Victorinox Farmer Alox

The Swiss made Victorinox Pioneer Alox is set up with the same tools that came with the original Official Scouts Knives.  This tool configuration was so utilitarian, it was used on the United States’ first manned mission to space on May 5, 1961.  If you add a saw to the Pioneer, you have the Vicorinox Farmer Alox, an excellent tool for a Scout. 

• Spear Point Stainless Steel Blade

  • 1000 uses

• Saw

  • Notching and cutting for many Pioneering/Woodcraft tasks

• Awl

  • Punching/sewing leather and thick canvas

  • Drilling holes in wood

• Can Opener (with mini screwdriver)

  • Opening cans of food

• Bottle Opener (with screwdriver and wire stripper)

  • Opens the rare glass bottle

victorinox.com

When considering quality, compactness and utility, it is hard to beat this tool.  The only really downside is that Victorinox knives such as this one tend to be pricy.  

Victorinox Ranger

The Ranger has the same toolset as the Victorinox Master Craftsman used by NASA on the Space Shuttle plus has corkscrew and hook.  With 21 tools, this high density toolset has just about any tool a Scout will ever need and more. 

This knife is good for a Scout who loves to tinker and loves gadgets. 

For outdoor use, this is a little excessive to have in your pocket but can still come in handy. 

victorinox.com

Victorinox RangerGrip 79

This has is similar to the Swiss Soldier's Knife 08, which is used by the military in many countries, including the US.  Victorinox made many variants with different tool configurations.

The RangerGrip 79 shown here has a smooth, locking blade and a corkscrew instead of a Philips screwdriver.  The smooth blade is easier to sharpen and better for carving and whittling.  The corkscrew is useful for loosening knots, which makes it more useful to a Scout than another screwdriver.  The Saw is an excellent tool for woodworking and has so many uses in the backcountry and for survival situations. 

These knives are large for a Swiss Army Knife and and mane knife blade is a locking blade.  The locking blade is beefy for a Swiss Army knife and is safer to use since it won't collapse on your fingers while using the knife. 

Large Victorinox knives are an excellent choice if you want the utility of a Swiss Army Knife but also want the safety and durability of a longer, locking blade. 

victorinox.com

Leatherman Rebar

Leatherman Rebar has a toolset that covers most outdoors needs.  The pliers have many uses and come in handy when working with snares, bending metal and loosening bolts. 

• Pliers - many uses

• Non-serrated knife - easy to sharpen and good for carving/whittling 

• Serrated knife - good backup knife, good for fiber rope, difficult to sharpen

• Saw - many woodcraft tasks

• File - sharpening 

• Awl

• Can opener 

• Scissors - used for trimming moleskin and ducttape

• Total of 17 tools 

leatherman.com

Leatherman has several other great options

• The Free P4 is excellent, but costs more than twice as much

• The Surge and Super Tool 300 are also excellent, but are also very large and heavy

• The Leatherman Wave is very popular but lacks an awl 

Leatherman Signal

The Leatherman Signal is marketed as a survival tool.  The has a few extra bells and whistles, well at least a built in whistle.  The only thing not perfect about this tool is the partially serrated combo-knife blade.  This blade is still an excellent tool, but will make wavy cuts when carving and is more difficult to sharpen than a straight edge blade.  That said, it does come with a sharpener designed to be use on the serrations.  Tools include:

• Pliers - many uses

• Combo straight-serrated knife - best/worst of both

• Saw - many woodcraft tasks

• Awl

• Can opener 

• Whistle

• Ferrorod 

• Knife sharpener 

• Total of 19 tools 

leatherman.com

Gerber Truss

Affordable for a pliers type multitool.  Tools include:

• Pliers - many uses

• Non-serrated knife - easy to sharpen and good for carving/whittling 

• Serrated knife - good backup knife, good for fiber rope, difficult to sharpen

• Saw - many woodcraft tasks

• Awl

• Can opener 

• Small file

• Scissors - used for trimming moleskin and ducttape

gerbergear.com

SOG Poweraccess Deluxe

Great toolset.  Also comes in black if that's important to you. 

• Pliers - many uses

• Non-serrated knife - easy to sharpen and good for carving/whittling 

• Serrated knife - good backup knife, good for fiber rope, difficult to sharpen

• Saw - many woodcraft tasks

• File - sharpening 

• Awl

• Can opener 

• 21 tools total plus 12 piece hex bit set

sogknives.com

Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X

Premium Multi-Tool with Pliers.  This tool is also very heavy for a multi-tool.

• Pliers - many uses

• Non-serrated knife - easy to sharpen and good for carving/whittling 

• Saw - many woodcraft tasks

• File - sharpening 

• Awl

• Can opener 

• Scissors

• 24 tools

swissarmy.com