- Joined
- Nov 24, 2003
- Messages
- 5,337
Swiss Tool X 7&1/2 years
Having had exposure to various rip-off multitool models with corporate logos I had realised the value of such a tool, and the need for quality. Those rip-offs I used to try out before handing them to a kid in the block as a wow toy. I had used a Leatherman, early model that had the blade folding out from within the folded tool and that irritated me. My father inlaw really coveted it and it went home with him.
Having carried a SAK since I was 9 (35 years back) habits had formed and my first was sporting a reground blade (tip broken) and an epoxy putty handle (fire damage) when I lost it in a river whilst hiking. So several generations of SAK later, one in the pocket I was looking for something with a pliers.
So I saw the Swiss tool come onto the local market and I hummed and haa'd over it. Wife bought it for my birthday, nice leather pouch. It had all the kit I wanted and I was in love. It was constructed like a tank, I tried wearing it on my belt where ever I went. Unfortunately it was as heavy as a tank. So it travelled in my car door. Every so often I would wear it. Wow taking a dump meant removing said tool from pouch before pulling up trousers. Yeah too heavy.
However it has travelled with me in the car and on my Africa roaming and been used considerably. When the cards are down it has always worked well. It was built with the traditional quality of Victorinox.
1. Pliers and cutters. Frequent use for nuts, crimping, pulling and cutting wire. A few small dings on the wire cutters. A little play in the pliers hinge.
2. The saw is effective but only used it occasionally.
3. Chisel limited due to shortness, but has proven useful. The wire strippers have proven valuable. Have sharpened many times, the stripper grooves with a dogbone lansky.
4. Steel saw and file. Never really thought that it was pertinent. That is until it is needed for working on jammed door locks. Still serviceable.
5. Awl/punch. Very effective, always battling to extend it, too stiff and when dry it needs coin to help open.
6. Long small screwdriver. Very handy, but a battle to extend, if dry not without using a small coin.
7. Phillips screwdriver. Difficult to extract but comes out on its own. Works very well.
8. Scissors. Work very well, problem with having a large heavy handle on small scissors making nose hair removal a challenge
9. Large screwdriver. Decent length and very handy. Cap lifter still very pertinent in this part of the world.
10. Small screwdriver/can opener. Both very necessary and work very well.
11. Very large screwdriver. Fifth wheel. Used it opening a can of paint, once. Just battled to get it open. It only gets opened when cleaning and lubing is happing.
12. Main blade. It is easy to use and sharpen. A common part in use in the office environs. Probably would have had a lot more wear had it been an edc. When travelling I always have a performance blade with me so the main blade of the Swisstool is only ever a second blade.
13. Scales, metric and imperial. Initially considered kitsch but for general size notations fair and yes I have used it often as it is the only ruler in my car.
14. The lock mechanism is superb.
It has done me well as a back up tool. Since I rarely carry just one this has not had the rigours of an EDC. It has got my car moving when a mechanic installed a part wrong, mostly it has fixed other cars I was travelling in that were abused. From the location of a car it was always close to hand to use in the office or home. It is often easiest to hand. Fixed air-conditioning and a myriad of other things.
Once I did get frustrated with the weight and bought a Sog Paratool on special, and that was filched by my eldest. The Paratool was used for a week and after that borrowed back occasionally. The main blade was better (for me) than the Swisstools, but it had a second serrated blade that was magic.
The Swisstool is a well made tool. It is convenient in its offerings of working tools. Nothing on it is really damaged from occasional very hard use. The locking system works well. It is too heavy for a medium sized man and cant be considered a pocket tool especially if one carries other knives. It really needs a serrated blade. Dump the biggest screwdriver. Working with another sheath knife it is a good backup cutting tool. I cant envisage using it hiking as most tools are superfluous and it is heavy. Saying that, I hike with a normal SAK with saw, a sheath knife and some thin nose pliers.
I cant imagine letting someone go home with it like I have with other multitools. However something lighter and more tuned towards working in the velt and holding thin pliers is a definite wish list item, leaving the Swisstool in the car door pocket. The ability to get the job done has endeared me to it and with the occasional use of a coin would be the best single candidate for getting me out the dwang.
The new leathermans are dreadfully appealing in super light skeletons.
Having had exposure to various rip-off multitool models with corporate logos I had realised the value of such a tool, and the need for quality. Those rip-offs I used to try out before handing them to a kid in the block as a wow toy. I had used a Leatherman, early model that had the blade folding out from within the folded tool and that irritated me. My father inlaw really coveted it and it went home with him.
Having carried a SAK since I was 9 (35 years back) habits had formed and my first was sporting a reground blade (tip broken) and an epoxy putty handle (fire damage) when I lost it in a river whilst hiking. So several generations of SAK later, one in the pocket I was looking for something with a pliers.
So I saw the Swiss tool come onto the local market and I hummed and haa'd over it. Wife bought it for my birthday, nice leather pouch. It had all the kit I wanted and I was in love. It was constructed like a tank, I tried wearing it on my belt where ever I went. Unfortunately it was as heavy as a tank. So it travelled in my car door. Every so often I would wear it. Wow taking a dump meant removing said tool from pouch before pulling up trousers. Yeah too heavy.
However it has travelled with me in the car and on my Africa roaming and been used considerably. When the cards are down it has always worked well. It was built with the traditional quality of Victorinox.
1. Pliers and cutters. Frequent use for nuts, crimping, pulling and cutting wire. A few small dings on the wire cutters. A little play in the pliers hinge.
2. The saw is effective but only used it occasionally.
3. Chisel limited due to shortness, but has proven useful. The wire strippers have proven valuable. Have sharpened many times, the stripper grooves with a dogbone lansky.
4. Steel saw and file. Never really thought that it was pertinent. That is until it is needed for working on jammed door locks. Still serviceable.
5. Awl/punch. Very effective, always battling to extend it, too stiff and when dry it needs coin to help open.
6. Long small screwdriver. Very handy, but a battle to extend, if dry not without using a small coin.
7. Phillips screwdriver. Difficult to extract but comes out on its own. Works very well.
8. Scissors. Work very well, problem with having a large heavy handle on small scissors making nose hair removal a challenge
9. Large screwdriver. Decent length and very handy. Cap lifter still very pertinent in this part of the world.
10. Small screwdriver/can opener. Both very necessary and work very well.
11. Very large screwdriver. Fifth wheel. Used it opening a can of paint, once. Just battled to get it open. It only gets opened when cleaning and lubing is happing.
12. Main blade. It is easy to use and sharpen. A common part in use in the office environs. Probably would have had a lot more wear had it been an edc. When travelling I always have a performance blade with me so the main blade of the Swisstool is only ever a second blade.
13. Scales, metric and imperial. Initially considered kitsch but for general size notations fair and yes I have used it often as it is the only ruler in my car.
14. The lock mechanism is superb.
It has done me well as a back up tool. Since I rarely carry just one this has not had the rigours of an EDC. It has got my car moving when a mechanic installed a part wrong, mostly it has fixed other cars I was travelling in that were abused. From the location of a car it was always close to hand to use in the office or home. It is often easiest to hand. Fixed air-conditioning and a myriad of other things.
Once I did get frustrated with the weight and bought a Sog Paratool on special, and that was filched by my eldest. The Paratool was used for a week and after that borrowed back occasionally. The main blade was better (for me) than the Swisstools, but it had a second serrated blade that was magic.
The Swisstool is a well made tool. It is convenient in its offerings of working tools. Nothing on it is really damaged from occasional very hard use. The locking system works well. It is too heavy for a medium sized man and cant be considered a pocket tool especially if one carries other knives. It really needs a serrated blade. Dump the biggest screwdriver. Working with another sheath knife it is a good backup cutting tool. I cant envisage using it hiking as most tools are superfluous and it is heavy. Saying that, I hike with a normal SAK with saw, a sheath knife and some thin nose pliers.
I cant imagine letting someone go home with it like I have with other multitools. However something lighter and more tuned towards working in the velt and holding thin pliers is a definite wish list item, leaving the Swisstool in the car door pocket. The ability to get the job done has endeared me to it and with the occasional use of a coin would be the best single candidate for getting me out the dwang.
The new leathermans are dreadfully appealing in super light skeletons.
