How to practice Safe SAKs..

[Sergemaster]

There’s nothing worse than not having a SAK in your pocket when you need it, especially if you had it in your pocket when you left the house that morning. Some of the most panicked moments of my life came from when I realized my trusty SAK wasn’t where I left it. Fortunately I managed to find them eventually, but it was actually a pretty big deal to me at the time.

There are many ways of keeping your SAK where you want it, but there are unfortunately more ways for it to not be where you want it. Faulty velcro or snaps, open topped cases, holes in pockets, putting it down or dropping it outside and not remembering where you saw it last- all terrible causes for losing a pretty good SAK, but fortunately there is a solution, and that is the lanyard.

Admittedly, this is why SAKs traditionally have red scales, but given the popularity of other colors and patterns, it’s very easy to lose one. The use of a lanyard especially if its made up with bright colors helps with the recovery of a lost or misplaced SAK.

Lanyards also provide a little extra function- increased grip for one, as they make it easier to pull out of a pocket or very form fitting sheath, they can be decorative, and they also give you a convenient way of carrying some rope with you, and you never really know when that could come in handy.

Here are some pics of the SAKs that I like to carry each with its own unique lanyard, just something to think about before that next walk into the woods.

Cheers,
Serge

[Sergemaster]

Here's one more at a different angle, enjoy..



Cheers,
Serge

[Sergemaster]

Here are two more of the larger sized SAKs, that seem to be gaining in popularity over the past few years, the Victorinox Trekker and the Wenger Mountaineer.



Cheers,
Serge

[gcollin]

Haha, I use clip knives. Every time I get home I put them away (in their designated spot) and then I will know where they are.

[Sergemaster]

Clips can fail my friend and then what, the lanyard makes a pretty distinctive marker on the ground, the brighter the better. Something to think about even for pocket clip carry..

Cheers,
Serge

[gcollin]

I put the knife part in my pocket then have the clip part on the outside of my pocket. That way if the clip fails (which it never has for me) the knife will drop into my pocket.

[Sergemaster]

That's a standard carry method so that's cool. However, most folders with clips are quite limited to the cutting role, the SAK especially the big ones give you a few more for little little bang for your buck..

This is my newest acquisition, a Wenger Ranger Evogrip 78. It's a OHO with a locking main blade, a double cut wood saw,
cap lifter, wire stripper, can opener, reamer, awl with an sewing eye, and screw drivers of both the flathead/phillips variety plus lets not forget the groovy rubber inserts that provide extra gripping ability in all types of weather conditions encountered and the contured handles.

Now would a pocket clip be nice, of course. But that unfortunately is the case. But I can put it in either a side or back pocket and simply pull it out by the lanyard. It's not everyone's cup of tea but it works for me.



Cheers,
Serge

[zdaucfk]

what if you put a small bell on your lanyard then you would hear it when it hits the ground also, if you are searching you can kick the leaves and possibly find it by sonar!

[akula83]

Those lanyards are nice! It's easy to loose stuff on the ground right in front of you in the leaf litter, Just got a Orange G10 Kershaw Skyline for just that reason.

[Sergemaster]

Bibgo, the BRIGHTER the better, but again it depends on what type of blade you plan on carrying with you into the field. I always bounce from fixed to folder, depending on my "adventure" planned for that given day..

Cheers,
Serge