Victorinox Hiker vs. Farmer

DaleW

DaleW

Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
2,194
I have a couple Victorinox Farmer knives and I like the design. It is strong, inexpensive, and has classic looks. I was searching through other Victorinox 91mm designs and "discovered" the Hiker model. It is somewhere between a Farmer and a Fieldmaster in terms of survival/bushcraft use: main blade, small blade, saw, bottle and can openers with screwdrivers, with Phillips screwdriver and sewing awl on the opposite side, plus the toothpick and tweezers I miss with the Farmer. Think of it as a baby Trekker.

I have one on order for a review with photos and I hope to secure some Stayglow scales for it. More to follow....

vm_53831_sol_a02.jpg
 
In the picture above, it clearly shows a lanyard ring. Perhaps it's just in such a position that it does not contact the hand??? :confused:
 
Razor said:
For me, the hiker is lighter, and does not have the lanyard ring, that pokes your hand.
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Someone needs to make a moulded plastic gizmo that is like a little ramp to clip on SAK lanyard mounts to even out the grip (other than taking the Dremel tool to it).

The Hiker does indeed have a lanyard mount, but it doesn't look as mean as the one on the Farmer.
 
I really like them both but I also really like the one that is just like the hiker but also has a scissor. I can't think what it's called right off hand, but I have one or two of them. I use the scissor a lot, like almost every day.
 
I have a Hiker in each of my day packs, butt packs, etc. Another one I really like is the Huntsman. It's similar to the Hiker except it has scissors and has a corkscrew instead of a phillips head screwdriver.

I'm always torn between adding a braided fob or Dremeling off the annoying little lanyard attachment point.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
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udtjim said:
desmobob, That must be the one I was thinking of
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It's a great knife, although I think I'd prefer the phillips screwdriver to the corkscrew.

BUT... the corkscrew on a Climber saved the day (I should say evening) for me once, and that has always made me think the corkscrew is an important SAK tool.

Neither the Hiker or Farmer has one! :p


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
The Alox handles add a feeling of solidity to the Farmer.

When I'm carrying other knives, or my pockets are full (which is not surprisingly most of the times---I have so many knives, and so little pocket space :D) I tend to carry the lighter Hiker. It's a great little knife, and the synthetic handles don't feel as fragile to me as you might think.

Both are excellent, in my opinion. :thumbup:
 
The Farmer and Hiker are both excellent knives, and I have carried them both. One thing to remember when comparing them, though, is that the end of the can opener (on both models) is designed to fit phillips screws, making the the phillips on the Hiker not quite as important.
 
Scott Free said:
The Farmer and Hiker are both excellent knives, and I have carried them both. One thing to remember when comparing them, though, is that the end of the can opener (on both models) is designed to fit phillips screws, making the the phillips on the Hiker not quite as important.
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Heck... if it's enough of an emergency, the end of the blade will fit a phillips screw head nicely.... ;)

I bet that made a lot of you cringe. :p

That small screwdriver on the end of the can opener is the only part I've bent on a SAK. I'd hesitate to use it as a phillips screwdriver; at least forcefully. :)

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I've used my Farmer's can opener tip on a tough 2"+ course drywall screw that was holding one old 2x4 to another. I was removing the screw. I was applying plenty of torque but was VERY careful that the tip was pushing firmly into the slot. There was no damage, but I don't think I'd risk doing it again. I know the blade on the Farmer is a tad thicker than on the Hiker. I don't think the other tools differ, though. Does anyone have both that can compare?

Desmobob- how come you keep following my posts and correcting me? Stop that! Didn't you read my signature? I'm ALWAYS right--about everything. Always. :)
 
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Scott Free said:
I know the blade on the Farmer is a tad thicker than on the Hiker. I don't think the other tools differ, though. Does anyone have both that can compare?
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I have both in front of my right now. The main blade is longer and much thicker on the Farmer. The cap lifter/large screwdriver is larger and slightly thicker on the Farmer, while the can opener/small screwdriver are the same. The awl on the Farmer is a different design altogether than the Hiker (and most other Vic SAKs).

Now that I'm comparing the two knives side by side, I'm seeing that the Farmer is really not that much larger than the Hiker. I thought of it as being substantially larger, but it's really not. Definitely sturdier.

Desmobob- how come you keep following my posts and correcting me? Stop that! Didn't you read my signature? I'm ALWAYS right--about everything. Always. :)
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I do? I'm sorry. By the way, my last name is Scott. I'll leave you alone now and you will be... Scott Free! :D

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
desmobob said:
I do? I'm sorry. By the way, my last name is Scott. I'll leave you alone now and you will be... Scott Free! :D
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That's funny!:)

Actually, you didn't actually correct me. You made fun of me for putting scissors on my Farmer in that last I Love My Farmer thread. :o
 
The gentleman who replied that the Hiker is better for Farming and the Farmer is better for Hiking hit the proverbial nail on the head. Someone should contact Vcitorinox and tell them to switch the names. Would that help clear up the confusion, or just add to it? If the Farmer came with the tweezers and toothpick, I would vote the Farmer as being better. Since it doesn't, my vote is the Hiker is the best.
 
Scott Free said:
That's funny!:)

Actually, you didn't actually correct me. You made fun of me for putting scissors on my Farmer in that last I Love My Farmer thread. :o
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And frankly, I'm quite surprised I was the only one to do so.... ;)

Yeah, but then I told you I'd really love to have a Farmer with scissors. (I mean the Vic knife, not a guy on a tractor in a cornfield.)

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
huh.

this is why I like my outrider. Even more than the lockblade and longer saw, it has the balance of tools and size that's so perfect- phillips AND a corkscrew, tweezers, toothpick. saw AND scissors.
 
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