Sadly I get this all the time, not necessarily with SAKs but usually with pricy folding blades, like, uh the four Spydercos which I don't really need which I bought this month. At the time each one was talking to me on a deeply personal level "You need me! Nothing else will do" - but as soon as I got them I was like "Why the heck did I spend 160 euros on a blade with plastic handles!!"I kid myself that it's an investment but really it's just a very effective way of spending money on stuff-ya-don't-need. These'll be on ebay before you can say "Overpriced Spyderco!"Sorry for my less than inspiring story!
Having said that, I knew when I saw the Mountaineer Lite that this was the SAK for me. I knew the Lite would be lousy, and it is - it's a big waste of space, to be honest, but the Mountaineer Lite remains my all time favourite SAK. It helps that I put bright orange scales on it so it looks nice too.Anyway I ended up getting a second Mountaineer Lite, in case my orange one disappears. Probably needn't have bothered - they will always be available from somewhere as nobody else has ever bought one as far as I know, they're super-unpopular!
My 30+ year old Tinker speaks to me every time I open it (click) and close it (snap).Rich
This custom SAK speaks to me:(Image removed from quote.)
Sir Vic,Haha, yes I know what you mean! And as a matter of fact I made a very similar "My Precious..." impulsive decision today myself. A pen pal in Switzerland dropped me a note to say that he had a very nice 1968 Model '61 with silver scales in unused condition and was I interested? Um, yeah. I mean, I have a '68, but it has red scales and is in decent "user" condition. But that wasn't the most irrational part of the day, as he also had a vintage Tourist with the older style Swiss Air logo inlay. My Precious.... yes, both of these are now on their way to me. Aargh. I try. I really try.
My 2005 Soldier spoke to me. I was making some changes in life and was EDC'ing a Champion. At the time I had been using the old SOSAK Toolfinder to research an acquisition - something smaller and more pocketable. It suggested the Spartan Lite based on my input. But my better judgment told me to wait, and not spend my money just yet. It just so happened that right at that time, I began passing a storefront each morning that had the Spartan Lite displayed in the window along with a few other models. What a happy accident! I would guess that I walked past that display every weekday for two to three months. Each day I told myself to be frugal, to wait, not to buy it just yet. One day I saw it.... the 2005 Alox Soldier. The moment I saw it, it spoke to me.Today it made me a grilled cheese sandwich.
Unfortunately, this happens to me all the time, and with other knives as well as SAKs.
I think most of us have had this happen, if not with SAKs then with some other tool. I have had it happen on a few of occasions with SAKs, knives, flashlights.The SwissBuck Sidekick was one such purchase. That is also how I came to own a Robert Lessard (Syph007) Yeoman. I saw one of his brass magnifiers and then the timascus ribbed scale. I couldn’t resist.Sometimes, for me, it is more about the scales than the SAK itself. Along those lines I have a pair of custom scales that I ordered yesterday. I had been looking for something unrelated and these gorgeous scales popped up. I spent several days trying to talk myself out of them. But in the end it was all for nothing because I just felt they were meant to be mine.Not a SAK, but every time I see a leatherman signal in aqua, it tries to speak to me. This one I have been able to successfully resist for a while but I’m not sure how much longer.
Dunno if I'd call it speaking per se, but my Pioneer gives me sense of solid steady no nonsense reliability every time I have it in hand. I had a Farmer previously for the alox durability factor but never quite fell in love with it like the Pioneer .Also as rich said, every time it opens and closes it sings a sweet song of Swiss reliability.
The Soldier still gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling.... I'm using it these days for the Soldier challenge. I switched over to the PioneerX (though I've been on a challenge for the last 6 weeks). It still doesn't speak to me even though it's the same thing with scissors that I use often enough.
I can see that with scales. Sometimes I want to buy a SAK just for the scales. Then I remember i won’t carry it, because i am not big on that specific model
Sounds like for you it is more like a choir We got your back
Several of the scales on my various SAKs started out life as Tinkers and were bought with the sole intention of putting the scales on a different SAK. Smokey on a Yeoman w/WS and WoodsmanWWP on a Yeoman and RangerBig Foot on ChampionI think my model scale matching is more fitting, but that could just be the scales speaking to me.
The Pioneer speaks to me. I know the Spartan slices better and has the Toothpick & Tweezers, but the Pioneer has that great awl and I just like the look and feel of the Pioneer / Soldier.
Nice one! Did you make it?
No, it was one that once belonged to member ColoSwiss.