- Joined
- Aug 22, 2005
- Messages
- 174
So being in possession of a $50 Amazon gift certificate I decided it was time for a Multi-tool. After looking over my options I settled on the Swisstool Spirit. The one I ordered was on sale and included a free Rally keychain knife. Additionally Amazon is running a $10 off any Swiss Army purchase over $50, which brings the entire package down to around $43.
After having the tool for about a week now, I can safely say that I'm extremely happy with my purchase. One thing you notice right off the bat is the quality workmanship this tool possesses. There are no tooling marks and every single implement is easy to open and close. The tools lock firmly into place and it is easy to disengage the locks and fold the tools.
I know that many people express concern over the unusual blade geometry of the main blade (only blade actually). The blade looks like nothing as much as a short bread knife, and has no real "point" to speak of. However, in just a short time, I've come to really appreciate this blade. It is perfectly designed for cutting applications. The serrations are wide and shallow which keep them from catching on things while still cutting nicely. Importantly, the blade is serrated at the tip, while leaving the area near the base of the blade plain. This type of serration makes the most sense as it provides an area for detailed slicing where it is most easy to control the blade. Additionally I suspect that if you needed a folder to spread peanut butter that this would certainly do the trick...
If you need something pointy, you can always use the reamer. I EDC a Kershaw Leek, so I don't worry too much about this side of things.
A few other touches that really impress me. The metal file is located next to the handle scale, but the middle is allowed to sit slightly above the handle. This allows you to file down a ragged fingernail without having to open the tool, just by running your nail across the exposed edge of the file.
The phillips screwdriver is a bit less pointy than I would prefer, this is slightly remedied by the fact that the included Rally keychain knife has a very useful phillips head screwdriver which works well for even small screwheads. On the other hand, when the tool is partially open (one handle open, one closed), the end of the open handle appears to be right in line with the screwdriver center. This allows you to extend the reach of the screwdriver for narrow or hard to reach spaces and still easily turn the tool.
The included leather case is well contructed and fits even a reasonably wide belt. The top closes with velcro, which will probably wear out over time, but I'm not overly concerned with this.
If there is any tool that I'm slightly disappointed in, it would be the scissors. They are perfectly functional, and do a good job, but they are a different design than those found on other swiss army knives, and do not open very far. They are great for cutting loose threads, and paper, but do less well on larger items. I used to use the scissors on my Classic to cut the straws on my kids drinks when in restaurants to avoid spills. The scissors on the Spirit can't do this in one cut unless the straw is slightly flattened. Paracord should be fine, but anything larger will be an issue. While this keeps the scissors from attempting jobs which are beyond it's ability, it feels a bit restricting.
The feel in the hand is simply amazing. The handles don't dig into the hand and allow you to really put a lot of pressure on the pliers. It is easy to extract each tool, and they come out individually, and not as a group.
I am totally pleased with my purchase and would not hesitate to recommend the Spirit to anyone who wanted a quality multi-tool.
Sean
After having the tool for about a week now, I can safely say that I'm extremely happy with my purchase. One thing you notice right off the bat is the quality workmanship this tool possesses. There are no tooling marks and every single implement is easy to open and close. The tools lock firmly into place and it is easy to disengage the locks and fold the tools.
I know that many people express concern over the unusual blade geometry of the main blade (only blade actually). The blade looks like nothing as much as a short bread knife, and has no real "point" to speak of. However, in just a short time, I've come to really appreciate this blade. It is perfectly designed for cutting applications. The serrations are wide and shallow which keep them from catching on things while still cutting nicely. Importantly, the blade is serrated at the tip, while leaving the area near the base of the blade plain. This type of serration makes the most sense as it provides an area for detailed slicing where it is most easy to control the blade. Additionally I suspect that if you needed a folder to spread peanut butter that this would certainly do the trick...
If you need something pointy, you can always use the reamer. I EDC a Kershaw Leek, so I don't worry too much about this side of things. A few other touches that really impress me. The metal file is located next to the handle scale, but the middle is allowed to sit slightly above the handle. This allows you to file down a ragged fingernail without having to open the tool, just by running your nail across the exposed edge of the file.
The phillips screwdriver is a bit less pointy than I would prefer, this is slightly remedied by the fact that the included Rally keychain knife has a very useful phillips head screwdriver which works well for even small screwheads. On the other hand, when the tool is partially open (one handle open, one closed), the end of the open handle appears to be right in line with the screwdriver center. This allows you to extend the reach of the screwdriver for narrow or hard to reach spaces and still easily turn the tool.
The included leather case is well contructed and fits even a reasonably wide belt. The top closes with velcro, which will probably wear out over time, but I'm not overly concerned with this.
If there is any tool that I'm slightly disappointed in, it would be the scissors. They are perfectly functional, and do a good job, but they are a different design than those found on other swiss army knives, and do not open very far. They are great for cutting loose threads, and paper, but do less well on larger items. I used to use the scissors on my Classic to cut the straws on my kids drinks when in restaurants to avoid spills. The scissors on the Spirit can't do this in one cut unless the straw is slightly flattened. Paracord should be fine, but anything larger will be an issue. While this keeps the scissors from attempting jobs which are beyond it's ability, it feels a bit restricting.
The feel in the hand is simply amazing. The handles don't dig into the hand and allow you to really put a lot of pressure on the pliers. It is easy to extract each tool, and they come out individually, and not as a group.
I am totally pleased with my purchase and would not hesitate to recommend the Spirit to anyone who wanted a quality multi-tool.
Sean
