First Vic SAK on the way. What steel used in the blade?

M

manowar669

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Oct 1, 2002
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Just ordered my first Vic. A Soldier. Maybe that's not true. I had a large SAK maybe 30 years ago. Maybe a china-brand, not sure, really, but the woodsaw kicked ass!
Anyway, I've carried everything from Sebbies, to a CUDA MAXX. Currently an Opinel 6, olivewood, carbon.
Lying here with a broken leg since Feb 5, got the itch, and bought the Vic Soldier. So, what steel is used in these? 12C27?
Already eyeing up a farmer, cadet, and maybe a classic, and the soldier isn't even here yet. I can see why SAKs can be collectibles.
 
According to Vic literature, the steel is DIN 1.4110 (German).

Aka Z50CD13, it's roughly equivalent to the 440 series, but Vic seems to have the heat treat down pat. It performs much better than other 440 knives I've had. The worst thing that can be said about it is that it's good but not great on edge retention. Doesn't rust, doesn't break easily, and sharpens very well quickly.
 
Welcome to the addiction. The soldier is a great knife. You will be impressed with it. I hope your leg heals up soon.
 
To help while away the time while your leg heals up, I suggest going to the SOSAK website. It has lots of nice articles. Sign up for free membership if you want!

Also, the link to Felinevet's store gives you an array of nifty models to look at. I like the discontinued and rare section. He's well thought of here, buying from him supports a good cause, and he has a lot of good deals.
 
Thanks for the links. I've read several posts about him.

Are the screwdrivers, awls, etc made of the same steel as the blade and hardened? Or something else? Or left soft?
 
I believe the steel is the same for both blades and implements , Implements are heatreated to differing levels , depending on intended function .

Stripped of excessive verbiage , they work , they are easy to sharpen . Few if any SAK users report running out of edge in mid task .

They err on the side of caution , bending before breakage , which is fine by me .

I think you will be pretty happy .

Chris
 
Well, it came today. It wasn't very sharp, but a few minutes on the sharpmaker, and it shaves easily. FYI, the grind on the awl is standard scissor grind, and you can use the sharpmaker rod in the scissor slot to resharpen the bevel on the awl. I already used it in the kitchen. The only problem I can see, is that the knife is smooth, and could slide out of a loose pocket.
 
FYI - You can use a monkeyfist lanyard on your smooth SAK to keep it secure - just tuck the ball up under the belt and out the top and let the cord suspend your SAK below into your front or back pocket - it also makes it feel weightless and makes it easier to access other things in the pocket such as change, a handkerchef, etc.
Cheers!
"Bloody Bill"
 
w.t. anderson said:
FYI - You can use a monkeyfist lanyard on your smooth SAK to keep it secure - just tuck the ball up under the belt and out the top and let the cord suspend your SAK below into your front or back pocket - it also makes it feel weightless and makes it easier to access other things in the pocket such as change, a handkerchef, etc.
Cheers!
"Bloody Bill"
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how that would work, since the Soldier has no keyring or lanyard bail.
 
Hi,

The Wenger Soldier has a bail, the Vic doesn't. Though only Wenger makes the old Alox Soldier anymore.

If I had known about Vic Soldiers when I was young, I may never have carried anything else!

dalee
 
The Soldier is great. Current versions don't have a bail anymore, but Soldiers made before 1992 had a bail like the Wenger SI.

An example, this is my DAK, made by Victorinox and issued in 1985.
DAK.jpg
 
Harayasu said:
The Soldier is great. Current versions don't have a bail anymore, but Soldiers made before 1992 had a bail like the Wenger SI.

An example, this is my DAK, made by Victorinox and issued in 1985.
DAK.jpg
Click to expand...

That older Soldier is interesting. The cross is plain, and what is that rectangular area on the scale closer to the bail? It looks like it says "K something 85 (year?)". Were the blades also dated on these?
 
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The date on the DAK's (Dutch Army Knife) was not put on the blades, but on the scales. In the rectangular area it says "KL 85". Here KL stands for Koninklijke Landmacht (Royal Army) and 85 is the year when this knife was issued, 1985.
 
w.t. anderson said:
FYI - You can use a monkeyfist lanyard on your smooth SAK to keep it secure - just tuck the ball up under the belt and out the top and let the cord suspend your SAK below into your front or back pocket - it also makes it feel weightless and makes it easier to access other things in the pocket such as change, a handkerchef, etc.
Cheers!
"Bloody Bill"
Click to expand...

Where would get one of these monkeyfist lanyards?....
 
manowar669 said:
Does the blade hit the backspring on Vic SAKs?
Click to expand...

Like some of the other types of slipjoints out there, the master blades on some of the alox models can hit the backsprings if one lets them snap closed hard enough - I had it happen to me with a Solo.:o Just be careful upon closing and it shouldn't be an issue.
 
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