I asked Victorinox what it would cost me for them to make me a Recruit with Alox scales, basically replacing the nail file on the Cadet with a small blade. They said no, they don't customize their knives. I thought I saw a promotional video a while back that clzimed they did custom orders!
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Victorinox Custom
- Thread starter CAP55
- Start date
try Swissbanco
He's known to customize SAKs and Aloxes SAKs
He's known to customize SAKs and Aloxes SAKs
Really? I thought all the custom runs he did were from Victorinox's factory. They had a system for dealers to order special limited runs of custom SAK configurations, but they ended the program a few years ago because it wasn't cost effective. SwissBianco had placed several of these limited orders and sold them through his website, until they were no longer available. Now all he has are normal production alox SAKs with custom anodized colors, which I believe are also special ordered from the factory.
yablanowitz
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They do have a custom shop. You can get whatever you want printed on the Celidor cover of an existing model. That's it.
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Sadly, they don’t do that kind of work at all. I’d have lots of requests if they did. I think it would have to be a very large order to get even a simple custom configuration like that. I think regional distributors have gotten some done in recent times.
Oh. My bad then
CAP55 This won't help other than to tell you that I, too, share your interest in a Cadet with a small blade instead of a file. Years (decades) ago theCadet was made that way and I had one. It was one of the few knives I've lost.
GAGL
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If you’re not into going the custom route, check eBay for a Cadet II, it’s exactly what you’re looking for. I see them on there from time to time.
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That’s their repair and warranty work department.
I guess not. But the parts could be pulled and slapped together pretty quickly. I think it more about the time it would take just to get the order together internally over the cost to build or the parts.
I agree with the suggestions to look for an original cadet, usually or often referred to as Cadet II.
315
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You may find a Cadet II out there eventually, or Travis (
Spikediesel
) may be able to whip one up for you. I picked up a Swiss Bianco micro farmer( what you’re looking for with a saw) on the exchange a couple years ago but I’ve never seen one since.
Spikediesel
) may be able to whip one up for you. I picked up a Swiss Bianco micro farmer( what you’re looking for with a saw) on the exchange a couple years ago but I’ve never seen one since.Good inputs and the Cadet II in particular. I'm not a collector so whether it's a Vic or not doesn't matter although the Recruit would be nice in Alox. I'll probably continue to look for a knife better suited to my use with grippier scales than wet Cellidor.
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Do you have any specific preferences like color or clip point for the small blade?
The silver ribbed with the drop point are probably the most common Alox versions. Not too hard to find a used one that’s complete and serviceable. But if you prefer new parts, I think it’s better to have one custom built. Only one pin needs to be pulled to make the swap.
The silver ribbed with the drop point are probably the most common Alox versions. Not too hard to find a used one that’s complete and serviceable. But if you prefer new parts, I think it’s better to have one custom built. Only one pin needs to be pulled to make the swap.
Because it's probably not at all cost effective. You're talking about taking floor space and machine time away from producing standard models in order to fulfill custom orders. It's not just a matter of assembly. Extra parts have to be made too.
Time is a very important factor. Normally you'll probably have a production schedule to meet a quota. X machine makes N number of part Y, which is then split between a specific set of different models in predetermined numbers. That same machine is likely then reconfigured to make a predetermined number of a different part. Everything is budgeted out this way to track and control costs. If you want to do custom orders, it's going to disrupt all of that because it's introducing an element of randomness into the mix in the form of an inconsistent and unpredictable demand for parts going towards custom SAKs.
Either you're going to have to create some new system that allows everything to be reorganized on the fly somehow, or else create a new facility dedicated to producing custom orders, which introduces a whole new set of costs and other difficulties.
Those are just my thoughts anyway.
It's pretty unlikely they don't have more parts than any short term production schedule, even "just in time" scheduling would allow a degree of safety margin in stock.
I agree that slipping an occasional custom request into the hand assembly line could disrupt scheduling but not by much. If they are getting so many custom requests that it would be a scheduling disaster then they better rethink their standard product catalogue. Let's not forget this modification entails replacing a nail file with a blade of the same dimensions into the exact same slot. If they have enough requests for this mod, I suspect it's a popular one, they could do a limited production run and I'd also bet the tooling change would be minimum if any at all. At any rate, I have other designs by other manufacturers that satisfy my needs so I'm not up a tree with this.
yablanowitz
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I don't know how many times I've said it, but here we go again.
WE AFICIANADOS ARE NOT THEIR TARGET MARKET!
They are cranking out 10,000 knives a day and selling them all over the world as fast as they can make them. They'd have to charge you $10,000 a piece to make custom orders cost effective for them. What you suspect is a popular mod is a grain of sand in the Sahara on their scale of operation. If you want to prove the popularity of what *you* want, set up a Kickstart or GoFundMe, collect up $50 each for 70,000 pieces (I think a week's total production might be enough to get them to consider it) and approach them with cash in hand.
WE AFICIANADOS ARE NOT THEIR TARGET MARKET!
They are cranking out 10,000 knives a day and selling them all over the world as fast as they can make them. They'd have to charge you $10,000 a piece to make custom orders cost effective for them. What you suspect is a popular mod is a grain of sand in the Sahara on their scale of operation. If you want to prove the popularity of what *you* want, set up a Kickstart or GoFundMe, collect up $50 each for 70,000 pieces (I think a week's total production might be enough to get them to consider it) and approach them with cash in hand.
