SwissTech Utili-Key

J

jvan

Joined
Apr 19, 2006
Messages
863
Recently I have been looking at these mini-tools and am considering getting one because I like gadgets. I am curious to know from you that have one if it actually gets any use and for what? Or are they just a useless gadget?Thanks.
 
Well, IIRC they are machined from 420j2, so probably not the best choice if its going to see a lot of use. Then again, if I found one for the right price I wouldn't hesitate to throw it on my keys.
 
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jvan said:
Recently I have been looking at these mini-tools and am considering getting one because I like gadgets. I am curious to know from you that have one if it actually gets any use and for what? Or are they just a useless gadget?Thanks.
Click to expand...

Mostly an ornament and finger toy, but I actually got to use one. Like you (and just about everybody here), I am a gadget guy and for no better reason bought one sometime last year. After playing with it less than an hour, I packed it back up and put it away, thinking it might make a nice gift.

Some time later, while getting ready for a New Years eve party, on a whim I decided to not carry any of my knives, normally for me a rare to never occurence. At the last minute, though, I clipped the Utilikey to my key ring, and a good thing, too. At the party, somehow the only bottle opener had gone AWOL, and for about 15 minutes, until it was found, I got to be hero with my Utilikey cap lifter.

Ever since, I have kept it on the key ring, as it takes up little pocket space.
It's great to be adored, once in a while. :)
 
I got one a while back at a very cheap price, its great for when you not have a bigger or better tool. I wired a plug with one and have opened many a beer with it.
 
The blade is easily sharpened and gets decently sharp. Unfortunately, the two flat screwdriver heads are massively buffed, the smaller one was useless. I had to grind it thinner so it would work at all with the screws in my glasses. The Phillips is OK, but the little Phillips on my Victorinox Rally seems to fit a wider variety of screws better. And the bottle opener is OK.

420 stainless is of no real concern here. It's not like you're going to use this for bushcrafting. It is very easy to carry on a keychain. You may even forget it's there. I've been curious if the SwissTech has anything to do with Switzerland, too.
 
I think it is a great gadget and a sometime useful tool.Had one for 4 years
now on my bike key chain.Gave one to my mom for x-mas to put on her
keychain.It's not that expensive so go for it. I like them.
 
I bought one for my brother for christmas. When it came I checked it out and saw that the blade was dull so I decided to sharpen it up. It got decently sharp but I couldnt get to to shave hair. I feel that it's something thats really hard to use because of the size and the fact that there really isnt a cover for the blade when you want to use the other tools. Still, I think its worth the 10 dollars for the gadget factor. I'll have to admit that it WAS that gadget factor that made me want to get one in the first place.
 
I've always had the easiest times sharpening 420j2. So soft, all you really gotta do is be able to remove a burr.
 
I picked one up a couple years ago and it has stayed on my keys ever since. I have even "accidentally" left it on my keychain when going through security at a county courthouse building. I also had one of Swiss-Tech's small pliers tools on my keys. One of the officers at security picked up my keychain to look closer at the pliers and the keys fell to the floor as he opended the pliers. He reached down, picked up my keys, didn't even give them a second glance and handed them back to me while he checked to make sure there was no blade on the pliers.

I cannot necessarily advocate this practice, but I have "forgotten" this tool was on my keys for approximately 25 flights over the past two years and it has never even been scrutinized. It really does look just like a key on your keychain, especially if you flank it with other keys of similar size.

I can't remember more than a couple times I ever actually used this tool, and I hadn't considered sharpening the blade. To me, it's worth the confidence of always having it with me, especially in a situation where other knives would not be welcome. I think the blade would dull pretty fast if it ever saw any real use, but at such a cheap price, it almost seems like a disposable knife to me. I would certainly say it's worth having one.
 
I have recently had security at an int'l location tell me that my Swiss-Tech technician (original 6-in-1) was not allowed (and confiscated) but returned my keyring which also held my Utili-Key with no further comment.:rolleyes: Plus that I have used it when no other tool was available and although it is not the most user friendly, it has gotten the job done.
 
Its a great gadget. Although mine rarely sees use, I also have a small sak on my key chain. I just dont have the heart to remove it. I too have forgotten to take it off through security with no problems, i figure ill leave it on till it gets taken away.
My favorite part of it is how it opens. I carry my sak on a small key ring but i find the ring annoying. the swisstech on the other hand does not have that problem it just unclasps when u open it.
I say get it u wont regret it whether it gets used or not. Its not as useful as a sak but its still a great thing to have.
 
The last couple posts have convinced me to go ahead and get one. Over the past five years I have lost five of those little Swiss Army knives at airport security. They are so small I just never remember to take them out of my pocket before checking my luggage. Thanks for the replies.

John
 
I recommend the swiss tech utilikey. you can find them at Target and Ace Hardware stores for cheap and that is their benefit. You're not going to rebuild an engine with one of these things, but you add no weight to your key chain and an array of function when you attach a utilikey.

The bottle opener functions well. I've used the blade many times in place of an Exacto knife or box cutter. The blade has held up well and has required no sharpening. The philips head has also worked for me in a pinch. I haven't really used either of the flathead screwdrivers since I typically have another tool with me or the situation just hasn't come up. I am sure they would work, but like the rest of the tool it would be a bit of a compromise to use it.
 
Mine has also "accidentally" made several flights. I love it for that factor alone :). It's easy for them to miss, especially if you put one of those rubber key-coders on the head of it. :p
 
Mine has been handy for opening packages when no other knife is handy, or for tightening eyeglasses. I recently took it off my key ring and put a little SAK Classic on instead. Now I suppose I'll need the bottle opener all of a sudden!
 
Foilist said:
Mine has been handy for opening packages when no other knife is handy, or for tightening eyeglasses. I recently took it off my key ring and put a little SAK Classic on instead. Now I suppose I'll need the bottle opener all of a sudden!
Click to expand...

If you want a Vic 58mm SAK with a bottle opener, there are lots to choose from. Right now I have a Rambler on my keyring. That's like a Classic plus one more tool that incorporates a bottle opener, wire stripper and Phillips screwdriver. There are other 58s with the bottle opener tool, all the way up to the MiniChamp.

Since I carry another SAK with a corkscrew and the mini-screwdriver, I have the eyeglasses screwdriver need covered also. (Currently, that other SAK is a Victorinox Alumnus).

- Tim
 
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