Tools rubbing on an Alox Soldier?

H

_habit_

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Oct 14, 2006
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Just received a new Victorinox Alox Soldier, one of the 1 of 5000 final production, and the bottle opener and main blade seem to contact each other, almost certainly when opening/closing the bottle opener, and it appears to rub when the blade opens/closes. Is this normal/nothing to worry about, something I should return? I have no experience with the Alox models, or Victorinox generally.

Other than that though, nice little tool. Would love it in a color like black or red, the Soldier model in particular I like. Not fond of the 1 of 5000 huge writing on the blade though.


Thanks
 
Took a look at my Soldier and it seems the blade and bottle opener are almost put against each other, but both open and close very smooth. How is yours opening and closing? Do you notice that they rub?
 
Are you seeing scratch marks from rubbing on the blade? The vendor or Victorinox might replace or service.
 
I'm not sure I really feel that they rub, but I see it. There does seem to be now a mark on the blade where it's happening, towards the spine, near the tip. I'm a perfectionist, so it's beginning to bug me. It was enough to get over having the text on the blade, since I really wanted a Soldier (I don't like the little lanyard bit on the Pioneer much), but the rubbing I think is too much for me :/

I suppose I'll return it, maybe see about getting a better one off the forums. Or maybe a Wenger SI, or a Vic Farmer or Pioneer in a color. Don't want to pay a premium just because they're hard to find though. I'll do something, this was to be my Christmas present so I want to be satisfied.
 
Not sure I could distinguish the scuffs you describe from work/wear on my blades. It is a tool....
 
Keep the comemorative soldier,put it in your save drawer and get another one with plain blade. My soldier does touch a tiny bit on near its tip to the reamer.have use it for years without problem &its not to bothering for me.its only making a very slight scratch mark&not deep in anyway.. But if it really bother you,you could always claim the warranty.goodluck buddy.
 
I agree: it might be worth something if it was part of a last run of older alox soldiers. If it was me, as long as the walk and talk is good and it does not have a lot of lateral play, I'd be happy with it. If I recall correctly (too lazy to check my alox soldier), a lot of the tools including the blade are canted when closed.
 
I have both the Soldier and Pioneer and both blades rub the screwdriver combo tool leaving a rub mark on the blade.
That's why I like my Farmer over them.
I hardly use the saw and it is a bit more bulky in the pocket but I like the way the tools are; absolutely no rubbing. On either of the 2 Farmers I have.
 
i just got a brand new one as well (not the final production run though) and they are very close when in the closed position, but i can still slide and freely move (with a little friction heard/felt as i slide it toward the base of the bottle opener/screwdriver) a sheet of paper between them. when the bottle opener/screwdriver is in the half stop position i can still get the paper between them but with a bit more resistance, and when i do, if you look at the tip of the blade you can see the blade move ever so slightly toward the reamer. i mean barely noticeable. so i think the clearance when the screwdriver is opened in the half-stop position is just slightly less than paper thin (at least on mine). i don't, however, feel any rubbing or see any marks on my blade over a few days use. hope that helped.
 
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I've been carrying my Alox Farmer every day for a few years now. After reading this thread I took a closer look at it. The rub I see is where the can opener rubs on the screw driver slightly when closed. There is a scratch on the screw driver.

After years of spectacular service I guess my farmer wont work any more since there is a scratch on the screw driver! :rolleyes:
 
got 3 2007 alox soldier today and none of the blade or tools rubbing... cant help it.... i just love alox soldier and 07 is a great batch for me....
 
They should not rub on each other. It is not going to effect the use of the knife, but if you are concerned, contact the repair center.
 
grim - are yours similar in description to mine (see my earlier post). reason i ask is mine are 2008 as well. thanks!
 
I just received the final production combo: etched 08 Soldier (61 style) and the Collector's Companion book as a boxed set. Although it is less than paper thin, a feeler gauge tells me there is space between the tool and blade with no noticeable rub.

OT: Does anyone think that this boxed set will actually become desirable in the future or is it just one of those things? I've heard several opine that the unetched old style 08 Soldier will actually be more collectable. Just curious. I don't believe in safe queens. Everybody gets to come out and play at least once in a while.
 
Eyegor said:
I just received the final production combo: etched 08 Soldier (61 style) and the Collector's Companion book as a boxed set. Although it is less than paper thin, a feeler gauge tells me there is space between the tool and blade with no noticeable rub.
Click to expand...

that's helpful information. i'm not exactly sure what a "feeler gauge" is though...do you mind explaining?

not sure about the final series as i'm pretty new to the SAKs other than some acquired over the years.
 
Eyegor said:
OT: Does anyone think that this boxed set will actually become desirable in the future or is it just one of those things? I've heard several opine that the unetched old style 08 Soldier will actually be more collectable. Just curious. I don't believe in safe queens. Everybody gets to come out and play at least once in a while.
Click to expand...

If you keep the boxed set in its original state, then it will become a valuable collectors item eventually. Using the knife will probably decrease the value for collectors, but it will still be a collectors item.

But if you don't care much about that, enjoy your Soldier. A blue Farmer is very rare here in the Netherlands and probably a collectors item here, but I carry and use it.
 
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