Bug out bags & Swiss Army knife models

[Greg]

Be aware that DX is lead, melamine and slave labor central. If you avoid Wallyworld because of all the made-in-China dollar-store-special type crap, you really need to steer clear of DX.

[Combat Controller]

I found that Romisen on the site. Is it true the batteries only last 30 minutes? If so, what do you use the flashlight for?

I get about 1.5 hours out of it, thus I use the rechargeable which are a good deal there or at Battery Junction.

[Evyl Robot]

I'm not likely to be drinking wine in a temporary SHTF scenerio.

Ah, but if it turns out to not be temporary, it will be doubly important to take time out to enjoy life from time to time!

[Greg]

I've been carrying a Spartan model for a few weeks,until my Tinker model comes in. The only difference between them is the Spartan has a corkscrew instead of a Philips screwdriver.
I really don't need a corkscrew on my pocketknife.

Like Rusty said, the bottle opener will get far more use.....

I'm torn. I currently carry a Tinker (got it on sale), but I used to carry the Wenger equivalent of the Camper. The corkscrew is indeed useless, but so to me is the big Phillips. At least you can use the corkscrew to untangle knots. I'd be happy with any Tinker/Hiker/Spartan/Camper I found at a good price. (I like the wood saw in certain situations.)

Was doing some searches, came across this and decided to necro it.

I found a vendor on the 'bay that sells TSA seizures SAK's. And occasionally some multitools and locking folders, but the Leathermen are WAY too expensive even used on an auction site, and the folders are all cheap Gerbers.

My SAK collection is now over 30. I have essentially disposable Tinkers or Spartans in ever car, pack, on every desk at home or at work, etc. Some of those have a Classic tagging along as a bonus.

Then I have Camper and Huntsman models to actually give to people as the need arises. A Huntsman with + scales (the straight pin is *very* useful on occasion) and the mini-screwdriver in the corkscrew is now part of my EDC.

Best part is, the MOST I've paid for any individual SAK is about $15 (my EDC Huntsman with black + scales, the scales drove up the price). Most way less. A Huntsman normally goes for a bit over 10, Camper a little under 10, a Tinker or Spartan maybe a little over 5.

[Combat Controller]

It Lives!

[Yogimus]

Keep your 1st aid kid separate from the bug out bag.

[Aesop]

Since you've re-animated it, and I wasn't here then:

The SAK you want is the Huntsman, for the saw and everything else needful, without being the boat-anchor Champ.
In younger days such may have been used to disassemble an entire city transit bus bench into component parts in about a half an hour. (Not by me.)
Which is probably no small part of why those benches are now cast concrete.

My preference, Like Greg's, is the black scales, and my knife shop guys will swap 'em for the factory red ones while I wait for no charge.
They're like potato chips; I've lost track of how many I've grabbed.

[D5CAV]

I ditched all my Wenger & Victorinox SAKs years ago. I started carrying Spyderco knives when they first came out, almost 30 years ago, then went to assisted openers. I've never looked back.

The only time I ever use a SAK is when I've been on an airplane and have to borrow someone else's knife. Invariably, when I pull my knife out of my pocket, I've got what I want to cut in my other hand. I'm so spoiled with assisted openers, that I'm looking at the SAK in my hand and thinking WTF do I do with this now? Open it with my teeth?

I keep one of these on my keychain: http://www.swisstechtools.com/proddetail.aspx?pid=32

It gives me all the tools I'd want on a SAK (sans the knife), and I don't have to worry about it getting confiscated at the airport.

I've got one of these stashed in every day pack or backpack I've got lying around. http://www.havalon.com/piranta-edge-ski ... 0edge.html

If I pick up a pack, I know I've got one of these Havalons in there, along with a basic survival kit (in an altoids box). The Havalon weighs nothing, even with a half-dozen replacement blades.

[MarkD]

I ditched all my Wenger & Victorinox SAKs years ago. I started carrying Spyderco knives when they first came out, almost 30 years ago, then went to assisted openers. I've never looked back.

The only time I ever use a SAK is when I've been on an airplane and have to borrow someone else's knife. Invariably, when I pull my knife out of my pocket, I've got what I want to cut in my other hand. I'm so spoiled with assisted openers, that I'm looking at the SAK in my hand and thinking WTF do I do with this now? Open it with my teeth?

I keep one of these on my keychain: http://www.swisstechtools.com/proddetail.aspx?pid=32

It gives me all the tools I'd want on a SAK (sans the knife), and I don't have to worry about it getting confiscated at the airport.

I've got one of these stashed in every day pack or backpack I've got lying around. http://www.havalon.com/piranta-edge-ski ... 0edge.html

If I pick up a pack, I know I've got one of these Havalons in there, along with a basic survival kit (in an altoids box). The Havalon weighs nothing, even with a half-dozen replacement blades.

This. I carried a Swiss Army Knife for years. I found the thing I used most was the blade, and on the smaller knives the blade was sometimes a bit small, and they often didn't lock. I switched to a plain folding knife a few years back, first a couple cheap flea-market type knives, then a Kershaw Storm, most recently I alternate a Skyline and Chill (also Kershaw) that I've been seriously happy with.

I also carry a mini-multi tool in the change pocket of my jeans, which has a little pair of pliers (basically sturdy tweezers), a couple screwdrivers, and a nail file. And a full-sized multi-tool in my EDC backpack.

[Greg]

I don't think of it the same way.... SAK/locking folder isn't an either/or. They're complementary.

My normal EDC is a Vic Huntsman (SAK model that's been discussed already) and a Kershaw assisted-open locking folder, either a Blackout or Leek.

The SAK *is* a multitool, if a small, simplified one. The upside of that is that it's very inexpensive for what you get. I also sometimes carry a Leatherman Wave in my backpack. But it's much bigger and heavier than even a 4-layer SAK, and pricing.... used on the 'bay the Wave will run you 5x or more (!) what the Huntsman costs. And the Huntsman has tweezers.