Doubts About New Victorinox

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NanakiXIII

Joined
Aug 29, 2006
Messages
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After losing my old one, I got a new Victorinox pocket knife today, and upon a closer examination than the shop allowed, I'm having some doubts. Some of the tools are very hard or near impossible to fold out. Granted, I'm a bit squemish about my nails, but some I could barely get out with the help of a secondary knife. One hasn't got an indentation to stick your nail in to get it out. One isn't accessible without folding out another first. I also tried folding the various tools in and out for a while, which didn't have much effect on how hard they are to fold out.

Second issue is that one of the tools, when folding it out, pushes against the main blade of the knife, from the inside, pushing it out a bit. Perhaps I'm just being picky or spoiled by my old knife, but that doesn't seem right.

Am I just jumping to conclusions too quickly, or was I perhaps just very lucky with my old knife (or perhaps I've lost the memories of it ever being as this new one is)? Is it just what one can expect from a pocket knife with a larger set of tools (it's quite a bit larger than my old one's set)?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
 
It probaly just needs to be broken in.

Oil it, and let it work itself out. All new SAK's tend to need a breaking in period, this is very normal. Once in a while you may get (a new) one that is easy to open, but for the most part the new ones are usually stiff until broken in.

If the one blade is causing another to open also, could it be bent perhaps, one way too far?
 
I have Victorinox Swiss Army Knives spanning many years. All of them show excellent fit and finish. If I may ask, what model did you buy? I have heard that the Victorinox Ecoline of knives do not have the superb fit and finish of the more common SAKs, although I have never handled one myself.
 
It is oiled plenty, I think, there is some on most of the tools, visible when they are folded out.

Not the tool itself is bringing out another, but something inside the knife. When the corkscrew is folded out, the main blade, which is on the other side of the knife, is pushed out a bit, and returns to its folded-in position when the corkscrew is folded out completely.

Though I'm not entirely sure what model it is, its tools are, I believe, identical to this one: http://www.ellis-brigham.com/images/652070.jpg
The only difference is that mine has "camping" engraved on it (which it was also what a little sign at the shop said).
 
It sounds like a Ranger to me.

It is normal for the main blade to lift up and down slightly, as the corksrew is opened. Mine does the same thing, but not to the point that the tip of the blade is exposed.

1.3763.71.jpg
 
That's the one, except my inscription isn't underlined. There is no chance of the blade being damaged by this behavior?
 
i've bought several saks over the years and have not had the problems you've got. before you do anything else take it back to the store where you got it and either exchange it or get your money back and try another store. if at all possible you should get to handle the knife before you buy it to make sure you're satisfied before you walk out the door. as a last resort you could send it back to victorinox with a letter describing your problems and i'm sure they'll take care of you. later,ahgar
 
I'm getting opposing advice now. Let's see if I can figure it out.

Buzzbait, if you can remember, was that hook tool (I have no idea what it is, quite frankly) impossible to get out at first? There is nothing to get a good grip on, the key ring is kind of in the way and this, combined with the fact that the tools take some effort to fold out, makes it pretty much impossible to get this tool folded out with my bare hands.

The other tools on the same side of the knife are just as hard to get out, but less impossible because you can get a grip on them. However, though, as I said, I'm somewhat squemish about my nails, it is, if nothing else, very uncomfortable to fold the tools out.

The peculiar thing is, the tools on the other side of the knife (the blades, etc.) are much easier to fold out. They're not as smooth as my old knife, but require much less effort than the other tools and the additional effort needed for them is what I, as a layman, would expect from a new knife.
 
Buzzbait, if you can remember, was that hook tool (I have no idea what it is, quite frankly) impossible to get out at first? There is nothing to get a good grip on, the key ring is kind of in the way and this, combined with the fact that the tools take some effort to fold out, makes it pretty much impossible to get this tool folded out with my bare hands.
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The hook tool has been very hard to open on every SAK I've ever owned. The backspring is very hard to overcome, and there is very little to get a grip on. The awl is a little tough to open, but at least it has a nail nick to help you out.

The other tools on the same side of the knife are just as hard to get out, but less impossible because you can get a grip on them. However, though, as I said, I'm somewhat squemish about my nails, it is, if nothing else, very uncomfortable to fold the tools out.

The peculiar thing is, the tools on the other side of the knife (the blades, etc.) are much easier to fold out. They're not as smooth as my old knife, but require much less effort than the other tools and the additional effort needed for them is what I, as a layman, would expect from a new knife.
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I don't have any problems with the main tools. The blades should open pretty easily, although the small blade can be a little tough to get to. The saw should opened from the end of the tool. The file should open the same way. The scissors open relativvely easily via the nail nick. The can and bottle openers have a stiff backspring, but nothing I'd call hard to overcome.

Remember that the slipjoint springs should provide a decent amount of resistance. The pressure that you exert to open the blade, is the same amount of pressure needed to close the blade. The spring must be overcome in either direction. If there's too little pressure, the knife becomes very unsafe to operate, as it can accidentally close during use. Stiff action (caused by friction between parts) is not a good thing. A strong spring is normally considered to be a very good thing. In comparison to some high quality slipjoints, the Victorinox springs are actually a little bit on the weak side.
 
Many of the tools SHARE a backspring. This is what causes the minor "lifting" of an opposite tool as it is already being used by the other tool that shares the back spring and is placing tension on it. Normal.

Also .... MIDDLE...blades on all of them will be stiffer as they are working against less leverage on the shorter portion of the backspring.
 
Thanks, Lavan, that explains it. However, what did you mean by your last sentence?

Also .... MIDDLE...blades on all of them will be stiffer as they are working against less leverage on the shorter portion of the backspring.
Click to expand...

I understand that there should be some pressure to overcome, but I just found it rather strange that everything on one side of the knife (the blades, saw, file, scissors and openers) are opened no sweat, while everything on the other side takes so much effort.

On another note, what is that hook tool used for? It doesn't strike me as immediately useful.
 
It's for lifting and carrying packages tied with string. I agree, it doesn't seem very useful except for one thing - it got me started collecting SAKs. My old Climber wore out and I went down and bought a new one. When I got home, I looked at the hook and thought, "What a waste". Then I started shopping on ebay for a NOS Climber. And an extra. And a Spartan. A Hiker. A Camper....
 
The hook has a small nub on the outside of the curve that you can use to lever it up and out. While they designed it for carrying a string bag, it can also be used as a buttonhook, which is handy for untying knots, like double-knotted shoelaces, without damaging the laces.
 
I've also used the hook for moving pots off a cookstove, etc. Before the hook I always used the can opener with pretty good luck. Haven't tried the combo tool but I doubt it would work. Of course you could always use a multi-tool with pliers but then that wouldn't be a SAK now would it?:)
 
Tighting shoe laces on boots, skates, ect. (I just realized this was sort of mentioned but o well). Despite first looks the hook is actually really useful IMO.
 
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