That Knife Thing

Guy Stuff, Tools

Following on from my post about the Swiss Army Champ multi-tool knife, Reader John DJ sends the following:

For 27 years I took the President’s scrip to run about the globe and inflict bad outcomes on disapproved peoples, places, and things. During that time I learned to appreciate multi-purpose tools. I have used a bunch of different ones. Leatherman brand demolition tool, Victorinox Climber, Farmer, Electrician, gov’t issue demo knife and cap crimper (both complete crap but kept for nostalgia), and a host of large bladed knives (Gerber, Puma, Al Mar, too many to recall).

All that is to say that the Victorinox offerings have the most utility. I really like the Farmer model with saw and a couple blades. It is basic and good enough. The Leatherman tools are too heavy and unwieldy for what they offer. Better to slip good needle nose pliers in a bag or pocket along with a Victorinox and get on with business.

Below is my current favorite. It recently replaces a similar version loaned out but not returned. It is issued to Fallschirmjaeger youngsters, friends from my youthful days at Fortress Bragg. A good knife and a St Michael’s medal are mandatory kit for every competent paratrooper.

Did I mention that I really like Victorinox pocket knives with Alox handles?

I have to say that I like the look of the above sweetie, although it lacks just a few post-SHTF features that I’d like to have.  But as an all-day utility knife?  Sign me up.

And thanks for the letter.  All such are always welcome.

10 comments

  1. I USED TO CARRY ONE OF MY SELECTION OF LARGE SWISS ARMY KNIVES EVERYWHERE
    BUT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECREED THAT ALL LOCKING KNIVES WERE GANZ VERBOTEN
    SO THAT WAS THAT!
    MAYBE ANOTHER BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD RESCIND THIS STUPIDITY
    BUT I WOULDN’T BET ON IT.

    1. They’re more likely to extend that ban to kitchen knives, seeing as that seems to be the choice du jour of your local “teenager” scrotes.

  2. Very handsome! I had to do a little searching to find the model, but it’s called “The Trekker” on Amazon.

    I’m resisting an impulse purchase at the moment.

  3. I carry two knives; one is a 4″ blade locking folder (made for Beretta) with ultra-light weight scales and a skeletonized blade, while the other is a Leatherman “CS4 Juice” in a belt holster.

    It’s extremely rare for me to need the bigger blade so the CS4 is the everyday use. But what’s really kind of funny is the usage of it. In order of usage, its:
    #1 – Corkscrew (this is better than my Victorinox, and even better than the French-type dedicated corkscrew), and yes, I go through a fair bit of wine.
    #2 – Scissors (they’re small but sharp and handy for opening small sealed bags).
    #3 – Knife blade (it’s also small but sharp, and is primarily used for opening taped-shut boxes and such).

    The CS4 has a very usable pair of pliers for being so tiny, a #2 Phillips driver, a bunch of different flat-blade drivers, an awl, and a can/bottle opener, and this is all in tiny little-sized tool. I never thought anything would replace my Swiss Army knife but this little bugger did, years ago.

  4. Meh on Swiss Army knives. Seen too many with snapped off blades.

    Kershaw A 100 is hands down the best multitool I ever had.
    the knife is one hand opening, the blades have good temper,
    and most of all it has the single most important tool of all- vice grip pliers.
    with a vice grip, one now has the opportunity to hold , or to clamp.
    A piece of hacksaw blade. Or a shaft with a missing handle. Or a splined shaft with a missing gearshift lever. (once rode a M/C many miles out the woods with vicegrip shifter.

    Slide a piece of broken hacksaw blade and a piece of stainless tie wire in the sheath.

    Has two down sides- they are bigger, but since one does not have to carry a vice grip as well, maybe not a problem.
    And they don’t make them anymore- probably too expensive.

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