Has anyone ever had a defective Swiss Army Knife?

I think they do, but am open to correction. I don't have a full size alox model. But they have the same configuration as the plastic covered models, do they not?

Do they have springs that should be exactly aligned with each other and the frame in both the opened and closed positions like a trapper or stockman does? And are they right on outer edge of the knife where your fingers feel any imperfections as they grasp the knife? My Red Tinker does not. Nor do my Classics. Nor did my Camper.
My secretary model does have the spring visible, but it is recessed and unless you look you don't notice that it is not aligned with either the handle or the frame. Of course once you look you also see there are gaps between the spring and the frame that would cause screams of outrage if those gaps were found on a Case or a Buck.

And the joint between the blade and the spring in the opened position. Is it not recessed so that if it is a bit out of alignment it really is not noticeable?
 
I think Victorinox and Mora are similar in their "branding". Not too expensive, consistently good quality, and they have gained the reputation of tools rather than "weapons". Bright colors on many models and being pictured in use by hikers and "craftspesons" make these knives acceptable to many non-knife people. Deliberate or not, these two companies have built reputations that can sell knives.:confused:
 
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The springs are not concealed on SAKS, alox or cellidor models (the method of construction between the two aren't that different).

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Victorinox makes a good product very consistently that retails for a great price. Buy one in North America, Asia, or Africa and the quality remains consistent and the price excellent.

That distinctive Victorinox SNAP when one closes the blades is the same across continents, across tens of millions of knives made each year, and across their years of manufacture. No other manufacturer can do that while annually making tens of millions of inexpensive knives in environmentally and ecologically conscious manufacturing plants and manufacturing processes. Just such plants and processes would put .most knife manufacturers out of business and would do so rather quickly (but not after much protest). Victorinox's business practices and ethics are to be envied.
 
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Faiaoga said:
I think Victorinox and Mora are similar in their "branding". Not too expensive, consistently good quality, and they have gained the reputation of tools rather than "weapons". Bright colors on many models and being pictured in use by hikers and "craftspesons" make these knives acceptable to many non-knife people. Deliberate or not, these two companies have built reputations that can sell knives.:confused:
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You know victorinox is a good company when anti-knife people buy them
 
I agree with Frank in general. Every one of mine when opened is "underbladed." Remember what a huge deal that was for GEC back a couple of years? They took a pretty good roasting for it here on BFC, but I've never heard a whisper about it for Victorinox. I believe their springs to be tumble polished as well, leaving the edges with a slight bevel, making it difficult to see whether they are flush or not, but they aren't always, at open or closed. And of the few tools they have which have halfstops, most of mine have a raised spring at that position. Now most production slipjoints aren't flush at halfstop, but it isn't even discussed for SAKs, while it is a point of mention for hand-built slipjoints. I still think they are an amazing value for the knife user, and my collection of them just continues to grow.
 
black mamba said:
I find the scissors useless, so I don't buy any with scissors. I also don't buy anything but alox hafted models, the plastic has no appeal to me whatsoever. My only wish, not a complaint, is that the colored alox would not rub off so easily. I've carried an OD green Cadet for a total of about a month, and had it on a keyring for about a week of that, and it's already showing lots of bare spots. I expected the anodizing to be a little more rugged than that, but some people actually like the "salt and pepper" look of the wear pattern. I guess carrying a silver alox is the easy answer, as the wear doesn't show.
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I found the Vic scissors to be useful for sewing. I backpack and and painfully frugal (read: cheap) so I repair a lot of my gear. Those of you who know me know this is pretty common carry for me.
Case Large Sodbuster and Micra by Pinnah, on Flickr

For me, scissors become an incredibly useful EDC tool when they're robust enough to be like shop shears. These things will go through flashing, heavy plastic, wire, zip ties and really just about I point them at. Touch them with a DMT credit card sharpener, and they'll still push cut thin gift wrap.

Regarding the anodizing, my LM products that were anodized suffered the same fate, I can give that to Victorinox. But, as my EDC carry shows, I too choose non-anodized now.
 
black mamba said:
I agree with Frank in general. Every one of mine when opened is "underbladed." Remember what a huge deal that was for GEC back a couple of years? They took a pretty good roasting for it here on BFC, but I've never heard a whisper about it for Victorinox. I believe their springs to be tumble polished as well, leaving the edges with a slight bevel, making it difficult to see whether they are flush or not, but they aren't always, at open or closed. And of the few tools they have which have halfstops, most of mine have a raised spring at that position. Now most production slipjoints aren't flush at halfstop, but it isn't even discussed for SAKs, while it is a point of mention for hand-built slipjoints. I still think they are an amazing value for the knife user, and my collection of them just continues to grow.
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If GEC sold their offerings for what Victorinox does perhaps the roastings would not have occurred.
 
This was a nice thread to revitalize. I've carried a Classic or its slightly more useful brother, the Rambler, for many years. I have had no QC issues with any of them except the ones with flags or other designs on them eventually wear noticeably after a year. I have never had any covers fall off from the ones I have had on my keyring. I have lost some to security at airports though.

I have lost tweezers and toothpicks; then I discovered I could get inexpensive replacements - problem solved.

Not fancy, not great steel - just a good quality knife for a very low price. I don't worry about losing them as they are easy to replace.

And the older Soldier models hold up to a lot of abuse, also.
 
I've owned a dozen or so and they're all great. The scale on my little Rally fell off but that was after I dropped it on concrete for the hundredth or so time. I gorilla glued it back on and it's stayed in place ever since.
 
They're ok tools. Pretty sturdy. The spear knife blades are easy to sharpen but don't hold an edge well. Gotta be careful when buying them now a days as there are a lot of counterfeits available. The springs, spacers, blades, covers, aren't flush but that really has no effect on their usefulness and on top of that, the blades are "underbladed" but again that has no affect on their usefulness. To answer the OP's original question - No, I've never had a defective Swiss Army Knife.

I like Leathermans much better than SAKs these days.
 
I've owned about 40 over the last 30+ years and except for a few I lost or gifted I still have them all. No problem with QC ever. Which is more than I can say for Case or GEC. Anodizing does wear, but not Vics fault. The cellidor scales do occasionally wear out but if you replace them with nylon, you will never need to fix them again. Blade steel is on par with Buck and Case.
 
leghog said:
Victorinox makes a good product very consistently that retails for a great price. Buy one in North America, Asia, or Africa and the quality remains consistent and the price excellent.

That distinctive Victorinox SNAP when one closes the blades is the same across continents, across tens of millions of knives made each year, and across their years of manufacture. No other manufacturer can do that while annually making tens of millions of inexpensive knives in environmentally and ecologically conscious manufacturing plants and manufacturing processes. Just such plants and processes would put .most knife manufacturers out of business and would do so rather quickly (but not after much protest). Victorinox's business practices and ethics are to be envied.
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The snap on my SAKs is what I measure my other knives by, and to determine if I need to do some adjustment. Nobody complains about SAKs because, like you said, nobody else makes as few mistakes at such an enormous volume, for such a small product price.

I myself haven't had any problems with a SAK, except for having my only two Alox models get carried away in a flood (I can't understand either.) For sharpening, in my 7 years as a boy scout, and 7 years of using a single bladed SAK, I found that one of the old carborundum pocket stones works best, giving a quick and easy edge with good tooth.

Connor
 
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I got a pocket pal a little while back with the scales loose in the box and a gap in the spring. However, this was an oddity because I have had dozens of SAKs over the years that came in perfect! For the price I don't think there is a company that makes better knives:thumbup:
 
In this LOONG thread there's nearly universal satisfaction with SAK's. There appear to be amazingly few complaints here. Considering their price point it's quite a great product.

Here's another thumbs-up to Victorinox for an amazing and high quality pocket knife.
 
I have a Victorinox Executive model that came out the factory with a 2nd nail file in place of the orange peeler.
 
This post is a reminder for me that why 9 months out of the year a craftsman is chained to my pants while a classic is in my ID pouch, the other three months there's a leatherman strapped to my belt. SAKs have always been consistent in my purchases over the years and the only reason I have gotten others is to try out different tools. In the end, it is the user that causes problems in these little guys and not the manufacturer.
 
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