Love that Fire Ant ferro rod / tinder idea! The Compact for EDC is awesome and so is the 3-layer Companion, but I find both lack a good Phillips screwdriver. There are five possible solutions: 1) Carry an additional 58mm Rambler or Minichamp with the Phillips combi tool, 2) add an in line Phillips/Mag glass layer to the Compact (this is the discontinued Yeoman), 3) add an in line Phillips/Lite module layer, 4) add a Cybertool layer, or 5) replace the corkscrew with a back layer Phillips. Most people opt for #1. Options 2-4 add about 5-6mm extra width to the Compact and Companion. While both are still small they no longer "disappears" in the pocket. Personally, I hate Option 5 as I love the corkscrew. I added a Cybertool layer to my Companion, and an in-line Phillips/Lite module to my Compact.
Pro tip:put a small piece of ducktape around the tinder in the cork. The wax on the tinder gets messy and the tape protects it and keeps it dry. It still lets you use the small screw driver and there’s enough corkscrew left sticking out to use to untie knots.
I bought the expensive compact as it one of the few SAK knives with plus scales. I will try adding plus scales to a Tinker. The only disappointment for me is the philips head combo tool. It will do in an emergency but everyday, it's just frustrating. I will learn to live with it as I love the smooth curves of the SAK celluloid scales in my pocket. P.s. all my pocket knives have suspension clips.
Exactly. I find it a bit overrated. Front tools are nice but back tools (corkscrew and hook) not useful (for me). I prefer the super tinker - extra layer but that is still fine for pocket.
1:20 “…use the backside of your knife…” It should be noted, for those unaware, that the backside of the Swiss Army knife blade does not have a sharpened, 90° spine and therefore cannot be used to scrape sparks from a ferro rod. If the Compact model (an excellent pocket tool, btw!) is your only tool available with which to start a fire with the Firefly ferro rod housed inside the toothpick slot, then using the actual cutting edge of either the primary knife blade or one of the scissor blades would be the only way to effectively scrape sparks, albeit neither is an ideal method. You might also be able to drag the ferro rod through the wire-stripper notch at the base of the combo-opener tool, although I’ve not personally tried that. In a pinch, a little determination & perseverance will yield adequate results, but there are certainly better options available for starting fires. Finally, the handle scales that are included with the Compact SAK, which also include the pressurized ball point pen in the third slot, are called “Plus scales”. For a better grip when using the ink pen, open the parcel hook, slide the back end of the ink pen into the slot/groove where the parcel hook rests when it’s in its closed position, then gently lower the parcel hook onto the barrel of the ink pen and now you’ll have a much more comfortable grip while writing as the entire SAK acts as the body of the ink pen. Cheers!
Thank you for your comments! You’re exactly right and that’s a great catch as far as using the good blade! I’ll need to try using the wire stripper and see if that works! That’s a great point as well! I just blanked on the “plus scales” language. :) In my huntsman video where I switched the scales, I demonstrated the pen holder tool so I just didn’t redo that in this video but that’s a great point I probably should have to continue to promote even more functions of the Compact! Thanks again for the comment and for taking the time to contribute and for watching!
Thank you for your comments! You’re exactly right and that’s a great catch as far as using the good blade! I’ll need to try using the wire stripper and see if that works! That’s a great point as well! I just blanked on the “plus scales” language. :) In my huntsman video where I switched the scales, I demonstrated the pen holder tool so I just didn’t redo that in this video but that’s a great point I probably should have to continue to promote even more functions of the Compact! Thanks again for the comment and for taking the time to contribute and for watching!
Compact is the best 2 layer 91mm SAK and the Yeoman is the best 3 layer which is a Compact with an extra layer that has the inline phillips and a magnifying glass. These 2 rule
Love that Fire Ant ferro rod / tinder idea! The Compact for EDC is awesome and so is the 3-layer Companion, but I find both lack a good Phillips screwdriver. There are five possible solutions: 1) Carry an additional 58mm Rambler or Minichamp with the Phillips combi tool, 2) add an in line Phillips/Mag glass layer to the Compact (this is the discontinued Yeoman), 3) add an in line Phillips/Lite module layer, 4) add a Cybertool layer, or 5) replace the corkscrew with a back layer Phillips. Most people opt for #1. Options 2-4 add about 5-6mm extra width to the Compact and Companion. While both are still small they no longer "disappears" in the pocket. Personally, I hate Option 5 as I love the corkscrew. I added a Cybertool layer to my Companion, and an in-line Phillips/Lite module to my Compact.
There’s a needle tucked into the scale by the corkscrew too.
Pro tip:put a small piece of ducktape around the tinder in the cork. The wax on the tinder gets messy and the tape protects it and keeps it dry. It still lets you use the small screw driver and there’s enough corkscrew left sticking out to use to untie knots.
Great video, I like how you explain the reasons you like certain features on the Compact. Nice touch with the photo montage at end. Subscribed !
Thanks for taking the time to watch and give feedback as well as subscribing! Awesome!
I bought the expensive compact as it one of the few SAK knives with plus scales. I will try adding plus scales to a Tinker. The only disappointment for me is the philips head combo tool. It will do in an emergency but everyday, it's just frustrating. I will learn to live with it as I love the smooth curves of the SAK celluloid scales in my pocket. P.s. all my pocket knives have suspension clips.
I’d get a Compact if it weren’t so expensive. My EDC is the Rambler.
Exactly. I find it a bit overrated. Front tools are nice but back tools (corkscrew and hook) not useful (for me). I prefer the super tinker - extra layer but that is still fine for pocket.
1:20
“…use the backside of your knife…”
It should be noted, for those unaware, that the backside of the Swiss Army knife blade does not have a sharpened, 90° spine and therefore cannot be used to scrape sparks from a ferro rod.
If the Compact model (an excellent pocket tool, btw!) is your only tool available with which to start a fire with the Firefly ferro rod housed inside the toothpick slot, then using the actual cutting edge of either the primary knife blade or one of the scissor blades would be the only way to effectively scrape sparks, albeit neither is an ideal method.
You might also be able to drag the ferro rod through the wire-stripper notch at the base of the combo-opener tool, although I’ve not personally tried that.
In a pinch, a little determination & perseverance will yield adequate results, but there are certainly better options available for starting fires.
Finally, the handle scales that are included with the Compact SAK, which also include the pressurized ball point pen in the third slot, are called “Plus scales”.
For a better grip when using the ink pen, open the parcel hook, slide the back end of the ink pen into the slot/groove where the parcel hook rests when it’s in its closed position, then gently lower the parcel hook onto the barrel of the ink pen and now you’ll have a much more comfortable grip while writing as the entire SAK acts as the body of the ink pen.
Cheers!
Thank you for your comments!
You’re exactly right and that’s a great catch as far as using the good blade! I’ll need to try using the wire stripper and see if that works! That’s a great point as well! I just blanked on the “plus scales” language. :) In my huntsman video where I switched the scales, I demonstrated the pen holder tool so I just didn’t redo that in this video but that’s a great point I probably should have to continue to promote even more functions of the Compact! Thanks again for the comment and for taking the time to contribute and for watching!
Thank you for your comments!
You’re exactly right and that’s a great catch as far as using the good blade! I’ll need to try using the wire stripper and see if that works! That’s a great point as well! I just blanked on the “plus scales” language. :) In my huntsman video where I switched the scales, I demonstrated the pen holder tool so I just didn’t redo that in this video but that’s a great point I probably should have to continue to promote even more functions of the Compact! Thanks again for the comment and for taking the time to contribute and for watching!
Everything you need and nothing you don't this one finds its way into my pocket most of the time
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! I can’t agree with your comment more! Loving this thing!
Compact is the best 2 layer 91mm SAK and the Yeoman is the best 3 layer which is a Compact with an extra layer that has the inline phillips and a magnifying glass. These 2 rule
I’ll check out the Yeoman! Thanks!
I disagree. You can sctually put plus scales on explorer and make it more useful then compact.
I like your thinking! I may have to give that a shot! :)