So I have this old Victorinox Rambler that I've been carrying over the past couple of days. Normally I am not a fan of the 58mm SAK but I must admit that it really does the "98%" of all daily cutting tasks. This is what I always see being mentioned on BF but also on other forums. In particular with regards to the Classic. In all honesty, I must admit that it is very much true! And it's easy on the pocket as well with only 30 grams or so. In fact, it is pretty much amazing! I can see this old Rambler pushing my trusty Recruit out of my pocket for the foreseeable future!
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It really does "98%" of all tasks!
- Thread starter K.Coper
- Start date
Unfortunately, this is a point that I only discovered late in my knife nut life. In my younger day, I tried to cover ALL my bases and ended up lugging around more junk than I care to list. It didn't help that I was into the silly prepping trip and had lost sight of many of what my parents and grandparents had known decades before I was born. That you can't ever really be prepared for "everything" but with a few basics and some knowledge, you can be prepared for most, maybe even 98% of things.
On the subject of knives, my lesson came later in life after dad passed away, and just out of sentiment, I took to carry his little Case Peanut. I had always been of the thought that if I didn't have at least 3 inches of blade, I was under knifed. No, I was wrong. When I used that little peanut, it cut whatever I needed to cut with no problem. The same epiphany took place with SAKs. I watched my wife use and abuse a little SAK classic, and I thought it would fall apart under her use. I was wrong again. When I did my own experiment by carrying a classic on a trial run, I made it a point try the 58mm first, before I went for my Tinker or Wenger SI. To my huge surprise, it did opened boxes, mail, cut twine, broke down UPS and Fedex boxes for recycle, dealt with small flat and Phillips screws and actually let me fix things off someplace, and the scissors cut like the dickens.
I ended up convinced that all those years I had lugged around all that
'other' stuff, I had been wrong. None of it was needed. I had forget the lessons had learned from watching dad and a couple of uncles deal with stuff in their minimalistic way. In the 20 years I lugged around a Randall number 14 as my woods/camping/hiking knife, it was never needed. Being a Randall, it got sold for more than I paid for it.
It all really depends on who we are, what we are, and where we are. For most of us living urban or suburban surroundings, we really don't need much knife or tool. A small sharp blade for opening packages, a little screw driving capability, and maybe some small scissors to deal with a chipped nail, is most all we need. I figure if I go camping, I'llhave an appropriate fixed bade. If I go fishing, I'll have my fishing knife. If I need to deal with a can. I have my old P-38 in my wallet.
I'll settle for 98%!
On the subject of knives, my lesson came later in life after dad passed away, and just out of sentiment, I took to carry his little Case Peanut. I had always been of the thought that if I didn't have at least 3 inches of blade, I was under knifed. No, I was wrong. When I used that little peanut, it cut whatever I needed to cut with no problem. The same epiphany took place with SAKs. I watched my wife use and abuse a little SAK classic, and I thought it would fall apart under her use. I was wrong again. When I did my own experiment by carrying a classic on a trial run, I made it a point try the 58mm first, before I went for my Tinker or Wenger SI. To my huge surprise, it did opened boxes, mail, cut twine, broke down UPS and Fedex boxes for recycle, dealt with small flat and Phillips screws and actually let me fix things off someplace, and the scissors cut like the dickens.
I ended up convinced that all those years I had lugged around all that
'other' stuff, I had been wrong. None of it was needed. I had forget the lessons had learned from watching dad and a couple of uncles deal with stuff in their minimalistic way. In the 20 years I lugged around a Randall number 14 as my woods/camping/hiking knife, it was never needed. Being a Randall, it got sold for more than I paid for it.
It all really depends on who we are, what we are, and where we are. For most of us living urban or suburban surroundings, we really don't need much knife or tool. A small sharp blade for opening packages, a little screw driving capability, and maybe some small scissors to deal with a chipped nail, is most all we need. I figure if I go camping, I'llhave an appropriate fixed bade. If I go fishing, I'll have my fishing knife. If I need to deal with a can. I have my old P-38 in my wallet.
I'll settle for 98%!
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I live a typical suburban life and 98% means only 2% can't be done immediately. And those 2% do not happen while I am out of the house. I never walked the streets and suddenly had to break down a very large box, for example. At home I have the Stanley no. 199 to do that sort of thing. But for opening a package, some mail, turn a screw or open a bottle of beer, the Rambler doesn't do any worse than a larger SAK. I'm an urban setting, there is not much added benefit to a larger SAK. Only now I am starting to see this.
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2022
- Messages
- 4
Furthermore, if you plan a bit, you can even account for that 2% and carry something larger 2% of the time. The rambler works very well. I switch between a rambler (manager) and a classic in the watch pocket. This two get used most. However, I like to peel apples and while it is doable with a 58mm, it is not as enjoyable as with a larger SAK.
Edit:
What are your 2%?
Well, it is basically cutting down large boxes once in a while. And never when I am away from home. For that sort of thing I figured I can simply use my Stanley 199 utility knife.
My 2% is my old Buck 102 woodsman. It gets used for food stuff on hikes and fishing by the river. I could clean a nice fat catfish with a 58mm, but why would I put up with that mess? Foods are mostly my 2%. That only happens while home, where I have real kitchen knives on hand, or out camping, and my Buck fixed blade is on hand. Also, my wife has her number 8 Opinel in her purse, so we're covered there. My alox bantam is along a lot of the time, for the 2% that a 58mm blade won't handle. If I have to break down large boxes for recycle, theres an old beat up Stanley 99 by the trash/recycle bins.
Most days I get by fine with just my squirt blade which is the same length of the 58mm SAK blade, just with that chisel edge I love.
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2014
- Messages
- 7,462
I've had a Rambler on my key-chain for several years so anytime I leave the house I have it with me. It has never let me down. In fact I just bought a second one to carry around the house. Yeah, I like it that much!! 
The dealer even surprised me by including a pocket slip.
The dealer even surprised me by including a pocket slip.