2 layer 84 vs 91mm

315

315

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My very first Swiss Army Knife was a Victorinox Small Tinker. I carried that knife almost exclusively for around 28 years before I started buying others. I’m not sure if that’s why I’m throwing this out there, or I’ve been able to draw a conclusion. When it comes to a 2 layered SAK, I prefer the 84 over the 91mm knives. I have a Spartan and gave my Dad my full sized Tinker, but for some reason I don’t really care for the 91’s with 2 layers. When it comes to Alox, I love the Soldier and Pioneer (Yes I know they’re 93). I absolutely love a 3 layered 91mm, probably why I have 6 Campers. I Don’t know if it’s the length to thickness ratio that makes the 84 more appealing? I have a new set of Micarta scales for a 91 that I’ve been debating on what they should go on, and I’m almost ready to just throw them on a Camper. I’ve thought about a Compact, but I don’t know if I’d end up liking it enough to carry. I’m rambling on, but I’d be curious to hear others thoughts...
 
I prefer the 91 mm Tinker, just like a larger blade (carried mine for ca. 30 years). Have a 84 mm Tinker also along with about 60 other SAKs. Carried a 91 mm Champion in my pack when I was backpacking/hiking. I can get buy with the 84's, but nothing smaller.
Rich
 
Too bad the 84mm Climber small was discontinued, otherwise it is another possibility for you to try.

Personally, I am a fan of 4 layers 91mm SAK--I love the options of having both small and large blade, openers are always handy, Vic scissors is best in business and great to use, and for the 4th layer, I love the metal file/saw(since it can do woodsaw's work in a pinch, but not the other way around).

I guess one of the reasons why I like Victorinox products so much and often do recommend them for friends is because of their prolific product lineup. There is always something that will fit someone's need, and their value and QC are the best.
 
My first SAK that I bought with my own money as a kid was a Recruit. I used the heck out of that knife. Later on, I bought my first Tinker (91mm), lost it, and bought a Small Tinker to replace it after reading a bunch of Amazon reviews about how people preferred the 84mm Tinker over the 91mm. But now that my hands are a bit larger than they were when I was twelve, I find that I prefer the longer handle of the 91mm; it feels more secure in my hand.

As for blade length, the only instance where it makes a difference to me is when I use my SAK to cut baguettes for sandwiches. The 84mm's blade won't reach all the way across the width of the loaf, but the 91mm's blade does (barely).
 

315 said:
My very first Swiss Army Knife was a Victorinox Small Tinker. I carried that knife almost exclusively for around 28 years before I started buying others. I’m not sure if that’s why I’m throwing this out there, or I’ve been able to draw a conclusion. When it comes to a 2 layered SAK, I prefer the 84 over the 91mm knives. I have a Spartan and gave my Dad my full sized Tinker, but for some reason I don’t really care for the 91’s with 2 layers. When it comes to Alox, I love the Soldier and Pioneer (Yes I know they’re 93). I absolutely love a 3 layered 91mm, probably why I have 6 Campers. I Don’t know if it’s the length to thickness ratio that makes the 84 more appealing? I have a new set of Micarta scales for a 91 that I’ve been debating on what they should go on, and I’m almost ready to just throw them on a Camper. I’ve thought about a Compact, but I don’t know if I’d end up liking it enough to carry. I’m rambling on, but I’d be curious to hear others thoughts...
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Wow! Your size preferences and models are precisely the same as mine, except I prefer the Tourist's corkscrew over the Small Tinker's Phillips. Also a big fan of the Recruit. I have a serrated one for work.

Alox Soldier: check. I have a platoon of them; also a couple of old cross Pioneers. They really are seriously great knives, one of the best models ever made by anyone in my opinion. I bought the Winter Magic Pioneer X because it was beautiful but would never buy a PX to use - too thick and heavy.

Camper: check. I have a few of them, too. Never had a Farmer.

Like you, it seems to relate to the length to thickness ratio for me. Somehow I find the Tourist and Recruit nicer in the hand than the Spartan; and I like the extra girth of the Camper over the Spartan. I have a Hiker which feels even better than the Camper, but again I prefer the corkscrew.

Funny, the Camper is as thick as I'll go for any pocket carry, even if it's only a little thinner and lighter than the Climber, and that I rarely use the saw. One day, when I get a round tuit, I'm going to make wooden scales for a Spartan that'll make it as thick as a Camper, with the back scale thick enough to hide the feel of the corkscrew.

Another preference I have is for no keyring attachment (nub) on any knife. Maybe it's something about the size of my hand but I hate how they dig into my palm. Alox nubs are the worst! Neither of my Tourists came with one, nor one of my Spartans. I filed the nub off my favourite Camper.
 
Sawl Goodman said:
Wow! Your size preferences and models are precisely the same as mine, except I prefer the Tourist's corkscrew over the Small Tinker's Phillips. Also a big fan of the Recruit. I have a serrated one for work.

Alox Soldier: check. I have a platoon of them; also a couple of old cross Pioneers. They really are seriously great knives, one of the best models ever made by anyone in my opinion. I bought the Winter Magic Pioneer X because it was beautiful but would never buy a PX to use - too thick and heavy.

Camper: check. I have a few of them, too. Never had a Farmer.

Like you, it seems to relate to the length to thickness ratio for me. Somehow I find the Tourist and Recruit nicer in the hand than the Spartan; and I like the extra girth of the Camper over the Spartan. I have a Hiker which feels even better than the Camper, but again I prefer the corkscrew.

Funny, the Camper is as thick as I'll go for any pocket carry, even if it's only a little thinner and lighter than the Climber, and that I rarely use the saw. One day, when I get a round tuit, I'm going to make wooden scales for a Spartan that'll make it as thick as a Camper, with the back scale thick enough to hide the feel of the corkscrew.

Another preference I have is for no keyring attachment (nub) on any knife. Maybe it's something about the size of my hand but I hate how they dig into my palm. Alox nubs are the worst! Neither of my Tourists came with one, nor one of my Spartans. I filed the nub off my favourite Camper.
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Sawl, you summed it up better than I did. I will say I think you should try a Farmer. I too had the Pioneer X but gave it to my daughter. But the Farmer is about perfect. Ironically, I just took delivery of another Tourist, but this one had a grooved corkscrew. Weird as it is, I rarely use the key ring but I think it looks odd without it.
 
315 said:
Sawl, you summed it up better than I did. I will say I think you should try a Farmer. I too had the Pioneer X but gave it to my daughter. But the Farmer is about perfect. Ironically, I just took delivery of another Tourist, but this one had a grooved corkscrew. Weird as it is, I rarely use the key ring but I think it looks odd without it.
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I'll have a Farmer eventually, I think! Just not in a hurry while I'm happy enough with what I have.
 
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315 said:
My very first Swiss Army Knife was a Victorinox Small Tinker. I carried that knife almost exclusively for around 28 years before I started buying others. I’m not sure if that’s why I’m throwing this out there, or I’ve been able to draw a conclusion. When it comes to a 2 layered SAK, I prefer the 84 over the 91mm knives. I have a Spartan and gave my Dad my full sized Tinker, but for some reason I don’t really care for the 91’s with 2 layers. When it comes to Alox, I love the Soldier and Pioneer (Yes I know they’re 93). I absolutely love a 3 layered 91mm, probably why I have 6 Campers. I Don’t know if it’s the length to thickness ratio that makes the 84 more appealing? I have a new set of Micarta scales for a 91 that I’ve been debating on what they should go on, and I’m almost ready to just throw them on a Camper. I’ve thought about a Compact, but I don’t know if I’d end up liking it enough to carry. I’m rambling on, but I’d be curious to hear others thoughts...
Click to expand...
You mentioned the Compact.. I have one and carry it often. It has the can opener ( must have for me) as well as the scissors. As a bonus it has the ink pen( which I have used) Nice 2 layer.
 
Jim, I actually feel the same way about the 2 layer 84mm vs the 91mm. My go to 2 layer is my small Tinker vs the 91mm Tinker, yet I have no issues carrying the ALOX Pioneer, go figure??? I know the difference is minimal, but grab the 84 on a regular basis. Then, I'll grab a super Tinker and have no hang ups at all:oops:

Makes no sense, so figure there's no logic in trying to figure it out😄
 
I like the Cadet as a pocket knife. It is easier to carry and still gives me a tool set. The 3 layer or more 84mm SAKs I don't care for. I do like the Pioneer X, however. We need a Cadet X and that would be the ultimate pocket knife as far as I am concerned because the Alox is already slim and on the Cadet it would not be thick even with the scissors.
 
Using a (91mm 4 layer) Huntsman for many years when afield, I narrowed down the SAK tools I most commonly need. At home I don't need scissors, a saw or the longer blade of a 91mm SAK, in my pocket. So I choose to carry the pocket friendly (2 layer 84mm) Sportsman when staying home. When leaving the house a 93mm Farmer goes in my RFP and a Rambler on my key chain for maximum tool options.
At home a two layer 84mm is sufficient
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Away from home a combination of a three layer 93mm and a two layer 58mm work best for me.
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My first couple of saks, acquired about a week apart, were a 91 mm Tinker and Climber. I remember being amazed at how useful these trinket knives were. I had really been underestimating how well made saks are.
Anyway once I was a sak convert, didn’t take long, I ordered what I thought was the perfect sak. A 91 mm Fieldmaster that I sheath carried for 4 or 5 years. It’s still the perfect woods bumming sak but no longer an edc. EA2F5204-AA87-4C11-9084-9222E8B6B133.jpeg
These days my edc sak is the above 84 mm tinker. Paired with a larger folder, anything from a Case trapper to a Spyderco Para 2, and I’m pretty prepared for whatever the day brings. And like alot of us my sak does the majority of the daily cutting tasks. The larger folder is for backup and because I like knives. ;)
315 said:
I’ve thought about a Compact, but I don’t know if I’d end up liking it enough to carry.
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The Compact wasn’t for me. The combo tool is a poor replacement for the can opener bottle opener layer imho and the hook just seems silly when they could have put the awl in its place. You are welcome to the one I have if you would like to give it a try.
 
I like the small tinker better than the large tinker. I'm not really sure why, but I do. But I like the 85mm S111 better than either tinker. It has a locking main blade and a clip point secondary blade. It also has a locking feature on the large flat blade screw driver, that is designed to prevent it from folding on you, when you are pushing hard trying to get that hard to remove screw out.

O.B.
 
I prefer the 84 mm knives in any configuration. In my opinion, the 91mm versions just add weight and bulk for no good reason. I believe 85mm was the largest Wenger size when they were still in business. 84 mm just carries great in a pocket.
 
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