My Victorinox Super Tinker vs Fieldmaster discussion...

[@johnossendorf9979]

When I was in 9th grade when I lost my first Swiss Champ out of the leather pouch I purchased with it when I took a tumble in the woods. When I got my second Swiss Champ a year or so later in 1985 I decided to pocket carry it (against everyone's advice) and have done so every day since. It is a part of me and has saved my bacon many times over the last 37 years, even with out the hook, pin and crimper that were added in following years. If for some unforseen reason, I wanted to carry a smaller SAK (I have a very lonely Huntsman Light) I would definitely choose the corkscrew over the Phillips because I use the tiny screw driver almost every day and recently added the short FireAnt tinder to retain the tiny screw driver and replaced the tooth pick I almost never used with the Fire Fly firesteel.

[@singingtoad]

The Swiss Champ is also on my list of SAKs I plan to get someday, which that list is getting ever longer by the day... LoL 🤣

[@AshHalls]

I lost my first one in the canal while fishing, me and a mate stayed out until dark looking for it in the water. I’m still hurt to this day. 10 years later and I’m finally getting myself a new one.

[@MrPlownds26]

@@johnossendorf9979 I feel your pain I lost my Wenger champ which I had owned for decades on a house move. A Vic Evo 28 has taken it's place

[@golickaflagpole3557]

I carry the fieldmaster, too little use for the corkscrew 🤷‍♂️

[@terryblack5381]

I daily carry either the 58mm Rambler or Super Tinker, but when I know I might need to do something more demanding I carry the Huntsman Lite. The Hunstman Lite is 5 layers, but you get the in line Phillips driver without losing the corkscrew, plus another flat head driver on the back tools as well as quite a bright led light. It comes with plus scale and equipped with the mini cork screw driver and pin. So for the extra layer it is a perfect tool to prepare you for the unexpected.

[@singingtoad]

Right on! Thanks for sharing. Take care and Cheers!

[@rmarques82]

Despite some SAKS i got, I committed to carry one and only SAK and has been the Fieldmaster for 7 years now without any regret. A Ranger (91mm) for around the home/hobby shop and now I’m trying to figure out the best complement for my fixed blade and folding saw for camping. I was onto a Super Tinker but I don’t know if I’m ready to give up the wood saw!!!

[@ryszardnowak485]

Go for outrider

[@stevenhodgson834]

I'm a big fan of the Fieldmaster - it has so much I need for both domestic, urban and occasional rural use. I've used the saw a few times for overhanging branches etc and it does the job just fine, much easier to reach into my jacket pocket and get out the Fieldmaster than start looking in the shed/garage for a dedicated saw! I feel it would be a nice addition on the Victorinox website if you could tick a list of tools you want, and it tells you which model(s) have them.

[@singingtoad]

I absolutely agree with you 100%, a custom Victorinox creator tool on their website would be amazing! I also wish Leatherman would have it too...lol Thanks and Cheers!

[@dallasn16]

If you use the filter option on their website you can filter by which tools you need.

[@singingtoad]

@@dallasn16 That's a cool feature. Thanks!

[@KingTesticus]

Army 7 S.A.K. has been my "new" EDC for almost 3 years. I drilled & tapped the aluminum scales to attach a titanium spiderco pocket clip, and it's fantastic. I wish they came that way, but thankfully I have the skills and tools to do it myself.

[@singingtoad]

That's really cool, I've seen a few folks on KZbin who've done awesome "Spydinox" modifications to their SAKs. I unfortunately lack the proper tooling in order to properly do such a mod, atm...

[@ryankanters4385]

For me its the huntsman, i bought the green plus scales, so i could use a pen aswell, bought the eye glass screwdriver and pin that goes behind the corkscrew, and its the best outdoor/urban carry imo, and watching some felix immler videos taught me some awesome tips and tricks wich makes it even more fun to use

[@singingtoad]

Thanks for sharing about your favorite. Take care and Cheers!

[@steveb1972]

Yes I use the Huntsman for camping, with the toothpick replaced by a fire steel and tinder in the corkscrew. I use a Rambler as my daily carry.

[@michaelcolloton6971]

I carried a Tinker exclusively for 40-oddyears. I lost some, gave some away, and went snorkeling in salt water wih one. One thing I haven't been able to do is break one.

[@singingtoad]

Thanks for sharing about your Tinker's, I'm glad to hear they have served you well. 👍Take care and Cheers!

[@happykt]

I got the SAK Fieldmaster in dark green. It looks so sharp in that color.

[@singingtoad]

Very nice! Take care and Cheer!

[@LawAbidingCitizen117]

That would make it very hard to find if you drop it in the woods 😂.

[@PeterFaden]

My favorite is the Ranger, but I typically keep that in a pouch I really only wear while hiking further out than normal or when I go into Denver lol. My EDC SAK is the Forester M Grip. I decided when buying it that it would be my daily carry due to the tool set which is appropriate to my daily outdoors life, and the grip, which is great. Basically. I use the saw for trail clearing when I'm short hiking my wolf hybrid, which happens daily. The knife is sharp, big, one hand opening and locking. The prybar driver is also locking. It has the reamer and corkscrew for drilling and storing a tinder plug and either a mini driver or mini ferro rod (which is truly only useful if you have easily lit tinder such as the corkscrew tinder plug, but a good backup to a lighter regardless). I do also use the can opener here and there. And I have a fire cord lanyard attached. :)

[@singingtoad]

Thanks for watching! The Forester is a great SAK for the outdoors and an excellent choice. Welcome aboard and Cheers!

[@Janhartman74]

I replaced my camper for the fieldmaster because I missed the scissors. I replaced the scales with the compact scales because of the pen. 😅. Now it’s perfect.

[@singingtoad]

Right on! Thanks for sharing about your SAK. 👍Take care and Cheers!

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Even in a metro environment the saw is so handy ! (Locked out of car, used saw to cut 7ft willow sapling & make notch. Slide thru window gap and flick handle on opposite door lock 🔐 👍"

[@singingtoad]

That's why I carry an SAK, for exactly when that MacGyver moment arises...

[@Davidg368]

Nice edc just subscribed awesome videos.. the hook came out in the early 90s.. I've heard from 2 people that in Switzerland back then you were supposed to recycle newspapers and they were supposed to be wrapped in twine ..but later on they didn't want then tied..but I haven't confirmed it

[@singingtoad]

Thank-you for that information, I appreciate it. Cheers!

[@nickm9370]

Fieldmaster with plus scales (in red), so get tweezers, a pen and I've swapped the toothpick for a firestriker. I have this thing with me all of the time, whether in town or out in the sticks.

[@singingtoad]

I too have thought about get the ferro rod option for the toothpick slot, I just might someday. 🤔👍 Thanks for watching, take care and Cheers!

[@TW-rd5ub]

I carry the Hiker, it's a nice compact 3 layer with a wood saw and philips screwdriver like the Fieldmaster, minus the layer with scissors. I'm surprised how comfortably it fits in the hip pocket on my jeans to the point I'm wondering if a Fieldmaster (or a Farmer X) would work too... Or I could go nuts and be content with what I have!

[@singingtoad]

The Hiker is a great one too! Thanks for stopping by, take care and Cheers!

[@1621billw]

I have a Super Tinker an love it as an EDC. My alternate EDC is a Ranger.

[@drakejosh808]

have you looked into multi tools like the leatherman surge? it has a replaceable wood saw thingy. the only drawback is that it's big and heavy

[@singingtoad]

Thanks for your comment. Yes, I carry a Leatherman Charge TTi+ actually (during my workday), and usually my Victorinox Spirit X when around the house. However, when I need to roll with a lighter EDC loadout, the Fieldmaster is my choice of SAK compromise...

[@drakejosh808]

@@singingtoad Totally makes sense! I have a tinker small as of now but I hope to get a huntsman soon and a leatherman surge as well, and I'll carry them both because im absolutely in love with saks and multi tools ☺️☺️

[@marcdee4427]

I have 3 field masters, and on all of them the screw driver bottle opener, opens with good snap but when you return it to the closed position it is so week it’s pathetic. I have 84mm models and the snap on the bottle opener is very good same with my alox models

[@Mystninja]

I carry a alox farmer X because it's the best. or a workchamp as it has everything I need.

[@yakketyyak954]

That’s a wicked looking split in that left thumbnail. Why do I feel like that happened while attempting to open the hook? LOL! The hook is one of the toughest tools to open and is the least used of any on my knife currently. Once I add plus scales and gain the ink pen, then it will serve to hold the pen in its slot and allow me to use the whole knife as a writing tool.

[@singingtoad]

It's actually a funny story about how my thumb nail got permanently damaged back in my misguided teenage years. Perhaps I'll tell the tale some day. Anyway, that's a nice Bass your holding in your profile pic. Thank-you and Cheers!

[@andrewh6034]

I don't use sak's these days but did carry various ones once. the fieldmaster is a good choice.Another I liked was the explorer because of the inline philips screwdriver. Alox Soldier was probably my most carried, and if you get one from like in the seventies there's a noticeable increase in tool thickness as well. I think I prefer black as well. You could get the upgraded scales with the pen and pin slot also.

[@singingtoad]

I'd love to get some vintage Victorinox and Wenger SAK's from the '70s and earlier for my collection. I've already swapped the black scales from my Super Tinker onto my new Fieldmaster, you'll see that soon in my next video...lol Thanks and take care, pal. Cheers!

[@andrewh6034]

@@singingtoad Thanks. You too.

[@panagiotisandoniou2899]

For me the fieldmaster is the heck of a multitool together with leatherman wave.. not the plus tho the old version..

[@dcamnc1]

I'll be honest, I have 10 or so SAK's, and have had them throughout my life (carrying a deluxe tinker now). I've only ONCE used the woodsaw. A limb fell during a storm at my friend's house, and I used the saw to finish cutting the limb off the tree for her. While the saw is a cool tool, and it works well for it's size, I simply never use it, so usually don't carry a SAK with one.

[@singingtoad]

That's why I recently got an Explorer, which has a magnifying glass and both a corkscrew and an in-line Philips driver. Cheers!

[@1594simonsays]

i used the saw fairly recently, it definitely is useful in a pinch. love my swiss champ in my car

[@wvbeatlefan]

I have a couple dozen plus SAKs. The one I carry the most is the Executive; it is always with me. If I'm carrying another I still have the Executive in the 5th pocket of my jeans. It's hard to pick 5 favorites but the Waiter is definitely one. It has an incredible amount of functionality in a small package. I'm in the corkscrew camp so I love my Huntsman. I recently got an 84mm Climber, which is a fantastic knife to carry. My Swiss Champ is in my bag I carry to work and comes in handy all the time. I also think the Mate and the Mini Champ are great. How do you pick only five?!

[@singingtoad]

Picking only 5 is the challenge, and yes it wasn't easy for me either...lol

[@xrysoryba]

Unfortunately Victorinox recently discontinued their 74mm knives. I also think the Executive is a great EDC for someone who works in an office. I am also in the corkscrew camp since I found out the can opener works as a flat Philips driver. Most days I carry the Explorer (scissors, magnifying glass and in-line Philips), but when I'm out in the woods I carry the Outrider, now replaced by the Forester. Same tools as the Huntsman, but 111mm and with a locking main blade. For me anything over 3 layers calls for a belt pouch which is what I do. If I'm wearing dress pants I carry a Cadet.

[@wizardofahhhs759]

Very carefully.

[@jamieniche]

Isn't there any more tools underneath being a 4 layer?

[@singingtoad]

I'm sorry, what are you referring to?

[@musar03580]

I have a Fieldmaster for ranging. My EDC is the Classic SD.

[@singingtoad]

That's awesome! Take care and Cheers!

[@simonh6371]

Or...if you want a scissors and saw, but don't really need either the corkscrew or Phillips backtool, or the hook for that matter...and you like alox too get a Farmer X! Alox SAKs have a few advantages, the blade and opener are slightly thicker and larger, the scales and liners are more robust, and also they are thinner than their celidor counterparts. For example the Farmer X is 4 layers but it's the same thickness as the Super Tinker. Just ordered a Farmer X (finally) and really looking forward to getting it. I can live without a Phillips SD as (a) the can opener driver can deal with most Phillips screwheads and (b) I always carry my SAKs together with some kind of pliers-based multitool, whether pocket sized or larger in a bag. In this case I'll carry the Farmer X with a SOG Micro Toolclip as an all pocket carry, and with a Leatherman Rebar if I'm carrying a bag, but the SAK always rides in my pocket. I like celidor SAKS too and mine too are all in black, I have a Hiker, Climber, Classic SD, as well as a Farmer and a Soldier 08 (olive green nylon scales). I tend to pair up the Climber with my LM Rebar as it has no scissors, and my Hiker & Farmer with my LM Squirt or Nextool Mini, both of which have tiny knife blades and no wood saw. Also sometimes I still EDC my Farmer with my Classic SD and SOG Micro Toolclip (just pliers, file and knife blade plus Phillips & flathead SDs).

[@singingtoad]

Wow, thanks for all that thorough information, I appreciate it. The Farmer X is on my shortlist of SAK's I plan to get soon, btw. However, I carry the Fieldmaster as my EDC because it has all the tools I use regularly, including the Philips driver, all purpose Hook and Saw...

[@simonh6371]

@@singingtoad The Fieldmaster is a great knife no doubt and all the tools on it are excellent, I know this as I have it's toolset spread over 2 knives (Hiker and Climber) and both get their fair share of pocket time. I've used all the back layer tools on them too, including the not-so-popular hook, the Phillips and the corkscrew. The bottom line is that there isn't a bad SAK. You can't go wrong with Victorinox.

[@singingtoad]

@@simonh6371 Agreed. The neat thing about Victorinox is they have such a wide spread of models with various different tool configurations; there's gonna be one out there that best suits your needs, you just gotta find it...lol

[@MrPlownds26]

You can use a jigsawblade on a supertinker if you hold it in place with the hook See Felix Immler for details.

[@singingtoad]

I've been subbed to Felix for years, he the GOAT of SAKs. I've seen the video your referring to, btw. 😉 Take care and Cheers!

[@JBass33]

The Fieldmaster is great but I prefer the Handyman because of the pliers, in addition to the saw, file, and corkscrew.

[@singingtoad]

The Handyman is also a great larger SAK, it's on my list to collect as well. Thanks for watching, take care and Cheers!

[@gerhardras4766]

Call me dumb or stupid, but the weight of a pocket knife in my pocket has never bothered me. I am used to carrying a hunting rifle and several bullets in my pocket. The amount of layers doesnt bother either. I enjoy having my champ in my pocket and I carry 3 or 4 knives every day at the same time without noticing. It could be problem if you are wearing skinny pants, but I dont. I like your choice in both the fieldmaster and the suoer tinker but as many of the other guys I would rather go for the corkscrew. I also have the small screw driver and tinder fitted and find that more usefull than that philips. I guess that is wwhy I love my champ, I am spoiled for choice, everything is there, philips inline, magnifier, corkscrew, saw, what more do you need? Thanks, loved the video. Atb

[@singingtoad]

The Swiss Champ is a great choice, btw. I might get one someday for my collection. I may not have mentioned it in this video, but I also carry a Victorinox Spirit X multitool on my belt, daily as well...

[@seanblaha6484]

You should pick up plus scales, the pen is super handy. Add a pin to the slot behind the screwdriver too, never know when you might need one.

[@singingtoad]

Thanks, I'm also looking into getting a set of custom Carbon Fiber or Titanium scales. I haven't decided which ones I like more...lol

[@band1t9999]

Where do you get plus scales ? Any link you can share? Thx

[@seanblaha6484]

Ebay and etsy should have a lot of options. Swissbianco is another option, really nice quality, but those can get pricey.

[@stevesinclair4159]

Happy Saturday Singing Toad. I am a lifelong Swiss Army collector & EDC user ( I have over 150 SAKs - 85 of them being 58mm Classic SD collectables ) however I don't own either the Super Tinker or Fieldmaster ( I own a number of the superior Climbers & Huntsman ) I do confess to having a Deluxe Tinker with its pliers as part of my Home Tool Kit of 5 useful SAK's that I don't use as carry SAK's . So why don't I own either the Super Tinker or Fieldmaster ? Because having the Phillips screwdriver as a back layer tool is almost totally useless, it really cant tackle most jobs in this position, its only useful as an in-line tool such as on the Cyber Tools or the Spartan Lite, Huntsman Lite & the new Climber Lite whereas the Corkscrew is useful both for untying knots in cords & thin string as well as making screw holes in wood and most of all as a tool holder of the Fire Ant ferro rod & a tinder spiral or a Mini-Screwdriver & a tinder spiral when you have a a Fire Fly ferro rod in place of the useless Toothpick.

[@singingtoad]

Thank-you for you opinion. However, I carry the Fieldmaster because it best suits my EDC needs. Just so you know, I also keep my EvoGrip s17 in my car, which has a corkscrew if I ever need one. I'm not against them, just so understand that. Kind Regards. Singing Toad.

[@stevesinclair4159]

@@singingtoad I too have the S17, its an excellent downsized Huntsman & I have also the 1st version of the Wenger Forester which like the S17 has a lock blade & unlike the S17 & later versions of the Wenger Forester has a secondary clip point blade in place of the nail file . Do you have any SAK with the Phillips screwdriver as an in line tool? It really is more functional in that position than on the back layer. Apart from the Deluxe Tinker the only other Tinker that I would consider worth buying is the smaller 84mm Tinker ( now discontinued ) - the model that MacGyver used most ( besides the 74mm Executive - I own 2 of them ) & apart from the sentimentality of owning it as a MacGyver fan is that its Phillips screwdriver is the original slotted one that is used as a can opener from back before the days of easy ring pull cans you had a can lid on sardine tins that needed a sturdy key like insertion tool to get the lid rolled back ( as opposed to lifting straight up nowadays )

[@singingtoad]

@@stevesinclair4159 I carry a Victorinox Spirit X on my hip, everyday which has an inline Philips driver. But, when I can't carry it, my Fieldmaster works just fine. Anytime I've had to use the Philips driver, its always been for light duty things like opening the back of a battery compartment on on of my children's toys or tightening up a loose screw here and there. I'm not using it to rebuild an engine block or frame a house. I've have better tools for more hard use purposes. Like I already said, it works for my needs. You do you, and I'll do me. Thanks very much. Cheers!

[@Mystninja]

I think if the Field master had a metal saw/file instead of the wood saw.

[@singingtoad]

A metal saw would definitely be more useful in an urban setting (which is where I spend most of my time), than in the wilderness...

[@roberthauger6592]

The Fieldmaster is the same as the Huntsman, except it has the Phillips instead of the corkscrew. Both models have the wood saw. There is the Mountaineer model, which is the same as the Huntsman, but it includes the metal file/saw instead of the wood saw. Also, there was the Grand Prix, that had the toolset of the Mountaineer, with a Phillips replacing the corkscrew. It was one of their best models in my book, but they are getting rather scarce these days.

[@JustinMacri007]

I like black we're can I get black scales?

[@singingtoad]

I got this knife from Amazon, however you can get different coloured custom scales from websites like Etsy...

[@stevenhodgson834]

I ordered my Fieldmaster direct from Victorinox (I'm in the UK) and had a choice of colours for scales there, including black.

[@MrPlownds26]

Super Tinker E.D.C.for me.If only for the scissors

[@singingtoad]

Right on! Take care and Cheers!

[@madvikins]

Hello Toad. I Carry a ranger. One more layer

[@singingtoad]

Right on! Take care and Cheers!

[@grahamekellermeier8280]

A good quality knife good for skinning toads.

[@singingtoad]

lol wut?!!

[@Mystninja]

This is my perfect victorinox that they will never make. Line1: blade + Combi opener. Line2: scissors. Line 3 metal saw/file Underside: Phillips and reamer. (And maybe parcel hook) But they wouldn't make it as know one would buy anything else. For Urban EDC

[@singingtoad]

There are some custom Victorinox moders out there, you can find in the various knife forums and such, who can do stuff like that. I've seen a few custom build that Paddy has shown on his own channel: Paddys Potato Peelers...

[@Mystninja]

@@singingtoad I'll love to get a custom Sak made. But there are two many options. I'm still thinking. As I own a alox farmer X and a workchamp. I think are the best. But I have a choice to get 3 out of these. Fieldmaster, Deluxe Tinker. Super tinker. Tinker and walker. If you had too pick 3. But 1 is a light weight. 2 is a EDC. 3 is a medium sized work horse. Note I have a workchamp. And a farmer X. I'll be happy to hear your opinion.

[@roberthauger6592]

They came close to that combination with the Trail Guide that was redeemable through Marlboro. It had the corkscrew and hook instead of the Phillips/awl combo that would have made it perfect. I was going to build one as you had described, but from what I’ve read, the only back layer tool that you can pair with the scissor layer is the hook. I think Victorinox designed it that way as to prevent someone from creating the ultimate edc SAK, and rendering so many other models obsolete.

[@jimrowland6089]

PPP sent me your way. I'm happy he did.

[@singingtoad]

Thanks very much! Paddy is a fine gentleman, much respect.

[@marcdee4427]

Saks are the best

[@singingtoad]

They sure are handy!

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Not, for Multitools. If it has rivets, you can't fix it or modify it yourself. Love the knives tho', despite the rivets.

[@singingtoad]

@@edwardfletcher7790 You actually can modify them yourself, it just requires more skill and special tools. There are several videos on KZbin that show exactly how it done, btw...

[@scottmcintosh2988]

Get a Work champ 111MM

[@singingtoad]

I've actually wanted a Work Champ for a while, but just haven't gotten around to getting one yet. Thanks for the suggestion.