A few months ago, I decided that I was going to stop carrying my old Gerber Harsey AirFrame as my "big" EDC knife, and switch to a Victorinox 93 mm Alox model. Unfortunately, there isn't a model that actually has everything I want in a Swiss Army Knife and nothing I don't, not even my trusty Rambler, my "small" EDC knife. The AirFrame and Rambler have been my go-to combo for about 20 years, now, but the truth is that the AirFrame is just really a lot more blade than I actually need on a daily basis, so I want to slim down my handbag.
Although I bought a Pioneer a few months ago, when they were on sale for $22, I haven't even touched it, because it has no scissors. It was a total impulse buy. I have been trying to decide for the longest time between the Farmer X, the Pioneer X, and the Companion Slim.
The Farmer X has all the tools, but I don't actually need all the tools in my EDC knife. I don't need a saw blade, the large blade, or the awl around town, but I'd love to have a Bushcrafter, which is just those three tools, for use in the woods. Unfortunately, that was only ever offered as a Swiss Bianco special run and they cost a fortune.
The Pioneer X also has the large knife blade and awl that I really don't need in my EDC.
Today, I finally realized that the Companion Slim has no keyring, which I actually really want.
There's no Cadet X, which would honestly be almost perfect for my EDC needs, when paired with my Rambler.
There's no Rambler Alox (again, aside from Swiss Bianco and the Chinese market, where Victorinox apparently offered a Rambler Alox in 2024).
Sometimes, I really just don't understand Victorinox. Everytime I wade into discussion forums, two of the most popularly requested models are a Cadet X and a Rambler Alox, and yet, instead, Victorinox gives us stuff we aren't asking for, like the new package opener tool, and the new Synergy line.
So, now, I guess I'm trying to decide between a Pioneer X and dealing with the fact that I'm carrying around a whole layer of tools I don't want or need, or the Companion Slim and dealing with the lack of a keyring attachment.
Honestly, I have little use for the can opener tool, but I think I have even less use for the package opener. Of all the things they could have replaced the can opener with, that is the weirdest.
I've said this before, a long time ago, but my ideal Swiss Army Knife set would be effectively an "Electrician X", but with the tools split into two different units:
1. 93 mm Alox "Bushcrafter": large blade, reamer/awl, wood saw, and keyring.
2. 93 mm Alox with scissors, caplifter/flat driver, electrician's blade, in-line Phillips driver, and keyring.
3. 58 mm Alox Rambler: the Rambler as is, but with Alox scales (and sans the tweezer and toothpick, of course, which I can live without).
4. 84 mm Cadet X: the Cadet as is, but with a scissors layer.
From a long, long time ago, Robert Lessard made those two models, although I would prefer the stock silver Alox scales. The white one is everything I actually need in my daily life around town, and the black one has just the tools I would only need in the woods. Unfortunately for me, I don't have the tools I would need to make them myself:
Although I bought a Pioneer a few months ago, when they were on sale for $22, I haven't even touched it, because it has no scissors. It was a total impulse buy. I have been trying to decide for the longest time between the Farmer X, the Pioneer X, and the Companion Slim.
The Farmer X has all the tools, but I don't actually need all the tools in my EDC knife. I don't need a saw blade, the large blade, or the awl around town, but I'd love to have a Bushcrafter, which is just those three tools, for use in the woods. Unfortunately, that was only ever offered as a Swiss Bianco special run and they cost a fortune.
The Pioneer X also has the large knife blade and awl that I really don't need in my EDC.
Today, I finally realized that the Companion Slim has no keyring, which I actually really want.
There's no Cadet X, which would honestly be almost perfect for my EDC needs, when paired with my Rambler.
There's no Rambler Alox (again, aside from Swiss Bianco and the Chinese market, where Victorinox apparently offered a Rambler Alox in 2024).
Sometimes, I really just don't understand Victorinox. Everytime I wade into discussion forums, two of the most popularly requested models are a Cadet X and a Rambler Alox, and yet, instead, Victorinox gives us stuff we aren't asking for, like the new package opener tool, and the new Synergy line.
So, now, I guess I'm trying to decide between a Pioneer X and dealing with the fact that I'm carrying around a whole layer of tools I don't want or need, or the Companion Slim and dealing with the lack of a keyring attachment.
Honestly, I have little use for the can opener tool, but I think I have even less use for the package opener. Of all the things they could have replaced the can opener with, that is the weirdest.
I've said this before, a long time ago, but my ideal Swiss Army Knife set would be effectively an "Electrician X", but with the tools split into two different units:
1. 93 mm Alox "Bushcrafter": large blade, reamer/awl, wood saw, and keyring.
2. 93 mm Alox with scissors, caplifter/flat driver, electrician's blade, in-line Phillips driver, and keyring.
3. 58 mm Alox Rambler: the Rambler as is, but with Alox scales (and sans the tweezer and toothpick, of course, which I can live without).
4. 84 mm Cadet X: the Cadet as is, but with a scissors layer.
From a long, long time ago, Robert Lessard made those two models, although I would prefer the stock silver Alox scales. The white one is everything I actually need in my daily life around town, and the black one has just the tools I would only need in the woods. Unfortunately for me, I don't have the tools I would need to make them myself:
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