Today's review is for Victorinox' silver Cadet, model number 53042. It's one of the slimmest SAKs available, and has Alox (aluminum oxide) handles. You can buy these for about $20 in stores. Here's the rest...
Handle Details: The Cadet is 3.25" closed, and only .32" thick. This is a two-layer knife. The handles and liners are both Alox. Before I thought the liners were stainless in all SAKs, but I found out from SOSAK that they're actually all Alox. The handles are a checkerboard design. The left side sports the red Victorinox shield, while the right side has a small (.187" X .812") engraving platestamped in. Three rivets (all brass) are exposed on each side. The Cadet has a keyring attached for lanyard or leash carry. There is no toothpick, and there is no tweezer. Sorry. I will say that the Alox used here is very strong and it really doesn't flex unless you white-knuckle it very hard. Using the tools is an ease, and while the handle isn't as long as I'm used to, it works very well here. The entire knife weighs only 1.6 ounce.
The Tools
Blade: The Cadet has only one blade, and it's 2.5" with a 2.25" cutting edge. The nail nick is on the left side, as are the words VICTORINOX over SWITZERLAND over STAINLESS over ROSTFREI on the tang. The right side tang has the crossbow logo with OFFICIER under it, and SUISSE under that. The blade came out of the box very sharp, and was quickly made razor-like. It cut everything, and I mean everything, that every other EDC I've ever had has cut. Without trouble. Without needing to be resharpened. It only dulled when I whittled wood, and even that was after everything else was done being cut. The steel strops very nicely, by the way.
Nail File: There's also a nail file with nail cleaner. It's 1.62" long and has a pointed (but not sharp) tip for cleaning under your fingernails. For me, this replaces the toothpick, whose only function was to remove dirt from underneath my fingernails. The filing surface is .25" X 1.08" which gives enough space for what it's intended for. It also makes a nice surface for strike-anywhere matches (hint hint).
Bottle Opener: This is a standard tool found on most SAKs. It's 1.23" long and has the familiar tools... large flathead screwdriver, wire bender / stripper, and bottle opener. Since so much has been written on the uses of the bottle opener, I'll leave it alone here. It comes out of the same side of the knife as the nail file.
Can Opener: The other standard tool. It's 1.23" long and comes out on the same side as the blade. What can it do? It has a small screwdriver that's ideal for smaller flathead screws, and works very well on Phillips-head screws. It also opens cans with ease, since that's what it's made for. Stick it on a ferro rod and use it as a striker; it works very well for that too. I once heard of a guy who opened the can opener in a struggle and used it to slash the attacker's arm open, very badly injuring him. I don't advocate this, but it shows that this thing is really sharp.
So, how does this knife sound? Twenty bucks, nice assortment of tools, reputable manufacturer, solid handle. Go pick one up; they also come in colors.
Handle Details: The Cadet is 3.25" closed, and only .32" thick. This is a two-layer knife. The handles and liners are both Alox. Before I thought the liners were stainless in all SAKs, but I found out from SOSAK that they're actually all Alox. The handles are a checkerboard design. The left side sports the red Victorinox shield, while the right side has a small (.187" X .812") engraving platestamped in. Three rivets (all brass) are exposed on each side. The Cadet has a keyring attached for lanyard or leash carry. There is no toothpick, and there is no tweezer. Sorry. I will say that the Alox used here is very strong and it really doesn't flex unless you white-knuckle it very hard. Using the tools is an ease, and while the handle isn't as long as I'm used to, it works very well here. The entire knife weighs only 1.6 ounce.
The Tools
Blade: The Cadet has only one blade, and it's 2.5" with a 2.25" cutting edge. The nail nick is on the left side, as are the words VICTORINOX over SWITZERLAND over STAINLESS over ROSTFREI on the tang. The right side tang has the crossbow logo with OFFICIER under it, and SUISSE under that. The blade came out of the box very sharp, and was quickly made razor-like. It cut everything, and I mean everything, that every other EDC I've ever had has cut. Without trouble. Without needing to be resharpened. It only dulled when I whittled wood, and even that was after everything else was done being cut. The steel strops very nicely, by the way.
Nail File: There's also a nail file with nail cleaner. It's 1.62" long and has a pointed (but not sharp) tip for cleaning under your fingernails. For me, this replaces the toothpick, whose only function was to remove dirt from underneath my fingernails. The filing surface is .25" X 1.08" which gives enough space for what it's intended for. It also makes a nice surface for strike-anywhere matches (hint hint).
Bottle Opener: This is a standard tool found on most SAKs. It's 1.23" long and has the familiar tools... large flathead screwdriver, wire bender / stripper, and bottle opener. Since so much has been written on the uses of the bottle opener, I'll leave it alone here. It comes out of the same side of the knife as the nail file.
Can Opener: The other standard tool. It's 1.23" long and comes out on the same side as the blade. What can it do? It has a small screwdriver that's ideal for smaller flathead screws, and works very well on Phillips-head screws. It also opens cans with ease, since that's what it's made for. Stick it on a ferro rod and use it as a striker; it works very well for that too. I once heard of a guy who opened the can opener in a struggle and used it to slash the attacker's arm open, very badly injuring him. I don't advocate this, but it shows that this thing is really sharp.
So, how does this knife sound? Twenty bucks, nice assortment of tools, reputable manufacturer, solid handle. Go pick one up; they also come in colors.
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