silenus–I vaguely recall hearing someone say a few years back that the steel used by the Swiss Army folks isn’t what it used to be, and that they had problems holding an edge… any truth to that?
I vote for a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife as well. I literally rank mine in the same category as my car and computer for most valuable possessions. Even though the aren’t that expensive, the quality still seems really good (probably because they do large volume). I use mine several times a day and I work in and office and come straight home to take care of kids. I got one of the mid-sized models but they make whatever you want. They even have one with a USB thumb drive in it! I carefully chose the one I have now and ended up with two blades, scissors, pliers, screwdrivers, and even tweezers. I have used everything on it (except that weird hook thing on the bottom. what is that?) for real work and it has performed admirably. If you happen to loose it, it won’t break the bank either.
If that is the kind of thing you will be using it for, than I think that a Swiss army knife would serve you well.
I carry both a Spyderco Endura and a Victorinox Huntsman Lite. I go to the Victorinox first for most jobs–partly because it is more acceptable in many situations (the Spyderco is a big knife) but also because all the tools make it more versatile.
The Huntsman is probably bigger and has more gadgets than you want, but with the variety of Victorinox products I’m sure you can find one that has what you want. For one, the Compact seems to fit what you have listed.
Ya got me. The last time I bought a SAK was 1981. 
But they sharpen up nicely, so I wouldn’t really worry about it too much.
I do want a reasonably hefty blade… most of the Swiss Army blades seem kinda weenie to me. I loooooove the ones in the vintage kives link!
I have never managed to get a good edge with the Lansky. I use a dual angle/dual grit ceramic set-up that gives me a razor sharp edge (litterally sharp enough to shave hair).
I like a good knife and buy them like women buy shoes. My personal favorite is a Sog Flash-1. I removed the clip and the secondary locking mechanism (keeps it closed). I don’t like clips and even though it is an assisted-opening knife it has never opened in my pocket (other such knives have). I prefer the straight edge.
This is hands down my favorite knife. it is both lightweight and sturdy. With a little practice it can be opened and closed with 1 hand. It’s not too small and the handle is just long enough to give you purchase when holding it. Smaller knives are ackward.
I wondered about that, but when Nic2004 used the word “spring”, and I interpreted those two Wikipedia articles to say that the main distinction is that a switchblade implies a spring. In any case, it’s quite interesting, and I actually might look into getting one if assisted-opening knives really are more legal.
(Amongst similar uses, per my packaging) - Carrying plastic shopping bags so the straps don’t cut into your hand. I shit you not.
Yours sounds similar to mine - the Climber . I can say I’ve used every tool on there except the wire stripper at least once in this last month. I use the large blade, scissors and tweezers at least every second day.
I’ve had the same style Swiss Army knife for 37 years
I was given the first one when I was a kid, but lost it (or rather my SO lost it) and got an identical replacement.
Two blades, corkscrew (essential), bottle opener, can opener, screw drivers, saw and toothpick and tweezers - plus some strange spike thing with an edge.
The thing is 1.6cm wide.
I would not want a heavier/larger one, and a smaller one does have that comfortable ‘heft’.
The least used tool is the saw, but it is surprizingly effective.
Since 9/11 it has been a nuisance, as I prefer hand luggage only, but I’ve got a Teflon corkscrew and bottle opener that looks innocuous and does not show up under X-Rays.
OK, ‘reasonable amount’ is where you are going to get many different answers. However, I would recommend going to look at everything Benchmade has to offer these days. They have 4 different classes of knives (Gold, Blue, Black and Red) that offer different factors of “Wow!”
The Benchmade’s I have owned have all been excellent knives. I’ve mainly purchased in the Blue line - so, $100 to $150 a knife. Not only were they made well, they look great and the blades are excellent, if not sometimes too hard (which basically means that they keep an edge for a long time, but are a bitch to sharpen)(so get a diamond sharpener). These are the types of knives that when someone asks to borrow a knife and you hand them it, they will talk about the quality, feel, sharpness, etc. It is quality and people instantly recognize it. This is a knife you can pass onto your kids.
But would you want to tighten a screw with a $150 knife blade? Hmmm…maybe not, except for in an emergency. I know that I did use the back tip of my knife to tighten small screws (like on sunglasses), but for anything else like that I would use my Leatherman.
Now, you can get a cheaper knife from Benchmade - their Red line - that will have plastic handles and cheaper materials. But, the blade will still be excellent, the look will be interesting, and you won’t cry too much when you lose it.
I now carry a Spyderco that I am not happy with. It is their original design - Delica - in a stainless steel handle. It works and was half the price of my last Benchmade. But…it is not nearly as nice as my Benchmades were. I am waiting to return to the USA to buy a new Benchmade as they are twice the price here.
And you can open a beer bottle with just about any knife- Hold the bottle neck in one hand with the cap below the crook of the thumb about half an inch. Wrap your fingers around and then insert your knife (or a lighter, or a small flashlight, or ???) in a way that your first finger acts as the fulcrum while you put the edge of your knife (the ‘bolster’) just under the edge of the bottle cap. Apply leverage and the cap pops off.
Best-
-Thomas
I like good knives. I’ve got a set of Wusthof-Trident knives in my kitchen, and would expect to pay similarly for a good pocket knife. I’d say anywhere around $100 more or less. So far the Buck Alpha Dorado has been my favorite on paper. The Benchmade knives look like a heavy-duty utilitarian knife but they’re not so classy looking.
Damn, I have never been able to master that, guess I should start practicing 
It’s listed on the Victorinox site as “hook” so there you go, straight from the horse’s mouth.
An oldtimer explained that the hook remains more as an historical fixture than anything else. The hook was designed to pull the laces tight while lacing up the high army boots used by the Swiss a century or so ago.
I have the Swiss Army Camper, but mine doesn’t have the little wood saw on it. Mine’s about 15 years old, so maybe they added that sometime after I got mine.
I also have this little one in blue. Everyone calls it my little girly knife. I keep it on my key chain and use it all the time.
Since I’m between jobs I took the opportunity to try the bottle opening technique on a noon-day Smirnoff (mmmm black cherry). Can’t believe I never heard of this before. It’s just basic leverage.
The Buck you listed is a beautiful knife. 4.3 oz is pretty heavy for anything other than jeans and then you don’t want to put anything else in your pocket. I have a pile of knives that I really like but don’t want them in my pocket because of weight. I prefer the much lighter Sog Flash for pocket use but the knife you listed also comes with a leather sheath which gives you the option of carrying it externally.
You might also consider the Benchmade 310. It is smaller than the knife you are looking at but is a work of art. The pattern in the handles is cut all the way through and is different on each side. The locking mechanism is part of the design and it locks the blade in both the open and closed position. The blade is completely unloaded and can be flicked open with a little practice. If you buy more than 1 knife then I highly recommend this one because of it’s uniqueness and beauty.
Both the Sog Flash -1 and the Benchmade 310 weigh 1/3 of the knife you’re looking at so you should think in terms of pocket vs sheath use. Personally, I’d buy them all.
Magiver, the one I have, this one, is pretty small and handy. It’s flat and fits right in your pocket and has a bottle opener. The description says it’s one ounce, but it feels heftier than that. It slides right in that little pocket-watch pocket on most jeans.
I pretty much only ever wear jeans or camos with cargo leg pockets, so that’s okay, and I do tend to prefer heftier tools… but that’s why I said “on paper”–it may be much too big in person. Are the Buck or Benchmade knives something I’m going to be able to find at a hunting/camping/sporting goods kind of store? Or are they really only sold online or at specialty type places? I would ultimately buy it online, but it would be nice to hold them and see how they feel and fit into my hands.
i have a buck model 110 folding hunter that i bought forty years ago. it is a simple, single blade lockback that still holds an edge you can shave with.
I once told someone I’d like a pocketknife for Christmas. Now I’ve got a box full.
This Opinel is the one I carry. Not the sturdiest knife I have, but it’s lightweight, holds a good edge, and I like the way the handle fits my hand. (They started out making knives for vineyard workers).
Hey, I’m an old guy. I peel a lot of apples. 
No kidding. That folder and a Buck 102 were all I ever carried during my backpacking heyday.