Please help educate me in the way of the alox SAK

Maverick299

Maverick299

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Apr 12, 2014
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I have always been a knife enthusiast but have recently renewed a passion with old school folders, which also leads me down the path to a SAK. I've been doing a little research and plan on buying one (probably a few) in the very near future but had some questions.

1. Are the older alox knives worth more because they are collectible or because they are better constructed/better materials?

2. I really want a colored alox but it appears to me that they sell much higher simply because of rarity. Is that true?

3. I'm trying to decide between a alox Farmer, Electrician, or Pioneer. Is there anything I need to be on the look out for?

4. If you were the one buying would you buy new, or try to find a vintage one on ebay or in the classifieds?

Thanks everyone!
 
1. Only pay more if you are a collector. Knives that retailed for $20 when current sell for many times that now that they are hard to find. A lot of Ebay profiteering IMO.
2. Colored are short runs or custom runs expect to pay for color except red and silver. They are usually rare.
3. All of them. If you want a saw get a Farmer, if not get a Pioneer. The Electrician swaps out the can opener for a sheepsfoot blade. I have no experience with this model.
4. New silver Alox is around $30-$40 depending on model, you may shop around and get a lower price. If you can find a deal and the knife is in good shape sure by used.

Don't forget the Cadet. Smaller than the Pioneer and swaps out an awl for a nail file blade. A very good EDC that hides in your pocket.
 
billym said:
1. Only pay more if you are a collector. Knives that retailed for $20 when current sell for many times that now that they are hard to find. A lot of Ebay profiteering IMO.
2. Colored are short runs or custom runs expect to pay for color except red and silver. They are usually rare.
3. All of them. If you want a saw get a Farmer, if not get a Pioneer. The Electrician swaps out the can opener for a sheepsfoot blade. I have no experience with this model.
4. New silver Alox is around $30-$40 depending on model, you may shop around and get a lower price. If you can find a deal and the knife is in good shape sure by used.

Don't forget the Cadet. Smaller than the Pioneer and swaps out an awl for a nail file blade. A very good EDC that hides in your pocket.
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+1 - great breakdown!

On the 93mm.... (Pioneer/Farmer/Solder)
I would only add that some of us prefer the older ones but buy the new ones (esp colored) too...very little difference in build quality. You can buy a new red Pioneer from Swiss Bianco for about 2X the price of silver (I like red ALOX so I have one, nice knife)....any color Farmer will cost much more unless you catch a deal somewhere. Better to go silver until you can get the feel of the models.

Don't forget the Soldier...basically a silver Pioneer with a dated blade, no keyring and a different shield....will cost more in any condition because of their discontinued status and desirability.
 
I think I found a solution to my conundrum. I wanted a saw but I also wanted the sheepsfoot. The electricians mate is the answer...........a very expensive answer unfortunately.
 
spketch said:
Here are a couple sad links. I'd love for someone to tell me its untrue or plans have changed.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/980154-Alox

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/992697-Alox-handle-models-disappearing
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Syph knows what he is talking about as I know him from another forum. I would believe what he says. I guess the Electrician is sadly discontinued. I heard a few months back that there was a possibility that Victorinox was going to discontinue the whole alox line, but it has yet to be confirmed in any fashion so i'm not to worried as of now, but it would be a good idea to get any models you wan't now just in case. It would be a sad day if they discontinued the whole alox line, but I guess time will tell.
 
I think there would be enough alox demand to keep Swiss-Bianco going at the very least. And if you do want to go with a color, that might be the best way to go, buying direct if you can, since there are lots of poor deals on the bay.

Cruising salvation armies and other stores can be a good way to pick up a reasonable one. One thing to look for is knives that might not be "collector" grade, but will still make a good user. I think you can also get the alox ones refurbished by victorinox, so if you can get one at a good deal, that might be worth while as well. I've got two user grade soldiers that I've found and rescued. They were both full of gunk (one seemed to be tile grout) but they cleaned up alright. One method might be contacting your local airport, and finding out where the confiscated stuff goes to. It might be just sold off bulk, but some places donate it to charity for sale that way.
 
Capt. Spaulding said:
Did not know the Electrician was discontinued. Do you have a link or any info on where you heard this? Thanks. :thumbup:
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The Electrician is still in Victorinox's on-line catalog and available directly from Victorinox (both the Swiss and US websites). They list 17 alox models available. As far as I know and can tell, Victorinox has not announced they discontinued that model or will discontinue the alox line.
 
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17 Alox models in current production? I don't see that. I went to Victorinox and they listed the Classic, Pioneer, Farmer, Cadet and Electrician. The Money clip, Cigar cutter, Secretary and the Flash are "alox" but not the textured scales like the first group.
Where did you see more models?

If it isn't yet I bet the Electrician is "close to the edge".
 
Maverick299 said:
Electrician ordered! :)
Click to expand...

The Sacred Order of Electrician Owners...salutes you! :thumbup:


Electrician_zpsfbad50b7.jpg


2SAKcustoms_zpsdb27d550.jpg
 
billym said:
17 Alox models in current production? I don't see that. I went to Victorinox and they listed the Classic, Pioneer, Farmer, Cadet and Electrician. The Money clip, Cigar cutter, Secretary and the Flash are "alox" but not the textured scales like the first group.
Where did you see more models?

If it isn't yet I bet the Electrician is "close to the edge".
Click to expand...
Is that the "/us" site or the ".ch" site?
 
I've been carrying the electrician for a few days now and I only have one gripe so far. Why is the chisel grind on the belly section of the sheepsfoot blade ground the way it is? Maybe there are a higher percentage of left handers in Switzerland but it seems to me that the blade would be much more useful for right handers if the grind was reversed so the flat part of the blade was down when cutting away from yourself.

**off to go ponder how hard it would be to reverse the grind with a dremel tool.
 
Maverick, I half agree, since when stripping wire I like the flat side of the blade on the side I am going to push the removed insulation with. but I think that blade is to be more often used facing up, which then you are right, if the flat is down when in use by a right hander. so yeah, who knows.
 
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