrylic or if it's glass?I wonder about cleaning difficulties with the magnifier.
Quote from: pfrsantos on August 22, 2017, 05:32:02 PMI have been eyeing a model with the magnifying glass. Do you know if the lens is acrylic or if it's glass?I wonder about cleaning difficulties with the magnifier.I think the older models were glass and the new ones acrylic. There's also a difference in the magnification power. Maybe you can find what you look in SAKWiki.
Keep in mind:To hot temperatures of the dishwasher will lead to the heat treatment of your SAK getting ruined, weakening the steel and dulling it faster.
Quote from: Mechanickal on August 22, 2017, 05:36:10 PMKeep in mind:To hot temperatures of the dishwasher will lead to the heat treatment of your SAK getting ruined, weakening the steel and dulling it faster.Wait. What?So it's not safe to wash stainless steel knives in a dishwasher? Households, hotels, and restaurants around the world should be notified!Water boils and turns to steam at only 212°F. Steel is tempered at much higher temperatures than that. My dishwasher doesn't even boil the water. It washes with water around 160°F to 180°F or so.I've been washing my SAKs in the dishwasher for decades and never noticed any problems with any of the tools. Honestly, that idea sounds pretty absurd to me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Mechanickal on August 22, 2017, 05:36:10 PMKeep in mind:To hot temperatures of the dishwasher will lead to the heat treatment of your SAK getting ruined, weakening the steel and dulling it faster.Wait. What?So it's not safe to wash stainless steel knives in a dishwasher? Households, hotels, and restaurants around the world should be notified!Water boils and turns to steam at only 212°F. Steel is tempered at much higher temperatures than that. My dishwasher doesn't even boil the water. It washes with water around 160°F to 180°F or so. The dishwasher doesn't even melt the plastic cups.I've been washing my SAKs in the dishwasher for decades and never noticed any problems with any of the tools. Honestly, that idea sounds pretty absurd to me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: King_Gorilla on August 22, 2017, 06:16:42 PMQuote from: pfrsantos on August 22, 2017, 05:32:02 PMI have been eyeing a model with the magnifying glass. Do you know if the lens is acrylic or if it's glass?I wonder about cleaning difficulties with the magnifier.I think the older models were glass and the new ones acrylic. There's also a difference in the magnification power. Maybe you can find what you look in SAKWiki. Does anyone know if there is a general consensus on which lens material is considered to be better? the glass or the plastic. I used to have a cheap clone of a swiss champ when I was a kid and it had a plastic lens. I've never had a Victorinox SAK that had the magnifying glass.
Quote from: Tired_Yeti on August 22, 2017, 07:00:26 PMQuote from: Mechanickal on August 22, 2017, 05:36:10 PMKeep in mind:To hot temperatures of the dishwasher will lead to the heat treatment of your SAK getting ruined, weakening the steel and dulling it faster.Wait. What?So it's not safe to wash stainless steel knives in a dishwasher? Households, hotels, and restaurants around the world should be notified!Water boils and turns to steam at only 212°F. Steel is tempered at much higher temperatures than that. My dishwasher doesn't even boil the water. It washes with water around 160°F to 180°F or so.I've been washing my SAKs in the dishwasher for decades and never noticed any problems with any of the tools. Honestly, that idea sounds pretty absurd to me. Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkEntirely agreed! if 160-180 F hurts steel, we're in big trouble. Now whether or not it has a negative effect on the cellidor or nylon handles, I haven't a clue. I'd wash an Alox in the dishwasher, but anything with plastic handles i just let sit in a tub of soapy water, then scrub the daylights out of them with a toothbrush. Blow out with compressed air to dry then wrap it up in cloth and set it in the gunsafe with dehumidifier to get any final moisture out of the way
Quote from: Mechanickal on August 22, 2017, 06:19:10 PMQuote from: King_Gorilla on August 22, 2017, 06:16:42 PMQuote from: pfrsantos on August 22, 2017, 05:32:02 PMI have been eyeing a model with the magnifying glass. Do you know if the lens is acrylic or if it's glass?I wonder about cleaning difficulties with the magnifier.I think the older models were glass and the new ones acrylic. There's also a difference in the magnification power. Maybe you can find what you look in SAKWiki. Does anyone know if there is a general consensus on which lens material is considered to be better? the glass or the plastic. I used to have a cheap clone of a swiss champ when I was a kid and it had a plastic lens. I've never had a Victorinox SAK that had the magnifying glass. Results vary.What works better for one doesn't work better for the other.There is also a difference in magnification (4x vs 6x)I've got both an old style mag lens and a new one, and they both perform great.
Quote from: pfrsantos on August 22, 2017, 07:44:36 PMQuote from: Mechanickal on August 22, 2017, 06:19:10 PMQuote from: King_Gorilla on August 22, 2017, 06:16:42 PMQuote from: pfrsantos on August 22, 2017, 05:32:02 PMI have been eyeing a model with the magnifying glass. Do you know if the lens is acrylic or if it's glass?I wonder about cleaning difficulties with the magnifier.I think the older models were glass and the new ones acrylic. There's also a difference in the magnification power. Maybe you can find what you look in SAKWiki. Does anyone know if there is a general consensus on which lens material is considered to be better? the glass or the plastic. I used to have a cheap clone of a swiss champ when I was a kid and it had a plastic lens. I've never had a Victorinox SAK that had the magnifying glass. Results vary.What works better for one doesn't work better for the other.There is also a difference in magnification (4x vs 6x)I've got both an old style mag lens and a new one, and they both perform great.The old gray style is 8x magnification I would advise against the dishwasher as well