Rough Edge EDC: Simpler the better on Swiss Army Knives
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Ever since I got my first pocket knife when I was around 10, I have loved Swiss Army Knives.
And since I went down the EDC rabbit hole two years ago, I have picked up a handful of Swiss Army Knives, but not as many as I’d like. After all, there are so many different knife brands – both traditional and modern – to explore.
What is EDC? Here is a look at some daily carry items
I have to admit I have a pretty hefty wish list of Swiss Army Knives that I have created over at the Victorinox website. For the uninitiated, Victorinox has been making Swiss Army Knives since 1884.
My good friend John at J.O. Ventures Outdoors has created an open tag for his fellow YouTubers and knife enthusiasts called “J.O.’s S.A.K. Pack.” It’s a call to show off your Swiss Army Knives.
And that is something I just can’t resist and don’t need a lot of urging to do.
Rough Edge EDC: Multitool perfect for those nights grilling outdoors
Lots of people have much bigger collections of Swiss Army Knives, but I do have a few I would like to share.
The one I carry most frequently is the Victorinox Recruit.
I have dubbed this my “Corona and Lime” knife. It is a rather simple knife with a closed length of 3.3 inches (84 millimeters) with 10 listed tools, according to the Victorinox website.
It has just two layers of tools – two handy blades that came razor sharp from the factory and the openers.
The bottle opener can also be used as a 6 mm flathead screwdriver and also includes a wire stripper.
The can opener can also double as a 3 mm screwdriver. I also know that some people will use the can opener as a package opener, but you need to be careful and limit it to light use.
Rough Edge EDC: New Buck knife won’t leave side anytime soo
Of course, the Recruit comes with the traditional red cellidor scales and with those, come a toothpick and a set of tweezers that slide into the scales.
If you are counting along, you know that I’ve listed just nine tools. Victorinox likes to list the key ring as a separate tool for some reason. Go figure.
Anyway, this is my absolute favorite and I carry it with me quite often in my rotation of “secondary” knives.
It is a simple knife and tool but has a quintessential Swiss Army Knife look and feel to it.
The Recruit currently is listed for $25 on the Victorinox website.
Next up is my Victorinox Sentinel. It is not what you would normally think of as a “Swiss Army Knife.”
For starters, it comes with black polymer handles, not the traditional red cellidor.
The Sentinel also is for people who like to stick to the basics. The knife is one of Victorinox’s larger patterns at 4.4 inches closed (111mm).
It has a razor sharp blade, the traditional scale tools (toothpick and tweezers) and the ubiquitous key ring. And that is it.
The Sentinel comes in a couple of different options – mine can be opened one handed and has a pocket clip.
It also has a locking blade (a frame lock that is operated in the opposite direction than most American-made knives).
All that – one-handed opening, locking blade and pocket clip – make it stand apart from your typical SAK.
Rough Edge EDC: Adding a couple of new knives from an old favorite company
This is one of the first knives I picked up two years ago when I got into EDC and it remains in my rotation of knives I use as my primary carry.
The Sentinel with a pocket clip is currently listed at $48 on the Victorinox website. (Sorry, I have no Secret Squirrel-type tips on how to save money on buying SAKs, though Victorinox will offer free shipping if you make quasi-regular orders).
When I was a kid, I loved Swiss Army Knives with lots and lots of tools. The more layers, the better. I remember I saved up and got what is now known as a Swiss Champ (don’t know if it was called that back in the day).
It was like carrying a brick around. I would always take it out of pocket and one day I lost it. I’m sure some lucky kid found it at a park or playground, wherever I ended up leaving it behind.
As I have gotten older, I really like the simpler Swiss Army Knives.
Fitting that bill perfectly is the Bantam Alox, which is 3.3 inches when closed, the same size as the Recruit.
But with its ribbed aluminum handles (alox), it weighs in at just 1 ounce.
The knife itself is super simple – a blade and a combo tool – bottle/can opener, screwdriver and wire stripper.
The combo tool has a snappy half-stop position which can give you some extra leverage when using it as a screwdriver.
It is a wonderful knife, but its downside is the same thing that makes it intriguing as an EDC knife – its incredibly light weight.
The Bantam Alox is so light I have misplaced it several times and never even knew it fell out of my pocket or off my desk.
Rough Edge EDC: Going old school with a traditional stockman knife
It tends to stay in my EDC drawer as a result and I favor my Recruit over it.
The Bantam Alox lists for $32 on the Victorinox website.
My final SAK is the Tinker Small, the Swiss Army Knife most commonly associated with the “MacGyver” TV show in the 1980s.
The Tinker Small is 3.3 inches when closed, also the same size as the Recruit. It has a similar tool set with two layers – two blades and the openers.
Where it is different from the Recruit is its backside. The Tinker Small has a half-inch Phillips screwdriver that comes out of the back and a reamer, punch and sewing awl, also out of the back.
Of course, the Tinker Small also has the traditional scale tools – toothpick and tweezers.
Rough Edge EDC: Online EDC group promotes kindness, caring
It normally goes for $32 on the Victorinox website but is currently listed as being out of stock.
The Tinker Small is one of about two dozen Victorinox patterns that collectors and SAK enthusiasts say are being discontinued by the company.
Note: Victorinox still has the regular Tinker, Deluxe Tinker and Super Tinker still listed on its website.
Here is a link to the Victorinox website.
You can also get Swiss Army Knives at online retailers like Smoky Mountain Knife Works and Chicago Knife Works. I have had great experiences ordering knives from both companies.
Here are some YouTube channels dealing with pocket knives and other EDC gear that I find informative and entertaining.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.