Victorinox blade lock

quattromori

quattromori

Joined
May 7, 2011
Messages
3,426
This is my first post on this forum (even tho I've been reading on it for a while now) and since my whole knives' thing started with my SAK (a Spartan I bought as a teenager) I assume it is natural to start my posts here...
So I own few Vic's and obviosuly love them. Recently I have felt highly attracted by the One Hand Trekker...which for some mysterious reasons is not sold in Europe :confused:
So I have never owned or seen a locking blade SAK and I wonder about it...is it a liner lock or what? is it good enough? (won't use that blade for heavy tasks for sure)
And is the thumb hole comfy enough?
Thanks for ur feedbacks :cool:
 
Welcome to the forum. It might help to know that the Trekker name is only for North America, here in Europe you want to look for it being called the Trailmaster.

Yes it is a liner lock, and a strong one at that. The only odd thing about it is that it needs pushed from left to right to disengage (unlike almost any other liner lock, they normally go right to left) so it's often been called a 'left handed' lock. Vic are quite clear in their instructions that both hands are meant to be used to close the blade safely.

Can't say anything about the thumb hole, I've not got the OHO version myself, but I've never heard any complaints.
 
Thanks for the answer. Unfortunately, the "european" Trailmaster is only sold with the serrated blade...and I want the plain edge one which is unavailable here so I will have to buy it in the US somehow. Glad the lock is strong enough (don't really care about it being "left handed"....I will get use to it eventually).
Hope I can get more feedbacks on the one hand opening and thumb hole.
:cool:
 
I like my One Hand Trekker and I chose it over the new Soldier due to the plain blade, but I imagine the serrated blade is done well. I don't find that the blade opens as easily as a Spyderco blade, but I haven't worked with it enough. I find the lock to be sturdy, but I would never press my luck with any locking knife. Typical great Victorinox quality. There is a German Buneswehr Army knife version, but a serrated blade.
 
I have a Trekker with a PE blade (not OHO) and I think that it is a great tool, I might get a OHO one with a PE blade as well at some point. To me that size of tool makes it a very competent knife able to handle most tasks that a folding knife you carry should. BUT - it also has a locking pry tool/screwdriver/bottle opener (functions listed in MY order of priorities) that adds a lot more functionality to the tool. Then there is the can opener (which works VERY well) that also is a small flat screwdriver and will work on many phillips screws. There is also a good functioning saw - making this tool a good one to take hiking/camping. With the tweezers, toothpick, awl & phillips screwdriver you have something that adds up to a very versatile tool that is well worth carrying every day.

Victorinox tools are also VERY stainless. The knife is easy to sharpen and takes a good edge, combine that with the full flat grind and you have a really good blade for almost any task.

If you are fine with one handed opening & 2 handed closing then you'll be hard pressed to find anything else as useful as a OHO SAK for EDC. For the price of the OHO Trekker you really can't go wrong!
 
I've got several Victorinox SAKs with the liner lock and used especially the new Soldier a lot last year. The liner lock is strong and looks very solid. It's good enough for outdoor use. For me, the thumb hole is comfortable too. Overall I think the Trekker / Trailmaster is a great tool and for around 30 euros (in the Netherlands) you can't go wrong. The Swiss army and German army use a military variant of it and the Dutch army use a military variant of the Dual Pro X, similar to the Trekker / Trailmaster, but with the saw replaced by a belt cutter.
 
Thanks for ur opinions....I always loved Victorinox and my guess is that the Trekker will become my ultimate hiking/camping tool. I prefer the plain edge blade for almost any tasks and the saw will make do for the others, so that's why I will buy it in the US. Quality was not a question for me (I do own a few Vic's and I guess u can't really argue about their quality), just wanted to know a bit more about the blade lock (won't challenge the lock either, as I do carry a thicker blade for heavy tasks when I camp/hike)....
Won't be long till I get this one :cool:
 
The first time I saw a One Handed Trekker with a plain edge, it was at Smokey Mt Knife Works (Sevierville TN) and it was not cataloged yet. I have only recently seen the non-serrated version listed on their website. Since that time (last year), I have seen the plain edge version for sale at other US knife sellers. Perhaps this knife is only slow to come to Europe? You can certainly buy it where I purchased mine if you want to pay for the shipping.

Maybe a call to Victornox might be in order and ask if they could sell you this knife directly.

It is a nice knife. It is a bit thick for pocket carry as far as I'm concerned, but I have it and other SAKs that are this thickness. I like simple knives in general and generally only want the main blade a few tools (must have the tweezers and tooth pick however). My favorite is the Adventurer which is not a one handed version but has the side lock feature that I really like.
 
I have the knife in question. It's very easy to open and very solid; I have no doubts about it for everyday use. The only problem I have is with the lock, which is stiff and difficult to open with the right hand.

Wenger also makes a one handed opening knife. It is substantially larger (in the 5" range clsed, instead of the Victorinox, which is in the 4" range), but the lock is much easier to use. Different blade shape as well.
 
Actually, I have no idea why they don't seel the plain edge version here in Europe...I can understand that the US market may be bigger, but still Victorinox is based here. Anyway, I will get it in the US and somehow smuggle it here :p
The Wenger locking OHO is a bit too big for my needs...so I will eventually get used to the Victorinox liner lock.
Thanks
:cool:
 
.....it is a great tool. However I am not a fan of liner locks in general. I much prefer the 111mm Vic slide lock models. Alas, I don't believe any of them are OH though. Someone please correct me if my memory is faulty. The Adventurer, Rucksack or Hunter are slide lock models that are very similar to the OHT. As always the answer with SAKS is to get them all.:p
 
The Bundeswher , and the Swiss military are satisfied with the lockup , I've had good luck with mine , no issues in moderate force applications , one of the more trustworthy liner locks .

Chris
 
I have a OHT I bought here in USA at a camping store. It had the serrations when I bought it, but I sharpened them off without much effort since plain edge is more versatile for my needs. The main blade takes a lot more effort to open than the blade on similarly sized Spydercos, due to the strong spring. The liner lock has some slop, up-down bladeplay, but it feels safe for my needs. The play reminds me not to rely too much on the lock. The opening hole is a good size. What I really love about my OHT is that the large screwdriver blade also has a liner lock. I've been closed on by the screwdriver blade on my Tinker numerous times, and never by the main blade.
 
Thanks to everyone for the feedback.
I will sure make this model my new SAK, I just have to decide on the one hand opening or not, since the OHO appeals to me but actually I never felt the need of it on my other Vic's. Will sure take the plain edge blade tho.
Thanks
:cool:
 
at last after read n read all the reviews and thinking for my needs.........I bought my first SAK ........... I bought 3 SAK recently (thru the internet)....cant wait to received my Trekker and 2 thinker.....1 thinker i will give to my dad.
 
I have owned both a new soldier and a one hand trekker and I was not happy with the vertical play and the chisel grind that both have.
 
I have a one handed and two handed, both are foresters I think.
they are liner lock, some models have a lil bit movement up-down, just a bit.
and no side-side play at all. actually the liner on it act like a self-adjusting system to prevent side-side play, since it has the pivot pin, not screw.
about the lock, it's thin, but good. I've never had it fail, and it survived the spine wacking test. Lol
about the thumb hole, since it has the back spring (like a slip-joint) it's not really easy to deploy with one hand, and can't be open really quick. Overall it's a good knife and worth having one. That's my experience. hope it helps ya out.
Oh and BTW I saw there sre some model with rubberized handle, should be grippy you know.
 
I had advised a buddy of mine to get an OHT. He got a combo with a vic classic in the blister pack. He loved the knife, but lost it somewhere between his car and walmart a week or so later. What time i did get to check the knife out, i noticed when using the saw, the bump from the hole really digs into your finger. I didn't really like that. If it were me, i would just get a normal trekker. And honestly, i dislike combo blades, but i think vic did it right. Their partially serrated blades are very useful in the woods and at home.
 
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SuzukiGS750EZ said:
i noticed when using the saw, the bump from the hole really digs into your finger. I didn't really like that. If it were me, i would just get a normal trekker. And honestly, i dislike combo blades, but i think vic did it right. Their partially serrated blades are very useful in the woods and at home.
Click to expand...

I've got a normal 2-handed trekker - really nice SAK.
I've also got a 1 handed trekker on the way - an NS model (non-serrated). I'll have to try using the saw and see how bad the bump on the back of the blade is.

If you don't mind 2 handed opening the normal trekker is totally worth getting.
 
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