Never really looked at all the options Victorinox has. I have a massive Swiss Champ I was gifted but only regularly use the scissors, knife and toothpick… I can have a tiny one with those tools for $22?!?
This is neither a Victorinox nor a Wenger, but some knock-off. (No judgement, might still be a good tool).
Have a look at the Victorinox Rambler, despite (or rather because of) it’s tiny size, it’s incredibly useful. It’s gotten quite expensive recently (probably because it’s been hyped), but it is a really good knife.
Also https://www.sakwiki.com/ has every SAK ever produced and you can search by tools.
This will do 99% of what I need daily… For $21.
Payday…
And the Rambler is the same, just adds a bottle opener with a (surprisingly good) PH driver. It’s just too expensive at regular price.
It’s even a magnetized philips driver. The Rambler is great and actually worth it’s price imho!
For $11 more… Yea, Id agree, a PH isn’t really worth the upgrade. Don’t need a bottle opener while at work.
@Twitchy1 @yA3xAKQMbq personally I think a passable flathead and philips head are good components of an EDC - with the rambler you get the best goddamn philips there is without carrying a much bigger SAK
But the biggest improvement - the blade opens away from the key ring, instead of towards it. Don’t discount that
For something you carry daily, can you not justify the $11? Most of us here aren’t struggling to the point that that money makes any meaningful difference
But my job rarely needs a PH, 1/8" flat is probably 99% of what I need. If I need a PH then it’s much more involved and I will grab my tool pouch. It’s just unnecessary for my daily carry. Even at home if I need a PH then I take the 12 steps from my front door to my work truck and grab my pouch. So no… To me it’s not worth $11. You are correct on $11 not making that much of difference but if I am going to carry an additional item then it’s going to be bare minimum necessities so spending $11 on something I really don’t want to carry around on the maybe once a month I would use it then I may as well just go buy a couple snickers bars and throw them away. Why spend the money? I’ll probably never notice $11 in my account, you are correct. Why don’t I just carry around the 3 pound SAK I already own?
@Twitchy1 Fair enough! You’ve clearly thought through your own needs and settled on what works best.
Just offering advice. Only mentioned money because some people use that logic to cut corners. But a SAK is a SAK, all are a good choice.
I lost the toothpick years ago lol.
the scissor is the most used tool in mine. Are you spending most if your time indoors where you have access to other scissors?
No… Not unless I bring them. I service fire alarms so I could be on some near abandoned building on the reserve in the Everglades and scrub in to a hospital operating room same day. Schedules and plans go out the window and the amount of crap I have to carry in my vehicle is insane. Multi use tools are almost a necessity.
I actually ended up using the corkscrew on one of these at a mountain cabin! Everyone cheered. Seriously, everyone cheered when I pulled out the cork with my little Swiss Army Knife.
@PinkyCoyote I’ve got a Mountaineer, which is the Huntsman but with a metal file in place of the wood saw (it can file anything, saw most things if slowly, and turn small screws).
Least used tools:
- corkscrew, never used. Could use it for untying knots or screwing into wood
- hook, useless for me. haven’t done the pen trick
- awl, used it once to add a hole to my belt
- can opener, used it once backpacking when a friend found a can of beansSummary: back tools are good to have, but seldom used
Most corkscrew models have a very similar twin with a Phillips instead. Since I don’t drink wine, I’ve always gone with those.
On the other hand, the corkscrews can be used in various other ways. Among other things, they make a good improvised marlin spike for untying tight knots.
There are also several kinds of accessories that can be carried inside the corkscrew. Victorinox makes a glasses-sized Phillips that for that. There are also aftermarket fire starters and other gadgets.
I don’t need the corkscrew, Aussie wine comes with screw tops or glass tops. Mine has a screwdriver in that slot instead. Bottle opener, though, is great for all sorts of things, not just bottles. Mine lives on my belt so I don’t forget it when I need it.
