Got a look at the Swisstool Spirit today

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gatch

Joined
Feb 24, 2005
Messages
264
Went to the Swissarmy shop in the city today and got my first look at the Swisstool Spirit - what a gorgeous piece of kit. The thing is so comforable to hold and blows anything else I have seen out of the water in terms of quality. Victorinox raises the bar again.

The sissors are improved, doing away with the spring and instead having a mechanism similar to that of the Leatherman sissors.

There is no blade, which I found strange as the the SAK knife blade is their trademark. But, taking into account what Vincent said in a recent thread that blades on plier multitools don't really make for the best knife; carry this baby along with a smaller SAK (say the Spartan or the Soldier, or one of the one handed models if that meets your needs) and you are set.

I was looking to replace my Leatherman Juice, but the Spirit is a little bigger, though no so big and heavy as the original Swisstool. In fact the Spirit is a just right in terms to weight for my needs.

I didn't buy one today because I am sure that I can find it cheaper elsewhere.

I must have one if these babys!
 
JOOLIESEWS said:
How much did the Spirit cost at the Swissarmy shop? I see they have them at Amazon right now for $37.99
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002T5YNW/002-0939685-8340030

There is no knife blade you say?!
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Yeah, I saw that and I have gift certificates for Amazon from my PC vendor in consolation for screwing up my order :)

It was $75 in the Swissarmy shop, so that is a considerable saving.

I wanted to get the Plus version which comes with two rachets and the corkscrew (was $104 in the Swissarmy shop) , but I don'ts see it on Amazon. The guy in the Swissarmy shop said that they just got it in, so perhaps it will be available on Amazon soon? He also said the NY Times did a review on the Spirit and I checked their website, but a search turned up no hits.

No standard SAK blade, but has it large reamer with a blade like edge and serrated blade that has no point on the tip (it looks to me like a medical saw for removing limbs!).

All the tools lock in the same fashion as the Swisstool.

I also noticed that the wire cutter at the base of the pliers is different to the those on the original Swisstool. I have one of these and they had one in a display case, but all the newer produced Swisstools they had in the shop seem to have this new design.
 
Considering the movement to restrict or ban locking knife blades in the UK and elsewhere, the lack of a pointed knife blade might be just Victorinox getting ahead of the political winds. As it stands, this is now one of the few real multi-tools that's not contraband in the UK. And 'm sure the UK is a pretty good-size market for them.
 
Gryffin said:
Oh, I also ran across a place online that's selling the SwissTool Spirit Plus for just $85.

https://www.expeditionexchange.com/victor/

The site also includes a pretty detailed review of the Spirit Plus.

I just ordered mine. I'll post a review when I get it.
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That one only seems to have one rachet. The one I saw yesterday had two different rachets: the on pictured plus one that looks like the one for the currrent Swisstool. If I knew you could buy just he rachet kit on its own (as I did for my Swisstool) I would buy from Amazon's incredibly cheap price and get the kit later. But I don't see the replacement kit listed anywhere. Prehaps because it is so new?

It is interesting that they believe this is the tool to replace all other SAK tools:

"New from Victorinox is the SwissTool Spirit. This multitool is so superior to all others that we have discontinued the SwissChamp, SwissTool, SwissTool RS, and SwissTool X. The Spirit is a beautifully crafted tool that has been designed with maximum ergonomics and utility in mind."
 
Gryffin said:
Considering the movement to restrict or ban locking knife blades in the UK and elsewhere, the lack of a pointed knife blade might be just Victorinox getting ahead of the political winds. As it stands, this is now one of the few real multi-tools that's not contraband in the UK. And 'm sure the UK is a pretty good-size market for them.
Click to expand...



Looking at the review from the site Gryffin posted (https://www.expeditionexchange.com/victor/) you could be right. It states:

"The serrated blade is a sheepsfoot shape, just to prevent one from using it for stabbing."
 
gatch said:
That one only seems to have one rachet. The one I saw yesterday had two different rachets: the on pictured plus one that looks like the one for the currrent Swisstool. If I knew you could buy just he rachet kit on its own (as I did for my Swisstool) I would buy from Amazon's incredibly cheap price and get the kit later. But I don't see the replacement kit listed anywhere. Prehaps because it is so new?
Click to expand...


Are you saying that the two ratchets are different from one another ? Or are you saying that it comes with two ratchets that are the same ?

Would you have a link that shows the plus with two ratchets ? I saw one in a store recently but it only came with one ratchet .

Thanks
 
lonediver said:
Are you saying that the two ratchets are different from one another ? Or are you saying that it comes with two ratchets that are the same ?

Would you have a link that shows the plus with two ratchets ? I saw one in a store recently but it only came with one ratchet .

Thanks
Click to expand...

Two different rachets.

I saw it in the Swissarmy store not online so I don't have link with a picture.

The guy had to go into the back to get one to show me as they were so new that it had just come in, the plus kit was not even on display yet in the store.
 
gatch said:
Two different rachets.

I saw it in the Swissarmy store not online so I don't have link with a picture.

The guy had to go into the back to get one to show me as they were so new that it had just come in, the plus kit was not even on display yet in the store.
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So how were the ratchets different from each other ? Shorter , longer , different mechanisms ?
 
lonediver said:
So how were the ratchets different from each other ? Shorter , longer , different mechanisms ?
Click to expand...
one of these ratchets is only a wrench, you put a bit on one or the other end, and turn by hand by full circles. the other one is a ratchet (not sure this word describes what it really is, in French it's "clef à cliquet"), on one end you just have to turn some degrees, go back, turn again and by this movement, you only require some degrees of space to work to put in or out a screw.

sorry if it's not clear, maybe someone will understand what I mean and explain it better.
 
"The serrated blade is a sheepsfoot shape, just to prevent one from using it for stabbing."
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lol then they put an awl which is ment for stabbing (leather and stuff but still) :footinmou :footinmou
 
lonediver said:
So how were the ratchets different from each other ? Shorter , longer , different mechanisms ?
Click to expand...

OK, I did a search and found the two different tools.

As choubbi pointed out one is a wrench and the other a ratchet, not two ratches as I previously mistakenly called them.

One (wrench) is seen in this picture:

swissarmywarehouse_1827_17956969.gif


This other (ratchet) is seen here:

DSC04676_.jpg


DSC04603_.jpg



The Spirit Plus I saw yesterday came with both these, the corkscrew and oversized pouch all in one box.
 
"New from Victorinox is the SwissTool Spirit. This multitool is so superior to all others that we have discontinued the SwissChamp, SwissTool, SwissTool RS, and SwissTool X.


oh,man....where do u get this info??? :confused: becos i own an RS....
 
gatch said:
That one only seems to have one rachet. The one I saw yesterday had two different rachets: the on pictured plus one that looks like the one for the currrent Swisstool.
Click to expand...
I saw a few pictures on a foreing language site that showed both wrenches and two bit holder strips, but I haven't seen any for sale with both. No matter; I wouldn't really wanna lug both around. And I already have the non-ratchet wrench from my SwissTool X Plus, if I change my mind.

gatch said:
If I knew you could buy just he rachet kit on its own (as I did for my Swisstool) I would buy from Amazon's incredibly cheap price and get the kit later. But I don't see the replacement kit listed anywhere. Prehaps because it is so new?
Click to expand...
Well, there's the problem: the "Plus" kit isn't available separately. I've been waiting a year for the Spirit Plus, so now that I've found one for under a c-note, I'm getting it. Yeah, I could get the tool alone from Amazon fer cheap, and get the "Plus" kit later, but dammit, I want it NOW!! ;)
 
ckl said:
"New from Victorinox is the SwissTool Spirit. This multitool is so superior to all others that we have discontinued the SwissChamp, SwissTool, SwissTool RS, and SwissTool X.


oh,man....where do u get this info??? :confused: becos i own an RS....
Click to expand...


It was in the review on the web site that Gryffin posted:

https://www.expeditionexchange.com/victor/

They are not saying Victorinox have discontinued these models, only that they at Expidition Exchange are so convinced that the Spirit is superior to Victorinox's previous tools that they no longer stock the SwissChamp, SwissTool, SwissTool RS, and SwissTool X.
 
JOOLIESEWS said:
How much did the Spirit cost at the Swissarmy shop? I see they have them at Amazon right now for $37.99
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002T5YNW/002-0939685-8340030
Click to expand...

That link pushed me over the edge. I ordered one last night. The price was just too good to pass up. I did search a number of stores over the weekend, as I wanted to hold one in my hands first, but the Spirit is pretty tough to find in a store.

Sometimes you just have to hold your nose and jump in feet first.
 
gatch said:
It was in the review on the web site that Gryffin posted:

https://www.expeditionexchange.com/victor/

They are not saying Victorinox have discontinued these models, only that they at Expidition Exchange are so convinced that the Spirit is superior to Victorinox's previous tools that they no longer stock the SwissChamp, SwissTool, SwissTool RS, and SwissTool X.
Click to expand...


Good it means the price on the other models should start coming down. I am not too keen on that blunt nose blade , maybe if it was more of a sheepsfoot type blade, it would appeal to me more. I do like the re-engineered scissors though, if there is one weakness in Victorinox it is that damn spring.
 
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