SwissTool Spirit Scissors

[gatch]

After just recieving my SwissTool Spirit I must say that I am extemely dissapointed with the scissors on it. I was hoping for a vast improvement over the standard SAK, but I don't think they are and maybe they are in fact worse.

The problem I have with them is that the new spring mechanism Victorinox have used does not allow the scissors to open very wide. It doesn't even open the full length of the blade. In addition they seem to be very short bladed. These two problems make them awkward to use and limit there usefulness.

Any thoughts on on this?

 

[ckl]

After just recieving my SwissTool Spirit I must say that I am extemely dissapointed with the scissors on it. I was hoping for a vast improvement over the standard SAK, but I don't think they are and maybe they are in fact worse.

The problem I have with them is that the new spring mechanism Victorinox have used does not allow the scissors to open very wide. It doesn't even open the full length of the blade. In addition they seem to be very short bladed. These two problems make them awkward to use and limit there usefulness.

Any thoughts on on this?

i feel the same too!man, i am so dissapointed after i discover the scissors still use the stupid spring tension mechanism and the mouth of scissors is so narrow.....u can only use it for fine cutting.....WTF?vic?

the thruth is that i return the spirit and get the RS instead...... :barf:

 

[Foilist]

The scissors are quite small, but so far I'm not bothered too much by them, since I don't think I've ever used multitool scissors for anything other than fine snippping. I do find myself more bothered by that blunt, combo-edged knife blade though.

 

[gatch]

the thruth is that i return the spirit and get the RS instead...... :barf:

I have thought about returning my Spirit too. I will try it out for a little longer before making that decision.

 

[gatch]

I do find myself more bothered by that blunt, combo-edged knife blade though.

This is actually a plus for me. I carry a SAK knife as well so it is good to have a different type of blade on the tool.

 

[Ramirez]

You know in general it is always good to wait a while before buying a product, as hard as that it. My guess is Vic will have a tweaked model within the year with better scissors and a more traditional knife blade as the feedback starts coming back to them.

Then again considering the original scissor design has been there for years despite its shortcomings perhaps not.


I learned this the hard way when I bought a Bucktool - that was a mistake.

 

[bill_G]

i like the sheepsfoot serrated. i always carry a PE knife, so now i have a second, different knife blade.

as far as the scissors goes.... i dont care....never use it

the spirit is heads and shoulders above my LM wave

at $37 at amazon

 

[Sidewinder]

Yeah, It's a bummer that the sissors don't open wider. But it doesn't really bother me. Same with the sheeps foot blade. I kind of like it now that I've begun to use it. It cuts bubble packageing easily. It's so hard to find the perfect multitool. I guess that's way I keep buying 'em. The Spirit is about as close as a tool as has come to being the perfect EDC carry for me.

S.

 

[gajinoz]

Speaking of the Spirit, has anyone had a good play with the new Spirit Plus model?

 

[Klingsor]

The scissors are quite small, but so far I'm not bothered too much by them, since I don't think I've ever used multitool scissors for anything other than fine snippping.

I think not any scissor of a multitool is qualified for long cuts. They are all to short for this purpose. So I prefer multitool-scissors with a high leverage and shorter blades for an optimum of control and cutting force:

Since most scissors are basically levers with the fulcrum in the middle, the ratio of the relative distances of the squeezing point and the cutting point from the fulcrum determines both the force and movement ratio. When the squeezing point is at a greater distance from the fulcrum than the cutting point, the cutting force is greater and the movement is less than that applied to the handles. This has two effects in selection . Relatively long handles provide greater control through less cutting movement and greater cutting force. The latter is often referred to as the mechanical advantage. As the cutting point moves toward the tip, the movement increases and the force decreases. Due to leverage ratio changes, the squeezing force required increases as cutting point approaches tips.

I do find myself more bothered by that blunt, combo-edged knife blade though.

Victorinox works on another version of the Swisstool Spirit that comes with a normal SAK knife:

Es wird Sie aber sicher freuen, dass wir an einem Werkzeug für eine normale, spitze Klinge arbeiten.

Freundliche Grüsse aus dem "Swiss Knife Valley"

VICTORINOX
Leiter Qualitätssicherung (Director of Quality-Management)
Robert Elsener

Just wait a few years

 

[klattman]

The scissors are much stronger than almost any other (except small scissor-based tools such as the LM Squirt S4).

I prefer as shorter, stronger scissors on a multi tool. As an example, check out the scissors on an LM juice. They are long and and the handles are about the same length as the blades. You get very little mech. advantage and you have to do most of your hard cutting near the hinge anyway. If you are cutting paper, these work fine, anything tougher and you end up not using the tips.

On a tool like the Spirit, you need room for the pliers to fold in, or you need to make to the tool longer. Thus you only have x inches for the entire scissors. If you put the scissors hinge at x/2, you will have a much weaker scissors than if you make the handle longer and the scissor-blades shorter.


I think Vic made the right move: multi-tools get used for tough jobs, and tough scissors are required IMHO.

 

[Gryffin]

The scissors are much stronger than almost any other (except small scissor-based tools such as the LM Squirt S4).

Not in my experience, they aren't.

Day after I got mine, I grabbed some miscellaneous cardboard and cordage and did some informal side-by-side tests between my new Spirit and my New Wave. The 2004 Wave has also gotten some bad raps for the small scissors, but on every material I tried, the Wave cut with less effort than the Spirit. Despite the small blades, the New Wave scissors are very, very sharp, and a lot sturdier than they look.

(I just wish I'd done the same test with my old Wave, too; those scissors are my favorite. )

I'm one of those who's a bit underwhelmed by the "new improved" scissors on the Spirit. The spring design *is* better, much better, but they're just too damn short to be useful. Same day I compared it to the Wave, my GF asked me for help cutting the stems of some daffodils she brought home. I was embarassed to find that my hot new SwissTool had scissors that wouldn't open far enough! "So that's your new bad-ass pocket tool, huh?", she says...

As an example, check out the scissors on an LM juice. They are long and and the handles are about the same length as the blades. You get very little mech. advantage and you have to do most of your hard cutting near the hinge anyway. If you are cutting paper, these work fine, anything tougher and you end up not using the tips.

Ah, now, that's exactly why I *do* prefer the longer scissors on the Juice and original Wave: they give you options. Cut the tough stuff near the pivot, or use the whole length to cut fast on the easy stuff. I like options.

 

[klattman]

I guess you are right. It doesn't hurt to have longer blades, unless it compromises handle length and leverage.

I can see how the narrow opening can be frustrating (especially in your situation ), but I'm so used to using my knife to cut everything bigger than the scissors...including plant stems... I guess I'm biased there. :footinmou

I like the Spirit scissors much more than those on my PowerLock and the ones on the LM juice and typical SAKs. I haven't compared to the new LMs so I'm glad you did.

Now that I'm checking this, it seems that ST Spirit could have longer scissors.. there's a fair bit of room there.
So does anyone know why everyone is going to shorter scissors (LM and ST)? Maybe people break them too easily?