Darth Lefty 

Thanks to @Viich and his bad day with the cargo net, I was thinking about jackknives. In my kit, I have a cheap knockoff Leatherman that I got at Walmart or maybe a hardware store. It gets me a knife, dikes, pliers, more screwdrivers, can and bottle openers. I also sometimes have a Classic on my keychain, that's the tiny one with scissors and nail file.

I don't know what the current models of Swiss Army knife are. 25 years ago when I was a Boy Scout, I used to disdain the corkscrew and had a Super Tinker, which had a lot of bike and car-camping useful tools on it, and a full size Philips screwdriver instead of the corkscrew. When the locking models came out I really wanted one, they seemed neato. I remember the Leatherman fad really taking hold about the same time.

Just Googling around, it seems that Victorinox bought Wenger about ten years ago, and wrapped up the Wenger Swiss Army knife line in 2013. I hadn't known that. No more round shields!

The attraction of the more expensive knives is just like it is with bicycles... better quality metal, better finish, customer support. Both Victorinox and Leatherman will take their tools back for repair.

no motor?

My multitool has a knife blade, but I've only used it a few times.
I used to carry a Swiss Army Tinker when I rode my motorcycle, but mainly used the bottle opener when we'd go camping. I was glad I didn't need anything more than that.

Reynolds 

I carry a Victorinox Camping on long country rides, used it a lot of times.

Altair 4

My choice, as well, but I've only used it a few times. 'Course, if I didn't have it with me, I'd need at least three tools on it. And I've used the cork screw 'cause you can't open a bottle of wine with a phillips screwdriver.

10 Wheels

Found a Swiss on the road and now carry it on the trike.

Darth Lefty 

Anyone ever actually used the can opener? I have, on camping trips where no one remembered to bring a real one. It's not difficult but it takes a little while. It's more of a pain when the other guy looks over your shoulder and tells you that you are nibbling it the wrong direction... shaddup man, you'll get fed

Darth Lefty 

FYI's in case you didn't know.

The "reamer, punch and sewing awl" is a drill and a needle. (I sometimes wished it were on the end and not in the middle like the corkscrew, that would make it easier to twirl.)
There is a pin, or a space for one, hidden in the side plate next to the hinge of the corkscrew. (No idea when they introduced this so can't say if your old one has it).
The notch on the bottle opener/screwdriver is a wire stripper.
The tip of the can opener is a 3mm screwdriver and can also be used in a pinch for a medium Phillips

nitroRoo

My favorite swiss army is the explorer model. It's compact enough to carry every day but has all the tools I want. It even has a magnifying glass.

Archwhorides 

I have a Leatherman Juice CS4 and have used the can-opener on occasion, it works fine. The Juice is a nice multi-tool, and a decent strength/weight choice for commuting and mountainbiking, but not bomber for heavy jobs. On the other hand, I left this tool in the woods for a year and when returned it still functioned almost like-new, I was very impressed.


My brother-in-law gave me a Gerber multitool and that is a little heavier (a little too heavy for my biking) with fewer tools, but it is totally bomber and ideal for hiking and back country skiing.

bigbenaugust 

My ancient Topeak Alien bike multi-tool has a knife on it. It's barely an inch long, but it has done the job in the past.

lostarchitect 

I have a swiss army knife, and a leatherman, and numerous other pocket knives. I love them. On the bike I usually carry a small Opinel and leave the other tool needs to a bike specific multi tool.

Once in college I got trapped in an electrical supply closet in the middle of the night--on a weekend. I could potentially have spent 2 days there. After pounding on the door for an hour, I noticed there was a fire alarm pull in there and pulled it. I could hear the security guards moving around in the building, but they couldn't find where the alarm was pulled, and they couldn't hear me shouting over the alarm. They shut it off and I was alone. I used my Swiss army knife to pull the weather stripping off the door as it was getting stuffy. Then I noticed I could see the bolt, and decided to try and saw through it. After a couple hours, I was free. It was not a fun experience, but thankfully I had the Swiss army knife on me.

MichaelW

In use my Forrester SAK quite a lot. The saw is quite effective on smaller branches. Tweezers are really useful.
I have a Leatherman Mini which lives in my bike repair kit, and and old original Leatherman. Both are made with quality steel. How do the new ones compare?

Darth Lefty 

Some of the MTB trail guys carry folding saws. Now that's dedication!

ColonelSanders

What non-golf use do those golf balls have for you?

mcours2006

He rides a trike, so I imagine he throws them at motorists who pass too close.

AusTexMurf

I frequently carry a Felco Swiss folding limb saw when riding trail, even when commuting. Helps to lift overgrown branches for me and others on newer and/or infrequently used trails. Lightweight, razor sharp, and folding tightness/lock is adjustable.

HardyWeinberg

One tool in the list I don't really know what you're talking about.

I have a leatherman and a folding hexkey set as my bike toolkit. Oh yeah plus tire levers.

Steve B.

I carry a Victorinox Champ on my hip pouch while at work (stagehand-electrician), has some of the most useful tools in a pinch. I also keep a Leatherman Wave in my tool pouch as well as a Buck X-Tract, which is a good blade.

I carry none of these on a bike, finding that my Topeak Alien has all the tools I've ever needed for basic repairs.

Darth Lefty 

The screwdriver? Haha just kidding

HardyWeinberg

Every day at BF is educational!

NWGuy99

I bought the tourist version of the all purpose pocket knife, probably purchased in Yellowstone and made in China.... Kept in my car for camping.

Had a romantic camping trip with my girlfriend (work with me here...) complete with bottle of red wine and smores.... Used the cork screw on the pocket knife and it straightened out straighter than a toothpick.... Really..

CliffordK

I've used the Victorinox can openers many times, even at home at times... they work very well. They nibble forward. I think the Wenger ones nibble backwards, and I've never gotten used to them (not that I've used them much).

My Swiss Army knife goes almost everywhere with me. Except those Public offices which are a bit PAIN!!!! Especially for the bike commuter who inevitably has a few odds and ends to support one's riding.

CliffordK

I'm not sure about the Leatherman screwdrivers, but the Victorinox screwdrivers are smooth and slightly rounded, and work just fine as tire levers... (use at your own discretion with care?)

Altair 4

OMG! You actually got me laughing out loud...

RubeRad

I think I have that same Gerber, but not black. I had an older multitool for probably 20 years and one day one of the jaws of the pliers just broke off when I was squeezing something. I mailed it back to Gerber and they sent me a modern replacement. The new one has the sliding plastic lock thing on the sides. Really great tool, but I don't carry it around on my bike.

Since the last few months though, I do usually have in my pocket a Kershaw Oso Sweet, really an amazing quality of knife for under $20 I think.