Has anyone ever had a defective Swiss Army Knife?

Victorinox epitomize consistent quality and value --- best knife for money anywhere in the world. A new Recruit can be bought for $12 at a big box store and last a man the rest of his life and the next generation too. Yet, it doesn't pretend to be something it's not.
 
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StuntDouble said:
The only issue I can ever remember having with either of my Victorinox models is the tip of the main blade hitting the liner if I let the blade snap close. Other than that, they've held up to anything I've thrown at them.

They may be low-end bottom tier to some, but at least they don't become nearly impossible to open and close if the handle gets wet.
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I have modified (for whittlin') and sold dozens of Victorinox knives - mostly Tinkers, but some others too, and the tip of the blade hitting the liner is in my experience VERY common. I consider it a minor issue, since I reshape that blade anyway and fix the problem.

A well stropped Victorinox keeps its edge pretty well too.

I think it really is the best knife for non knife knuts.
 
leghog said:
Victorinox epitomize consistent quality and value --- best knife for money anywhere in the world. A new Recruit can be bought for $12 at a big box store and last a man the rest of his life and the next generation too. Yet, it doesn't pretend to be something it's not.
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Can't disagree with a single thing there!:thumbup:

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The little classic there on top of the keyring sheath I made for it, has been in servi ce now for several years. It's replaced a clothes drier door catch, repaired a Minn Kota electric trolling motor in the middle of a very long winding lake, fixed a Vespa motor scooter, dealt with uncounted screws around the home and other, opened a zillion UPS/FEDEX boxes, broken down said boxes after opening, cut enough twine to cross the Atlantic, helped put together a wedding reception, and has been great. No scales falling off, no missing tools, and the scissors still trim my facial hair just fine.

I only started to carry a classic after watching my better half torture one for months. I use the word torture because I just don't think the word abuse will cover what I saw Karen use her's for. I have to agree with leg hog, best knife for the money anywhere. Anytime I'm flying out for a vacation someplace, and not sure what I'll run into, I mail a SAK to where I'll be. From fishing in Key West to picnicking on the Rogue river in Oregon, I've never had a SAK let me down, and they make nice gifts to leave behind when I fly out.

Carl.
 
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I returned an SAK Sentinel a few months ago because it had a little too much vertical blade play for my liking. It wasn't terrible though and I am pretty sure does not count has a defect. I own something like 10 other Victorinox knives and they are all flawless. They are a ridiculous value! The Cadet would be my choice as a starter knife for kids.

In my opinion the only production knife company that comes even close to Victorinox in quality is Spyderco.
 
Something I recalled this morning. A friend and long ago boss is an old Army Special Forces soldier. He has a 108mm Victorinox Mauser he carried and used through the SF Qualification Course some 30 years ago. Told me he selected the Mauser over the 108mm GAK (one of the best knives I own) because it had a second blade. Trust me, he didn't select a Victorinox knife because of marketing or hype. Just not the kind of guy he is. That's about the best endorsement a hard use knife can get.
 
yep, LOOOOnggg time SAK user, I can only think of one time that an OLDER knife had a scale that was loose and it wasn't mine! that's it, pretty impressive record I'd say, but as I also always say I think of them more in terms of small tool boxes, quite handy tool boxes mind you, but more tools than blades. The curved serrated blade on the Swiss Tool works great cutting up old carpet though, very good cutter there! As the serrations are not tight that they get stuck while cutting the fibrous material.

I enjoyed that video of Victorinox, never heard the tale of how it became named so, but looking at it now, and with my new appreciation of French knives ;), I can see that the end of the name is Inox, French for stainless :) never had a clue til now lol...
G2
 
The only problems I have had with a SAK were my own fault.

1. I bent the blade of a serrated UPS edition Classic (really loved that one with brown scales) and tried to bend it back but snapped it
2. I took the scales off of my Officer to see what was below and how they were attached and deformed them (plastic deformation, punny right?) and now they are kinda loose on the knife, but haven't fallen once
3. I had a clear orange scaled classic that I foolishly took a scale off of and lost

Connor
 
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I've had an Alox version or two with small issues. One had a lazy blade that also rubbed the liner. Don't remember what the specific issue was with the other.
 
ConBon said:
The only problems I have had with a SAK were my own fault.

1. I bent the blade of a serrated UPS edition Classic (really loved that one with brown scales) and tried to bend it back but snapped it
2. I took the scales off of my Officer to see what was below and how they were attached and deformed them (plastic deformation, punny right?) and now they are kinda loose on the knife, but haven't fallen once
3. I had a clear orange scaled classic that I foolishly took a scale off of and lost

Connor
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Scales really aren't meant to be taken off then reattached. Reattach new scales, and you'll be in like Flynn.
 
I was in possession of a few hundred sak classics. I would give them away as corporate gifts. So every three years or so a scale would go missing on the knife for no apparent reason. I usually kept it on a keychain.

If it's any consolation though I'm getting a stayglow deluxe tinker in the mail soon. It would be my first Swiss army in about ten years. Not sure if ill use it as it was via trade.

Fortuitously getting a a buck yearling in the mail same time in the mail so I'm thinking of doing a Spyderco ambitious pass around open to traditionals and large knife users as I won't be using the ambitious much! Hoping to spread some knife appreciation in all directions!
 
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I have a Victorinox Executive knife that was made with a second nail file in place of the orange peeler. I think that must be pretty rare.
 
The only issues I've ever had with any Victorinox knives are near the tip of the main blade hitting the inside of the knife; and that was only on 3 knives I have; a Recruit, an Alox Cadet, and the one with only the large blade and combo tool (I can't think of its name at the moment). I wonder if that's common in models in that size range? I've never had any other issues with any other Victorinox knives. I've never even had a scale come off a knife. I also own several Wengers, and never had any issues with those, either, other than the fact I prefer Victorinox.

IMO, Victorinox is THE gold standard to which all knife companies should aspire. And that includes low, medium and high-end manufacturers.

Jim
 
James Y said:
IMO, Victorinox is THE gold standard to which all knife companies should aspire. And that includes low, medium and high-end manufacturers.

Jim
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I'm going to agree with you here. I have only a few SAKs, but each one is well built and I have no complaints. On the forums here it's rare to see (at least from what I've seen) a thread where someone was complaining about SAKs F&F, or QC issues.
 
My scissors all have broken springs. But I guess that's a consumable item rather than a defect.
 
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