Differences between various Swisstools / Spirits?

L

Lock1454

Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
885
Hi guys,

So, I am graduating with from college (BA in Psychology, minor in History), and I wanted to treat myself :) Naturally, I want to do so with a lots of pieces of metal, many of which are sharp!

I have a Charge TTi, and I was considering picking up one of Victorinox's pliers-based multi-tools (something I would not normally get since I have the Charge, but I can justify because it is a present to myself :P). When searching around to compare the various ones, different sites referenced different things for the various models but were missing different pieces of information, but I eventually got confused and it turned into a mess and I wasn't sure I was getting everything :P

So my question... Is there some site that has all of the various Vic pliers tools listed with their differences? Tools offered, weight, size and whatever else? Perhaps anyone who may have that info in their noggin that wouldn't mind putting it to text? :)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Checked the Vic website. As far as size, the only information they provide is length. And they list the tools, and I tried comparing them, but I kept feeling as if I wasn't picking up on some of the differences in the listings (I tend to do that :confused:). Was ideally looking for a site that had the various models listed and a run down of differences (e.g., model X has the same as model Y + Z tools).

My Excel has decided to break on me, normally I would have drawn this all up on my own there and done the work, but I guess I'll have to go and use *gasp* pen and paper!
 
Alrighty, was able to do some crunching and such. My results: not going to bother getting any of 'em :P Seeing as I have a Charge already, just didn't feel that the Vic tools offered enough of a difference for me to pull the trigger. Instead, going to revisit my urges to get a Juice (S2 or CS4.. Wonder which!). Be a lighter and smaller pliers tool, something different than what the Charge gives me :) I had originally thought that the Vic tools were much lighter (4-5oz range), but apparently they are much closer to the Charge than I had thought :eek:
 
Lock1454 said:
Instead, going to revisit my urges to get a Juice (S2 or CS4.. Wonder which!). Be a lighter and smaller pliers tool, something different than what the Charge gives me :)
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I've got one of the Juice S2 tools and love it. Very nice little MT with my basic needs (pliers, knife, scissors, screwdrivers, etc.) in a package large enough to be usable but small enough for pocket carry. :thumbup:
 
Mmm, The S2 looks like a nice alternative for a lighter option while keeping a capable size pliers. Now the question is the S2 or the CS4...

The CS4 gives me an awl, wood saw, corkscrew, an extra 1.1oz (5.5 total) and 0.3" thickness (0.8). I was originally planning on getting the S2 with a Vic Farmer to support it (giving me the awl and saw), but am wondering if the extra 0.3" of thickness would be worth it to just get it all with the one tool... Oh decisions, decisions :confused:
 
You might want to go to a store and actually get your hands on a Swisstool. I went from a Charge to a Spirit and the quality difference is very noticeable.
 
No places around me that I know of that have a Swisstool to demo (or any multi-tool... or knife >.<).
 
it's always nice to buy new tools. I have quite a few multi's. Victorinox, leathermans.
You might find another great tool or two out there you like to carry/use but you also might find it's hard to beat your Charge TTi.
 
I'm certainly open to buying new tools to compete with my Charge, but I just don't think this is the appropriate time for myself to do so. I just got into knives and multi-tools this past winter. So I think it'd be better to fill gaps before I go and try to replace something... Which is totally contradictory to the purpose behind this thread :P I guess I was just toying with the idea in my mind and this was just a way of me figuring it out. If anything, it would have allowed me to have the specs in my head / on paper for me to mull over during the coming months (years) and figure out which Swisstool would the appropriate contender against my Charge :D

Btw - Spirits scissors look kinda lame and the damn comb'i'blade is kind of silly... >.< *shakes fist at Vic*
 
Lock1454 said:
Btw - Spirits scissors look kinda lame and the damn comb'i'blade is kind of silly... >.< *shakes fist at Vic*
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This is from the standpoint of someone who worked with a Spirit for a while and went back to Leatherman: one of the things about the Spirit that I liked was the blade. At first I was also put off by its appearance, but with experience I got to appreciate it as a really useful, well thought out design. The blade was fine. Had it not been for the dinky scissors, non-needle nose pliers that don't open wide enough, slippy screwdrivers etc., I might have stayed with the Vic.
 
yeah I agree with the above poster. I had a Vic Spirit before trading it off. It was very jewel like in appearance and really a fine piece of engineering. The drivers and most of the tools for that matter chromed and so it does make for a slippery surface when trying to bite into a screw head. The blade initially you might think only good for spreading peanut butter :( but actually it is quite functional as a cutter.
The kewl thing you might notice first off with the Vic's is their outside opening tools. Very handy. The plus side of this for me was when you finally get around to needing the pliers, the handles, I felt very comfortable to squeeze down on and were nicely finished on the ends because no tools have to come out from that side of it.

also...

like above poster mentioned try these guys out for info.

http://forum.multitool.org/
 
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Lock1454 said:
:o I'm weak - Spirit incoming... As well as a Juice S2.
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LOL! what a man! which model Spirit did you get? with or without the butter-spreader (which I like, works nice);
with or without scissors?
shiny or black?
 
Plain Swisstool Spirit. Came with a Rally, All said and done, $42 to my door brand spank'n new. I had to go for it :)
 
someone posted this wonder comparison on Amazon.
"There are 3 variations of the full sized SwissTool (the SwissTool Spirit is smaller and lighter). Here are the differences between the 3:

The original SwissTool
Has: 2nd knife blade, metal file
Does not have: scissors, belt cutter
This model can also be had in a black oxide finish.

The SwissTool RS
Has: belt cutter, scissors
Does not have: metal file, 2nd knife blade

The SwissTool X
Has: scissors, metal file
Does not have: belt cutter, 2nd knife blade

Other than the differences I have listed above, the 3 models are identical. "

(http://www.amazon.com/review/R29OSR043PTYMP/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm)
 
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