Anyone else wish victorinox had a build a sak option ?

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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There's always been some things that I wish certain sak's did or didn't have, and I wish you could sorta create your own sak.
I would think that all they'd need to do is figure out which existing digits ( that's what I call the individual sak functions ) could interchange with each other.
For example I've always liked the minichamp, but have no need for a cuticle pusher or bottle opener. I'm sure there's an existing digit that can fit where the cuticle pusher is, I'm sure one of their mega Saks has a Philips driver without a bottle opener that can be used instead of the existing one and there's probably a few other things they could do
It also looks like they could take the emergency blade from the minichamp and use it on the classic ( a warncliff vic classic would be awesome )

If they figured out which digits of each tool can easily replace one from another model ( without modification ) they could just have a function where you click on a model and it shows you the production configuration and what can replace ( if at all ) each particular digit.

I know they use certain digits in multiple models, so I'm sure their engineers can easily determine which digits have matching dimensions so they know what digits are Interchangeable.
 
I have thought this would be great for some time. Though I imagine it would be fairly costly after the logistics of making it possible got worked out...


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It would be neat but I think the resulting process would be too expensive for most. In any case Victorinox is wayyy too busy taxing all their mental power trying to think of new handle colors to go on models that have been in the inventory for decades.
 
I'd love it, but as others have mentioned, I doubt we'll see it. I think expensive custom mods are likely the only way to get exactly the SAK you want for the foreseeable.
 
stabman said:
"Would you like to assemble your own Swiss Army Knife and have it engraved? Expert instructors will help you do this in just 15 minutes – an interesting experience for all ages."

https://www.victorinox.com/global/e...VISITOR-CENTER-Switzerland/cms/visitor-center
Click to expand...

If they had containers of every digit that could be used in the one your assembling, then that could be very cool.
They already know what parts they make and their dimensions ( they also know what order the digits generally should go In for optimum usability ), so all they really need to do is organise them by dimension and make a chart of what didits you can choose in place of the standard ones.
I'm not talking about completely designing a brand new sak, but if one function can easily be swapped for another then they should make it possible to do so.
 
I wonder if they have looked at the rate of custom mods, and the prices and decided that they can't compete in that space? Some things just don't scale up, and custom work is hard to get right. (then warranty and all those headaches). SOG's method of DIY works, but its a pain, is inefficient from a tool set standpoint, and I gather never has gotten that much traction, even though it is pretty well the only user customization option in a multi-tool.
 
What Victorinox could easily do is have a limited selection of models and limited choices and a few color options. For example, they could offer the Alox Cadet with a choice of scissors instead of a file and option of red, blue, black, or silver scales. Customers could choose red/blue, red/black/, blue/black, black/black, etc. scales. Any combination the customer prefers.
 
I don't think it is really practical and way too expensive IMO. There are so many different SAK's with different tool configurations it would be impossible to not find one that suits you. Not just Victorinox but Wenger has many SAKs with unique tool sets. With that being said, I have a few custom SAKs but I do not believe they are worth the cost
 
Nikkogi said:
I don't think it is really practical and way too expensive IMO. There are so many different SAK's with different tool configurations it would be impossible to not find one that suits you. Not just Victorinox but Wenger has many SAKs with unique tool sets. With that being said, I have a few custom SAKs but I do not believe they are worth the cost
Click to expand...

My problem is that there's always one or two functions that I wish weren't there on just about every sak, and they almost ruin the tool for me.
I really love the idea of the minichamp, especially the one with tweezers instead of a flashlight.
The problem for me is the cuticle pusher and the bottle opener ,I have so little need for a bottle opener that I just can't stand them.
I don't mind it on my leatherman fuse because it's sorta not a bottle opener unless you use it as one, because it's also a wire stripper and can opener and doesn't look like a bottle opener at all .
 
It is like that for the Cadet, as far as I am concerned. I have no need of a nail file. It used to have a nice useful small blade, instead. I would like to be able to replace that nail file with small scissors. That would be useful.

I do use the bottle opener on occasion, both screw drivers, and even the can opener. It makes a great tool for scrapping odd places.
 
Don't get me wrong, I'd love it if they did, (alox compact anyone?) but I might just have to learn to mod.
 
I would like to see them do that. I mean the buck knife company has a custom knife program on their website why can't Victorinox do the say thing so that was customers can pick and chose the tools and blades they want.
 
Considering they sell more SAK's in America than anywhere else, there should be a big company store overhere. And then it would be easy to go and get a custom SAK made.
 
bt93 said:
Considering they sell more SAK's in America than anywhere else, there should be a big company store overhere. And then it would be easy to go and get a custom SAK made.
Click to expand...

There is a Victorinox store in Minnesota at the Mall of America. Not a "big company store" by any means, but they do allow some customizing within a fairly limited range of options. I didn't really investigate in much detail because the salesman was obnoxious, so unfortunately I can't say what models or features were available. In any case, there is an actual store.
 
What everyone wants is to make a few changes to their favorite model .
Victorinox basically already does this when they make some new models, how many models can you think of that are almost the exact same thing.
The only difference is that they give it a name and make a million of them.

It really wouldn't be that hard or expensive, all they need to do is keep some compatible digits handy at each station .
The only issues would be determining compatibility ( they must already have a system of doing this ) and when to handle the custom orders.
I'm sure they could charge no more than 10$ on top of standard pricing and lose no money.
 
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There should be a victorinox version of build a bear. I'd love an alox farmer but with the small blade from an electrician In place of the reamer/awl whatever you call it.


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I'd love this. My Tinkers could each use one less knife blade (and gain something useful in return), my Cadet could gain a Farmer's awl, and my Midnight Manager could certainly do without scissors. For that matter my Rallies could also stand to have their blades reversed like the Rambler and the Manager. Frankly, going to Switzerland isn't in the budget probably for the rest of my life.
 
Price would be the biggest challenge on that one. Imagine ... a custom SAK from Ibach. No toolsetup for 30.00 € like a Huntsman nowadays.... but for a Yeoman /w pen blade it would go for about 75.00 €.

But it would be possible to bring back the old SAKs that are no longer in production. For a collector it would be heaven on earth to have that.

A nice idea, indeed. I would get me a Yeoman w/ penblade. A setup I always wanted but they just seem to appear in the US and on limited ammounts and highly priced and rare.
 
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