Ring or not to Ring

[Shuya]

Hi folks,

just wanted to post a few things I found out about myself.

During the last years I carried and liked my '05 Wenger SI a lot.
It once had a bail which I removed in a moment of anger after I dinged my blade more than once. (sort of regret it a bit later but thats a different story).

I got used so much to the clean outlines of the knife, nothing gets in the way  when using the "backside tools" aka awl and caplifter.
During the daredevil challenge I misplaced it not to be found the next 3 weeks so I went for a replacement, my 2016 Vic Pioneer with keyring.

First I liked the small paracord dangler when pulling it out of my pants, but in use it became a burden, so much I finally cut it off.
The same I did to more than one Farmer (yes, I got issues, having the same knife in different colours, with/without keyring...)

And now I found my SI again


So what are your personal experiences with this?
Somehow this only affects my Alox knifes, the regular 91mm versions I do not bother that much with that little ring and knob thingy.

Michael

 

DSC_9827_1.jpg (Filesize: 294.36 KB)

[Buzzbait]

I'm a "ringer". Alox without a keyring or bail, preferably a keyring,  makes me crazy. I like to dangle a leather pocket slip from my belt, and a small fob makes it so much easier to pull the knife from the slip.

I also like to attach small Photon microlights to my SAKs, making the keyring quite necessary.

[PitCarver]

I'm a ringer, also.
I tried and removed the ring/knob from a spartan, once, and it just wasn't right to me.  So now I have an assortment of bits on the rings, leather, paracord, chain, beads and flashlights, etc.

[BPRoberts]

For 74mm and smaller, I generally use the ring to keep them on my keys. Makes sure I always have one on me.

On larger knives, I usually keep it to put a lanyard on. I have about half a dozen that I rotate through.

[Barry Rowland]

Ringer here too.  I did take the bail off my '96 SI for the same reasons, but other than that I prefer the key ring on mine. 

[nate j]

While I do appreciate having a key ring on my alox Classic so that I can run it on my keys, I’m mostly a no ringer.

I don’t use them outside of 58 mm, but they don’t bother me too much except on the 93 mm.  For whatever reasons (width, angle?) I find the 93 mm key ring digs into my palm in an unpleasant way when the knife is in use.  It just seems like a poorly conceived afterthought on what is otherwise a superbly designed 93 mm lineup.

Perhaps the hollow rivet with bail is the best solution, providing an attachment point for those who want it while being easily removed without power tools by those who don’t.  Of course the downside, as previously mentioned, is that one has to remove the bail, take care not to close the knife on the bail, or accept there will likely be a nick in the blade from accidentally closing the knife on the bail.

[Explorer]

I’m the same as you Shuya, when it comes to Alox I’m a no ringer- however with some Cellidor models- especially the larger ones I’m a ringer. I’ve tried doing the long dangler or lanyard and it always seems to just get in the way when I’m trying to use the tool. Without the ring a 93 mm feels perfect in hand and its faster to deploy IMO.

I’ve been thinking about cutting the ring stub off of my Farmer because it digs into the palm and for some reason it came razor-sharp from the factory. Plus to me a SAK just looks so clean and sleek almost like a sports car when there is no ring  (I’m weird)  Thought it’d be cool to create this thread a while back however I’m not sure if there’s many no ringers around these parts  . The harvester and electrician are two of my absolute favorites.

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,88988.0.html

 

[Tasky]

Habitually I expect my knives to have the lanyard ring (or keyring, if you prefer), but I too find the one on Alox 93mm knives just digs into the heel of my hand.

[Echotech]

I like to hang SAKs in my pocket on a clip so prefer having a ring, however happy to have a few models without one like bantam alox or electrician

[Farmer X]

I leave mine as they are. Thus far, the ring attachment point on the 93mm models hasn't been bothersome for me.

[psyjohn]

I'm pretty much a no-ringer guy. For 58/74mm SAKs the keyring gets in the way of one or more tools, and they are small enough to ride in my pocket unnoticed. Most 81mm models are also fine in my pocket as well. The placement of the key ring on 93mm models really bugs me so those get filed off. Anything more than a three layer 91 gets a key hook so it can hang in my pocket, but a Climber or Compact goes in naked.

I keep all my SAK keyrings in a box and only put them on when necessary. I have completely filed the ring attachment off from my Alox Mini Champ, Cadets, a couple Executives, and all my 93mm models.

[hsherzfeld]

I used to remove the keyrings and file off the little nubs, but my thoughts on SAK keyrings underwent a 180-degree pivot the first time I attached a paracord lanyard to a SAK for faster pocket retrieval. I mainly carry my 91 mm SAKs suspended from a pocket clip and my 93 mm SAKs by a lanyard, so I no longer remove the rings.

The main complaint that I have about Victorinox keyrings is their location on 58mm and 74 mm SAKs --namely, the keyring is located on the same end as the main blade pivot. The small size of those SAKs encourages keychain carry, but the placement of the keyring means that unless you detach the SAK every time you want to use the blade, you'll have a clump of keys hanging off the back of the knife right behind the blade and getting in the way. 

If the keyring was on the opposite end, the keys would simply hang from the bottom of one's fist like a lanyard. Still awkward, but out of the way.

[SubMY]

I used to dislike the keyring on the 91mm but while in the army I would often use some cord to attach it to my belt so it grew on me.

[Enginears]

I’ve been thinking about cutting the ring stub off of my Farmer because it digs into the palm and for some reason it came razor-sharp from the factory.

This is the same on my new pioneer. Such a sleek and beautiful thing, and then  a very sharp edged thing poking out. I had to carefully take the edges down with a file, just to get the ring stub in line with the rest of the knife.

[TonySal]

Check out Mr Felix Imler on the Tube.  Lots of good uses for the Ring....

[Canuckdad]

I am all for the ring. I use the victorinox lanyards to help me pull the SAK out of my pocket easier . I also carry a classic SD on my keyring so the ring is a must.

[Aloha]

Interesting.  I can understand no ring.  I have a OC Farmer whose ring was mangled.  I filed it completely smooth.  Its wonderful.  I enjoy carrying it but more so using it.  The ring and ring with lanyard does get in the way.  Funny how I am aware when I am without either.   

I have some 84mms without rings.  Two are both Recruits and one is a Bantam.  I have a 91mm without ring because it was damaged.  These are great to carry.  It's interesting not having them on these tools is so nice.   

That said, in the spirit of MTO, I like both. 

[pfrsantos]

I like to hang SAKs in my pocket on a clip so prefer having a ring, however happy to have a few models without one like bantam alox or electrician

This...

I leave mine as they are. Thus far, the ring attachment point on the 93mm models hasn't been bothersome for me.

and this, too.

 

[Aloha]

Guess I had few more.  I only removed the ring from the OC Farmer and 91mm Huntsman.  They were damaged which made my decision easy. 

I enjoy the 84mm without and it seems they came without?  My 84mm Golfer and Wenger both are standard without ring.  I have a LNF Golfer without as well and a new to me 84mm Golfer with small blade without ring. 

[Antti Lammi]

I like rings but i have one opinion on those and i really think thos are on wrong end. Like this Ranger i hate that ring is way when openimg parcel hook, same goes other tools where rings is just next to parcel hook. I dont understand why they put rung same end as tools. There is plenty room on other end cause it wouldnt came way of any tool


Only Tools Matters

[EMarkM]

I've ummed and ahhed over the keyring question since the 1970s!

The conclusion I came to a few years ago is as follows: My Ranger, Cybertool and Swiss Champ each have a Victorinox leather belt pouch, and so have their keyring removed, which means the hazard of getting it trapped when closing tools (particularly the back set) is removed also. Anything smaller, which for me is all models of four or fewer layers, including all my 58mm ones, have their keyring still attached. I then thread a bootlace through this and use that to suspend the day's knife off my belt and into my front pocket.

[stuntzombie]

I don’t like having the knife laying in the bottom of my pocket, so I have suspension clips attached to my Climber and Champion. Lately they’ve been annoying me with how they tend to get in the way when I’m trying to use the tools on the keyring end, so I’ve been trying to find a pouch of some sort that can be clipped to my pocket. If I find one, then I’ll likely take the keyring off those models.

It doesn’t bother me as much on the smaller ones though, so they all get to keep their key rings.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MTSAK]

My little boy got ahold of my EDC Climber and bent my keyring up with a pair of needle nose pliers. He is only 3 and he only had it for a few seconds, so I was kind of disappointed in how easily it bent. Anyways, I carried it without a ring for a month or so before I finally robbed a split ring off of one of my seldom carried SAKs. It drove me nuts that it didn't have a ring even though I didn't even have anything connected to it. For some reason, the knife just doesn't feel the same without it.

[Tasky]

My little boy got ahold of my EDC Climber and bent my keyring up with a pair of needle nose pliers. He is only 3 and he only had it for a few seconds, so I was kind of disappointed in how easily it bent. Anyways, I carried it without a ring for a month or so before I finally robbed a split ring off of one of my seldom carried SAKs. It drove me nuts that it didn't have a ring even though I didn't even have anything connected to it. For some reason, the knife just doesn't feel the same without it.

This is why my little darlings each have one of their own:



https://www.victorinox.com/uk/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Accessories/Pocket-Knife-Toy/p/9.6092.1

Just be aware - Every toddler is MiniGyver, so will work out how to use this for opening the baby gate!!

[BerkshireHunter]

I don’t hate the splitring but generally like the aesthetic without it. In fact, I removed it with a file and saw on several.

[Farmer X]

It drove me nuts that it didn't have a ring even though I didn't even have anything connected to it.

I'm the same way, maybe because I have an all-or-nothing mentality in general. Should I receive an SAK that has lost its ring, I keep it more or less hidden unless and until I have a new ring. That may be a case in which I'd try to file off the attachment point.

[HarleyXJGuy]

This...

and this, too.

 

Going through this thread I was of the same mind as my fellow members.

Doesn’t bother me when I don’t need it but envoy pocket clips for in umm my pocket and lanyards for in my Skinth for the bigger SAKs.

Never thought to add a pinch light but consider that idea stolen.

Forgot pictures.

[HarleyXJGuy]

I used to dislike the keyring on the 91mm but while in the army I would often use some cord to attach it to my belt so it grew on me.

(Image removed from quote.)

Two is one and one is none and you got nothing if it’s not tied down.