I've had the Deluxe Tinker for years. It's an awesome SAK, having come in handy many, many times. I recognized it instantly from the thumbnail picture. Cheers.
agree 100% on the Rambler. That's the one I use often, will give to people, etc. ---- still inexpensive and the added tools and knife deploying AWAY from keyring is a must if you don't need it as thin as a nickel haha. I find the toothpick and tweezers of the basic Rambler are used more often vs. multiple blades of the MiniChamp. In a nutshell, the Rambler seems to be the lightest/simplest/utility maximizing (::cough:: *knife opens away from keys* ::cough::) option and the all-too-familiar red SAK scales are classics that everyone understands what it is at a glance
I also chose a Rambler over the Classic, because I wanted both flathead and Phillips drivers in my pocket at any time. I’ve been surprised by how much I use it. For larger screw heads and additional capabilities I wanted (and none I didn’t, like the corkscrew), I have a Hiker in my leave-the-house EDC sling and for use in the woods. The only tool missing then is addressed by my 4.5” 1.5 oz Channellock 424 pliers.
I carry the SAK Hiker every day as a companion to my edc knife. I have livestock and acres of land and the hiker has a nice set of tools for the tasks I encounter on a daily basis.
I EDC a SAK Huntsman. I replaced the scales with the “plus” scales so I could add a pen. While I was replacing the scales, I added a little notch to the new scales so I could carry an extra straight pin. I’ve done a some other mods to the Huntsman after watching a few Felix Immler videos. I like my modded Huntsman. It does everything I need it to do.
The Huntsman is the undisputed king of EDC knives . I have 10, 4 of which are collectables & 5 with different colored Plus scales & Swiss Clips and 1 SilverTech scaled one .
My EDC is a Huntsman that was TSA confiscated. It was in great condition and I cleaned, oiled, and sharpened it then installed Sapphire blue plus scales with a pen, pin, mini screwdriver, blue toothpick and tweezer and blue fob. With all that it cost me less than a new Huntsman and it looks and works great. TSA grabbed my Classic SD after I carried it back and forth from JFK to Orlando many times. I now pack my knives in my luggage. TSA confiscated is a good source of used knives though.
I think the Midnight Manager should have been on this list. Pen, LED light, scissors, blade, magnetic screwdriver, and a bottle opener in something the size of the Classic. It’s such a useful edc tool.
My keychain has had a Manager on it for decades. I recently switched to the Midnight MiniChamp with the pen. The two most underrated tools are the scissors and the pen. With these knives I always have both. The scissors can be a precision tool, and is also amazingly tough. I once trimmed a leather belt with it! The pen has become a required tool for me. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been somewhere and needed to sign something when I had no pen. SO useful in a pinch!
Great picks, my EDC is the Alox Minichamp. Been carrying it everyday for 10+ years. It is by far the best combination of size and tools for everyday general uses for me. I almost feel like a piece of me is missing without it. Since I travel so much I am probably like on my 20th one as I will sometimes forget I have in my pocket and have to throw it away before going thru airport security, but all things considered it is the best EDC ever created!
I want them to make a Cadet Y! No joke. I want them to replace the nail file with Classic sized scissors cuz I'd use those 7.2 as much as the nail file!
I want to start a collection, so thanks for making this video. I want to start with the ones I would actually use throughout the day before I get the ones I won't use
Huntsman with FireAnt setup, ordered the pin to go in the proper available spot. Odd they didn't include the pin. The clip i put on mine provides excellent retention in the pocket but it does hinder access to the parcel hook and tweezers... Not impossible to access but severely limits. Good choices you made here, but for me is the Huntsman for the large scissors and the saw...
I will forever sing the praise of the Rambler. It fits well in the 5th pocket. I'm an avid cyclist and keep one in my seat bag too. While my primary blades can vary throughout the year, the Rambler is a mainstay. I will say I'd love to see an Alox Cadet-X with scissors...love my FarmerX
As an EDC, I have my Victorinox Huntsman black with Plus shell in the pocket of my jeans on a string with me every day with a large + small blade, saw, scissors, bottle opener, can opener, screwdriver, awl, hook, corkscrew, tweezers, toothpick, needle, pen, ring.
I carry a Swiss Champ every day, as I'm a confirmed gadget hound. The pliers are not very great for regular plier work, but they work well for clipping paper clips and brass for pinning my miniatures, and they're perfect for extracting a broken key from a lock.
I'v EDCed my Swiss Champ since I bought it new in 1985. I'v used the pliers to remove battery terminals to clean them so the week battery would start the vehicle. It wasn't comfortable or easy but those little pliers gotten it done.
I have the Hunter, the Compact and the Manager. I recently fixed up my 30 year old SAK Hunter and gave it to my son. I put XL scales with the pen on it.
For EDC, especially in Europe, I have used the pioneer, farmer and pioneer X. Pretty much cover all EDC needs. Outdoors - Huntsman, keychain - rambler.
My bare minimum SAK has to have a pair of scissors on it. My "bare minimum" currently exists in an Evogrip S17 and a Climber. My weekend carry is my S557 and, depending on my mood, a Minichamp. I also own a Swisschamp that is kept in a leather belt pouch and an Explorer, but I almost never carry these knives, the latter of which is my least carried SAK.
Been carrying a Manager on my keyring for ages now and it is the perfect companion to my Leatherman Wave when I have it or a great backup tool when I don't happen to have my multitool on me. I bought a super tinker recently, but haven't really been tempted to carry it more than the Wave, even at home. What I wish is they had more large one-hand opening models with scissors.
I Personally love the Field Master SAK as my personal EDC MultiTool knife. For myself it has the perfect set of tools, yes it's a Four Layer SAK but with a Suspension Clip it works perfect. I carry my SAK in my Left Pocket and then rotate my daily knife in my Right hand pocket !!!
I carry four Swiss Champs in my right pocket and clip my main blade to my left pocket even though I'm right handed. I do that to give violent perpetrators a chance! I'm really quick or at least I believe I am. What were we talking about?
Recently got my wife a Compact (she carries multiple other knives). I still have my bog EDC folder and Leatherman, but started carrying a Huntsman, then decided I could carry one more layer and really wanted the file, so I’ve gone to the Ranger. Always use a small squared edge grinder or the corner of a file to modify the useless “wire stripper” into a useful stripper like you see on a Leatherman WAVE.
I carry a Manager, which is basically the Rambler with a ballpoint pen instead of the toothpick. Great little knife, barely larger than the Classic. I also have a Mini-Champ Midnight Blue, which has a "saphire" blue semi-transparent handle with an LED flashlight on one side and a ballpoint pen in the other. That one is a bit too bulky, has a few tools I don't really need, and I don't really need the LED in the summer, so I stopped carrying it. Might start carrying it again in the winter, when the bulk isn't as big a problem and I come home in the dark.
That's my only frustration with SAK's. There are some excellent stainless alloys out there, I just wish Victorinox would at least choose a steel with better edge retention for its blades.
There is a reason the Compact is out of stock, but easy to find someone carrying it. The Compact is the optimal compromise of versatility vs. size/weight in a midsize SAK. The Compact is also the smallest tool with the full size scissors. The Rambler is definitely a great 58mm choice.
Totally agree with the Rambler comment. I had a Mini Champ for a while before getting a Rambler and didn't carry the Mini Champ again after that. I learned my way round the Mini Champ early on, but find it's just got a frustrating amount of pointless stuff on it. The package opener/orange peeler thing is a waste of space. The ruler would be nice if I felt I could rely on it. And all the stuff that's important to me is on the Rambler. I used to carry a 2 layer 85mm or 91mm on a suspension clip in my jeans pocket too, but once I got the Rambler the only thing I ever missed was a corkscrew. And whenever I've got a bottle of wine in an urban setting, I've got access to plenty of corkscrews! But, for a suspension clip approach I think the Compact is the clear winner for flexibility in the 91mm category. Paired a Rambler in a hip pocket you've got nail file and small Phillips covered too, which is a nice combination. I find all the 3 layers just a shade to wide to "disappear" on a suspension clip in my jeans pocket, so depending on how baggy folks' jeans are, that's something to consider. I love the Evolution series though, and the nail files are great. An Evo 10 (2 layer) paired with a Rambler works well.
You missed my favourite 84mm models, the Tourist and the Sportsman. While the Tourist is a slightly smaller variant of the Spartan, the Sportsman has a very usable nailfile instead of the pen blade. The Sportsman is what I have on my keychain.
@Gol Acheron Not with the Sportsman but with the 74mm Ambassador. I made a habit from opening the nail file by using my index finger to pushing it away from the blade.
I have recently bought the compact and have to say it was the perfect choice for my needs. I love the corkscrew for the possibilities of storing tinder and the great ideas of replacing the toothpick with a ferro rod. Amazing little things with great features and great build quality for a really affordable price.
Fully support the Rambler as a keychain knife and in the UK for EDC it's great as too small to worry other people. I have recently retired my very old Huntsman and gone with a Farmer X Alox for hiking and camping. The wood saw and scissors together suit my needs very well. Thanks for the review.
@@John5.56 if you have a twig stove they are useful for processing the wood. Also for making tent pegs (stakes). Wandering around the UK with an axe or large camp knife is not legal unfortunately.
The Rambler is definitely a great pick and I often have it on me but hands down my most carried SAK is the Executive. This is a great second knife as it is a 3” knife which IMO is the goldilocks size as it’s still small enough to ride in the small fifth pocket in jeans.
Thanks David for another great video! Even though Knife Center sells these knives, it amazing that it showcases these knives fairly and objectively. Nitpick: The included pin here is just a straight pin though you could supply your own sowing needle to fit the provided hole. That said, the hole in the awl is capable of coarse sowing needs in a pinch (reference: Felix Immler's anorak tutorial).
I prefer a pliers based multi-tool, but I still occasionally carry a SAK. For work, the Deluxe Tinker with a Swiss qlip to keep it readily accessible. If I'm wearing gym shorts, or just don't want to carry my normal SOG Powerpint and a separate flashlight, I'll grab the Midnight Mini-Champ. If the day is going to take me outside, I go for a Ranger Grip 78.
I mostly use Spyderco (like 99% of what I own actually). However I really do like SAKs so I have a couple always on me : - Minichamp (not alox, so that I can use the pen) - Compact I also love my Cadet Alox and Deluxe Tinker. I also have a special one : the Ambassador. I love this one, and I haven't seen anyone owning one yet !
My first knife was a Camping model. It says "Camping" on the scale along with a stylized tent or tipi. I still have it almost 40 years later. I recently bought a Hunter because I had always been jealous of the scissors. Good talk!
For around the house, I carry the Signature! Same as as the Classic SD, but swap either the tweezers or toothpick (your choice) for a pen. Great for changing batteries on toys, trimming stray facial hair, filing sharp points off of nails, opening packages, teaching your kids how to spell, and keeping teeth clean.
Well done, David. Very organized and thorough comparison of features. I learned a few things thanks to you. I don’t recall the model of the SAK that’s been in my pocket for years but it has the orange peeler plus a nail file with the actual cuts in it as opposed to the diamond impregnated versions. That old style nail file works much better in my opinion which is why it has stayed with me for years.
I don't know how many of these comments you read, but I just discovered this channel about four days ago. It's been a LONG time since I bought a decent quality knife, because I tend to unwillingly donate them to strangers quite often (i.e., I lose them). But, after watching several DCA videos, I ordered three from the Knife Center. They will each receive lanyards and clips before leaving the house, lol. Thanks for the informative videos, and inspiration.
I have the Ranger camping knife, I love it I don't think a day has gone by without me using it, I have all the extras on it ie little glasses screwdriver that twists onto the corkscrew and the pin/needle (which is not a sewing pin as you cannot sew with it) got my wife a little classic Edelweiss
I carry a Victorinox Explorer w/SwissQlip every day clipped to my offhand pocket. Most optimal way to carry in my opinion. Leaves the mainhand pocket free for my main blade and since the Explorer isn't single hand open it also leaves me holding the tool in my offhand to manipulate the tools with my main hand as I would anyway before swapping to my main hand to use the tool. I appreciate the Explorer specifically for its magnifier as I get small splinters from pallets more than I care to admit and having the ability to see and dig out those micro splinter is nice. I have to use the screwdriver and awl to pry broken pallet nails out of the high impact plastic in pallet jacks.
I carry a Camper in my work pants, bought it on a sale for like 20€. Sometimes I miss the scissors, but for most times I can just use one of the blades instead. It also would be nice to have a Philips head screwdriver. But all the tools get a lot of use, even the cork screw, and I don't use it to open wine bottles. Perfect thing to have in your pocket.
For my own needs the best choice was a tiny, keychain-appropriate beauty called the Mini Champ. It's got nearly everything you'll need at random and almost nothing you don't. (The coke spoon is kind of pointless but does make a nice cuticle pusher.)
I can't pick just one. Started with the Compact, moved to the Explorer, and currently on the Pioneer X. All are great in their own right. Don't know where I'll end up next, but I'm loving the ride.
I'd like to comment that the Sportsman is better than the Cadet by far! Same items on top....two layer as well....but with more to work with on the bottom and not much thicker. Its my daily carry! Cheers!!!
I'm astonished how seldomly videos include Victorinox's "Soldier's Knife" models when they list SAK best-ofs and overviews. The pocket knives they designed for the German or Swiss army with olive green handles may not be super compact, but still a good EDCable size-to-usability ratio, I mean. Personally, I'd count them among my top 3 designs for EDCable SAKs (rank 1: Ranger; rank 2: German Soldier's Knife; rank 3: Handyman).
One use for the awl on the SAK is making holes in birch bark. Then using fine fir or pine tree roots as thread, various baskets and cups can be fashioned to hold berries and even boil water. I also use the awl to make holes in drywall for drywall anchors and holes in soda cans for homemade alcohol stoves.
For EDC I just love my Cadet. Very thin but with adequate main blade and can cope with small flat head and philips screws. My number two favorite for EDC is Pioneer X witch is just almost borderline too big but the scissors are great to have.
I've been carrying the SD Classic on my key ring for years and have used it constantly (I do have a larger EDC as well). I bought a number of SD Classics last year and gave them out as gifts and I heve received a ton of feedback on how they use them all the time. The only thing to watch out for is that you can easily lose the very small tooth pick and miniscule tweezers if you are not careful.
I have 3 Swiss Army knives the handyman, the compact and the classic silver tech signature lite and I’m now adding a classic Wenger once it arrives as my everyday carry
My favorite version of the rambler is the manager.... it doesn't get enough love and attention! Good on you for mentioning it 👌! I also carry the Explorer with plus scales and tools and the micro driver in the corkscrew.
I think your my SAK spirit twin. The manager with a pen has unbelievable useful to me. Probably more than my regular knives. I switched over to the explorer plus a while ago becuase the inline screwdriver is 1k times better than the back side Phillips. I however did recently switch to a Yeoman, after winning one on eBay.
I use a Bantam as my edc at work and it's great. non-threatening, useful, and great for opening letters and little tasks around the office. It's also affordable and available enough that I could replace it if something happens to it. Another great swiss army knife, which I think is underrated, is the Tourist. It's just a mini Spartan, but it's well built and the large blade is under 2.5 inches, which is nice in some places.
The hook is actually a pretty useful tool if you're out camping, which soldiers often are. Bundles of firewood are wrapped in twine and it can hurt like hell to carry them due to their weight and the thin cord. If you do a lot of that every day, the hook comes in very handy. Also makes a good pot handle.
Classic sd and huntsman are my favourites I want to try the compact too. Update from this comment. Bought the compact at Christmas and it’s my favourite Swiss Army knife to date it has a fantastic tool set for everyday use as a person from the uk a country that hates knives no one has batted an eyelid to me whilst I was cutting some food packs open with the scissors one person even said to me “that’s beautiful that thing” in public
@@grovesy333 Actually, after doing a bunch of research I found that the Handyman is even better! A genuinely compact and easy to carry edc with all the right tools a person might need without the weight of the more uncomfortable, oversized platforms. Definitely going to be my next SAK!
i have a mini champ with the pen, absolutely love it for EDC. my larger knife is a hiker. its been good to me but the screw driver is 1 tool on it i have never used and wished was the cork screw instead. my current debate is do i go for the ranger or a handy man. i use my hiker as a bush crafting knife mostly but i carry it on me at all times.
I own over 100 knives, but my edc is the Spartan. My work backpack has a Leatherman wave, but 99% of the time, I only need my SAK. Also ,when people ask what kind of pocket knife I carry, I can respond " THIS IS SPARTAN !"
