Not expecting much use today as it’s Sunday and raining out. So here’s a closing shot with my FM and 136x variant Challengers.
Day 30Back out and about for the last dayIt’s been a very fun first challenge, thanks again Barry. It’s been great reading all the posts (albeit trying to keep up at times!) My FM went in with a spa then received scales part way through which got scarred the first week on. After today as always the FM will be carried but adding my Soldier to my front pocket. The FM is going to become the really dirty user, no food prep unless thoroughly cleaned Thanks everyone! It was great!(Image removed from quote.)Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
kamakiri Day 30:Nice 60 pages of The Fieldmaster February Challenge!Thanks Barry for hosting the challenge and letting me include the 84mm variants of the toolset! Thanks to the fellow knights participating it’s been a pleasure to hear your uses and see your daily pics! It has certainly proven to me why this toolset has been in continuous production since at least the early ‘50s. And it also shows me why I typically prefer to have larger knives and a few more features. Mainly the metal saw, but also pliers and in-line Phillips. Could also have used a pen about three times this month. I do think I’ll carry the circuit scaled FM more and it will stay in rotation instead of being put away. Not expecting much use today as it’s Sunday and raining out. So here’s a closing shot with my FM and 136x variant Challengers.
Nice photo
Day 30Some basic use but wanted to end the challenge with a glamour shot.(Image removed from quote.)
That's probably the first time I seeing Fisher showing his EDC, did he say anything about his EDC? Hope you'd feel better and get a solid night of sleep.
It is interesting to read the closing thoughts after a challenge, especially from people who do not frequently carry the tool that was part of the challenge.I entered this challenge, knowing I liked the Fieldmaster and having carried it in the past. I also knew that I had moved on to the Yeoman being more my primary carry SAK and that was affirmed as the right toolset for me. This challenge did confirm that even though the FM has the back side phillips and the can opener which can also be used as a phillips, the inline phillips is still the best.The saw, I do use but for me it is not really a necessity day-to-day. Usually when I’m looking for a saw, I am at home where I have plenty of options. When I travel to rural areas, I do like the saw but that isn’t that often.The backside phillips vs corkscrew is in something that is more a wash, usually. I didn’t miss the corkscrew during this challenge. I did use the backside phillips a couple times, but then I also had at least one instance where the backside phillips didn’t work. Where I really miss the backside phillips is the Compact, because you do not have the can opener tip to use. That is where I really wish I had a backside phillips yet it isn’t an option.Another observance was how much I miss the magnifying glass. Maybe it is because of getting a little older but I really appreciate the magnifying glass and end up missing it when I don’t have it. I even have a cheap credit card size fresnal lens I keep in my pocket organizer, but just tend to go for the SAK one more.
DAY 30 nice challenge everyone! I'll finish with a pic of the completed spoon carving
Day 30:First off, thanks to Barry for organizing and running a splendid challenge. This was a fun one, to be sure. And I a bit sad to see it end. For me the venerable Fieldmaster could easily be 'the one." I'd happily continue on with the Fieldmaster in my pocket and a bit of SAK joy in my heart, but the March Madness challenge is starting up......(Image removed from quote.)In my younger days, I preferred (by a small margin) a 3-layer SAK to a 4-layer SAK. I recall one tragic road trip across Wyoming where my SAK (I can't recall exactly which model....) went missing. In the next town I was relieved to find an outdoors store that sold SAK's. You would have laughed to see me agonizing over the extra features of the 4-layer vs the smaller size of the 3-layer. That was one patient (and not terribly busy) salesman. I went with the....Climber. Today, however, especially if I were on a road trip far from home, the choice would be a 4-layer. Most likely the....Fieldmaster....no, Huntsman.....wait...no....Fieldmaster. Why? The Fieldmaster covers 99% of my edc needs and then some. I never used the saw during this challenge, but it is a tool I value having with me. Scissors are a must. If my SAK doesn't have scissors, I'll carry a Classic or Ambassador that does as a backup. No need for a backup with the Fieldmaster. The opener layer is....fundamental. Those are a couple of tools that do so much, so often it's hard to think about being with out them. I've always thought the two blades are a bit redundant; however, since I had two blades I used them each. The blades were my most often used tools during this challenge, followed by the scissors.No SAK is 'complete' without an awl. I prefer an in-line awl, but the backside awl proved itself several times during the challenge. The hook and backside Phillips got scare use during the challenge but I was pleased to have the Phillips on one occasion. So....Corkscrew vs Phillips? During the challenge I did open a bottle of wine with a kitchen corkscrew. In that sense, the SAK corkscrew was missed. I used to think that a corkscrew on a road trip or car-camping trip was a necessity (in a first-world problem sort of way.). However, in the modern era where a spontaneous bottle of wine might be 'needed', a decent bottle of red with a screw top can be found now. So the corkscrew, for all it's multifunctional utility, is not as critical to me. (I still love the corkscrew for many reason, nostalgia not being the least.).Yes, this challenge has confirmed that the Fieldmaster is my SAK of choice for EDC and general-purpose SAKedness.Oddly, I have: two (2) Huntsmen, three (3) Explorers, and.....one (1) Fieldmaster. Apparently my purchasing habits don't match my assessments...... Great challenge, guys. You awl made this one a lot of fun!
30 days of FieldMaster reflection -This is the first time carrying a 4 layer SAK.Besides my Vagabond, which I normally EDC, accept this month, I use a Farmer for its tools, including a saw. A Pioneer, for many simple tasks. A Climber for a good functional knife set including a scissors and cork screw, each implement, handy for many purposes. Or, my OHT for camp kitchen duties, including its saw for fire kindling. The Hook and Saw were not utilized by me this challenge. I have found the SAK saw very capable for cutting plastic conduit when I was working and prepping wiring runs, and in current job repairing drain pipes for plumbing repairs on pool filters or monitoring lines. The FMstr’s backside Phillips is functional on same same type screws, but often to short for my needs, when the Can opener trip work as well in line. The scissors are great, but without a nail file on board, not practical for nail grooming. The FieldMaster does the job and then some, just as any SAK. Yet, having the right tool in hand is important, my brightest moment with the FieldMaster was utilizing the TWEEZERS to remove and apply decals on my 6 yo grandson’s new FastnFurious car from McDonalds, my fat fingers would have not done the job themselves. Huntsman with its Corkscrew may get my nod over the FMstr if a 4 layer would be my chosen tool. I will add, that I do like utilizing my Rebar(s), and a pocket knife is paired to it when selecting my EDC any given day. With this being said, I will be also moving onto the March Madness Challenge with a new Spirit that I have NEVER used, only admired. So Rebar(s) will be put away as I carry on...Great job everyone, thank you Barry for assembling this team of users and RapidRay, Comis, and SOS24 for being consistent CHEERLEADERS!!!
When I heard it was called „Classic“ I knew it wouldn‘t last forever. I am sure they will phase it out soon and then all that‘s left is cloud only. Not with me. I hear you about the backup! I lost data one time. Since then I have multiple copies in multiple locations
Day 30 Bonus Pic:(Image removed from quote.)
He acted like he could have cared less it was there, which kind of surprised me.
Very nice Spartan!
Maybe that's just his poker face, I bet he is all warm and fuzzy inside. Great work! Always wanted to pick up carving, and this kind of good work is what motivates me!
My thoughts on the Fieldmaster as an EDC... I'm probably the odd man out when it comes to not really wanting or needing the scissors, just because if I have a knife blade I rarely find the true necessity for its use (even doing fine work when I have that small blade that can be sharpened and stropped to a scalpel). I do however use the saw more frequent just because of the nature of my job and lines getting tangled in branches, and I find the Phillips more useful to me than a corkscrew (although the argument can be made for how many times I've used the tiny screwdriver that can be kept within the corkscrew and on rare occasion I have used the corkscrew to loosen a knot). In essence, I'm really just describing my go to 'EDC' as one knife that is always with me at this point which is the Trekker (or now that I have one - a modern Soldier). My dream knife would be the Trekker with a layer that had a small knife blade opposite an inline smaller Phillips. I'd gladly carry this Fieldmaster any day though. I love Vics.... spent years on USA ONLY products before giving Victorinox a chance, but you just can't argue the reliability and usefulness of most SAK's. Thanks for a great month, my trusty FM'ster and the first challenge (thank you Barry) I've joined in on has been a lot of fun.
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