Got assigned one of the oldest cars in the fleet for work a while back. I kept hearing something rattling around under the seat, and checked under there several times before discovering the source of the noise. I finally got my hands on it and when i pulled it out I recognized it as a Victorinox of some sort. It was covered in goo, and almost all of the tools were stuck solid and I actually broke my thumbnail trying to open the blade.
I soaked it in some warm water for a couple of hours and I was able to open all the blades. A good scrubbing with an old toothbrush and some dish soap cleaned it up real nice, and now all the tools open and close with a good snap, except for the can opener, its still a little weak and will probably stay that way. I added a little light oil to the joints and worked it in good after letting it dry. Once I could open the tools I identified it as a Huntsman II, best I can tell based on the toolset.
The tip of the small blade was bent 90 deg starting about 2mm back from the tip. I took a chance and straightened it planning to reprofile it if it broke. It straightened up, though not perfectly, and does not appear to have cracked. I sharpened up the blades and I have a functioning but well used looking Vic Hunstman II.
I have never had a Vic with the corkscrew, truth be told I hate the corkscrew models and much prefer the back philips tool. It wasn't until I had a Farmer that I found the inline mini driver on the can opener to be more useful in most applications than the dedicated philips driver on the back. I ordered a replacement mini screwdriver and figure that will add some functionality to the corkskcrew.
I don't have a before pic, just imagine a Vic knife covered in ketchup and left in the sun for a few years.
The after pic shows the abuse its had, but there is no real damage other than the abused small blade. It even still had the toothpick and tweezers. I am a little concerned about the tip I straightened out breaking off, but if it does I plan to make a clip point or a sheepsfoot out of it. I am not a great photographer, but you'll get the idea.
It must sound crazy that a true Victorinox nut like myself has never had a single model with the corkscrew, but this really is my first. I have always intentionally sought out models without the cork puller. With the addition of the mini screwdriver I think I will find the toolset very useful. I have never been a huge fan of the scissors either, but I know lots of people are crazy about Vic's scissors. The Farmer is my favorite model, and this model appears to have the saw I love on the Farmer, and a couple of other useful tools.
I plan on this tool going in my outdoors bag I take with me on the boat, canoe, to the hunting camp etc...as a backup knife, and for that I think it will serve me well. Its not likely to replace my one hand Trekker or Farmer as a primary knife.
Just for fun lets see some pics of models with the corkscrews and any useful things you can do with them besides pulling a cork.
I soaked it in some warm water for a couple of hours and I was able to open all the blades. A good scrubbing with an old toothbrush and some dish soap cleaned it up real nice, and now all the tools open and close with a good snap, except for the can opener, its still a little weak and will probably stay that way. I added a little light oil to the joints and worked it in good after letting it dry. Once I could open the tools I identified it as a Huntsman II, best I can tell based on the toolset.
The tip of the small blade was bent 90 deg starting about 2mm back from the tip. I took a chance and straightened it planning to reprofile it if it broke. It straightened up, though not perfectly, and does not appear to have cracked. I sharpened up the blades and I have a functioning but well used looking Vic Hunstman II.
I have never had a Vic with the corkscrew, truth be told I hate the corkscrew models and much prefer the back philips tool. It wasn't until I had a Farmer that I found the inline mini driver on the can opener to be more useful in most applications than the dedicated philips driver on the back. I ordered a replacement mini screwdriver and figure that will add some functionality to the corkskcrew.
I don't have a before pic, just imagine a Vic knife covered in ketchup and left in the sun for a few years.
The after pic shows the abuse its had, but there is no real damage other than the abused small blade. It even still had the toothpick and tweezers. I am a little concerned about the tip I straightened out breaking off, but if it does I plan to make a clip point or a sheepsfoot out of it. I am not a great photographer, but you'll get the idea.
It must sound crazy that a true Victorinox nut like myself has never had a single model with the corkscrew, but this really is my first. I have always intentionally sought out models without the cork puller. With the addition of the mini screwdriver I think I will find the toolset very useful. I have never been a huge fan of the scissors either, but I know lots of people are crazy about Vic's scissors. The Farmer is my favorite model, and this model appears to have the saw I love on the Farmer, and a couple of other useful tools.
I plan on this tool going in my outdoors bag I take with me on the boat, canoe, to the hunting camp etc...as a backup knife, and for that I think it will serve me well. Its not likely to replace my one hand Trekker or Farmer as a primary knife.
Just for fun lets see some pics of models with the corkscrews and any useful things you can do with them besides pulling a cork.
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