# Your Swiss Army Knife (a poll) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 10, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722 "2003-01-10T12:09:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/21 "2003-01-10T15:21:26Z")
I have the **Spartan** , but then I was given a Leatherman **Wave** and the Spartan was relegated to reserve corkscrew… Grim ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/22 "2003-01-10T15:24:44Z")
I love my Swiss Army knives. Around the house, I use the **Putterer**. When camping, I need something a little more advanced (survival, you know) and rely on my **Fershlugginer**. At work, I need something a little more technical. My **Quackmeister** fills the bill. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/23 "2003-01-10T15:40:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Podkayne \* > **Tinker Deluxe. They don’t seem to make it any more, which is a shame. It’s like the Tinker, plus scissors, pliers, and that hook thing. There’s also a hole in the awl.** ::::phew::::: I couldn’t find mine on the web site, and I thought I might be in posession of a counterfit. Those pliers come in handy all. the. time. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/24 "2003-01-10T16:15:03Z")
I have a Tinker that I bought in Germany 12 years ago. The red plastic sides have fallen off, so it has a really neat all-metal look. I have that on my keychain and a regular Leatherman in my bag. ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/25 "2003-01-10T16:27:47Z")
I have the explorer…how great it is to have a magnifying glass on a knife. Would like some pliers as well with it but that will be the next one to get. ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/26 "2003-01-10T16:36:34Z")
I’ve got the **Ranger** , a monster of a knife, but it makes a really nice bulge. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/27 "2003-01-10T17:12:49Z")
I carry a SWISSTOOL at work, it comes in handy regularly, I had a GERBER but the new rules offshore say “no non locking knife blades” so I bought the SWISSTOOL, it was expensive but worth every penny. unclviny ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/28 "2003-01-10T17:16:47Z")
Bought mine the first year I worked in Switzerland, 1981. Carry it with me at all times - it has repaired many an item, saved a celebrity-filled black tie affair (can you believe the caterers forgot to bring a single corkscrew with 25 cases of wine! You should have seen those folks opening every bottle with the little corkscrew on my knife - ha!) and has only gotten lost once, briefly, when it fell out of my pocket in the car and slid under the seat. Only damage was when I lent it to my boss who used the KNIFE as a screwdriver and bent the tip. Luckily I don’t fly all that often, and have to remember to leave the knife in the glove compartment when I go to pick people up at the airport. I can’t begin to tell you how often people will be trying to fix something and I hear, “Go ask DMark - he has a Swiss Army knife…” ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/29 "2003-01-10T17:20:00Z")
I used to have a Gerber multi-plier, but I lost it sometime around Thanksgiving. I’m still kicking myself over it, as it was the kind with the long serrated and straight blades, the kind they don’t make anymore. ---
**Author:** ![DaToad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DaToad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaToad)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/30 "2003-01-10T17:23:02Z")
A “Classic” in my pocket and a “Outrider” with the camping gear. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/31 "2003-01-10T17:35:08Z")
A black **Time Keeper**. I love that thing. My parents got it for me about 15 years ago in Switzerland, and I’ve never had to change the watch battery. Amazing. Maybe there’s a tiny hamster in there who feeds on pocket lint. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/32 "2003-01-10T17:38:07Z")
Mine has a grappling hook and a surgical laser. Cost me a bundle. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/33 "2003-01-10T18:36:25Z")
3 broken Classics in red, all from my empoyer’s FOD program. Currently carry a Classic SD in transparent blue. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/34 "2003-01-10T18:42:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chukhung \* > \*\*I may be a heathen for not owning a Victorinox, but my can opener works better! \*\* A Wenger is better than a Victorinox? In any way? No way! Nuh-uh! Liar, liar, pants on fire! I can’t hear you- la la la la la la! (Note: Victorinox is the ORIGINAL SAK, and Wenger is the GENUINE one. Both companies have a contract with the Swiss Army, so they are both “real”. Just for the sake of this poll, any multi-blade knife, multi-tool or nailclippers (as long as they have the file that flips out) count.) (But Victorinox is best.) And: [Most of the Victorinox SAK’s on one page, mostly with pictures](http://www.onestopknifeshop.com/store/victorinox-swiss-army-knives.html). ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/35 "2003-01-10T18:48:41Z")
While **royjwood** , said: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by royjwood \* > **one black Swisscard in my wallet (gets through the airport customs every time!).** What was really meant was: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by royjwood \* > one black Swisscard in my wallet ( **gets caught at the airport customs every time! so don’t bother stockpiling these miracle tools and try to overthrow World Government** ). Sorry for any mis-understanding this may have caused. -Rue. (Safety Guy) ---
**Author:** ![tsarina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@tsarina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsarina)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/36 "2003-01-10T19:11:51Z")
When I went to Europe in 1998, our bus was driving towards Luzern when the tour guide passed around an order form for knives if we wanted to get one. I was about to order the Climber, for 29 Swiss Francs, but then spotted the bigass serrated blade on the Huntsman and had to have it (for a mere 5 francs more). When I got to the store, they were out of black Huntsmans, so I got mine in camouflage, with my initials engraved on the back. I have used that thing hundreds of times, and have found several good uses for that bigass blade - it was a good investment! ---
**Author:** ![HomeSlice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9d8465/32.png) [@HomeSlice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeSlice)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/37 "2003-01-10T19:21:40Z")
I have this watch. [http://www.swissarmy.com/webstore/moreinfo.cfm?product\_id=2945&category=29](http://www.swissarmy.com/webstore/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=2945&category=29) And this knife. [http://www.swissarmy.com/webstore/moreinfo.cfm?product\_id=2167&category=40](http://www.swissarmy.com/webstore/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=2167&category=40) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/38 "2003-01-10T19:22:22Z")
Red Explorer, only mine predates that grappling hook doohickey. I use the scissors the most. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/39 "2003-01-10T19:30:15Z")
I hear they sell better than the Swiss Army Napkin Holder. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/40 "2003-01-10T19:30:18Z")
I have the Spartan, though I lost the tweezers and toothpick. I bought it several years ago, in Saltzburg, I think. It comes in handy, though I don’t carry it around with me anymore. I keep it on my dresser or in the kitchen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722.md?page=3)