Your Swiss Army Knife’s Most Overlooked Tool Is Secretly One of Its Best

This often-forgotten gizmo found on dozens of SAK models is sneakily one of the most useful EDC devices around (if you use it right).

Closeup of Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Hiker awl

By Sean Tirman

Published March 24, 2025

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Updated March 24, 2025

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Swiss Army Knives are loaded with valuable tools—probably their most significant benefit. Yet, while many of their tools were designed for express purposes, they often have sneaky value outside those purposes.

Such is the case with the humble awl (also known as a reamer). Although created to help with things like leatherworking and scoring wood or metal, this device works better than a knife blade for one of EDC’s most common activities.

Swiss Army Knife Pioneer X Alox in front of wood — Some SAKs, like the Pioneer X, have the awl in a different position — opposite the blade, next to the can opener.

Awl in the family

Today, dozens of Swiss Army Knife models feature an awl or reamer tool. It’s one of the most common gizmos on SAKs. In fact, its origins go back to the oldest versions of these multi-tools.

It can also be incredibly useful, which likely explains why it’s so common and still in use today. For instance, the earliest versions (awls with threading holes) can be used to make in-the-field repairs to outdoor gear (read more about that here).

Awls and reamers can also assist in other repair functions. For instance, they can enlarge, straighten and smooth preexisting holes in materials.

Interestingly, its most valuable use is not a function it was intended for. Still, there’s no denying its exceptional value, even if it’s unintentional.

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Hiker on dirty cement — Along with its EDC usage, the awl can be used effectively and efficiently in survival situations.

Wrong never felt so right

As mentioned, awl and reamer tools were originally intended for leatherworking, repair work and creating grooves or boring holes in materials. However, their stout length and piercing points make them ideal for a specific, modern, prevalent EDC task: opening packages.

You might think, “Aren’t SAK knife blades ideal for opening boxes?” Yes, they are, but they come with risks. Even the shorter blades on SAKs are long enough that, if plunged too deep into a box, they can damage the things inside.

[Awls] have a piercing point perfect for getting cuts started and […] glide through packaging tape like a hot knife through butter.

Awls, by contrast, are far shorter and more difficult to plunge into a box accidentally (similar to utility knives). Furthermore, they have a piercing point perfect for getting cuts started and either have an edge or are thin enough to glide through packaging tape like a hot knife through butter.

This lower risk also means you can perform box-opening tasks more quickly, saving your blade’s edge for when you really need it. Although this may not have been the original intention for awls and reamers, it’s an undeniably valuable secondary purpose.

If you have an SAK handy and have never used the awl for this purpose before, I recommend trying it. You might find you have a newfound respect (and use) for an otherwise underutilized tool.

Swiss Army Knife awl used to open package — The awl’s piercing point and stout length make it ideal for opening boxes without harming their contents.

SAKs with awls

As mentioned earlier, literally dozens of different Swiss Army Knives feature an awl as one of their numerous tools. However, if you’re looking for the ones featured in this article, they’re listed below.

The ever-popular Victorinox SAK Pioneer X is priced at $65, while the much more thrifty, classic Victorinox SAK Hiker is $39.