Difference Between Vic Pioneer & Soldier?

Thanks! But this makes me wonder... Why?!? Just remove the split ring and presto, same thing! *does magic hands* Oh Victorinox - you surely are the comedic genius of the knife making world :P
 
The Soldier was built to the specifications of the Swiss Army for issue to real soldiers, and they probably didn't need a dinky little keyring (might save some money considering you're making millions of them). That's why the real Swiss Army crest is on the Soldier knife, not the Victorinox crest (as on the Pioneer).

Now that the Swiss Army has adopted the New Soldier knife, the old Soldier is being discontinued by Victorinox, probably because it's so similar to the Pioneer.
 
. . . and the Wenger SI (Standard Issue) is the exact same knife as the soldier but with a bail for a lanyard. I ditched the bail on mine after closing the blade on it one too many times.
 
Lock1454 said:
Thanks! But this makes me wonder... Why?!? Just remove the split ring and presto, same thing! *does magic hands* Oh Victorinox - you surely are the comedic genius of the knife making world :P
Click to expand...

The split ring can be removed, but then there is the protruding stud it was attached to. A lot of users find it a nuisance because it can dig into your hand while gripping the SAK. That's a good reason for choosing a Soldier over a Pioneer, but I prefer having a split ring for attaching a lanyard, so I put up with the stud.
 
znapschatz said:
The split ring can be removed, but then there is the protruding stud it was attached to. A lot of users find it a nuisance because it can dig into your hand while gripping the SAK. That's a good reason for choosing a Soldier over a Pioneer, but I prefer having a split ring for attaching a lanyard, so I put up with the stud.
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Damned, thwarted by logic yet again!
 
And sometimes you can't tell which is which!
aloxsak.jpg

aloxsak2.jpg

Is it a Pioneer with a Soldier (year stamped) blade or
a Soldier with a Pioneer lanyard ring?
lol!
 
There are several difference between the Soldier and Pioneer: The shields are totally different, the Pioneer generally has an engraving panel on the reverse and, as noted, a key ring. The Soldier has the dated tang but also some Pioneers were made with left over Soldier blades and may occasionally have dates as well. The photo is a Soldier I believe because of the shield. very unusual to find the keyring.
 
felinevet said:
There are several difference between the Soldier and Pioneer: The shields are totally different, the Pioneer generally has an engraving panel on the reverse and, as noted, a key ring. The Soldier has the dated tang but also some Pioneers were made with left over Soldier blades and may occasionally have dates as well. The photo is a Soldier I believe because of the shield. very unusual to find the keyring.
Click to expand...
Cool! Thanks its neat to know i own an unusual SAK!

I was wondering were the shields on the 84mm Alox Vics always as they are now?
I have an old Alox Cadet II with a shield similar to the ones on the Soldier, the difference being the bottom of the shield is pointy as opposed to the rounded bottomed shield on the Soldier.
It also lacks checkering, instead having longitudinal lines from end to end.
I'll have to try and take a pic and post it!
 
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