Victorinox Camper

S

sci

Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
60
After much debate over what was going to be my first “real” knife, I decided to buy a Swiss Army Knife. Of course, this opened up a whole new world to me, and after thinking hard, I decided to buy the Victorinox Camper.

A while ago I posted asking about the best SAK retailers, and FelineVet came highly recommended. After several e-mails and a visit to PayPal, I had a black-handled Camper on the way! I paid on Saturday, the knife was shipped on Monday, and it made its way to snow-filled Ohio on Wednesday. FelineVet was excellent to deal with, and I plan to make my future SAK purchases through him! Not only were his prices cheaper than any other place I've seen, it's for a good cause.

If I can sum everything up in one word, it is: WOW. This knife screams superiority and precision just from the simple, silver box in which the knife is packaged.

As soon as I took the knife out, I unfolded the blade thinking: “I've never opened a knife like this before.” The blade snapped to attention, and I held it to my finger. Sharp. Not scary sharp, but sharp enough. I'll get to work on that as soon as I order some sharpening implements.

I opened all of the implements and was and still am impressed at how each tool snaps into place. There is absolutely no play in any implement and nothing scrapes against anything. Everything about this knife is precise... so precise it's kind of scary.

I chose the Camper because I wanted the option of two blades, the corkscrew, and particularly the saw (I don't have much of a need for scissors when I have two knife blades). As I see it, the Camper has everything I need and nothing I don't, making it very pocket-friendly. It is slim, yet the handle is long enough for me to get a good grip. I can put it in my pocket and forget about, yet feel assured that I am prepared.

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I enjoy the owner's manual that reads: “Enjoy your new Original Swiss Army knife. You will find it to be an invaluable companion.”

Yes, and I can very well see this being a long companionship.
 
Good choice sci,I have several vics and all are very precise,no wobble even after hard use.I usually carry a hiker I believe it's the same as the camper swap the corkscrew for a phillips driver,it's just the right size and has become one of my favorite.

As far as sharpining all you need is a fine ceramic rod. A diamond steel or stone is usfull for setting the bevel the first time,but after that a quick couple of pases on the ceramic is all thats needed.:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
What kind of rods do you recommend? I've posted on the Knife Care area about sharpening and I've gotten lots of recommendations for bench stones.
 
My favorite ceramic rods are made by smiths,the white ones really give a nice edge.Im not sure where to find them I bought mine at a locol hardware store.

Also lansky makes good ceramic rods,though not as fine as the smiths. I got mine from midsouth shooters supply.

enjoy the vic:)
 
The Vic Camper is a good knife, especially in the woods. When you get to play with it, you'll love the saw.
 
i think it's a great balance for size, and the tools that you actually use a lot

i found a couple on clearance at Target that came with the LED light, added one of the replacement screwdrivers to the corkscrew and gave one to a buddy so i wouldn't have to see the cheap knockoff he was carrying around ;)
 
What do you guys use to clean off your SAKs? Mine seems to be taking on a bit of the extra things living in my pockets... lint and such.
 
The SAK toothpick comes in real handy cleaning the gunk/lint out of the innards.Wooden toothpicks or dollar store bamboo skewer sticks are also handy.
If its real dirty i use soapy hot water and sometimes a modded old toothbrush to reach inside. Then rinse under the tap with hot water. Let it dry/cool down for a bit then use a paper towel or cloth to do a final drying. Make sure you get all the moisture out. I use either 3-in-1-oil or wd-40 to LIGHTLY lube the mechanism. Some people have issues with WD-40 but i've been cleaning my first SAK (a recruit) with it for just over 20 years, no problems. I think the celidor scales are a lot tougher than they appear. Of course if you use your knife in food prep you might want to find a safer lube. I've heard some people here say they use Olive oil as a lube! I haven't tried that so i can't comment.
Either way don't overlube, it will just collect lint and dirt and gum it up faster. With lube a little is enough.
 
I blast mine with canned air most of the time, and then every now and then give them a good scrub with a toothbrush and some Dawn and lots of hot water.
 
I clean mine with a shaving brush that I bought to clean knives with a few years back. Got it in the supermarket for around two bucks. The cheap boar bristle kind really reaches in to get lint out well, better than a toothbrush in many cases.
 
The Camper is a great choice! I carried a Hiker (a Camper with phillips instead of corkscrew) for the longest time. I carry different SAKs now, but I'd be quite happy with a Camper.
 
Bartleby said:
I clean mine with a shaving brush that I bought to clean knives with a few years back. Got it in the supermarket for arount two bucks. The cheap boar bristle kind really reaches in to get lint out well, better than a toothbrush in many cases.
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Damn thats a good idea! I have an old shaving brush thats been buried in my closet for years thats never been used (i'm an electric razor kinda guy). I love it when something useless suddenly becomes useful!
:D
 
sci said:
What do you guys use to clean off your SAKs? Mine seems to be taking on a bit of the extra things living in my pockets... lint and such.
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I used to dilligently clean up the lint and what-not that gathered inside my folders. Weekly I would use a q-tip and toothpick- get it all out, and then silicone the knife. I have since moved beyond that phase- I have'nt degunked any of my EDC's in a while.

Heres a good one, happened back in the fall. I was with a friend mountain biking and due to some tragedy (she hit something- rock possibly) and busted up her tire pretty bad. It was torn up a bit and had some sort of wire in it for rigidity that was bent beyond repair. She also had those flat protect toobs with that ooze when puntured. With my Vic Spartan, I cut the tire and tube off (killed the edge in the process). In the process the knife got ooze, grease (transatively off my hand), and mud in/on it from putting down momentarily.

Being a Vic I wasn't concerned about rust. It's dang near impossible to rust a Vic. With a cloth and bucket of water, it was cleaned up, good as new. I sharpened it up the next day, and it was better than new. ;)
 
Another good cleaning tip: pipe cleaners (the real ones, not the flimsy craft store decorator kind). They get into crevices AND the tweezer and toothpick ports quite nicely.

Regarding oil: some people like Inox (I use it) and some swear by mineral oil.

-Tim
 
I've used the end of a paper match. Tear it out of the book and used the torn end to wipe out the cracks and crevases with. It's easy to find a match book around someplace, and their just the right thickness to get in there.
 
Thanks for the kind words and advice, all!

After carrying it for a couple of days, I honestly don't know how I got by without it! The small blade has been extremely useful, as it is not so small to cause alarm to people around me and it is extremely sharp (especially since my uncle showed me how to strop each blade).

I'm currently on the hunt for a leather belt hanger, though I'm having problems finding any. I remember being very little and spending time with my step-grandfather who would come home late from work and unhook all of his keys and his trusty scout knife all attached to the belt hanger.
 
Some people have issues with WD-40 but i've been cleaning my first SAK (a recruit) with it for just over 20 years, no problems. I think the celidor scales are a lot tougher than they appear. Of course if you use your knife in food prep you might want to find a safer lube. I've heard some people here say they use Olive oil as a lube! I haven't tried that so i can't comment.
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A friend of mine recently cleaned out my really dirty SAK with WD-40. Although I washed it out again with soapy water, im still wondering if its safe to use on/around food.???


thanks
 
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