One of the best gifts I got as a kid was a Swiss Army knife, often abbreviated as SAK. And, until the advent of the Leatherman, and subsequent ‘multitools’, the SAK was the constant companion of savvy survivalists. I doubt MacGuyver could have pulled off half the shenanigans he did without one.
But, times change. The SAK is still a classy and elegant pocket tool that is not out of place in todays world. However, it has been eclipsed in funtionality, in m opinion, by the recent crop of multitools.
When I carry a multitool, its usually a Leatherman Wave that was gifted to me years ago. What can I say, I’m a sentimentalist. But since then there have been advancements in design that make todays multitools even more useful.
Just because there’s some new and gadget-ier multitool on the market doesn’t mean your old ones are useless. I have a first gen Leatherman that I relegate to backup status for vehicle use.
They make awesome gifts, and they are genuinely handy objects for everyday use…no need to wait for an apocalypse to get your moneys worth outta one of these things. I prefer the Leatherman brand, but there are other brands that seem to have some good features too.
For me, the only drawback is that i prefer to carry mine in my pocket and that chews up pants pretty quick. I don’t like crowding my belt like I’m Batman or something, so I prefer not to use a belt-mounted pouch. I just try to rotate from pocket to pocket to delay the inevitable.
But..as I said, great gift items those SAK’s and multitools. If you’re ever unsure what to get me for Paratus…there’s your clue.
Really appreciate the Leatherman brand, I’ve gotten solid field use from their Skeletool as well. Decent for pocket carry and keep the extra drivers in my fast action gear bag.
I was given my first SAK as a gift as a young lad by my parents in the early 1970’s. I still have that knife and it’s still an everyday carry. The case cracked at some point, and I sent it back to Victorinox for repair. Other than replacing lost twissors and toothpick there have been no problems with it.
CZ – have you attempted to find a eye glass hard case that juuuust fits the multi-tool ? After I removed the exterior fabric surface leaving a hard plastic surface, I found it slips in/out of a pocket rather easily. Look around – you might find you already own it.
I’m an office drone 97% of the time, so the plain SAK will do just fine. Two or three max layers – you CAN have too much toolage when carried in your pockets. Main daily tools needed are scissors, screwdriver and blade for cutting open mail and/or received packages.
Thanks for writing this.
Pioneer, in my pocket every day.
In a previous life, I was a fire investigator. That often involved taking things apart to determine their role, if any, in the fire. I always had a well-equipped toolbox at hand, but it was always in the truck, outside, maybe two or three flights downstairs. I had a SOG multi tool on my belt, and did 90% of my on-scene disassembly with that. I’ve been retired for 16 years, but the SOG dwells in my “Oh, shit” bag under the back seat in the truck.
I’m an Explorer guy. To mitigate the pocket destruction issue, I have taken some denim material and sewn it to fit in my pocket as a sleeve.
It has some separations in it to hold various other tools. Flashlight, lighter, chapstick etc. I pull the whole thing out to grab a tool. Nice and neat little tool kit.
Brilliant! I’ve seen those plastic pocket sheath things but always thought they’d be too stiff. Great idea.
My old SAK has been retired to the the table top beside my recliner. A Leatherman MUT gets clipped in my pants pocket (it has a clip) whenever I go out. I seldom carry an AR-15, but I really like the tools on the MUT. The Leatherman Wave I received as an anniversary gift and carried for decades while driving an 18 wheeler is secured in my home (there’s that sentimental thing you mentioned).
I was give my first SAK in tge early mid eighties, lost it at some point.
In 1998 i bought my Victorinox swiss tool that is on my belt to this Day.
Wonderful tool, extreme quality.
I really like my Leathermans as well, just don’t like their anti-gun politics. But at the end of the day, practicality tends to win.
I never leave home without it. Been carrying a Swiss Army knife for 40 years. Very good knife.
Interesting fact. The actor Micheal Wetherly who played Tony DiNozzo on NCIS. His grandfather was the first importer of the Swiss Army knife. They even worked that into an episode.
You need the Swiss Army Multitool.
It beats the Leatherman products all to pieces, and doesn’t cut your hand.
I will second or third the Swiss Army Multitool. I have carried one since 2004 and love it. Mine came in a pouch with a bunch of tool bits in a rubber carrier and a corkscrew that also holds the eyeglass screwdriver, Quality far and above most others, I have multiple Leatherman tools and a Gerber multitool, but the best is the Swiss Army one,
I just got a Smokey Mountain Knife works catalog. Noticed those in the area where the Victorinix items are. Guess if you are satisfied I will order one. I’ve given Leatherman tools as Xmas gifts to my son and other family members. Guess I’ll give one a try. Thanks.
some of the newer ones will take a belt/pocket clip or already have one…
Forgot to add – SOG Power Pint is a smaller tool that is packed tight with tools. Including a built-in bit hex driver behind the jaws. Very handy if you work small electronics. Pocket clip and lanyard loop too.
So Zero. What you gonna do with a hundred. Swiss Army knives?.
As an aside. Was in Wallies yesterday. See they have the bin of movies out for the holidays. Got both copies of Red Dawn for 5 bucks.
Now they need a new version. Where the enemy is in Washington and is in league with the world’s Communist countries. That wouldn’t be fiction though.
Just yesterday I pulled my glasses out of my shirt pocket and one lens dropped to the floor. Fortunately, the frame had retained the itty bitty screw, so all I had to do was pull my SAK out of my pants pocket, twist out the eyeglass screwdriver, and in about thirty seconds I had it snug again.
I have been carrying one or another model since about 1970, and except for a few occasions to get through TSA (spit!), I’ve never been without one. It is a rare day that I do not use it at least once. I do have a couple models of Leatherman and Gerber multitools, and while they are essential tools in a BOB or GHB, I find that if I’m anywhere near one of my many toolboxes, I prefer the full size screwdriver or wrench over them. And that brings up the other point that there is no such thing as duplicate tools. If there’s more than one of something, it just means more locations to stash them.
I’ve carried a Tinker model for years. Read a very good book about Victorinox that was put out for the 100th Anniversary. They own both names now, Victorinox and Wenger. Love the SAKs. Have a Buck Bucktool for my belt when I’m driving the truck.
That *clue* German Army Knife (GAK) is a really handy tool for the outdoors. The saw is a work horse, very handy for clearing shooting lanes from the occasional branch in the way.