Well, depends on the places I am going. EDC is a Victorinox Rambler and in the daypack/briefcase is a Victorinox Farmer. If I am going hiking I usually carry a Swiss Tool and the Rambler. If I am going on an extended trip I add a fixed blade, a Ghromann # 3 "Boat knife" in a covered sheath and keep it in my pack until needed. I do not like Leatherman tools, every one I have ever owned bent or broke in a short time. The steel is pathetic quality. I prefer the Swiss tool, although heavy and large, it handles everything thrown at it, with no damage. If I want to travel light and can see no need for pliers and some of the other multitool gadgets, I just go with the SAK Farmer, heavier blades than a standard SAK. I like the locker blades like the Forester and own one, just have never carried on a trip. I have had an old Farmer for 20+ yrs and still 100% condition, like all Victorinox products, they hold up through the "real deal"!!
When I was in the military I carried a Randall #1 fighting knife with the standard leather washer grip. A work of art!!
I am very particular about any item I carry, it has to work as advertised, not a belt decoration but a real tool. A lifetime warranty means nothing if you die when a tool fails at a critical time. I have belt shelters, made traps and camp items, cut ropes, cut loose a hung jumper stuck behind a C-130 at 125Kts, and done many tasks with the various knives and tools I have owned, the ones that held up are still with me. The ones that looked "cool" were given a fair test and if they failed, they are in the dumpster!

I carry a multitool I've never heard mentioned here before; a Sears Craftsman. I originally bought it because I could easily replace it if something on it were to break, no questions asked. I've carried it religiously for several years now, and use it on a daily basis. It's never let me down despite some oft times hard usage. I like the fact that I can access all the tools with it closed, and the pliers can be opened one-handed once you figure out how to flick it open properly. I dearly wish it had a small flathead screwdriver, but I can't really complain. I also carry a Wenger 'Esquire' SAK on my key chain, which I mostly use for the scissors (I much prefer the Wenger scissor design to that of the Victorinox). Once in a great while I'll carry one of those surplus West German Army knives that have recently flooded the market; nice knives really, but a little bulky for my tastes. I have other knives and multitools, but I never seem to carry them on my person. They all reside in my glove compartment, BOB, or flight bag.

My everyday carry is a benchmade 721 (Mel Pardue folder with the G10 handle). I had been carrying a CRKT Crawford Kapser Folder for about 2 and a half years before I got the Benchmade. I loved the CRKT...but after living with it for so long, I began to learn what I really wanted in a knife. The Benchmade fit in with the budget, and I like the asthetics. On my keychain, I have a Leatherman Micra. It's seen a lot of use, and is going to be retired soon (and replaced with a Squirt S4). Depending on where I'm going, I have a Leatherman Wave on my belt. Fixed blade wise, for a big blade I use my SOG Seal Knife. It's probably going to take a back seat to a Becker CU7 pretty soon. I also just picked up a CRKT Ryan Plan B...that's a fun little knife.

Yesterday, I picked up an Inova X5 (with the white LEDs). That thing is incredible. It is now part of my EDC. I'm sold on LEDs now.

Other random knives I have around...there's a Spyderco Endura in glove box in my car, and a Buck Model 119 in the trunk. A Gerber EZ Out in the big first aid kit. A random Victornox SAK that appeared in my car one day is now part of my cook kit. Aside from that, there are plenty more knives all around my place....usually within arm's reach.

-Chris

<<english isn´t my native language>>

Of course, but your command of it is far superior to my limited use of German. Your description is enough of a clue for me - they were bits for a parting tool for a lathe. Alloy could be any high speed tool steel from M2 on up to super alloys. My practical knowledge of high speed tool steels is limited to what I've used. It seems to me that they would make very practical small knives. Larger knives, I'm not so sure - in my experience they are not as flexible as more ordinary knive steels and they are not practically able to be differentially tempered - a uniform hardness throughout. I think that's why tool alloy knife blades tend to be thick bladed, but I may be wrong about that.

In any event, your use of parting or cut-off lathe bits is ingenious - I am going to make a couple myself and try them out. M2 and M5 bits are cheap... thanks for the idea!

Regards,

Tom

<<wet or oily hands the flick motion sometimes ends with an airborne tool >>

Good point. I suppose that this forum could compile a design list for a few multi tools that would incorporate the best features of all models. But who would manufacture them?

I carry a Benchmade-Crawford Leopard , a Super Tinker SAK w/ a Photon 2 on the key chain , a swisstool in my wallet . Also my BK-7 is usually within reach but i still have an A.G. Russell Deer Hunter belt knife on my side (VG-10 is very reliable.) <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I own the SwissTool R/S, the Leatherman Wave, the Micra, the PST, a bunch of Schrade Old-Timer type knives, the Spyderco Cricket and Dragonfly, and these SAKs: Explorer, Classic, Signature Lite II, Rambler, SwissChamp, Midnite MiniChamp II, Executive, Craftsman, Camper, CyberTool 34, and CyberTool 41.

For heavy-duty tasks, I get out the SwissTool R/S because I know it can handle anything without bending. The Wave rides in my EDC shoulder bag. I used to carry the Wave on my belt, but I never had any reason to use it. I didn't want to roam about everyday without a large multitool, so the Wave went into my bag. I carry the CyberTool 41 on my belt. It is useful since I work with computers. Having quick access to a nice long bit driver is cool. I like the saw, too.

My brother-in-law gave me a gift of a really beautiful handmade two-bladed folder. It is as well made as a SAK, and is built like a little tank. I carry this knife every day.

I also carry either the Cricket or Dragonfly in case I need a cutting tool fast. I never use them "just because" unless I am at home.

Lastly, I also carry the Midnite MiniChamp II because it is quite small, looks like a toy, is very inocuous, and offers an array of tools.

What do I carry?

Well, then the earth was young and dinosaurs roamed freely - sorry, when I was a teenager - my parents gave me a SAK. A 'Champ' or 'Camper', I don't remember. It had two blades, scissors, can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew and awl. (That knife, when combined with a Buck 'Folding Hunter' (4" blade), got me through many outdoors trips with the Scouts - including 2 trips to Philmont.) To me, my SAK was the Nirvana of Knives.

My trusty SAK soldiered on in my pocket all through college. To prove the point that "preparedness" covers more than just survival, my trusty SAK even saved a date. The girlfriend invited me out one weekend for a picnic lunch on the levee. All was perfect - secluded clearing overlooking the mighty Mississippi, big cozy blanket, wonderful eats, a bottle of Italian wine. And no corkscrew. She wanted to pack up and head home. I reached into my pocket, produced the SAK, deployed the corkscrew and… saved the day. She was VERY appreciative. (Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.) <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> MY SAK did it all. We were inseparable.

Then, I graduated. A large SAK just didn't fit comfortably in the pocket of office attire, so I bought a SAK 'Classic' for my key ring, and relegated my old friend to the front pocket of my daypack. For me, it was almost like sending grand-pa to the home. I missed that reassuring weight in my pocket. But, the arrangement worked well - I had in my pocket the tools I needed day-to-day (mostly the scissors and the tweezers), and everything else I thought I would ever need was in my daypack. It worked well for 15 years.

Then I discovered 'Equipped to Survive'. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

After one evening's wandering through ETS, my trusted old friend seemed so, so…. limited. "What?" I cried, "No locking blades? No serrated blades? No saw? No phillips screwdriver? No…. PLIERS?? We gotta talk, old friend." I had never heard of a 'Leatherman Wave' before, now I had to have one. Bad. My wife thought I was moonbat nuts. $70 bucks for a knife? No way. (BTW - word of advice for all you guys out there. NEVER, EVER try to rationalize the cost of a knife by comparing it with what she would spend for a pair of shoes. Just trust me on this one.) To keep domestic tranquillity, I kept my old SAK in my briefcase (moved up from the daypack), and got a Buck "Minitool" to replace my SAK 'Classic'. It worked OK, but the pliers were too small (how I got this far in life without pliers on me, I'll never know.) Then, I got a Leatherman 'Micra' as a gift. Its scissors and tweezers were superior to the Buck, so on the key ring it went. (During this period, I actually took to carrying a pair of Sears Craftsman pliers in my briefcase. Sad, isn't it?).

I never got the 'Wave', because I discovered the Leatherman 'Juice/Squirt' series. It allowed me to keep the 'two-tool' approach (one on person, one in my daytimer/briefcase) that had worked so well for me in the past, with practically no duplication of tools. (I don't need two scissors, thank you.) So after many years of being my constant companion, my SAK was finally relegated to the "Drawer of Misfit Tools" in my drafting table, and replaced by a 'Juice Kf4'. The 'Micra' was later dumped for a 'Squirt S4'.

That is where I am today. While my functional tool needs have been met, I am still not satisfied somehow. I want my old SAK back with me. Each time I see it, a flood of memories returns - the nick from this incident, the scratch from that. My story in a 3 1/2-inch package. When I look at my shiny Kf4, I see a tool. If it gets lost, buy another one.

I know, I know. When the chips are down, there is no room for sentimentality. I am better prepared now. But…..

Oh, yes - and I blame all of this on Doug. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

…..CLIFF

Tackdriver,
I used to EDC only a SAK huntsman, but then I was awakened but ETS.org. This website actually got me to decide on the Swisstool RS. I wanted a Multitool that had scissors on it so that is why Iwent with the RS. Plus it has a serrated blade as well, although it is not the best, it still does a damn fine job. I had owned just about every other major brand and was not satified with any of them. Victorinox offers a better tool in my opinion, based mostly on each blade being locked, better grip and a stronger feel. Its heavy but I am a strong guy (or so I like to think.)

I also carry a Spyderco Military. After much research, I wanted a Chris Reeve Sebenza, but my wife said no to that one. The Military is a great knife and I actually appreciate its large size and relatively low profile. It is a huge knife, so I would suggest handling it at a store before you buy one.

WIth companies like Victoriniox and Spyderco, you get good equipment for the price, plus unparalled customer service.

I hope this helped you out,

Garrett

I switch between a Wave and a Juice Pro. I like the wave because it is pretty thin and light, has some locking tools with on hand openable blades. I usually carry that when I do outdoors stuff. I like the Juice because it has everything you could possible need in a multitool, however it just doesn't seem as heavy duty, though I may be wrong. Also, it wears a bit better on my belt and I feel fits in better with PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. then the wave would. I do have a Swisstool, but I have found it way to big to carry, hard to open one handed and it just doesn't give the tools I need. Anyway, my EDC is the Juice Pro with a Benchmade 705BT and when I go scouting I take a BM 720 and a Wave. I also carry on a keychain a leatherman squirt S4 along with a wistle, Photon light, and BSA sparklight.