I know what you mean, rainwalker.

I recieved my first SAK when I was about 8-9 years old from an uncle who lived in the UK.

Up until then, none of my local "kid haunts" offered much more than Buck & Case (both brands way out of a 8-year old's price range) but plenty of the $3.99 Imperial folders. I think I had every model of those cheesy things!

I have long since lost that 1st SAK (a "Spartan") but 35 years later I still have one or more of them within reach.

If not for the bending/cutting of 18/20 gauge snare wire, I would happily stick to a non-pliered SAK red/black handled folder!