Izzy, check your PM, ASAP. I have a link that may blow your socks off.

Interesting backstory. Helps inform my buying choices. Thanks for the heads-up.

BTW, I agree with your comments about the Safari/ /GAK trooper line. These were fine tools. I gave a Victorinox-stamped variant to a friend many years ago. And I have a couple of the West German (GAK) versions still. They were selling for $20 many years ago. One I used, hard, and it still rotates amongst various kits. The other is new and untouched; nary a Swiss logo to be seen.

Absolutely, I assume these GAKs were made by a different company, but to the same physical specs. The steel is slightly different (and slightly better IMO). I guess it's common practice for military procurement to be contracted to the home-town crowd whenever possible. That's politics, baby.

The stamp on the tang says TSR Rostfrei (all caps).

A hard core wilderness survival scenario does not typically involve bottles of wine.

But there are other sides to life than strict hard core wilderness survival settings. Life should include things like good friends and bottles of wine. Having a cork screw is more a statement to this attitude than an actual nescessity...

To me, it makes sense to carry a swiss army knife (or multitool) with a cork screw on a regular basis - and in particular taking it with me when camping, picnicking or canoeing.




Field can mean a lot of things, including combat experience, which I don't have, so I'll avoid that term for now.

I've used the cork screw in the bush/wilderness - for it's intended purpose as well as a poking instrument. Surprising how useful a poking instrument is when you have to fix things. And yes, there are tons of things other than a cork screw that can serve as poking instruments.

A corkscrew just seems like a less than optimum choice for a military issue item (GAK). I always prefer the models that have a Phillips screwdriver in that location, but what can I say? - my favorite wine comes in bottles with screw tops......

I prefer to take boxed/bagged wine with me into the wild.

I prefer a standalone corkscrew. There's one in my camping gear.

Before Leathermans, I used SAK corkscrews to open knots that were impossibly tight. The tip would slip neatly in between. Then give it a couple of turns and pull. Works pretty well.

My SAK corkscrews have also ensured the survival of countless dinner parties.

On a trip to Paris many years ago we had an impromptu picnic on the back lawn at Versailles. We had picked up a fine Bordeaux at a supermarket (really good wine in French supermarkets) and my SAK corkscrew saved the day by being there. Just one fond memory of my adventures with that Victorinox Champion (not to be confused with the overly large Swiss Champ).

Great tip, Doug. Thanks! I've used my SAK corkscrew many times on our Fish N Chix trips but never thought of using it on knots. Cool!