The safety catch on Vic caplifter/screwdriver?

wire edge

wire edge

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2001
Messages
3,070
Okay, most of my Vics are older or discontinued, but I bought a few new ones over Christmas and I when I got them, I noticed the caplifter/flathead tool was hard to close, there was some extra resistance. Closer inspection revealed a modification to the top of the tang, a small bump is now there.

When was this introduced? It does add a bit of safety, there's definitely more force needed now to close the tool.

Anyone else noticed this change?
 
I don't know when this change was made, but it seems to be present in all current 91mm caplifter/flathead tools. If you look closely, you'll see the bump mates with a small dent in the backspring.

I presume this was intended to create a more secure screwdriver tool, Vic's answer to Wenger's locking screwdriver mechnaism. It offers increased resistance to folding when in the full open position.

If anything, I've wondered why this sort of thing wasn't more common on slipjoints in general.
 
Shecky nailed it, that's what I was addressing. This is way different than the half-stop.

I'm curious when Vic started using it? It must be really new, since it hasn't been that long since I bought a "new" Vic :)
 
The safety has been around for a couple of years, I remember posting on it when they changed over (happened shortly after Vic took over Wenger). It works best if you hold the reamer down with your thumb on the opposite side, like on the French Laguiole. The corkscrew will not permit this on some models.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top