New Victorinox

J

jpvjr

Joined
Feb 19, 2007
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340
My CSM gave me a new Victorinox Soldier for carry in theatre. It is blade stamped 05, my thoughts are: this is a GOOD knife, even if it is SS. My questions are what edge angle do I use, & what is YOUR opinion of these knives? I'll be shipping in May. I might not carry my Case after all, unless opinion is the V isn't as good as Wenger (which is what is sold locally).
 
The Vic is a fine choice! It is easy to sharpen.. just follow the original bevel. The Wenger SI is no slouch either! IMHO
 
The Soldier's a great useful little thing. I have one thats 05 model as well. Its solid, just watch the slipjoint yea?
 
Congrats on the new Vic. My favorite Alox model is the Electrician Plus.

As inspira suggested, be careful if you are accustomed to locking blades. However, the Alox models do have a strong backspring.

The Solider is a great one and will work hard for you...enjoy.
:)
 
I can't tell much difference in quality of materials, construction, or performance between the two brands, but then they're both making the same knife to the same specifications.

I sharpen mine the same way I do all of my other SAKs. I reprofile the edge as thin as I can get it.
 
I have the Wenger Standard Issue, and have owned the Soldier in the past, and I can't say enough about these knives. I like saks in general, but these guys are the cream of the crop for everyday pocket carry in my opinion. Slim profile makes it disappear in your pocket. And it is tough as nails. Unlike the handles on the red, cellidor scaled saks, these won't fall off because they are the frame, not snapped on. The SS on these is exceptional, and will keep an edge a pretty long time, and then they are easy to sharpen. This knife will last you forever. A very good buy.
 
danielp said:
Try to convexed the edge shoulder, it will cut better...:thumbup:
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This is a true statement. I've convexed a Solider before and it does make a big difference in cutting ability.

Give it a try. I think it's Buzzbait that has written an article on doing this.

:)
 
plowboy said:
Congrats on the new Vic. My favorite Alox model is the Electrician Plus.

As inspira suggested, be careful if you are accustomed to locking blades. However, the Alox models do have a strong backspring.

The Solider is a great one and will work hard for you...enjoy.
:)
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I have always carried case sodbuster jr's, & feel that lock knives are an abomination. In fact I decided to get an OKC 499 for myself precisely because it is FIXED, although I honestly don't know where I'll use it in PA. With my case I do everything. This week I'll go out for groundhog just to see how the Victorinox handles in non-typical applications.
 
jpvjr, you're sak will do everything your soddie will, and more. I too carried a soddie for a long time, and have not looked back. The sak is awesome.
 
ElCuchillo said:
Unlike the handles on the red, cellidor scaled saks, these won't fall off because they are the frame, not snapped on.
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Does anyone else feel the "fragile" nature of the cellidor scales* is worth it to get the included tweezers and toothpick (well, okay the tweezers anyway, you can keep that toothpick) which sadly are not available on the alox-handled knives!? Am I the only one? And what about scissors? None of the alox-handled models come with scissors either.

Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the alox models. It's just that I sometimes feel the "normal" cellidor-handled SAKs get a bad rap.



* Fragile? I've had SAKs go 10 years without a problem .... and if a scale breaks or pops off, you can replace them, np.
 
I often split the difference and carry the matte nylon handle version. Tougher and more solvent resistant than the celludor, but you still get tweezers toothpick and scissors. But if I were going in harm's way, the soldier would be the way to go, no contest.
 
One other thing to add regarding the cellidor handles ........ if one of the scales does break or come off, does it in any way hinder the functionality of the knife? No.
 
What mnblade says is true, and cannot be said to be true for the soldier model. Of course, I'd hate to see what would cause the handle to break or come off of the soldier model. I agree functionality would be impaired if it did come off though.
 
The vic for sure, im not too crazy about wenger, i think the look and feel of them is garbage and theyre shapes are weird. As far as sharpening, like other said just follow the original bevel. Vic knives have a very nice angle to them and i keep mine at that same angle.
 
mnblade said:
Does anyone else feel the "fragile" nature of the cellidor scales* is worth it to get the included tweezers and toothpick (well, okay the tweezers anyway, you can keep that toothpick) which sadly are not available on the alox-handled knives!? Am I the only one? And what about scissors? None of the alox-handled models come with scissors either.

Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the alox models. It's just that I sometimes feel the "normal" cellidor-handled SAKs get a bad rap.



* Fragile? I've had SAKs go 10 years without a problem .... and if a scale breaks or pops off, you can replace them, np.
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I am not too worried about breaking my cellidor scales, but you are correct that there seems to be a fragile nature to them. I here a hollow sound when I tap my cellidor scales right.

Looking at my alox Wenger Standard Issue (think Vic Soldier only made by Wenger), the alox scales ARE the frame. There would not really be a means of putting the toothpick or tweezers between the scales and fram like on the cellidor models. Plus, you really dfon't want to cut into the frame and weaken that for those little tools. If you need tweezers, you can get a pair of silver grippers for as little as $5.99 (at my local hardware store) and never usually for than about $8.99 (including shipping from AG Russell- though AG does have their name stamped on them). As for the toothpick, it's easy enough to improvise, and that's the tool never seem to go for.
 
wenger, i think the look and feel of them is garbage and theyre shapes are weird.
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I assume you mean the Evo line? If so, I'll agree with you. My main complaint about other Wenger's was the backsprings, but if my Standard Issue is representative of their current production, they seem to have cleared that up :)
 
mp510 said:
I assume you mean the Evo line? If so, I'll agree with you. My main complaint about other Wenger's was the backsprings, but if my Standard Issue is representative of their current production, they seem to have cleared that up :)
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The Standard Issue is made under a contract with military specifications and is essentially equal to the Vic Soldier, which is likewise. Way back, Vic originated the model adopted by the Swiss Army but did not have the capacity to meet demand, so Wenger was engaged to produce essentially the same product. Both companies are free to produce other models that deviate from those specs for their commercial markets, but those alox knives are the only from those companies I regard equal. Vic, IMHO, has an edge in both design and execution.
 
The backsprings of the cellidor models from both makers aren't nearly as strong as the backsprings on their Alox models,but still very good.Since Vic took over Wenger,most SAK lovers that 2 years ago wouldn't touch a Wenger,are taking to them,and almost all say that quality is much better than pre-takeover
 
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