Rethinking My Perfect Companion Knife
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- Lately I have been rethinking what would be my perfect companion knife to compliment the Leatherman Surge. I had a custom knife built, which I very much like, but I would actually prefer an Alox knife. So I have chosen 4 different Victorinox knives to highlight what my perfect companion knife would look like. What would your perfect companion knife include?
I love my old school Leatherman Wave, and I pair it with the SAK Rambler that rides on my keychain. Perfect combo for me.
Same combo for me plus an opinel nr 6. Opinel is so cheap that I'm not afraid to abuse it
Hello Ben. Video series idea: 'acceptable cheaper versions of high end tools.' For someone that has to deal with the possibility of their tools being stolen, or those on a tight budget. I believe your knowledge and attention to detail would make a great video or video series. All the best, keep up the good work. Thanks
Hello Ben - you're right, Leatherman and SAK is a great double act. I have many different models of both, but for general workshop and DIY purposes, I usually go with the Victorinox Farmer and Leatherman Rebar, which between them can get a lot of stuff done. There's a certain amount of redundancy there, of course, e.g. you have two wood saws, but I appreciate the fact that the Pioneer/Farmer range of SAKs are just that little bit bigger and beefier than the standard SAKs, the aluminium handle scales are much more durable than the plastic ones, and that awl/reamer is just fantastic! If I'm camping or outdoors, I favour the Victorinox Outrider, with its larger locking blade. I used a Forester for years, and I still have it, but the Outrider has an extra layer, so you get everything that's on the Forester, plus scissors and a very nice small Phillips driver, which I haven't seen on any other SAK model.
My favorite companion tool to my Leatherman is the SAK Compact, and it is mostly because of the scale/extra tools. I did get a SAK Pioneer X for Christmas this year, and like it. I have resigned myself to keeping my SAK Explorer Plus in a nearby possibles bag so i can retain all the tools i like, but personal carry different things.
Plus Scales are supremely underrated and significantly more functional than alox handles. The pen (super underrated by most of the community, who needs a stand alone pen unless to take the occasional note or sign a check?), toothpick or ferro rod, tweezers, and pin MORE than make up for the additional thickness. The personal grooming options that plus scales afford you really are a game changer, I won't carry a SAK that doesn't have them.
@@evanbowen3979 I also think the pen is absolutely underrated. Love the plus skales b/c of it. I personally carry a super tinker w/ added plus scales.
Yes, there's a Victorinox store in London where they will build you a custom knife right there. I'd like to change a pen blade for one of the little hook knives and drop the tin and bottle opener for the one that does both, a notching saw, forward facing awl, an alox sized main blade and alox scales/construction.
I didn’t know that, I appreciate the information.
Really? I didn’t know that. Awesome if they do.
I was using the Leatherman PS with my Leatherman Signal. Now, I use Victorinox Mountaineer and my Leatherman Signal.
Swiss Tool Spirit MX Clip paired with the SOG PowerPint seems like a good upgrade from what I have.
100%. Saw in one and file in the other is a very complimentary pairing, particularly for fire starting (with tinder in the corkscrew).
Oh.. I didn't know the scissors spring is replaceable. tyvm for telling me! I've 2 SAKs, both with scissors. The scissors spring broke off, so I bought a new SAK with a different scissors design.
Ben , I had a Climber and A Signal for years and was quite content. That’s until I started watching your channel. To keep it germane to the topic and to a manageable number, I have acquired a Deluxe Tinker, an Alox Mini Champ and just ordered a Pioneer X … All I can say is thanks.
With the popularity of modding SAK I wish Victorinox would offer either a build to order service or allow us to buy parts, maybe even higher grade steel options, on an assembly yourself frame with Torx or other fasteners. American Service Knife has that concept but the tool sets are very limited and with the prices running between $175-260 for single to 3 tool options I don’t think it really accessible to everyone! One can dream.
Thanks again and keep the vids coming.
I’ve regularly carried a black Pioneer for about six years and it’s never let me down. If I had to start over I’d have gotten one with scissors but it hasn’t been a big loss.
I would love the saw, scissors, knife, awl - basically Farmer X without the openers. Cadet size would suffice.
My companion knife atm is the sportsman. It's 1.8oz, and you can add victorinox pocket scissors and its still the same weight as the compact, but with an awl, better can opener, better nail file, possibly better scissors, and a 2d phillips 1 and 2.
Another companion knife would be the victorinox manager and pair it with the leatherman bitkit with the adapter. The adapter fits on the number 1 phillips, so you can use your leatherman bit kit, still get 2 inches deep on both phillips 1 and 2's (the nail file is a 2d phillips 2 screwdriver), a nail file, pressurized pen, tiny knife, and the famous scissors all in 1oz for the manager. If you need more torqu just bend the handle. Good for most things unless you're needing a ton of torque I guess.
I had a custom SAK built 93mm Alox, large blade, scissors, flathead/bottle opener, electrician blade, awl and pruner/hook bill blade. I don’t carry in as I find it too thick in pocket. The Electrician is pretty perfect for my needs. Shame it doesn’t come in black haha!
Knife enthusiasts generally want something they can maintain, but haven't came across anything yet that the serrated blade w/razor edge tip on my Leatherman doesn't excel at...
When camping I'll bring a small bushcraft knife for batoning wood& lightweight plastic knife for food prep.
Hello, Ben - good video! Why not have Fit to Survive build that ideal knife for you based on your specs & then make a video showing the custom & explaining the logic of your selections? I'd select the Swisschamp with the Surge...all bases covered!
I think he allready has one from f2s
@@roytore5062yes, you are correct, that was a while ago, but I believe it is not the configuration TTC is talking about in this video...
I run an alox classic around my neck for scissor and file access.
In my pocket, I carry either a compact, or what I have replaced it with, a tinker. I like the scale tools on them, but I don’t need the scissors of the compact, but I like the wide spread availability and lower cost of the tinker.
Then I run aa micro cobra Knipex in lieu of a multiTool. Otherwise I use a skeletool.
For general short light trips city+nature I'm now testing victorinox s17 (85mm locking blade) + knipex cobra xs as pliers.
Great video sir. Personally I've had great luck carrying a combo of a Leatherman Rebar and a Victorinox Fieldmaster. Good to see I'm not the only one who does something similar.
I recently got the Rancher X (SMS edition) and it’s almost what you described in your tool, except for the electrician’s blade. I pair it together with my DAK Spirit S for my “boy scouts carry” and find that it pretty much covers all that I need.
My double edc is a Victornox climber and a Gerber 600 multi plier in black. The Leatherman seems like a blaster compared to a Gerber being a lightsaber. My opinion of course. Great video.
I usually carry the Alox Electrician , I dig the cable blade . My present Multi is the Spirit MX Clip .
my favorite pairs: 1. PST and SAK Classic SD. 2. SAK Super tinker and 4 or 5 inch Knipex Cobra.
If you carried the Farmer X Alox you would gain a saw blade and then not have to fumble with changing from file to saw on the Surge. This would also open room for another tool you could carry for the Surge if room was tight. That said, the Surge is pretty much complete as a stand alone tool so you may only be adding repetition or some convenience.
I’m interested the SAK Compact . I carry the Leatherman Bolster and the compact will add lots of convenient functionality with only a little overlap.
Hey Ben, I EDC a Surge, an Opinel No. 10 for food, and an Original pair of Raptor medical shears. The Raptor is great for cutting everything from Leather belts, to seatbelts, to ranger bands!!! The Opinel is great for food tasks (I prefer carbon for the edge)!!! The Surge is great for my large hands. I am 6'2" 265 lbs!!! The No. 10 Opinel for the same reason, as I misplaced my No.8, so decided to go with the slightly larger No. 10!!! As a former mechanical/electrical assembler, the Surge is perfect. Also, I have a Wave+ as a backup and a Leatherman Micra on my keychain next to my Sharpenal sharpener with the sharpening rod, steel and ceramic sharpeners and the ferro rod!!! Keep up the Awesome vids!!!
The perfect companion to my Swisstool x is a Victorinox Classic, it brings the scale tools, great nail cleaner and backup knife/scissors. Everything else is already in the Swisstool, great quality, precise tools.
The Cadet with scissors and the two SDs being replaced by a SD combo bottle/can opener and one of the other secondary blades would be pretty much close to the perfect wallet carry.
Cadet with scissors is going to be a winner I would buy a few. The dream that my never come true.
I used to carry farmer X But got a pair of margarita scales for my Huntsman. Now my new edc
I carry mostly a huntsman and a dedicated folder.
Plier based multitools are generally left in my vehicles.
I carry my SAK Ranger.
My Ozark Trail Multi force is kept in the vehicle
And I always have an SAK Rambler on my Keys.
You might want to try a medium stockman with a reamer instead of the spay blade.
Hi Ben, first of all thank you for all the great content you create.
working in an office I'd say my perfect Victorinox, would be a Compact (which I just recently bought), but I would swap the regular blade for the electricians one.
I never find a use for the regular blade since I used to carry a Climber model with the smaller one, which is more than enough for opening packages.
Now I'll be forced to use the bigger one but here in Italy it's not normal to carry any sort of blade, doesn't matter the size and my colleagues found it intimidating at first.
I think the electricians blade would be a perfect replacement, a small non-threatening blade in that shape, no one would be concerned
A Cadet X would be the perfect EDC for me and I'm sure many others. 🥊
I usually go with the Charge+ and a Yeoman. I'm not a heavy user though so I could probably go with the Yeoman and Knipex Cobra XS.
I mostly use the No 7, which I think is also called the Harvester, as most of my work is outdoors. The hawk bill blade is awesome, gets the most use, and sharpens very well. The thick blade stock of the main blade takes it well beyond the toy-like affairs on non-Alox knives, and I’ll even use the saw on occasion to cleanly cut small branches. The awl is effective, but could really do with a liner lock - not something to force, as it can easily close on you. For light work, I pair this with the near-perfect Swisstool Spirit X, fitted with a pocket clip, which of course includes a locking awl and mini chisel. This combination meets most of my day-to-day light maintenance needs. Throw a Bahco Laplander, a pair of Knipex 200 bolt cutters and a cheap pair of secateurs in the backpack, and I can pretty much tackle anything, and importantly anywhere, short of chainsaw work.
They cold use screws instead of rivets like Ruike, and sell customising tools ekstra for modyfiing. Som Locktite thread securing on the screws and case closed. I cary a farmer x with the saw and in a kind of plastic pocket under the saw i can have the toothpick.
My ideal Swissy would be very much the same as yours (swap out the Bottle & Can Openers for the Pruner & Electrician Blades). However, I do enjoy the Scale Tools, especially since multitools don't have them (tooth pick, tweezers, firefly firestick & presurised pen... if I could swap out the pen for a custom sharpening steel, I'd LOVE that!). But, if Victorinox only do the Pruner & Electrican blades for Alox models, I would still dive for that knife...
Me too!
I made a couple of pouches for the Alox Electrician , which enable me to carry it with the Sheepsfoot blade in the open position . The first attempt was quite elaborate ( but worked well ) , the second iteration was extremely simple . Since I almost always carry “ Electrian’s “ Scissors” ( more properly shears ) . As a result scissors on SAK’s , and Multi’s aren’t a big deal anymore !
I carry a Busse fixed blade concealed and a Victorinox spartan. I would want to replace the spartan with a pioneer X.
If you want to show the opener layer, you should either open the the bottle opener first (half or completely), THEN the can opener. Or FULLY open the can opener, then open the bottle opener. For closing, the other way around.
If you have the can opener half way open, the back spring is under tension, and it's not that easy to open (or close) the bottle opener. It could break your fingernail on a 93 mm :)
You’re absolutely right!
The best Leatherman companion for me is the SAK Compact. I love my alox as well and pioneer x but I find it a little bit heavy in the pocket. ( would love to have cadet x )
Can you do a video on storage for knives/edc? I am starting to develop a medium/large collection and I need help with storage ideas!
Great video , best ones on RUclips, have you ever heard of Megapro 15-In-1 screwdrivers, there made in the u.s.a and are really great , would love to see you do a video on them.
The cadet X is really my dream tool. Would buy 3 right off the hop of they came out with them
Again…another great presentation!
I tend to pair my Surge or Wave+ with the Victorinox Explorer, but for the last year or so, I’ve also carried a Milwaukee utility knife with screwdriver.
More useable bits, and it’s sure nice to have one blade you can mistreat.
I just ordered a leatherman rebar to pair with my victorinox compact. If I didn't pair the compact with it, I'd likely pair the SD classic with it. I love alox saks too, but I feel strongly about keeping the scale tools. Hence my fave being the compact.
Alox size with knife, scissors and nail file. Basically a SD in Alox format. Thats all id need as a companion knife. As good as leathermans are, they are not practical at personal care/ light grooming.
look up w3rtrieb, I got a custom scale set off Etsy, comes with scales and threaded pins so you can swap out whatever tools you want. I basically made a 2 layer pioneer x, removing the blade since I always carry a knife anyways
Victorinox Compact & Leatherman Wave+ are my weapons of choice. I am a corporate monkey, so I use my compact for grooming purposes and opening packages. I have my Wave+ with the pocket clip mounted, inside a Maxpedition pouch in my work bag in case I need to engage on havier duties along with other things, but will rely mainly on my Compact for my day 2 day needs. Thanks a lot for your content Sir, I have learned a lot from your channel!
Cadet X for me is perfect. So i buildet it. This is not easy, but it is so lovely to carry with me 😍
Great video Ben and happy New Year when it comes.
Being based in the UK, my multi tool is going to be the leatherman bond. So I'd like a companion knife that had 2 blades, one of them serrated and at least one with a steel upgrade over the bond and a pair of scissors.
All the best.
Cheers 🍻
Sportsman is much better option then Cadet in my opinion or if you find a vintage Climber Small if you want scissors but it is a little thicker ❤️✊🏻
My dream combo would be an Alox Victorinox Compact with the pen added to the scale tools, plus, wait for it, the original Leatherman Sideclip (anyone remember that one!?) with the knife blade replaced by a file and the cap lifter on the Leatherman replaced by either an awl or a clamshell package opener.
I know that's weirdly specific, but that'd be perfect for me.
But realistically I often just carry the Leatherman Curl with whatever SAK I feel like nowadays. I know a lot of people don't like the Curl but it's great for me.
If you just got a 3 blade stockman knife you'd be most of the way there.
This story with the broken machine for the 84 mm scissors comes up everywhere, but I don't think it's true. It doesn't make too much sense.
I typically carry a Evo wood 14 and a rambler. I sometimes mix in a bantam and a tinker small. I usually have a leatherman rebar in my truck and a leatherman bond in my small bag I typically carry with me. I've had a cadet and a pioneer in the past. I've found that they weigh more than I Like for the tools provided. I'm also not crazy about super thick 3+ layer victorinox knives. I feel like 2 layer is the sweet spot.
I pair a Vic Compact with an OG Supertool or Rebar. I really, really like the Alox models, but the scale tools in the Compact are a little too useful to give up.
Hi Ben - New subscriber here. I greatly enjoy & appreciate your reviews as someone who doesn't just carry these tools every day but actually uses them. I'm less interested in specs, bells & whistles and in real world every day use cases.
I'd probably go w. the Milwaukee Fastback 6 in 1, based on your review, or the Kershaw Select Fire, which also got some good reviews on RUclips. Cheers!
Wouldn't you then have .... 5 blades? Two on the Surge and three on the SAK? I struggle to even want a single blade on my multitools as I prefer a dedicated blade in high quality steel. You are going the opposite direction as I am! Enjoyed the video though!
As for me, I carry a spideychef and a squirt, and if I had to carry just one thing on me, it would be the trekker
A plus model three layer with the compact style combo can and bottle opener, normal blade, saw and file on the front with an awl and corkscrew on the back. Four layer if they would do the electrician and hook blades.
I know its a bigger SAK but I carry a Ranger with a Leatherman Wave
I'd prefer a victorinox with the plastic handle because there you can store the toothpick, the tweezers and in the plus models the pen.
Hey sir, may I suggest you take a look at Roxon multi tool ? I think you'll like their scissors
My Alox Electrician has always been a great companion knife. I put a Nite Ize Hip Clip on it and made it handier. The clip ain’t the greatest… but it works.
I stuck a Tec accessories P-7 suspension clip using double sided sticky tape (the foamy thicker type) to my Electrician. Works surprisingly well.
@@MichaelB2L I did the same thing to an old 58mm Wenger (plastic scales) only I glued the Tec Acc suspension clip with super glue. It was more of an experiment than a necessity, but it works SURPRISINGLY well.
@@dobie-at-home Sweet! Great minds buddy haha!
Best edc for me would be compact with alox scales that fit scale tools
Ben, can you do a Review on the "GOAT" Modular Multi Tool, it looks real cool and functional but I would like to see you do a review on it, I have no association with it but thinking of buying one $$, MAX EDC has a recent video on it , I like your reviews better
Nice video!
Great video thanks! Either the yeoman with a metal file and awl or an explorer with a metal file and awl. As I carry the leatherman mini. I like having the pliers and drivers separate as it gives me more options or flexibility to use them at the same time or separately if I give one to a friend to use we can work in parallel. And overall it's a tool set that has the capability to accomplish alot of tasks in an urban environment. Also, my SAKs must have plus scales and the tool that come with it.
Electrician X is all i really want.
Nice thumb studs.
Dream victorinox: Cadet X, replace knife with file and green alox scales or a MiniChamp alox no knife, also green scales.
Can't you put together your own custom victoinox with some difficulty and expendable multi-tools?
Hey Ben, love the channel and the reviews. I’m EDCing a Knifeless Rebar with a Crunch. Was looking at a Alox SAK for a better blade, instead chanced a “Genuine British Army Knife”, have you tried one? I’d be interested in your review and opinion.
Additionally for your use case I would have thought a Crunch would be a good candidate for a daily carry, have you tried one?
I have not tried a British Army Knife. Could you elaborate on the how it is set up?
You’re going about it all wrong. Carry a pioneer x and pair it with a GOAT multi-tool that you customize with anything the pioneer does not have.
I use the can opener on my Cadet all the time. It's orders of magnitude better than the can opener on my Charge +.
I just switched to the Manager from the Pioneer to test out, but I always end up circling back to the pioneer. There really isn't a better combination of tools, well the "X" variant might be the only prime contender.
Hello, do you know the alox rancher X ? it's like a pionneer X but with pruning blade instead of can opener. And i find mine in red camo it's too kool !!! I have this bad boy as EDC since few month to replace my pionneer X or my compact and it's the really nice companion. But to be perfect i had prefered to have a small serrated blade (same as in the sidekick). This year i will try to mahe it by myself in a small blade from an old SAK and put it in my pionneex X.
I have one of the best Cadet collections with all the colors of the Cadet(30 something I think), and most of the colors of the Cadet Plus, and the Cadet Plus Two or Micro Farmer....I carry a Cadet Micro Farmer daily on a dangler, so it won't go funkie in me pocket...cause I rarely need pliers.
I had something really unexpected happen which some might find hard to believe but I lost all confidence in Leatherman. I broke off the bottle opener on my Rebar with my thumb simply by putting force on it.
Leatherman have an excellent warranty - send it back, get a new one.
Can't you grind Cadet's nail file into an awl?
What happened to your custom SAK?
Hola Ben, para mi la perfecta compañera de la SURGE sería la victorinox COMPACT, es muy funcional en ambientes urbanos y de oficina. Me gustó el video, y gracias por resolverme la duda del video pasado de que se debe entender por BLUE ENVIOREMENT. saludos desde México.
What would you replace the Scissors with on the surge
I have actually considered modding in the Gerber CenterDrive driver.
Soooo... you want to replace all victorinox tools with blades? What?!
Yeah. The other tools are redundant when paired with the Surge.
Cadet X hoping and preying.
Not a fan of the Alox models. You lose the toothpick, tweezers, and all the bottom tools. There more expensive and you only gain metal scales. Not worth it.
They look really cool, but I totally agree they make zero sense for value & function. I love the plus scale tools.
I want an Electrician though 😭
true, and i don't see them as an either or! the thinness has to be a key feature that you're looking for, and it does lend itself to them being really good wallet/pouch knifes, the Cadet particularly so.
Same.
It depends on your needs. If I'm headed outdoors for example, I usually want an SAK with the handle tools. But for day to day I prefer the Alox, they're thinner and I don't really need that stuff in an office.
You are right, the tweezer, toothpick and pin are great and even better if you have the plus scales: pen. They look cool, but I wouldn't buy one either.
Wenger make the best scissors.