Buy the Correct Victorinox SAK! (4 Layer Guide: Huntsman, Fieldmaster, Explorer, and more!)

[@waterbourne9282]

I first bought an Explorer at age 16 and have carried one since for the last forty years. For me it is the most useful and I wouldn't be without it.

[@augustobh1]

Nice video, congrats👏👏👏 Despite my 51 years of age, I only became interested in a SAK a few months ago, with the aim of portability. The Huntsman was my first choice, until I met the Ranger. With 1 more layer, this SAK quickly becomes my favourite portable knife: brought ALL resources I really need to my pocket. It came in 1st place in my EDC. Ranger is simply amazing! Cheers from Brazil.

[@boomerangfreak]

About a month ago I bought myself my first victorinox after having seen so many people raving about them. I went with the tinker deluxe model. Thought it'd be a nice to have tool for in my workshop. I am a woodworker and already walking around with a decently filled apron, I thought the tinker deluxe would be a great addition to it. And it surely has been! So many little tools in 1 compact format. I've used it a lot for opening cans of wax and oil, the knife is always handy (I do have a utility knife as well) but for me the standout feature of this model are the pliers! I work mostly with small decorative items so having this size of pliers is amazing for holding small nails that need tapping in!

[@lazmonti]

Deluxe Tinker for urban environment because of the Phillips driver and the pliers, while Huntsman for camping because of the saw and the cork screw for undoing knots. But really, you've got to have them all. 😊

[@moorshound3243]

You mean the corkscrew for opening your lovely bottle of red wine to go with the wonderful ribeye steak you just cook on the camp fire.

[@nigelh3253]

​@@moorshound3243Agree!

[@byteme9718]

The Phillips screwdriver is pretty much useless when most of the world uses Pozidrive. Apart from the the Deluxe Tinker is one of the best.

[@Sam_T2000]

I love the pliers, but I don’t love the 90° screwdriver they give you, and I miss the ability to hold the little glasses screwdriver. I wish they’d put both the pliers and in-line phillips head on more knives. also, the combo opener and knife layer, like the Compact has would be a nice option to see more, as it allows for slimmer profiles of you don’t need the extra 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@daviddidomenico171]

The Deluxe Tinker has been my EDC for about 20 years! It has the absolute best toolset for the size with nothing useless. Not one day goes by where I don’t need it for something.

[@maxlvledc]

I thinks it's insanely good.

[@walley2637]

I have every one of these and a few more. I started with the Huntsman that I carried for about 10yrs while I worked as a house painter. We used to say that if you forgot your knife at home you may as well drive home and get it otherwise you will be useless all day lol. My work partner and I once stripped the wallpaper from an entire main floor of a house with nothing but our Huntsman and some soapy water!

[@philosophusbellator]

The best four-layer Victorinox is an eight-layer Swiss Champ with a suspension hook for pocket carry. ;-)

[@ARealCupcake]

I got my very first Victorinox less than a year ago, it happen to be the Deluxe Tinker. It not only was my first Victorinox, but also my first ever multitool I ever had. In less than a year I've just about used every single tool on it. It has definitely been worth the price and would recommend it to anyone.

[@snowhusk]

about 12 years ago a Victorinox Super Tinker (three layered one) I saved up my allowance on made me fall in love with pocket knives, knives in general and multitools :) welcome to the club!

[@dansmith9136]

Ranger or handy man each are very good like them very much

[@CompassCustomCreations]

Just rewatched this. Over the years I acquired the Deluxe Tinker and the Explorer. The pliers on the Deluxe Tinker are awesome! I recently bought the Fieldmaster primarily for my hiking kit but I will also likely include it in my EDC. For me scissors are a MUST!

[@Cheeseb0ng]

I have had a Tinker Deluxe for a month now and used it absolutely every day, can't live without it haha

[@GKganesan]

Thank you. I have a SAK 'Officer'. It is more than 30 years old. And it still works as new!

[@DWMurry]

Been carrying the huntsman for 40 years. Worn out a couple over the decades, but for me, it does what needs doin.

[@SW0000A]

Honestly the Explorer is my favorite for most urban carry. Inline Philips, two sizes of flathead and the magnifying glass is great for working on electronics or reading serial/model numbers. It is a good IT tool. I grew up with one. Today I always carry the Cybertool Lite in my watch pocket.

[@iaincobain3594]

I've had one for years and the Philips is the most used on mine. I actually prefer it to most of my normal Philips screwdrivers

[@alchemisthere]

I love the cybertool!

[@michaelmartin2262]

I have the explorer as my 4 layer. I used the magnifying lens at work when trying to get part numbers from old rusted equipment to fix or replace. That inline driver is also one of the best since it seems to fit every size phillips I have come across. Since I plan to swap to the knifeless swisscard, I plan to give my explorer to my soon to be eleven year old on his birthday. Lol, he has been stealing the tools in my bag since he was about six to work on his thomas trains or just to play with the tool itself. It seems to already have all the implements he would want for his use.

[@MichaelB2L]

Love this! Sounds like your son will definitely appreciate a SAK.

[@ryansavage8053]

I have been a manager in a store for years and the explorer has been unbelievably handy with little things around the store.

[@danost5853]

The Explorer is the clear winner for me because it has the in-line phillips which I use almost daily. The magnifier is amazing for splinters.

[@peterhessedal8539]

I got an Explorer a few years ago on Woot for around $25. Great knife, one of my favorites to carry. I love having the Phillips and magnifier.

[@Sanctified_Leather]

The fieldMaster is my #1 for a 4 Layer SAK. Then, the Super Tinker for a 3 Layer. Then The Compact. Thanks for the video.

[@daphnedevi]

After watching this and returning from a rural vacation… I’m circulating back to my Explorer with Plus scales… for going to work (nurse/urban) it is fantastic. I used to think a magnifying glass was stupid until it proved handy for my aging eyeballs when reading impossibly small vial lot numbers. 🤓 And an inline philips is forever handy at work or at home. 🤠

[@Jakoshdw]

After quite a journey... I ended up settling on the Explorer for many years. The combination of inline philips, scissors, and magnifier ended up being the deciding factor for me. I've owned 3 Explorers and it's one of my favorite models for Urban EDC. I've since slimmed down to a custom built Yeoman as its effectively a compact version of the Explorer... since it fits in my EDC pouch slot easier. I work in retail for a large grocery chain... so having the Magnifier to read tiny print on labels and extract tiny splinters from wood pallets has been extremely useful over the years.

[@richardwarfield7386]

Still carrying my 50+ year Fisherman. One scale is gone but otherwise all good. He's right about the scissors. This SAK has gotten me out of several jams over the years - fixed cars and broken locks with it to name a few things.

[@jezzc2535]

You can always buy a replacement scale if you ever feel like it. You can even get some in micarda or metals like bronze

[@handelliewald2360]

Well… I use everyday the same swiss champ for 30 years. And I love it. But it is heavy. And some tools I’ve never used. I decided to buy a Ranger two years ago and that is in my new EDC Excellent video!!

[@mrsteve170]

Definitely the explorer for urban areas.

[@Lazerscythe]

I've had the Huntsman for about 10 years and use to EDC it, but switched it to travel use and EDC the Explorer. That Philips drive is invaluable!

[@MichaelB2L]

Mountaineer for me- file/metal saw and scissors. Especially for urban environments. I like the explorer but I can’t say I’ve ever needed a magnifying glass day to day. My Ranger lives in my bum bag, bit too much for pocket carry but I love it

[@richardmyracle6198]

I have the Explorer because of the magnifying glass. I use it much more than the file and saw. All are great tools. The magnifying glass is a good backup if I lose my glasses. I am really liking the Deluxe Tinker.

[@totoybrown0908]

i have the Fieldmaster, it’s near perfect for me, but the Champ is Congratulations 🍾🎉🎈🎊

[@MikeFranz-t8q]

For my EDC the Explorer is the best knife ever because of the in-line Philips and magnifying lens as well as the standard issue tools onboard. Always have the lens and driver when needed on me at all times. Only carry a Leatherman on belt as a backup and for the plyers. A Victorinox has been on my person wherever allowed for nearly 50 years. Can say one has likely saved my life a few times over the decades.

[@alexjones4701]

Got my Huntsman for over 25 years. Upgraded to plus scales and modified it with extra slot for my Zippo flints.

[@trevoropalinski]

Yup, Ranger it is then, thanks man. Very helpful

[@Ninjaembryo]

For me the scissors is a must on a multitool. But I only use them for one reason and that's to cut my fingernails. And Victorinox scissors are indeed the best, though I carry the smaller tools like the signature light and midnite mini champ.

[@TechLeatherCraft]

Explorer pairs well with Leatherman. Adds the ability to start fires. The inline slim philips is a life saver if you have kids. Seems like kid toy has recessed screws some are ridiculously recessed. Trying to dismantle my kids toy, no leatherman philips (and even tried the older Blast and fuse with better philips). Only the Explorer reached the recess screw.

[@Zoofactory]

This is a very well done video Mate. Found my SAK that was lost for 15 years, under the bathtub during a remodel. Feeling pretty good about reuniting with my Deluxe Tinker!

[@makr7895]

Which SAK(s) did you get while the old one went AWOL?

[@Zoofactory]

@@makr7895 Believe it it or not, it was the Tourist. Personally, think it’s the most practical for daily use around the house and for running errands.

[@makr7895]

Interesting. For the house I would have gotten a 91mm model with scissors. Great they have so many models to chose from.

[@ricdonato4328]

Excellent comparison. My EDC is the Huntsman. When I purchased it was a tossup between the Ranger. There have been many times I realized the Ranger would have been a better choice. Truly the Hunstman is not a disappointment, it is an outstanding piece of kit.

[@Lemmi1de]

Right now I also think huntsman or ranger. I have a tool that is like the huntsman, but have no hook. It is old and I like it, but I miss the hook.

[@bb_lou]

I received a Climber a long time ago as a birthday present after having a fascination with SAKs since a kid but only recently got into EDC tools. I do need to get plus scales (and hopefully the eyeglass driver) to make it a true EDC champ, but the pliers are really cool, and I certainly did overlook them when just browsing knives online. If I do get an other knife for more all around use as a toolbox in my pocket rather than just a knife and scissors, I'm a lot more likely to get one with pliers than with a wood saw after watching this video. I was aware of the saw blade trick, but I didn't think about what other tools might be more useful/harder to carry around than a simple wood saw blade. Thanks a lot for this comprehensive and accessible video, as someone who's getting into SAKs more seriously now, it was very approachable and informative.

[@dubbayabird6680]

The deluxe tinker was the 1st multitool I ever bought for myself as. an adult. And honestly I have never found better for the weight. I even went as far as getting a second a few years back as a backup as my original had the scales. warp. I've put it through the wringer over the years it's 30 years old now. and I have gone back to carrying it as my backup. such a useful kit.

[@grepora]

Second hand, the Huntsman is the cheapest of all of these. I purchased one on eBay for $8.88 that was missing the toothpick. It doesn't look new, but it is my EDC beater knife. The Ranger usually sells for over $30 used. Regarding the fish scaler. Wrap the handle in plastic wrap to keep it clean.

[@Nanyael]

Edc: Super tinker or Explorer. Camping: Huntsman. Reason: Scissors, twizers and Phillips are the tools I use the most almost every day. And Saw for the outdoors, and the hook is usefull for pulling out tent pegs and tensioning metal wire. Plus you can add fire starters or glass screwdriver in the corkscrew.

[@Jeremy-Two]

Mountaineer is my choice. I do have a full size plier multitool on me, so I don.t rely on the Mountaineer as a primary carry. The saw on the Leatherman Signal works better than any Victorinox saw, and its locking.

[@Jaden48108]

I own three and the BEST one, no doubt, is the one you carry in your pocket. The ones I carry are not too big, not too small. So in summer it's the Hiker and in the winter it's the Huntsman. When I flew in the Air Force the Huntsman was my go-to. The AF left it to us to choose, but you can't leave home and fly without it. The Huntsman got me through survival training and 3,000 flying hours over eight years of flying. Despite being 30 years old it still looks new and is still going strong.

[@bushleague3472]

I too am a big fan of the Hiker, as well as the Farmer. I live in northern Canada and my average day can range anywhere from mundane EDC stuff to fairly intense outdoor adventures and either of those knives will handle it all.

[@shawnpatrick1877]

Personally, I like the Field Master. I have very specific reasons to choose that one over the Huntsman, and yes I know that the 3mm flathead on the can opener works on #2 Phillips screws, but it doesn't work in my specific case for the reasons I use a Phillips driver on a regular basis. Also, I probably drink wine less than 3 times in a year, and when I do, it's not going to be out in the wild somewhere. If it's at my house, someone else's house or a restaurant, there will be a wine bottle opener there. I also can't say that I've ever needed to use the corkscrew to untie something, even when I've carried a SAK Camper model. I do think it's cool that you can stick a mini driver or ferro rod in it, though. The great thing about SAKs is that everyone has different needs, and there are so many to choose from that you can generally find the perfect model. Everyone's perfect model will be different. I actually carry a 2-layer Tinker more than anything!

[@iansclone]

I hear you about the corkscrew. I mostly use mine to remove the childproof clip from a bic lighter.

[@lacanian_lifter]

I haven’t been disappointed by the choice to buy a 5 layer knife, but if I was strapped for cash or pocket space, you’ve hit a home run with this breakdown.

[@MisterPokeylope]

My favorite SAK is the Victorinox Handyman. It has 6 layers which isn't too bulky and it comes with the best combination of tools in my opinion.

[@milenzegher]

Mine too! Not so popular, but it's the best by all means.

[@paddor]

I grew up with the Huntsman and now as an adult, the Ranger is my EDC. I use it so much.

[@stpetie7686]

Everyone has different needs and desires regarding their multitool but for me, the Deluxe Tinker is all but perfect. I take my Swisschamp and DT almost everywhere I go. When I have to leave the SC at home, I'm still covered for the vast majority of my needs. Hands down the best 4 layer SAK for me.

[@MG-xy9rn]

Deluxe climber > Deluxe tinker. The philips is awkward on the tinker. I'd rather it in line. And the mini driver is more useful with glasses/computers/tech. But it's discontinued 😢. So what do I carry? Mountaineer for the reasons a few others have stated. For in a pinch situations i think file + corkscrew + mini driver > pliers + philips not in line. Flat head can drive a philips if necessary. Bring back deluxe climber and it wins with pliers + mini driver + corkscrew. Huntsman is for nature, mountaineer for urban edc

[@GhostShooz]

The Tinker. Simple, useful, fits in a pocket without the bulk. Good vid! 👍

[@kahuna1247]

I settled for a Deluxe Tinker. I don't really use the saw at at this size, so its omission is fine with me. I agree with the pliers & scissors... beautiful tools to EDC.

[@archieballantine]

As someone of a certain age, I find having the mag glass really useful on a daily basis. I also don't need a saw or a file and much prefer having a pair of Knipex XS with me as pliers (better than any multitool pliers). The inline Phillips is also much better than the side mounted one. All these SAKs are good but for me it's the Explorer every time!

[@maxlvledc]

Right on! Also I think I need the explorer more myself 😅

[@grahamekellermeier8280]

Great knifes have the huntsman,mountaineer fieldmaster ,explorer and another 60 Swiss army knifes.

[@brassedc]

As I am a bit older than you, and I refuse to carry reading glasses with me, I personally carry the Explorer. I do use the magnifying glass enough to demand its carry and I also prefer the inline Phillips head. I personally have never been a fan of the SAK pliers, if I need a plier I will carry something else.

[@unitedstatesirie7431]

I didn't know there were seven 4 layer Victorinox Swiss Army knives. I think I am going to buy the Victorinox FIELDMASTER. Thanks for the detailed information 🛠

[@philvallee645]

Hey thank you so much for this great video! It’s always bothered me slightly that even though I love my trusty Compact it wasn’t always all that capable of handling a few more challenging situations, hence my search for the perfect three or four layer SAK. I originally bought myself the Ranger because like you I saw its value relative to something like the Huntsman but in the end my day to day doesn’t require me to carry a saw or file. Watching your video helped convince me the Deluxe Tinker is the one for me. True, the pliers aren’t heavy duty but they’re capable enough to do the job in a pinch. Thanks again!

[@leeendley8009]

Excellent informative video. Ranger for me every time. I have one I love it. I want the scissors, file, saw and I will always pick the corkscrew over the Phillips. Only thing the Ranger lacks is the pliers, if I know I'm going to need pliers I'd take my Wave+.

[@1zaj34]

As only one of them has the magnifier, your initial question is easily answered. 😀 (Of course, for anyone with younger eyes than me, the decision might be different.) Seriously, I bought the Explorer originally for the inline Phillips, but it turned out, that the magnifier is one of my most useful tools. It's great for details and as a backup for a forgotten/lost pair of reading glasses. I love that magnifier, just don't try to start fires with it. Unless it's a very(!) sunny day, you won't succeed. And I doubt, you're going to need a fire on a day like that. 😀

[@eddieg9506]

Correct about starting fires with the Explorer mag glass. I carry the Explorer, I live in South Florida. It gets HOT. I can attest it's a real challenge, you better have alot of patience, no clouds, and absolutely perfect conditions to start a fire lol. And under such conditions, you'd only need a fire for cooking. It is not gonna start a fire in the morning so forget about coffee lol.

[@headstanding_Penguin]

Swiss here, best SAK is always the farmer alox x, especially if you work in an urban enviroment but enjoy hiking/going to nature and having campfires

[@101marone]

I have the Explorer. Im in my 60s and I use the magnify glass a lot. I also like the inline Phillips screwdriver. The scissors are a plus as well.

[@tennbones]

The magnifying glass and scissors are a must for me. I also love onboard ink pen. So the explorer with plus scales is my edc. 👌

[@Mr_Obvious]

All very valid points. Imho though, it will all boil down to each individual persons needs. We all do different things with our SAK's. For me, I spend a lot of time playing in the woods. I think my most carried SAK is my Fieldmaster, but the Forrester ranks pretty high as well. I do have a Huntsman, but more often than not I grab the Fieldmaster. No real reason, so don't ask why. It's just my old trusted friend I guess. Nothing to do with the phillips vs cork screw. If headed to the woods though, I like having the saw. It's great for notching and scraping fatwood fluff or scraping my ferro rod. Using the SAK for my ferro rod saves the spine on my regular fixed blade from becoming all marred up. That being said, there's been plenty of times I regretted not grabbing my Ranger for the file. I seldom actually use the scissors, but of course anytime I choose to carry one without those damn scissors, something comes up that makes me regret it lol. The magnifier comes in handy sometimes too, and the inline phillips is nice, so the Explorer is a decent option sometimes as well. The biggest problem with SAK's, is the variey of options making it difficult to choose! We could always just go with the big daddy that has everything, but it's big and awkward to use, so not the best tool for everyday carry. I do know one thing though. I need one in black alox. I have every other color alox but black, so the collection seems incomplete!! 🤣

[@UguysRnuts]

I've owned at least a dozen Victorinox SAK's but am down to a camouflage coloured Huntsman for camping and a Big blue Skipper with splicing fid and pliers for sailing. My last one was the Outrider in black, with locking main blade. Need to get another one of those.

[@holcombballer23]

I want an outrider, I have the one hand trekker.

[@michaelcolloton6971]

Sometime after my last comment, I bit the bullet and bought an Explorer. I couldn't be happier. For urban EDC, I can't imagine anything better. It has neither the saw or the pliers, but both are irrelevant to me. If I'm going to be in a work or outdoor situation, I almost certainly will have have a Wave or surge on my right hip. For over 40 years, I've always had an SAK in m;y left front pocket. I'm not fully dressed without one.

[@Kot1026]

I have the deluxe tinker for over a decade now, got the scales replaced cuz I dropped it so many times, they got broken. Very compact and practical piece of equipment; the pliers are definitely very underrated, and I agree, the scissors are by far the best of any other multitool I've got to use.

[@WilliamParmley]

Excellent video, and I agree with every word. I've had a Woodsman for decades -- basically the same as the Huntsman except no tweezers or toothpick or key ring. I've retired it in favor of the Fieldmaster for two reasons: sentimental value (it was a gift from my wife) and I often need the Phillips driver. But... every time I come across a jammed knot I wish I had that corkscrew!

[@ashscott6068]

Wouldn't the woods be one of the few places where the tweezers might actually be useful? Pulling out splinters, is about all they're good for.

[@charlesgrodriguez]

The magnifier on my 1980s explorer is very useful and I use it loads- ticks on dogs, splinters, small print etc. I wish they would add this to more 91mm models- currently only 2. Nice review though.

[@5T3V3N-ns9gg]

I've previously owned a V-SAK Spartan, but it lacked certain tools that I needed on an SAK... But then I purchased a Fieldmaster, (after doing significant research and consideration) and found it to be perfect for my applications. It's non-threatening, widely versatile and ended up being one of my most carried and used EDC items. This was a great video, cheers.

[@MrMramirez23]

This would be a fun series to do for the 3 layer sak too

[@suisseanonyme1033]

Actually, I'm carrying the alox farmer x, it's the "alox version" of the huntsmann, so it doesn't have the corkscrew, the hook,the small blade, the toothpick and the tweezers, but it is more resistant (all victorinox knive already are, but alox knive are another level, you can actually use them as a hammer), it's easier to clean and it has a better grip and I carry it with a swisscard lite (in my wallet), and the rimmer hole (I'm really not sure of my translation) of alox knives can be use as a small blade to, so the only things than I sacrify are the hook and the corkscrew, which one I wouldn't use a lot (even if I clearly see their utilities). (Actually, I carry another 4 layer knive, but he is a little bit bigger and he is in my first help kit or on my belt👨‍🚒, the rescue tool)

[@mitcha1986]

Great video as always. My go-to is actually the Climber, which is a 3 layer and it is the same as the Huntsman minus the saw.

[@ThePlayahans]

Picked one up at a flea market for 4€ and am absolutely in love 🙏🏻

[@i_hate_stupid_username_rules]

the climber was my first ever swiss army knife, my mum gave it to me as a birthday present, ill always love the climber ♥

[@richardcranium8408]

A big advantage for the explorer is the magnifying glass for us old guys who have reading glasses. When those screws pop out and you don’t have an extra pair of glasses to use to repair the damn glasses, the explorer will quick become your best friend.

[@joakos1122]

Also potentially for starting fires

[@altodds]

I have the Huntsman and I think the other one which I got it more than 30 years ago, not sure of the model but as far as I remember it is a Spartan, please correct me if I am wrong, but thanks a lot , great video, helps me so much in understanding the uses

[@richardgibbs3190]

My Favorite EDC is a Victorinox SD and an Olight i3E EOS. I nearly always have these two items on my person. When I leave home, I usually also carry a Victorinox Hiker and a folding lockback such as the Buck Bantam 265, a Kershaw Tarheel or an Ontario Rat 1.

[@matthew6987]

Mountaineer for trimming your nails, filing them down and its very good size for the plus scales. The Huntsman right now it’s just a good deal. Plus you got a saw what you can grade Parmesan with it I like the explore because of the Phillip, both the Mountaineer and the Explorer are pretty expensive My dream knife is a compact with a small knife and the file If you could put the combo tool and the Phillips together that would be the best tool in the world

[@ryankanters4385]

Been carrying the Victorinox Farmer X for a long time now, still loving it! And the alox scales are very nice and has good grip when doing some outdoor activities

[@Comment0815]

I love the Farmer X, too. I just missed the toothpick and pen all the time. So I added a Rambler to my pocket with a scale pen added to it. Great setup now!

[@ryankanters4385]

@@Comment0815 i see what you mean, apart from the tweezer that i miss during my outdoor activities, i can always craft myself a toothpick and im in no need for a pen in the outdoors hahaha

[@J_The_Colossal_Squid]

Anyway, I can't imagine only carrying one knife. I like the compact for its versatility and small form factor (two layer), but also I recently bought my first Alox, in the Farmer X. I like that the main blade especially is beefier and a little bit bigger than the main blades in all my other SAKs.

[@E1mill]

Thanks buddy for the comparison. You opened my eyes and dispelled my doubts. Now, I think I'll add the Deluxe Tinker model to my EDC first aid kit.

[@haydenwayne637]

For years I just combined the SAK Climber with a Leatherman Rebar. They complement each other really well.

[@Jake_S_]

Exact same current combo

[@aronVincze]

My first good knife and multitool is the huntsman and I`ve used it a lot of time in my opinion the huntsman is the best

[@parttimegeekswe7069]

Ranger and Deluxe Tinker are both awesome! 🔥

[@dannym7783]

Glad you mentioned the Ranger but a Huntsman at 28.00 is the way to go. I jumped on that deal now onto eBay for different colored scales. The Imler trick for t-shanks is one of the most useful I have come across.

[@Jaden48108]

The Huntsman is the bomb. When I flew in the Air Force I never left home without it.

[@MikeyNewman1974]

I have four huntsman, by far my favourite 4 layer, but I've never tried a Ranger or an Explorer, great video!

[@gamermanzeake]

Ranger for me. I try to keep my every day carry as light as possible. Carrying extra saws and files is not worth the space in comparison to just having them set and sturdy on the knife itself.

[@RichardPoogerman]

Scissors don't expand the capabilities of a knife enough for my taste, so I modded an Explorer by replacing them with a saw and fine screwdriver on the back. I edc'd that for almost four years until I fell out of love with the inline phillips screwdriver. I love SAKs. Felix is a god.

[@dannys7773]

I see mountaineer as urban version of Huntsman, one of the better urban edc options imo, the file doubles as no. 1 phillips as well. Sawing metal, plastic, filing some sharp edges or some sharpening, you cant replace is with any other SAK but you could use it as a wooden saw in a pinch... For urban task is one of the best. It only missed pliers but when i need them its usualy for like bending heavy wires, cuting ect... you cant use SAK pliers for that anyway My take

[@freman007]

I picked up a discontinued Champion (C) on eBay, and it basically has the combination of the Huntsman and Fieldmaster tools. I should probably retrofit it with the later scales and mini-screwdriver.

[@ivsovolod]

deluxe tinker, no question, and recently refitted with plus scales

[@jhoch311]

I have carried around a Swiss army knife for 20+ years. Usually get some good years out of these knives before I replace them and I am on my third knife. I do use and abuse these knives. I own several of these but always keep one at least for everyday carry. First knife i packed around was a Tinker model, after about 11 years i went to a Super Tinker model after i broke some things on my first knife. Now I carry around a Swiss Champ that was gifted to me from a friend. Also on my keychain i carry the Nailclip 580, i dont always take time to trim my fingernails but that works great in a pinch if you realize you need to trim it in your busy everyday lifestyle. Never used the fishook removal tool in my swiss champ even though i try to fish as much as possible every summer. The scissors are great and very tough despite their small size, only issue i have is warping/bending that leaf spring which i have did many times (Victorinox offers replacements). The little hook tool i have found limited use for but thanks for pointing out using t shank jigsaw blades that i have many of and may try it soon. The leather punch tool with the eyelet I have found very limited use for. The Philips screwdriver (either one) is ok depending what screw you use it on. The corkscrew I have used for opening wine bottles and a few other uses such as getting silicone sealant out of a caulk gun at the nozzle, it is a tough tool but i have bent the corkscrew before. The saw is meant for some bushcraft, but i have used it on some plastics with good success. The file is pretty damn aggressive and the only thing I have uses it on was plastics. The magnifying glass is ok even when scuffed up like mine but if it has the plastic retainer then magnifier falls out easily (luckily I havent lost mine yet). The pliers are ok, not the best for some jobs but still with the spring from the scissors. The can opener I couldnt tell you how many times I have used, albeit slow but very functional. Bottle cap opener with flathead screwdriver has been a damn good tool. If you get one with the little needle that falls out (never used it), it tends to ger warped easily and wont go back in so smoothly. Despite my pros and cons that I described is the best damn pocket knife i ever owned. They are good Knives/Utility Tools and like other things have their limitations. Growing up in my day every boy should have a pocket knife, owned many but the swiss army knife always did me best. If you are going to pack around a swiss army knife, do some research and find which one would everyday fit your lifestyle.

[@maxlvledc]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@chronicfish]

I was about to purchase the Huntsman, but didnt really need the saw and can opener. I loved how compact the uh...Compact was, plus the addition of nail file and pen , so I ended up getting the Companion. It's the perfect tool and the box cutter works like a dream, when opening everyday packaging.

[@Sukikev]

I enjoyed your video. I didn't know there are seven different four-layer SAKs. The four-layer knives are small enough to carry easily and have plenty of functionality. I've carried the Explorer for longer than I care to remember. The in-line philips screwdriver is what makes the Explorer the best option for me. I've used the knife to complete many, many tasks over the years and it's never let me down.

[@robduncan599]

We all have our favourites. My fav Angler! Huntsman (which i have ) popular but i seldom use the scissors or saw . Explorer popular (which i have ). But for me Angler with pliers and fish scaler for none sharp ,prodding and poking, for the win . But you got to have a pliers, hence the Angler. But if you need a lot of tools and can't decide just get the Swiss Champ and carry it with pride and be done .

[@CadillacDriver]

Love my Deluxe Tinker. Best set of tools for me.

[@wildfree4203]

Victorinox "Climber" is the one for me! never leaves my left pocket.

[@cyberdragon451]

Love the ranger but wanted the pliers too, upgraded to the handyman. It's a nice mix of tools from the ranger and deluxe tinker without being too big for me like the champ is.

[@n8ram413]

My favorite is the ranger. I put the handyman in second place since I like the slimmer size of the ranger just a bit better but I do miss the pliers admittedly. I agree that the handyman is the better tool than the champ a least for carrying around. I don’t mind having a champ in my car since they have every tool on em practically.

[@chevy4x466]

I have a generic multi tool that has file, I use that file fairly often. I wish the file came on more offering

[@dansmith9136]

Yes there u go good choice an keep tje ranger that's tje only 2 swak u need they will last u a life time

[@ricdonato4328]

@@dansmith9136 Please correct your spelling.

[@n8ram413]

@@ricdonato4328 I would just note that, “Please, correct your spelling.” is grammatically incorrect. Lol Always like beating a grammar Nazi with their own hammer. Lol

[@travis1240]

I really like the explorer for carrying around on most weekends, when im not out camping or hiking. The inline Phillips is just miles better than the backside Phillips, and i use that quite a lot more than the saw. If I'm doing something outdoorsy though I like the huntsman.

[@antpassalacqua]

I like the mountaineer, I like having a file a lot. Very useful

[@whiteinge]

One noteworthy thing about the four-layer SAKs is they are as thick as they are wide. Normally you'd carry a SAK in your pocket with the scales oriented so they're against your body to minimize "pocket bulge", but starting with the four-layer models orientation doesn't matter. If you're comfortable with the bulge of a four-layer, then the bulge for something larger will be _the same_. Much as I love the Super Tinker Deluxe and the Ranger toolsets, I honestly can't feel the difference between those and the Handyman, Swisschamp, or Cybertool L -- it's only 10mm more of width with the same bulge and way more capability.

[@maxlvledc]

really good point.

[@127AFS]

If the extra weight and the surface area of the bulge isn't an issue, then you definitely make a good point. For me though, the Handyman is on the edge of being unwieldy in my hand when using tools like the Knife, saw, and file. Using some of the back tools precisely also becomes more difficult due to the extra bulk. 6 layer knives like the handyman or Cybertool M are about as big as I will tolerate. 5 layer knives that I can get my hand around, like the Ranger or Huntsman Lite, have the perfect balance between good ergonomics and most number of tools in my opinion.

[@DJSerjaySvek]

The first SAK I actually planned to get was the Huntsman until I realized I had no need for a saw. After focusing solely on Alox models, I decided to get the Explorer as my newest SAK. Have not needed the inline Philips yet but the magnifying glass is great. And the corkscrew will come in handy for the holiday wine. XD

[@kingpin11111]

Not only does the parcel hook fix your t-shank blade, it can also grip the pen from the plus scales, making it much easier to write with!

[@bendyer9865]

Look I bought one as a 14year old and I still have it. Regardless of which one buy, you will not regret it. No mine didn’t come with a saw or file, it really didn’t matter. I love the knife I got I still have it 20 years later.

[@ChristopherRobin58]

I love the explorer for checking blade grind and fine print with mag, and the inline phillips works so much better than the back one. Great video as always! Can you do 3 layer next? 👍

[@grattof]

Great video and comparison. My favorite is the huntsman, but I only have that one! I've been carrying a pioneer X and for me that is the perfect edc victorinox.

[@Maximilian7992]

Personally my Swisschamp (not the XL or XXL) works well for me. It’s expensive but I like it.