Everyone has heard of the famous Swiss Army Knife. MacGyver had one. I have one. You probably have one, and if you don't, you should rectify that lack posthaste. While I love my Leatherman Wave, the S.A.K. is the G.O.A.T. for multitools!
But what other soldier and scout knives are out there? It turns out the good ol' USA had one, too. Why isn't it as iconic?
I am not a veteran. I make no claim to military gear expertise. However, I am a frequent user of pocketknives and multitools, and this one... well, it's not great. There's a much better overview of the tool and its history here. I just want to discuss this example which came into my possession a few days ago and weigh it against the Swiss Army Knife. This isn't a perfect comparison, because I have the Swiss Army Farmer, which adds a saw blade to the proper Model 1961 Soldier's Knife package. Setting that aside, though, we see a similar array of tools: blade, awl, can opener, bottle opener, screwdriver, lanyard ring.
The tip is broken on the can opener. Boo! But then again, this is from 1968, and it looks like it has been used a fair bit. Wear and tear happen. I am also entertained by the stamped label identifying the can opener. Why? The large clevis loop is nice if you want to clip it to a caribiner on your rucksack, I suppose.
This Camillus knife is about the same size as my Farmer. If the latter didn't have that extra saw blade layer, it would be almost the same thickness. Length is also nearly identical. However, the tools fit better in the Farmer, resulting in a more svelte package when closed. The texture of the Swiss Army Knife scales feels more grippy and secure. In fact, any Swiss Army Knife embodies that stereotypical Swiss precision through better fit and finish overall.
My assessment: Neat collection addition. This potentially saw service in 'Nam, if that matters. Not what I would suggest for a serious survival tool, though. It won't replace my EDC Leatherman, and the Swiss Army Farmer will retain its place in my backpacking kit. It's easier to use, and it does more stuff, even setting aside the saw blade bonus in mine. Camillus went out of business in 2007 or so, making this a discontinued orphan.
What military pocket knives have you bought or been issued? Is there something more obscure we should all be carrying instead? Do you prefer a different model of scout-type knife? Share your thoughts below!
