No More Blades? Nah.

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It will be interesting to see how similar products (like TSA friendly Leathermans) are selling, in the US and worldwide.
 
I've been thinking about the article and I have to disagree about a cyclist not needing a knife. Now, strictly speaking, a cyclist may not NEED a knife when pertaining to the world of cycling, they still would get great use out of one especially when it comes to food prep on the trail, or trying to get into those rage induce packaging after buying a snack, scraping debris off their stuff, etc.
A knifeless pocket tool full of gizmos and gadgets may find their sporadic use for a cyclist, but they will eventually be stuck using the wrong tool for the job, or resorting to scratching and chewing because you took the super murderous village annihilating pen blade from the multi tool. Just a thought, could be wrong
 
A knifeless pocket tool full of gizmos and gadgets may find their sporadic use for a cyclist, but they will eventually be stuck using the wrong tool for the job, or resorting to scratching and chewing because you took the super murderous village annihilating pen blade from the multi tool. Just a thought, could be wrong

Cyclists already carry cycling specific multitools without knives in them. They have things like hex keys of varying sizes and screwdrivers (torx, philips/JIS, flat). Some of them have chain breakers and wrenches, but those are typically geared more towards touring and long distances riders.

I've got a real big one that's made for touring. It has pretty much everything, including tire levers. Funnily enough, a few months ago I was fiddling with it after using it to make some adjustments to one of my racks, and I discovered that it actually has a small knife. I just never noticed it before.
 
Cyclists already carry cycling specific multitools without knives in them. They have things like hex keys of varying sizes and screwdrivers (torx, philips/JIS, flat). Some of them have chain breakers and wrenches, but those are typically geared more towards touring and long distances riders.

I've got a real big one that's made for touring. It has pretty much everything, including tire levers. Funnily enough, a few months ago I was fiddling with it after using it to make some adjustments to one of my racks, and I discovered that it actually has a small knife. I just never noticed it before.
My dad would have a mini fanny pack installed under the seat of his bike that had everything he needed, I'm very well aware. I've already shared my thoughts on these knifeless swiss army tools of the future, it'll reach more (different) audiences, doesn't mean a lot of people will que up to use them.
 
I'm curious to see what kind of variations they come up with. I haven't been able to find any details as to whether it will just mean the removal of the blade layer, or if they will be new configurations. Either way, it might save me the trouble of buying a 3 layer with scissors and having the blades removed.
 
I'm curious to see what kind of variations they come up with. I haven't been able to find any details as to whether it will just mean the removal of the blade layer, or if they will be new configurations. Either way, it might save me the trouble of buying a 3 layer with scissors and having the blades removed.
It will be a triple decker swiss champ, knifeless. Work bench? Nope, tools on a pegboard? Soo 70s --- how's about some 300 tools, all in your pocket
 
Well on the bright side, if they go full tilt on this then my SAK collection will be worth slightly more, I guess.

Hopefully they don't do that. Having knifeless options is a good thing, so long as you can still get the old models.
 
Well on the bright side, if they go full tilt on this then my SAK collection will be worth slightly more, I guess.

Hopefully they don't do that. Having knifeless options is a good thing, so long as you can still get the old models.
That would be the dumbest thing ever. The company would sink. They did say they weren't replacing, only "complimenting" but also started with saying they listen to their customers and consider feedback I'm sure no one is calling for the death of the swiss army blade. No, company suicide isn't on the menu, but maybe buy a few models and stock up, doesn't hurt, and they last forever too
 
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The idea that a knife is not "needed" is completely ridiculous. Often times I use my knife far more than my multitool throughout the day, and it is certainly needed. That would be no less true in Asia or Britain. Sadly those countries are dealing with totalitarian leaders bent on complete control and a defenseless group of controlled individuals. Regardless of one's view on that, I'm not sure if I like SAKs go at this. On one hand it's smart business, because it's catering to a need in the market that will get sales. On the other hand its almost like working together with those govs to say, hey it's OK don't fight it, we'll make things with no knife for you. But the truth is a knifes still a necessary daily tool. Those folks are going to struggle, I couldn't imagine going to work and bludgeoning my way through materials with makeshift tools because I don't have a knife.
 
The ceo based his decision on "increased regulation on knives in many markets", I'll have to ponder if his decision was in part also a concern on the money side of things, since we don't have access to the ins and outs of victorinox's sales and projections, maybe their company is taking a hit as victorinox knives seldom are shipped to certain Asia countries and most of the uk; that he decided to make a knifeless pocket knife to be able to open the marker back up in those countries and stated "knife crime plague" as the reason. So think it's largely based on that, when it's mostly a concern about sales, but I can only guess. It's the jetsetter all over again, they won't sell nearly as well as they hope. Knifeless models won't curb knife crime at all, they aren't using tinkers and Spartans in criminal acts, it just shows the ceo of victorinox in a pliable, vulnerable light
 
The idea that a knife is not "needed" is completely ridiculous. Often times I use my knife far more than my multitool throughout the day, and it is certainly needed. That would be no less true in Asia or Britain. Sadly those countries are dealing with totalitarian leaders bent on complete control and a defenseless group of controlled individuals. Regardless of one's view on that, I'm not sure if I like SAKs go at this. On one hand it's smart business, because it's catering to a need in the market that will get sales. On the other hand its almost like working together with those govs to say, hey it's OK don't fight it, we'll make things with no knife for you. But the truth is a knifes still a necessary daily tool. Those folks are going to struggle, I couldn't imagine going to work and bludgeoning my way through materials with makeshift tools because I don't have a knife.
Of course it's a ridiculous idea. Totally!

BUT...it's an idea that the powers that be have been trying to sell to the great unwashed masses for a long time. Just like nobody needs a gun. Look at the countries that have the most draconian knife laws, where you take a chance on carrying even a small SAK. Japan, Denmark, the U.K.. All have a very long history of totalitarian leadership. No matter if it's a king, central committee chairman, shogun, Czar, emperor, none of them want an armed populace. The big high mucky muck wants a nice unarmed peaceful peasant population that they can pull any crap on them they feel like.

I think those Asian and European countries are the end result of a thousand years of social experiment on how to create a population that doesn't think they have any rights. Over the course of a thousand years, those who acted like they had a pair, were either driven out or killed off. Of course a knife is needed several times a day. But people have increased in their non knife carrying practice because of social pressure. I've seen people trying to open packages by stabbing it with a Bic pen to break the tape and cardboard. I've seen them try to saw through with a house or car key. I've seem them poking away with the point of a scissors in a very unsafe way. A knife would have opened the package with ease, but they were not carrying a knife. They weren't carrying a knife because they have been raised to believe that they don't need a knife, and a knife is somehow "bad". So they bludgeon their way through packaging with a Bic pen or house key or other less than optimum tool.

That Victorinox is caving to the political pressure by introducing Swiss Army KNIVES, with no knife blade is disappointing to say the least. That they are marketed to countries with a long history of unarmed peasants is just yet another example of how pervasive this wusification of nations is. I don't know it for a fact, but I believe it to be true, that the ruling powers that be, or even in this country, that there are those who want the unwashed proletariat to be a bunch of groveling peasants on their knees, with a "Yes M'lord, of course M'lord, which cheek of your arse would you like me to kiss this morning."

I like Victorinox as much as the rest of SAK fans, but I hope this is a dismal failure that backfires on them big time. Really, who needs a Swiss Army KNIFE that has no knife blade????

People need to take a stand against this kind of creeping pacifism. It may be too late for Japan and the U.K., but the rest of the world's peasants need to take a stand. After all, its called a SWISS ARMY KNIFE!
 
Of course it's a ridiculous idea. Totally!

BUT...it's an idea that the powers that be have been trying to sell to the great unwashed masses for a long time. Just like nobody needs a gun. Look at the countries that have the most draconian knife laws, where you take a chance on carrying even a small SAK. Japan, Denmark, the U.K.. All have a very long history of totalitarian leadership. No matter if it's a king, central committee chairman, shogun, Czar, emperor, none of them want an armed populace. The big high mucky muck wants a nice unarmed peaceful peasant population that they can pull any crap on them they feel like.

I think those Asian and European countries are the end result of a thousand years of social experiment on how to create a population that doesn't think they have any rights. Over the course of a thousand years, those who acted like they had a pair, were either driven out or killed off. Of course a knife is needed several times a day. But people have increased in their non knife carrying practice because of social pressure. I've seen people trying to open packages by stabbing it with a Bic pen to break the tape and cardboard. I've seen them try to saw through with a house or car key. I've seem them poking away with the point of a scissors in a very unsafe way. A knife would have opened the package with ease, but they were not carrying a knife. They weren't carrying a knife because they have been raised to believe that they don't need a knife, and a knife is somehow "bad". So they bludgeon their way through packaging with a Bic pen or house key or other less than optimum tool.

That Victorinox is caving to the political pressure by introducing Swiss Army KNIVES, with no knife blade is disappointing to say the least. That they are marketed to countries with a long history of unarmed peasants is just yet another example of how pervasive this wusification of nations is. I don't know it for a fact, but I believe it to be true, that the ruling powers that be, or even in this country, that there are those who want the unwashed proletariat to be a bunch of groveling peasants on their knees, with a "Yes M'lord, of course M'lord, which cheek of your arse would you like me to kiss this morning."

I like Victorinox as much as the rest of SAK fans, but I hope this is a dismal failure that backfires on them big time. Really, who needs a Swiss Army KNIFE that has no knife blade????

People need to take a stand against this kind of creeping pacifism. It may be too late for Japan and the U.K., but the rest of the world's peasants need to take a stand. After all, its called a SWISS ARMY KNIFE!
And I believe it will backfire on them, a hard lesson to be learned the hard way, a Victorinox swiss army "tool" will find sporadic use at best, but without the life, which in reality has a million and one uses, they will be using the other tools to pop the tape off boxes, as for hardshell clamshell plastic packaging, they will have to wait, cause the scissors is "knife enough" they may not even add that. Have you ever tried to free a swiss army knife classic SD out of its package without a knife? I did and let me tell you--- NOT easy. Will these new knife-free tools be bought from people in countries who were told knives are like swords, don't even look at one? Maybe, but the cost of keeping the line in production will far outweigh any return profit, and like keeping the lights on in an empty building, it'll be a big waste of money. Everyone knows a swiss army knife contains a knife. So they will be held up in those countries' customs office long enough, it won't make sense for victorinox to keep it up
 
There is no need to discontinue, I don't even think they need to switch production lines to.... not add knives to their SAK?, makes sense if its to adapt to their EU market, but elsewhere should be business as usual.

Alas, its always bad apples spoiling stuff for enjoyers like us, I did a glance at the knife legislation in wiki and had my blood boil a bit...
 
There is no need to discontinue, I don't even think they need to switch production lines to.... not add knives to their SAK?, makes sense if its to adapt to their EU market, but elsewhere should be business as usual.

Alas, its always bad apples spoiling stuff for enjoyers like us, I did a glance at the knife legislation in wiki and had my blood boil a bit...
It's just bad logic at the end of the day, the ceo is showing solidarity and support for those countries, won't change the statistics at all, plus he's a business man so he wants to sell in those countries, can't imagine the figures are all that impressive at the moment.
The positive takeaway is, they pump out thousands of swiss army knives A DAY.
So they literally are scattered everywhere on earth, they last decades and you'll be able to find them easily.
 
Perhaps apropos of nothing, but I've carried a SAK all over Europe (including Italy, Portugal, England, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Poland, Turkey and the Czech Republic) in recent years and never gave it a thought. No issues at all (other than having to leave one with security guards outside a cathedral in Rome once. They were very polite and handed it back as I exited.).
 
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Perhaps apropos of nothing, but I've carried a SAK all over Europe (including Italy, Portugal, England, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic) in recent years and never gave it a thought. No issues at all (other than having to leave one with security guards outside a cathedral in Rome once. They were very polite and handed it back as I exited.).
The reality and what ls being spoonfed to people who arent there are often times different. Slipped my mind completely, saks largely ARE accepted in the uk, under 3 inches and doesn't lock, unless something changed very recently. Really begs the question, why a bladeless multi tool in the first place??
Look at opinel knives, France heavily restricts folding knives, is Opinel closing down or caving to the restrictions?
Especially with the locking no.6 model and up, far more dangerous than a sak.
 
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You know part of me thinks that Victorinox is gonna release knifeless models and then the TSA is just gonna eventually ban them all anyway.
 
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