Although it has no locking blade the SAK Farmer is one popular knife with many folks interested in survival in the woods.
Amazon has red Farmers for $19.99! I just got a couple.
I just thought I would let the ETSers know about it. It may be a limited offer time wise.
Bill

That is my favorite SAK... don't have one in red though

People familiar with the "normal" nylon-handled SAK might be interested to know that these knives are at least twice as strong (blade, handle, tools, etc.). The spring is a lot stronger too, so it holds the tools in place quite well (even though it doesn't lock). The flat screwdriver is an excellent pry bar, and the awl makes drill-perfect holes. Being so heavy duty, they can tackle a lot of real-life work.

I used to carry one all the time (without the saw). However, nowadays I carry a Leatherman and a thin, sharp locking folder. I prefer a single locking blade for "crud" work.

On the plus side, though, a Swiss Army knife is not generally perceived as a weapon. That could make it acceptable carry in a wider range of situations.

I am actually tempted to try a customization. I was thinking of removing the rivets, taking it apart and then rebuilding it without the can upener and bottle opener. This would give me a very thin SAK with saw, knife and awl. Just an idea.
I wonder what I could use to replace the rivets? Perhaps some small bolts like other knives have.
Any thoughts on this? Flame away.
On second thought maybe Doug walkabout is right about the bottle opener being a good pry bar.
Bill

I think Vic made a 2 layer SAK with the same blade and saw as the farmer, with alox scales. I believe it was called the "Woodsman". Tim Felinevet might be able to get you one.

Thought I'd also mention that the can opener does a passable job on phillips-head screws.

But yeah, with the addition of the saw, it becomes a pretty fat package for a pocket. More comfortable in a small belt pouch.

The mod is an interesting idea. If you were careful during disassembly, you could probably leave the existing rivets in place (along with the other tools and springs). File them down a bit and carefully re-rivet the ends with a ball pien hammer. Not too tight of course -- go slow. You can't change your mind afterwards :-).

Hmm, The only "Woodsman" I can find has the same three-layer design, but has a marlin spike with sewing hole instead of the standard awl.

Anybody have a link for the 2-layer alox SAK with a saw?

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-F...6841&sr=8-5

That should help...

I got the Farmer with the thought of carrying it in my Mission Wallet although I knew it would be tight. Didn't fit so I went back to the single layer Pioneer Pruner. I like the Farmer though, very solid feel, thanks for the tip on the red ones. I wouldn't try to thin it down, unless you really know you're doing it will lose structural integrity which was the whole point of that construction. I like the idea of the pry bar use in this version of the SAK.

If one removed one layer why would that affect the structural integrity? I know of folks who have done this to red plastic handled SAKs without any issues.

Personally, I don't think removing a layer would have any impact on the strength of this tool. That comes from the springs and especially from the solid aluminum slabs that form the handles.

I would be more worried about mods to a "standard" SAK. Those plastic/nylon handles add a lot of stability to the whole tool, and if they aren't reattached properly, the knife could be mangled by a twisting motion.

Keep in mind that modifying a SAK will wipe out the warranty; and if the rivets don't hold, noone is responsible for the consequences but yourself. ($20 isn't a lot to risk, though.)

If you really know how all those little parts go together then go for it. But the fact that you're asking if you should use bolts or rivets to put it back together tells me you don't know. I don't even know how to take it apart so maybe it's just my ignorance talking. Would Victorinox Service do it?

Then again, why not try it -- you're only out $20 if you can't get it back together as well as you'd like and it might turn out great. dougwalkabout's idea of reusing the same rivets is good. At least they'll be the right size.

No I have not tried this before. But look at an SAK; not that many parts. It can not be too hard.
I don't expect to get a warranty.

Thanks for the info. I also ordered one. Although I prefer my one hand opening Trekker because the blade locks, this knife should be less intimidating to those at work that don't like knives. It is red like most Swiss Army knives!

The modification I like is to sharpen the large screwdriver blade to make it into a chisel. I got this idea from my Swiss Tool. The blade still works well as a bottle opener and pry tool, but it now provides a safe way to fine tune traps, etc. I have found the chisel modification very useful.

Spud

A chisel is useful. I broke the tip off a small blade on one of my SAKs (my fault) and rather than send it in to get the blade replaced, I gave it a chisel-like tip in a tanto profile -- functional.

price is now $27.99

I wonder if Amazon software bumps up the price if a deal is linked and gets a bunch of hits start coming in.

Not really. The cellidor scales are just press fit on the ends of the peened rods holding the knife together. You can easily pop them on and off. Victorinox and other 3rd parties offer replacement scales. I've removed/replaced them a lot, and made custom wooden scales. If you do it too much the holes in the scales get worn out and the scale just falls off. The strength of the knife is in the liners and the rods holding the knife together.

The alox scales are a completely different story. They're peened on.

Kevin B.

http://www.smartknives.com/Victorinox-Knives/Victorinox-Pioneer-Range.htm

Victorinox Pioneer Range Knife
The Victorinox Pioneer Range Swiss Army knife provides a sharp blade and a wood saw, in a handsome and light-weight aluminum ribbed alox finish. This model has also been called the Woodsman knive, although there is another version of the Victorinox Woodsman which is very different.
*** continued ***

SBRaider,
Cool? That was kind of thinking of. I would like to keep the awl but an alox SAK with just a blade and saw; that would be very cool.
Bill

I'd wonder if Victorinox Service would make one (custom) if you sent them a Farmer. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

I've several of the 2 layer Alox Woodsman's in kits, along with Alox Farmer SAK's, and 3 Alox Lumberjacks. BTW, a Alox Lumberjack is a fantastic addition to the AMK PSP or a Altoids Tin kit. Alox Lumberjack Swiss Army Knife is 84mm im size, the Alox Farmer or Woodsman is 93mm. Either size is very workable in kits and for BOB usage. Alox Lumberjack below.

Aha! That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Thanks, SBRaider, for the links and photos. You da man!

I need to track one (or ten!) of these down.

I had never heard of either the alox Woodsman or Lumberjack.
Are they still being made? I saw a Woodsman on sleezebay.
B

Interesting comments (re: mods to the standard plastic-handled SAK).

I have taken the plastic handles off a few, and put them on a buffing wheel to smooth out the rough edges. Makes them very svelte in the pocket of my suit pants (where a bulge might give the wrong impression :-).

But in my (admittedly limited) experience, they feel considerably less sturdy without the plastic handles when cutting etc. Maybe that's subjective; I haven't pushed one to the point of failure.

One of these days I might put on some heavy duty gloves and sacrifice a cheap/old one "in the interests of science."

Whoops, now that I read your post more closely, I see that the Alox Lumberjack pictured is smaller than the Farmer.

I would still buy one of these Lumberjacks if I came across it.

But I suspect the blade is a lot lighter and thinner than the full-size one on the Farmer/Soldier/etc. So, it wouldn't be adequate as a general-purpose bush knife (from my perspective anyway).

Vic Woodsman EBAY auction by Felinevet. I'm not affiliated with Felinevet, nor do I get remuneration from him. As a customer, I am 100% satisfied.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VICTORINOX-RED-ALOX-...1QQcmdZViewItem

Is the small screwdriver usable as a phillips?

The screwdriver in the "small size" Lumberjack (the silver-handled one) fits phillips heads quite well. It's a combination tool that opens tin cans too (though not as neatly as the dedicated type of opener). This screwdriver/combo tool is fairly slim, so it's best suited to "light duty" work.

As far as I can tell, the "full size" red-handled Woodsman (pictured above) doesn't have any tools besides the blade and saw.