Trigger pulled on a red Alox Pioneer

L

lwt210

Joined
Mar 21, 2007
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After pursuing and buying many Schrades over the last few years something caught my eye in the safe the other day. It was the Victorinox Champion model that I bought way back in 1984 when I was in Lucern, Switzerland in a little shop there as a souvenir. I never carried that SAK as it was not only a treasured memento of a great two week trip, but was also a bit on the bulky side for EDC.

Right beside it was my first knife as a child gifted to me back in 1978. A small Victorinox SAK with a musket on the scale. Another piece of history that I don't carry.

So today, after pouring through this section of the forum, I pulled the trigger on a red Alox Pioneer. I wanna see what all the fuss is about.

I am also eyeballing an Explorer in black, a Climber plus in blue, and a Fieldmaster in Stayglow now thanks to some of you and your pictures posted in various threads.

I tend to stick with a 1095 carbon Schrade 881 as an EDC or something from Case and their CV line. Here's to hoping that new knife is everything you guys said it was.
 
The SAK 93mm alox are great user knives. I think you'll like the Pioneer. Good knife for any collection or EDC.
 
I guarantee you're gonna like, enjoy and appreciate those SAK!... they're a VERY good companion... built to last, friendly looking, versatily usefull and pack with tools... whats not to love?

no need to warn you, but they're actually addictive... since they're pretty affordable, you wont have to worry about anything... hehehe..
 
I've almost pulled the trigger on a red alox Pioneer a bunch of times. I can't bring myself to do it though because I've got three Vic alox Soldiers and one Wenger SI. I just don't see a Pioneer getting any use, even as a back up. They sure do look the business though!
 
You might find that it doesn't hold an edge quite as long as your carbon knives, but on the plus side I've never had a Vic rust even after hours in the sea. Also, you may grow to appreciate the extra tools for prying and poking and keeping your blade from hard use.
adam
 
SAKsRCool said:
You might find that it doesn't hold an edge quite as long as your carbon knives, but on the plus side I've never had a Vic rust even after hours in the sea. Also, you may grow to appreciate the extra tools for prying and poking and keeping your blade from hard use.
adam
Click to expand...

Yeah, I am rarely without a Leatherman; to be specific, the Surge at work and a clipped Kick around the house and town.

But when I am lounging around I like to have a small slippie in my pocket and am going to give the Pioneer a try.

I like to strop my carbon blades on Hand American diamond compound and hope that I can get the stainless blade nearly as keen as my carbon blades. I can get 1095 downright scary and know that the Victorinox stainless sharpens up well.
 
Great choice! There's nothing not to like about the pioneer ..... except maybe the keyring stud, which quite a few of us have filed off. Regardless, red alox looks great! :thumbup:
 

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The Pioneer is a great model, just like all alox models actually. They're my preferred SAKs for the outdoors. The keyring stud could be positioned better, but I wouldn't miss the keyring, since I use that to attach my SAK to my belt if I go hiking or camping.

SAKsRCool said:
You might find that it doesn't hold an edge quite as long as your carbon knives, but on the plus side I've never had a Vic rust even after hours in the sea.
Click to expand...

True, but on the other hand, the blade is easy to sharpen in the field.

VictorinoxPioneerRed05Small.jpg
 
I've had my oldest Pioneer since the late 70's or early 80's. I carried it and used it everyday for years. In the last couple of years, I've bought a new Soldier, Pioneer, and Farmer and I've been amazed at the build quality. All the blades snap open and close with authority.

Recently, I got a couple of older, pre-owned, alox models. A well used Pioneer ('98 stamped on blade) and an '01 Soldier. For the first time, I was somewhat disappointed in an alox model. They were usable, but they both had weak blade action and the lazy awl blades would barely close all the way.

Long story short, I gave them baths in a bowl of water with dish soap and let them dry. I filed or sanded burrs around the scales and liners. I used some Tuff-Glide and worked all the blades. Eventually, I oiled the joints with Caig's Mechanic-All. After some work, the action of both became about as crisp as the alox SAKs I've purchased new. So, if you have a well used, older one with weak action, you might be able to whip it back into shape.
 
Yeah, I've bought new in the box ~10 year old alox before and the action has been lazy. I think that it's the oil that was on them has gotten thick or drained away. After a good cleaning and relube, they're back to good snap.
adam
 
The built quality is great and very consistent. I've got a number of Dutch army knives, made by Victorinox in the 1980's and early 1990's, and there's not any sign of rust on it. Some are very well used and they don't look as pretty as a new Soldier or Pioneer, but the springs are still strong and they're just as functional.
 
Pioneers are great SAKs! Here are some Pioneer colours:

Pioneer_Colours.jpg
 
Aahhhh... gorgeous group pictures!!!! thanks for sharing... they look to good to be used!

got no pioneer at all... but got several sodiers and farmers though...
 
The red and the silver are the only ones that really appeal to me.

I am probably too used to seeing SAKs in traditional red and the silver model has the red shield.

But the StayGlow looks neat too and the black models, specifically the Explorer/Huntmaster sized SAKs.

That is a nice collection of farmers though.
 
Just got the Pioneer in today:

Very impressive fit and finish. All tools are void of any side play and action is very smooth and positive.

I took a few swipes on the Sharpmaker with the fine hones and then a few strops on HA 1 micron spray on a piece of basswood.

Hair whittling sharp now. Pretty decent edge from the factory but it took no time to get it hair popping.

Overall, I'd give this model an A minus. The bottle opener/flat screwdriver seems to have a half stop where the others don't. That kind of puzzles me but oh well. I can live with it as the overall quality appears to be top notch.
 
The screwdriver/bottleopener stay at half because you can use it as an
wirestripper.
The wire fits in the small opening and you can push the opener down
against the spring to strip the wire.
Thats why it's made so.:)
 
I love my Pioneer. Tend to rotate it with either a Bantam or Cadet... all alox.
DSC_0365.jpg
 
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