New Alox fan

flyfishrman

flyfishrman

Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
506
First and foremost let me begin by saying that I have not caved in to my desire to carry anything other than my beloved CV Congress. I'm still in on the "experiment."

I did however purchase a Vic Soldier yesterday. For $22 I couldn't resist. That knife is an absolute tank. I've looked it over quite a bit and true to SAK quality it is tight as a drum with phenomenal walk and talk. Also surprisingly light. That sucker just sounds good when it snaps shut, very distinctive and different than most of my other slip joints. Oddly enough I never picked up one, so I didn't realize how solid they were. I thought the aluminum body was actually just thin snap on scales like the plastic. Anyway I like the soldier, but the saw blade on that farmer has my eye. I may sell my soldier and pick up the farmer. Heck for $22 bucks I guess I can pass it on to a well deserving person.

I know that Victorinox and Wenger are the same company now, but which one came first? Any specific reasons why you picked one over the other?
 
My Vic Soldier is my favorite EDC, disappears into the pocket, has all useful tools and is rock solid. It also sharpens well and stays that way. I've bought other SAKS, but the plastic scales feel cheap next to the aluminum scales on the Soldier. I could be wrong here, but I've heard that Victorinox has slightly better fit and finish then Wenger
 
victorinox came first, hence the "original swiss army knife". then wenger came around and the swiss army contracted them for half the order to cover demand. they becamse the "genuine swiss army knife".

victorinox bought wenger in 2005, but apparently intends to keep the brands seperate. some googling will give you a more complete answer.

i personally have not yet had the experience to handle wenger, but plan on it soon. some of the blade shapes and combos are different and appealing in some cases. i also am interested in getting a soldier with a shackle, which wenger still makes but victorinox phased out of current production.
 
siguy said:
i also am interested in getting a soldier with a shackle, which wenger still makes but victorinox phased out of current production.
Click to expand...

I actually held the Si and the Soldier side by side. I'm convinced it is exactly the same knife. One with a bail and one without and different emblems. Other than that though they looked absolutely identical. I picked the soldier because I pocket carry and had no use for the bail.
 
I am the same way. I handled the Soldier and wanted to put a lanyard on it. I found the Pioneer and it seems to be the same as the Soldier with the added lanyard hole/keyring although its not a bail. :eek: Please correct me if I am wrong but one has a reamer and the other a punch....they look like the same tool in the pics. Oh yeah! and the shield is different also.

I don't know much about SAKs so below are pics and descriptions of both so you can judge for yourself.

I hope this helps and please remember to support the dealers who pay to advertise on this site.

Pioneer.jpg


Soldier.jpg
 
flyfishrman said:
I actually held the Si and the Soldier side by side. I'm convinced it is exactly the same knife. One with a bail and one without and different emblems. Other than that though they looked absolutely identical. I picked the soldier because I pocket carry and had no use for the bail.
Click to expand...

I recently got a Wenger SI. My first alox and first Wenger. It does have a "Vic" feel to it - even the same Vic can opener. The only functional difference is the bail for attaching a lanyard.
 
The Alox series has become a recent favorite. For work in suits I prefer the non-bail models. Awesome knives.
 
flyfishrman said:
I actually held the Si and the Soldier side by side. I'm convinced it is exactly the same knife. One with a bail and one without and different emblems. Other than that though they looked absolutely identical. I picked the soldier because I pocket carry and had no use for the bail.
Click to expand...


Thats about right. They both are made to the exact specifications called out in the swiss government contracts they fill.

The Wenger SI has become my edc and I prefer it to the soldier for a couple of reasons, not the least is the bail. My old scout knife had a bail and I like it, and also a lanyard is a requirement to me. I once lost a knife overboard, and I don't like to make the same mistake twice. Since I spend a goodly amount of time on some sort of boat, the lanyard or lack, of is a deal breaker for me. The old fingers ain't what they used to be, and sometime we old farts drop things. Heck, I can't get a child proof cap open easily!

the only other difference I once read about, is that Victorinox drop forged the blades, while Wenger had a rolling prosses they put the steel through, similar to the rolling prosses that Buck used on thier knives. It was supposed to compact and align the molocules in a way similar to forging.

In actual real world use, both Victorinox and Wenger are great products, and you won't find any difference between them in the field function area.
 
I EDC a pair of Victorinox SAKs. One is a Rambler, a recent addition. It rides on a keyring along with an LED light, a lighter, and a USB thumb drive.

My primary knife however is a Vic Pioneer that I bought sometime in the early 80s. It's got the solid red scales (well worn now) and has never let me down. I moved onto other knives, including a couple tactical folders, after carrying the Pioneer for a few years, but in the Fall of 2006 I went back to it after realizing that a pocket knife with more than just a cutting edge is more useful for me.

I use the various tools regularly. About 15 minutes ago I used the large screwdriver to tighten two wood screws on a door in my daughter's room. You'll probably find the reamer/awl to be very useful. It can be used to punch holes in leather, plastic, or thin sheet metal, drill holes in wood or plastic, and makes a good scraper. Finally, it works very well to strike sparks from a fire steel.
 
Dave_Markowitz said:
You'll probably find the reamer/awl to be very useful. It can be used to punch holes in leather, plastic, or thin sheet metal, drill holes in wood or plastic, and makes a good scraper. Finally, it works very well to strike sparks from a fire steel.
Click to expand...

That gives me and idea for an off-shoot version of The Lone Wolf Experiment. I'd tote my Soldier and my Soldier only and see how long it takes me to find myself in a situation where I need to use the awl. On second thought, forget it. I'm 39 and have been carrying a pocketknife since I was, I guess, about 10 and I can't ever remember needing an awl. Ah, forget it.
 
Here's a pic of mi alox SAKs:

Top: two Wenger Standard Issue.

Center and Bottom: Two Victorinox red Farmers.

Right: Vic Soldier with keyring, it is not a Pioneer, they made the soldier with ring at one time.

Left: Cadet (old model with straight line patterned scales).

Luis


Click to enlarge
 
Would someone be kind enough to post a pic of the farmer next to the soldier so I can see the difference in thickness?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top