The Most Useless Tool On Your Knife? // The Truth 'Big Awl' Doesn't Want You To Know.
Published: 2 years ago
0:01 What Is An Awl?
0:43 The First Real Multitool Soldier 1890 Swiss Army Knife
1:40 History of the Swiss Army Soldier Knife 1890, 1961, 2008
3:02 Cowboy and Sailor Pocket Knives
3:43 How to Sew With a Pocket Knife Awl Victorinox, Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman, SOG
6:00 Why Sewing With Your Pocket Knife Awl Is Fairly Useless
8:12 How to Use Your Reamer/Awl for Bushcrafting
10:00 How to Start A Fire With Your Reamer/Awl
11:03 101 Uses For The Pocket Knife Awl And Should We Care?
Check out a little something we have been working on: https://fortwild.com/
This week we are talking all about the awl on your pocket knife/multi-tool and asking is it the most useless tool out there? In 1890 the Swiss Army ordered their first multi-tool and with it brought in the modern age of in pocket multi-tools. Not only did they define the pattern and ideas they also helped spark companies like Victorinox, Leatherman, SOG, Gerber and others. That first Soldier Knife had an awl on it designed to service the issued rifle of the time. For 71 years the Swiss pretty much left that first model exactly as it was made, then in 1961 it got a full makeover and fancy Alox scales. The awl remained for its original reasons and then in 2008 the 2008 Soldier Knife was issued with an awl as well. The only issue? There is no practical or tactical reason for it to be on the knife. It seems to be a very similar story looking through the lens of other occupations in the 20th Century like Cowboys, Sailors, even Astronauts.
Of course you can still sew with the awl but how many of us are really taking heavy leather and canvas gear through hiking? You can use the reamer edge to bushcraft and make fire but wouldn't those skills be better practiced and executed in an emergency with a fixed blade? Of course fun traditional uses for pocket knives are great ways to pass the time and fun skills to learn but if we look at the practical uses of the awl we come up pretty empty in the modern era. All of us have found inventive uses for the awl on our pocket knives and multitools but wouldn't it be cool to see the awl replaced with a more practical addition for our modern needs? Let me know what you use your awl for and what you think it could be replaced with down in the comments!
Victorinox Hiker: https://amzn.to/3BK6flh (affiliate link)
SOG Power PInt: https://amzn.to/3JfySs2 (affiliate link)
Leatherman Surge: https://amzn.to/3oEv1LF (affiliate link)
Benchmade Puukko: https://amzn.to/3OF6mkM (affiliate link)
NutSac Bags (These guys are really cool and will probably start working with the channel soon!): https://bit.ly/3boK7lk
Felix Immler On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3zJMtF1
Felix's Cool SwissArmy / Victorinox Book
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zGsx5R (affiliate link)
Google: https://bit.ly/3vshWJg
Disclaimer:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
0:43 The First Real Multitool Soldier 1890 Swiss Army Knife
1:40 History of the Swiss Army Soldier Knife 1890, 1961, 2008
3:02 Cowboy and Sailor Pocket Knives
3:43 How to Sew With a Pocket Knife Awl Victorinox, Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman, SOG
6:00 Why Sewing With Your Pocket Knife Awl Is Fairly Useless
8:12 How to Use Your Reamer/Awl for Bushcrafting
10:00 How to Start A Fire With Your Reamer/Awl
11:03 101 Uses For The Pocket Knife Awl And Should We Care?
Check out a little something we have been working on: https://fortwild.com/
This week we are talking all about the awl on your pocket knife/multi-tool and asking is it the most useless tool out there? In 1890 the Swiss Army ordered their first multi-tool and with it brought in the modern age of in pocket multi-tools. Not only did they define the pattern and ideas they also helped spark companies like Victorinox, Leatherman, SOG, Gerber and others. That first Soldier Knife had an awl on it designed to service the issued rifle of the time. For 71 years the Swiss pretty much left that first model exactly as it was made, then in 1961 it got a full makeover and fancy Alox scales. The awl remained for its original reasons and then in 2008 the 2008 Soldier Knife was issued with an awl as well. The only issue? There is no practical or tactical reason for it to be on the knife. It seems to be a very similar story looking through the lens of other occupations in the 20th Century like Cowboys, Sailors, even Astronauts.
Of course you can still sew with the awl but how many of us are really taking heavy leather and canvas gear through hiking? You can use the reamer edge to bushcraft and make fire but wouldn't those skills be better practiced and executed in an emergency with a fixed blade? Of course fun traditional uses for pocket knives are great ways to pass the time and fun skills to learn but if we look at the practical uses of the awl we come up pretty empty in the modern era. All of us have found inventive uses for the awl on our pocket knives and multitools but wouldn't it be cool to see the awl replaced with a more practical addition for our modern needs? Let me know what you use your awl for and what you think it could be replaced with down in the comments!
Victorinox Hiker: https://amzn.to/3BK6flh (affiliate link)
SOG Power PInt: https://amzn.to/3JfySs2 (affiliate link)
Leatherman Surge: https://amzn.to/3oEv1LF (affiliate link)
Benchmade Puukko: https://amzn.to/3OF6mkM (affiliate link)
NutSac Bags (These guys are really cool and will probably start working with the channel soon!): https://bit.ly/3boK7lk
Felix Immler On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3zJMtF1
Felix's Cool SwissArmy / Victorinox Book
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zGsx5R (affiliate link)
Google: https://bit.ly/3vshWJg
Disclaimer:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.