funny! I like the toothpick more than the tweezers, but I have considered the midnight manager.
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Am I missing something? Vic Classic
- Thread starter Brian.Evans
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2010
- Messages
- 599
I've carried a Classic for so many years now. Tried the Rambler, manager, squirt, micro, etc and I always go back to the Classic.
For me it's not a keychain knife but a stand alone pocket knife. I use the blade often and it's sharp enough to shave with. definitely more like a fine razor than a blunt instrument. If I only have one knife with me it's a Vic classic. Can't imagine not having one.
Personally found the Peanut lacking. Mainly because it's not big enough to offer an advantage over the classic for my needs. I do carry (usually) a standard size pocket knife for bigger jobs yet, for me, the classic sees the most use for daily carry.
To answer the OP. Carry one in your pocket for a while. They don't cost much. You'll never notice it. Unless you loose it. Then you might be missing something.
For me it's not a keychain knife but a stand alone pocket knife. I use the blade often and it's sharp enough to shave with. definitely more like a fine razor than a blunt instrument. If I only have one knife with me it's a Vic classic. Can't imagine not having one.
Personally found the Peanut lacking. Mainly because it's not big enough to offer an advantage over the classic for my needs. I do carry (usually) a standard size pocket knife for bigger jobs yet, for me, the classic sees the most use for daily carry.
To answer the OP. Carry one in your pocket for a while. They don't cost much. You'll never notice it. Unless you loose it. Then you might be missing something.
I'm somewhat new to carrying a Classic. I've had one for about 6 months on my keyring, with a quick release. As others have said, I prefer it to the Leatherman tools on the keychain due to how unobtrusive it is. That said, I still find the Leatherman Micra to be a much more useful tool. These two tiny tools have actually drawn mw away from carrying a dedicated knife. Today its just the Classic on my keys, and the Micra in my pocket. I'd say that anyone who can get by with a peanut, can also get by with the blade on these tools.
MDSmith,
What can the Classic do that the Micra can't do better?
For me, the Micra covers the basic utility needs that my old Ulster BSA knife used to cover, with the addition of the excellent scissors and in a much smaller package. With all that functionality packed into a tiny corner of my LFP, I find the Micra enables me to carry the pocket knife of my dreams without any compromise. For me, it's usually an Opinel #8 or #9. Great for food prep and general utility cutting.
So, it's not an either/or thing for me. It's both/and. Just not a classic.
This Opinel could easily be replaced with about any traditional pocket knife.
edc-pair by Pinnah, on Flickr
Say, a Schrade 5OT?
EDC - Shrade 5OT by Pinnah, on Flickr
You get the idea. More blade than the Classic or Micra have.
What can the Classic do that the Micra can't do better?
For me, the Micra covers the basic utility needs that my old Ulster BSA knife used to cover, with the addition of the excellent scissors and in a much smaller package. With all that functionality packed into a tiny corner of my LFP, I find the Micra enables me to carry the pocket knife of my dreams without any compromise. For me, it's usually an Opinel #8 or #9. Great for food prep and general utility cutting.
So, it's not an either/or thing for me. It's both/and. Just not a classic.
This Opinel could easily be replaced with about any traditional pocket knife.
edc-pair by Pinnah, on Flickr
Say, a Schrade 5OT?
EDC - Shrade 5OT by Pinnah, on Flickr
You get the idea. More blade than the Classic or Micra have.
Nothing, you must have misread my post, or I'm not understanding yours. I prefer the Micra over the Classic. The only thing I like better about the Classic is how it rides on my keychain.
PS, I'm also a fan of Opinels.
powernoodle
Power Member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2004
- Messages
- 11,979
I know you didn't ask me, but I would say that the Classic's scissors are superior if precision is high on your list. The Classic's scissors are better at cutting off hangnails and skin boo boos. I'd also say that the Classic's tweezer is better as well, though this is just my subjective opinion because they seem more precise and are removable.
Conversely, if you want to cut canvas, for example, the Micra's scissors might prevail. But for me, the Classic's superior (in my view) scissors make it a "better" (again for me) tool. Just my view of the world.
That being said, I'm going to go grab a Micra and give it a ride for a few days. Its been a long time since I've carried one.
Classic or Leatherman is a matter of taste. If I had to choose between a Leatherman Micra, I'd go with a classic every time. It's a matter of aesthetics. I like the smooth more compact lines of the classic, and the little tools handle things "good enough" for me. I've lost rack of how many things I've assembled or disassembled and fixed using the SD tip of the classic. If you have them falling apart on you, you may be using a knock off. I started carrying a classic after watching my better half torture one for months. Misuse like only a woman could dish out to a piece of equipment. I've never owned a Leatherman anything, or a Gerber or even a Swiss tool. Just too industrial for me, and I just don't need heavy duty tools that much in my everyday life. In fact, I can't remember when I needed a real tool, and I wasn't close by my truck where I have a tool kit behind the seat, or my Vespa where a tool kit is in the glove box, or my bicycle that has a tool kit under the seat. If I really need a tool, I want a dedicated tool rather than a do everything jack of all trades master of none. Maybe that's why I never really developed a love of SAK's. For when fingernails won't do, a classic will. I don't think any of the small multitools is a great tool.
But for me, the real plus about the classic is that it's available so many places for very little money. Walmart, Target, or what I prefer the gun shows where a lady always has the big box of SAK's that are TSA confiscations. I get classics for 2 to 3 dollars each, so that puts them in the relm of giveaways. I like to give them to people I see trying to open boxes with a ball point pen. The classic is like the Giddions bible of publicly acceptable pocket knives. Cheap, (low cost) easy to pick up anywhere, and fits on a keyring very easy. And the red handles with the Swiss cross is so recognizable.
It's all in what you want and where your taste lays.
Carl.
But for me, the real plus about the classic is that it's available so many places for very little money. Walmart, Target, or what I prefer the gun shows where a lady always has the big box of SAK's that are TSA confiscations. I get classics for 2 to 3 dollars each, so that puts them in the relm of giveaways. I like to give them to people I see trying to open boxes with a ball point pen. The classic is like the Giddions bible of publicly acceptable pocket knives. Cheap, (low cost) easy to pick up anywhere, and fits on a keyring very easy. And the red handles with the Swiss cross is so recognizable.
It's all in what you want and where your taste lays.
Carl.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2000
- Messages
- 6,685
This is well stated. I have (and often carry) both a Victorinox Rambler and a Leatherman Micra. It seems silly when you consider the relative size/weight/bulk of each -- but I do appreciate that the Rambler just seems to ride easier in my pocket. I also prefer the removable tweezers, and the Vic scissors do a better job on finger nails.
On the other hand, I love that the Micra is a stout little son of a gun. No scratched or chipped handles on this thing, and the spring on the scissors will never fail. And I like how you can use the knife blade with the handles open to provide an extra long grip. I think there's a reason that, while Leatherman has introduced new keychain tools since, they have not discontinued the Micra. They know they're not gonna top it.
Which do I prefer? Not sure. They're both great, especially riding in pocket or on the small carbiner that holds my keyring and small LED light. The Rambler (or a Classic) has more soul, IMHO. But the Micra is just too tough and handy not to love. I could seriously get by just fine with either of these as my only pocketknife.
Lastly, I recently bought my dad an alox-handled Classic SD. While you do lose the tweezers and toothpick, I was quite impressed. :thumbup: It's simultaneously very tough and elegant. Call it the James Bond of keychain knives!
And because it's so thin, you can barely notice it on a ring of keys. -- Mark
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@powernoodle: I do prefer the scissors of the Classic for sewing (gear repair) jobs for exactly the reason you mention. But, I use the scissors so often, I end up busting the springs in relatively short order. I reckon I have 3 or 4 busted Classics laying around my house and shop. Several of them are missing scales and all of them have busted scissor springs. I think if I ever went back to a traditional lobster pattern for this sort of tool, I would go with the Wegner version of the classic for a more durable scissor.
Regarding the Micra's scissors, on both of the Micras I own, I've needed to "tune" the scissors by bending the blades a bit in a vice to get a cleaner, more precise engagement. They cut much better now - so good, I really don't miss the Classic at all. Likewise, a few minutes with some wet/dry gets the Micra's tweezers good enough to pull hairs. Neither of them are showing any wear, btw.
@Jackknife: All of the Classics I've busted are/were the real McCoy.
ETA: Today's carry...
EDC - Shrade 5OT by Pinnah, on Flickr
Regarding the Micra's scissors, on both of the Micras I own, I've needed to "tune" the scissors by bending the blades a bit in a vice to get a cleaner, more precise engagement. They cut much better now - so good, I really don't miss the Classic at all. Likewise, a few minutes with some wet/dry gets the Micra's tweezers good enough to pull hairs. Neither of them are showing any wear, btw.
@Jackknife: All of the Classics I've busted are/were the real McCoy.
ETA: Today's carry...
EDC - Shrade 5OT by Pinnah, on Flickr
But isn't that exactly what the classic is? It's taking the place of a knife, scissors, tweezers and screwdriver.
I've told this story a bunch of times but bears restating.
Two pre-notes.... First, as a former bike mechanic who has wrecked too many expensive bike bits with ill fitting or otherwise crappy tools, I really, really, really hate both multi-tools or even my beloved(behated) Ulster BSA knives that I grew up with. Want to strip a screw head? Use one.
Second, the story here equally applies to Lobsters, Campers (boy scout knives), SAKs and (gasp) multi-tools...
I used to keep my Leatherman on my key ring. Before that, I carried a Vic Classic there (not that this would have helped in this situation).
I went to wedding party of a good friend up in Vermont and like a good Vermont wedding, the beer was on ice in a large rolled stell tub out in the yard. I found a nice tasty looking IPA, which, as you might guess, didn't have a screw top cap on it. To my dismay, there was not a bottle opener in sight. Really, not much sadder in this life than standing with a cold beer on a hot day and no way to open it (aside from scary chain saw or slightly less scary but more nerdy bike pedal tricks).
Not a problem. I had a bottle opener.
Problem. My back pack (many people arrived with them, this being Vermont and all) was left in the house with jacket. My keys were in my back pack, along with my Micra. And along with my old SOG Paratool, which also had a bottle opener. So, there I stood, in the hot sun with a beer that was getting warmer and feeling like an idiot. I even took out my Buck 500 and considered my options, but the Duke is something of my dress-up knife and dinging it up for a beer, even a really good beer on a hot day didn't seem like the smartest move.
I went into the house, found my keys, took the Micra off the key ring, opened the beer and popped the Micra in my pocket. It's stayed there ever since.
This, btw, is the real nail in the coffin regarding the virtues of the Vic Classic.
.... Anyway... All of this is to say that the only thing worse than a multi-tool (or camper/sak knive) is not having one.
Last note... I now consider this to be proper wedding attire (for weddings I want to attend). If this seems like too much, the groom's brother was wearing a Mora in a leather sheath while playing hacky-sack. We're talking Vermont, mind you.
EDC - Buck 500 by Pinnah, on Flickr
Two pre-notes.... First, as a former bike mechanic who has wrecked too many expensive bike bits with ill fitting or otherwise crappy tools, I really, really, really hate both multi-tools or even my beloved(behated) Ulster BSA knives that I grew up with. Want to strip a screw head? Use one.
Second, the story here equally applies to Lobsters, Campers (boy scout knives), SAKs and (gasp) multi-tools...
I used to keep my Leatherman on my key ring. Before that, I carried a Vic Classic there (not that this would have helped in this situation).
I went to wedding party of a good friend up in Vermont and like a good Vermont wedding, the beer was on ice in a large rolled stell tub out in the yard. I found a nice tasty looking IPA, which, as you might guess, didn't have a screw top cap on it. To my dismay, there was not a bottle opener in sight. Really, not much sadder in this life than standing with a cold beer on a hot day and no way to open it (aside from scary chain saw or slightly less scary but more nerdy bike pedal tricks).
Not a problem. I had a bottle opener.
Problem. My back pack (many people arrived with them, this being Vermont and all) was left in the house with jacket. My keys were in my back pack, along with my Micra. And along with my old SOG Paratool, which also had a bottle opener. So, there I stood, in the hot sun with a beer that was getting warmer and feeling like an idiot. I even took out my Buck 500 and considered my options, but the Duke is something of my dress-up knife and dinging it up for a beer, even a really good beer on a hot day didn't seem like the smartest move.
I went into the house, found my keys, took the Micra off the key ring, opened the beer and popped the Micra in my pocket. It's stayed there ever since.
This, btw, is the real nail in the coffin regarding the virtues of the Vic Classic.
.... Anyway... All of this is to say that the only thing worse than a multi-tool (or camper/sak knive) is not having one.
Last note... I now consider this to be proper wedding attire (for weddings I want to attend). If this seems like too much, the groom's brother was wearing a Mora in a leather sheath while playing hacky-sack. We're talking Vermont, mind you.
EDC - Buck 500 by Pinnah, on Flickr
CoffeeCat2112
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2007
- Messages
- 2,339
Our neighborhood had our annual community yard sale today; for a whopping 50 cents I scored a brand new red Vic Classic SD with nylon sleeve. :thumbup:
Yeah, it is. But for some reason the little classic is the only multitool that I would carry. I can't give a sane reason for it, other than after watching my better half, Karen torture one for a long while after she got one that her company had done with their logo, I gained a lot of respect for it. And the other reason is, it's sort of cute, but effective. Not anywhere logical or practical, but there it is. For some odd reason, the classic appeals to me muchmore than an industrial looking Leatherman that is too heavy for a keychain, and dosen't do much more. I don't need the classic, and sometimes I look at it and wonder why theheck do I have it on my keying. The Sear's 4-way keychain screwdriver and P-38 can opener in my wallet will do fine with flat or Phillip's screws and cans, and I always have a dedicated knife in my pocket. As for opening bottles, there's a dozen different ways to do that without a dedicated bottle opener. When my son John came home from his first semester, he showed me many different ways to deal with beer bottles, and after I got over my initial feeling s "Is this what I'm paying your tuition for?" I have to admit it was liberating.
I've got a 20 year old WEnger SI that has never been carried much, and a almost new condition camper. They just don't get used. With a knife in my pocket, the flat little keychain tools in my wallet, I just don't need a multitool. I never bought one, but I do have a Leatherman wave that Karen found while we were out for a walk. It lives in the kitchen drawer, never carried. It weighs as much as a small pistol, and I can't remember ever needing a plier or wire cutter whileout and about. There's a small tool kit behind the seat of the Tacoma, and another one in the glove box of the Vespa. Karen's car has a emergency kit in it. All with a few real tools that just work better than the multitool.
So the little classic is a bit of whimsy on my part, for just a little bit. And itmakes for a nice friendly little pocket knife for when we're "Downtown" in Washington D.C. and going into buildings with tight security, where an Opinel, or any other dedicated knife gets looked at hard. But the little red handle thing with the Swiss Cross on it goes right in.
Who knows, in this continue downsizing I'm doing, the classic may go too.
Carl.
Well, because of this thread, I've been carrying this little combo with me.
As much as I hate to admit it, I have yet to need anything more. Just the other day my son's dresser drawer kept getting jammed due to the track coming loose from the dresser itself. After removing all of the drawers, I found which screw was loose, but being that it was inside the dresser it was dark and hard to see. Out came this little combo. My son held the light and the Vic's SD tip went to work on the loose Philips head. It's kinda hard to justify carrying any extra bulk/weight when this little guy is doing everything I need.
As much as I hate to admit it, I have yet to need anything more. Just the other day my son's dresser drawer kept getting jammed due to the track coming loose from the dresser itself. After removing all of the drawers, I found which screw was loose, but being that it was inside the dresser it was dark and hard to see. Out came this little combo. My son held the light and the Vic's SD tip went to work on the loose Philips head. It's kinda hard to justify carrying any extra bulk/weight when this little guy is doing everything I need.
I guess in a long winded way, that's the point I was trying to make. Sometimes, like most of the time, a little bit is all you need. It's the practice of maximum minimalisim.
Carl.