vic pioneer or soldier

I believe I have the pioneer, and I edc it. It works well for most tasks. It would be nice if the main blade, at least, locked open. I do miss it if I don't have it on me, and I keep going back to it over others I've tried. I would recommend it.


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I EDC'd one for a while.

Pros: light, thin, tough as old boots, and useful
Cons: none that I can think of
 
I've been edcing an alox soldier lately. A sturdy knife with great snap, easy to clean and a basic compliment of tools on it. The awl works great for things you don't want to mess up your main blade with like opening packages (tape residue).
 
The alox SAK's make a fine edc pocket knife. You could go the rest of your life with a pioneer or old soldier in a pocket and not really need another knife. But I wish that Victorinox would bring back the hollow rivet so a lanyard could be attached, like the Wenger SI. With the hollow rivet of the SI, you can take off the bail if you find it gets in the way, and instal a fine nylon cord as a lanyard with no more problem of the bail getting in the way of the blade closing. But the Vic pioneer has that da-- keyring mount that sticks up at just the right angle to dig into the palm and be a PITA. They should at least use the same angled keyring mount as the cellidor SAK's.

The pioneer is a fine knife, but bring back the HOLLOW RIVET!
 
Can't go wrong with the Pioneer/Soldier--love the Alox, and the thicker blade stock is a big plus over the standard SAK main blade. The awl/reamer is super useful as noted, and the driver/bottle opener serves as a handy mini-prybar. I much prefer its firm slip-joint over a locking mechanism, which would make for an unnecessarily bulkier package. (Or useless, a la liner lock on the bigger nylon-handle Vics.) If you don't need or want the can opener w/teeny flat driver tip, the Electrician replaces it with a short hawksbill blade. But you'll also lose the keyring on the Pioneer. (Another vote to BRING BACK THE HOLLOW RIVET!) :-)
 
storyville said:
I much prefer its firm slip-joint over a locking mechanism, which would make for an unnecessarily bulkier package. (Or useless, a la liner lock on the bigger nylon-handle Vics.)
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Do I detect you have no confidence in the liner locks on 111mm Vics, like the OH Trekker? May I ask why you think that?
 
Yet another vote for the hollow rivet for the Alox models! Though I seriously doubt they'll bring it back. That's the one aspect of the Pioneer/Farmer models that I don't care for; that keying extension. Not only does it affect hand comfort, but if carried in the wrong position in pocket, that sharp piece can wear a hole in the material, especially with slacks.

Jim
 
znapschatz said:
Do I detect you have no confidence in the liner locks on 111mm Vics, like the OH Trekker? May I ask why you think that?
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Well, "useless" is an exaggeration -- the 111mm platform is solid and I know they have their loyalists :) -- but I don't 'get' or care for the reversed, southpaw orientation of the liner lock. Also the SAK's narrow spear-point blade even on the 111mm models doesn't strike me as needing a lock. Makes more sense for the flat driver if/when used as a mini-prybar, but again I'm happy with the ease, simplicity, and effectiveness of the Alox slip-joints. To each his own, etc.

As for the keyring extension: it's made of aluminum and easy to remove. Literally a couple of minutes with a small hacksaw blade and sandpaper wrapped around a pencil, and your Alox SAK will look as if the keyring bubble was never there.
 
Person ally I like the key ring because I attach para cord to all my Saks. If the key ring extension bothers you it can always be filed off.
 
old soldiers should be used sparingly or preserved as collectables...
go with the pioneer
as that split ring is an added feature worth having!
 
GIRLYmann said:
old soldiers should be used sparingly or preserved as collectables...
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Hey, I'm used sparingly enough.......Oh, you mean the knife model.

I agree that since the Pioneer is inexpensive and easy enough to find, that using an older Soldier is sort of unnecessary. I lean more towards the sparingly part than the collectable though. I use everything I own at least once a year with only two or three items exempted for sentimental reasons. If it doesn't get used, it gets tossed or sold. Keeps the house from turning into a junkyard.
 
gull wing said:
Hard Knocks, tell me about the picket clip.
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Hello gw,

I modded that particular pioneer a few years ago to add the pocket clip. The source for the clip escapes me. I remember searching to find one that mounted in such a way so as not to interfere with the pivot pin.

I recall that it was necessary to remove the pins and disassemble the parts in order to drill and tap the screws for the clip. Also, the stock to replace the pins is metric.
 
Thanks!
I can make a clip easily with titanium, the removing of the pins and replacing them may challenge me. How difficult is it?
 
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