Forester, Farmer, Soldier who do you trust

F

FULMTALJKT

Joined
Feb 25, 2006
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108
The answer to this question is probably going to boil down to personal preference but I'm going to ask anyway.
After reading numerous posts about how great the locking blade Victorinox knives are, I have been thinking about buying a forester or trekker (not the one hand mods.) and was wondering if there really is any advantage to them over my Vic Farmer or soldier. Yes the blade and saw are longer, the grip is bigger and the blade does lock. But after looking at one it doesn't seem quite as solid to me as my farmers and Soldiers.
I know alot of you swear by the lock blade Vics. but I have also seen alot of the Farmer and Soldier models shown in kit pictures.
Has anyone had the oppertunity to abuse either or both to see how they compare. Ive been using farmers and soldiers for years and they are rock solid but I have no first hand experience with the locklng blade models.
It seems to me that the Alox handels being pinned on make the the smaller knives more solid.

A penny for your 2 cents
 
Lock blades are great, I have one Wenger SAK with a lock blade and it is really useful for things that need to be cut repeatedly.
 
I'd stick with a soldier.

I'm just not that much in need of a lock on a knife to put up with a bigger package that may not be as sturdy. But then I grew up in an era before the Buck 110 came out and made locks popular. To me all folding knives are pocket knives, and if I need something for heavy duty enough that I'm worried about it folding up on me, then thats what my puuko is for.

I joined the boy scouts in 1953, and the then used combo of scout knife (like a Vic soldier) a 4 to 5 inch sheath knife, and a small hatchet covered everything we had to take care of on camping trips. I don't think that trio of efficiat tools can be improved on by adding a larger pocket knife with a lock.

The truth is I think that Victorinox came out with a locking knife is that the younger generation of knife buyers are so indoctrinated for the modern tactical thing with each new model boasting that they are better than the one before it, that they have never learned to use a traditional knife like a stockman or trapper, let alone a boy scout knife. Before I retired a few years back I even had one young co-worker see me using an old barlow knife in the shop, and say to me that he did'nt know how I could use something like that, I was going to cut a finger off. Each to thier own I guess.
 
I like the saw feature of the Farmer, but for daily carry I very often choose the Soldier. It is just the right size for my pocket and handles lots of day to day tasks.

Mine is '93 model and has excellent snap to the back springs.

Oupa does a melt down on the alox models that is really cool.
 
I'm facing the same question. I've been using a locking Rucksack for a number of years, but generally only carry it when in the woods. I'll be getting a Farmer for Christmas. I suspect it will become an EDC, but I may still carry the Rucksack instead if going to the woods. The lock issue is irrelevant to me. The longer saw of the Rucksack is definitely an advantage. I've not abused the Rucksack, but I have a friend who is very tough on knives and his Rucksack has been going strong for five or six years. It may not be as solid as the Alox models but it's certainly tough enough.

Scott
 
Ditto, Scott. I have EDCed a Rucksack for almost 15 years. This is my 2nd. It is still going strong after more than 10 yers. The first found someone who wanted it more than I did. The larger saw and main blade are major selling points for me. Very rarely have I ever found myself leaving the Rucksack behind in favor of a smaller knife.

That being said, I love the "Scout" pattern traditional folders as well as the Farmer/Soldier family. You will be well served by either. And I do occasionally find a use for the toothpick or tweezers.

BTW: The Forester is the same pattern as the Rucksack, but with a liner lock, opposed to the Ruck's slide lock.
 
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