Victorinox Hunter- Any thoughts?

C

Carloxicus

Joined
Oct 3, 2011
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Does anyone here like the Victorinox Hunter? I was planning to get a Huntsman because it seems to be a really popular model for outdoor work, but then I thought, maybe I'd just get a bigger model. Hence I found the Victorinox Hunter.

On first look, it seems awesome! It has a bigger, more robust blade compared to the Huntsman. It has a longer and seemingly sturdier (thicker) wood saw and it has a nice little gutting blade, perfect for outdoor cutting work. It even has a combo tool.

I wondered though, it doesn't seem as popular as other 111mm models... Can anyone tell me why? Or if my impressions about it's popularity are mistaken?

I personally prefer the non-OH blades over the OH blades because of three things: 1) I just think the non-OH blades are aesthetically more pleasing, 2) The non-OH has less blade play since more is needed for OH blades and 3) I prefer the release method of their locking mechanism over that of the reversed liner-lock models (I'm a right handed person.

Is the fact that it's not an OH the thing that's making it not as popular as other models like Trekker or Soldier 08?

Thoughts please. Also share your thoughts if you like the Hunter. :) I'm eyeing the olive drab model at our local knife store... so please do inform me if I should pull the trigger on it.
 
I have the Huntman an the Soldier 08 and i like both. The saws ar both very useful. Do you need scissors, then the Huntsman would be the better knife.
 
I have the hunstmen as an EDC. I love it. The cool thing about a Victrinox or similar knife is you can pull it out in public and people think "wow, you're such a handy guy" as opposed to "oh my god, knife freak might stab me!"

Bottom line it was the scissors and woodsaw for a great price and low weight. I would probably take the hunter if is did not work in an office building daily. HTH.
 
The Hunter and Huntsman are 2 different knives.

I almost got a Hunter a while back, but I didn't care for the gutting blade, so I got the Rucksack. The 111mm knives are a bit big, but both of these are relatively lightweight for the size. Carries OK in blue jeans. To me, using the saw with either is more comfortable than using the saw in the OHT. The only thing I like about the OHT over the Hunter or Rucksack is the locking driver.
 
jackknife said:
Seems a little big for a real everyday carry knife.

Carl.
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Thanks for the reply!
But my thoughts were more along the lines of comparing the Hunter to other 111mm Vics, not to 91mm ones like the Huntsman. I was wondering why the Hunter wasn't as popular as other 111mm Vics like the Soldier or the Trekker. Sorry if my opening post didn't make that clear.

garygargan said:
I have the hunstmen as an EDC. I love it. The cool thing about a Victrinox or similar knife is you can pull it out in public and people think "wow, you're such a handy guy" as opposed to "oh my god, knife freak might stab me!"

Bottom line it was the scissors and woodsaw for a great price and low weight. I would probably take the hunter if is did not work in an office building daily. HTH.
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Thanks for the reply too!
I was thinking of the Hunter not really as an EDC but more as a knife that I pick-up whenever I go outdoors. I understand the not bringing an 111mm inside a building thing, which is why my EDC is a SwissChamp :). But whenever I know I'm going to the woods, I want to bring a more robust Vic. Hence my question about 111mm's :).
 
Maybe b/c it's called the Hunter and has a deer on the handle. I would just prefer a dedicated small flat screwdriver as on the normal can opener and don't have much use for the gutting blade. I edc an Adventurer and when I go hiking, etc I add a Spirit.
 
The combo tool is thicker than the other combo tools found on 91mm models. I like the looks of the gutting blade.
 
i use a forrester it;s basically a rucksack but with a liner lock, and a locking driver. thoguh I would trade that driver in aminute for a small pen blade
 
I'm carrying a 111mm Alpineer with no problem. Love that 3-1/4" blade! It's so lightweight that I hardly notice that it's my pocket. It also carries well in a back pocket.

jackknife said:
Seems a little big for a real everyday carry knife.

Carl.
Click to expand...
 
L. Richard said:
What are some uses for the gutting blade besides gutting? I generally like the tool selection on the Hunter.
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I think you could use it to cut rope and card board more easily than the plain edge blade. You could probably also use it as a rescue tool, to seat belts for example. The blade is similar to those that are on the Victorinox RescueTool or Dual Pro, just much smaller. But I've never used the gutting blade myself yet.
 
Harayasu said:
I think you could use it to cut rope and card board more easily than the plain edge blade. You could probably also use it as a rescue tool, to seat belts for example. The blade is similar to those that are on the Victorinox RescueTool or Dual Pro, just much smaller. But I've never used the gutting blade myself yet.
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Exactly. After I destroyed my Rucksack through stupidity, I decided to replace it with the Hunter as my EDC. In over a year of use, the jury is still out for me as to preference. I miss the dedicated opener layer in lieu of the combo tool. I use mine as a driver quite often and the dedicated tools are better. OTOH, I love the gutting blade. Although I haven't used it for that purpose yet, (I've got dedicated skinners for that) it is great as a rough duty rescue blade. I've used it to cut webbing, a seat belt, cordage, cardboard, clampacks, electric cables, etc. etc. It does seem to be dulling a little but is still very effective.

As for the Hunter not being more popular. I think many posters have hit on it:
1) To the casual user, it seems a bit specialized
2) Slide locks seem to be losing out in popularity to the liner locks. At least partly due to the locking driver.(Even as a lefty, I like the slidelock better)
3) Most purchasers seem to want the OH blades now.

I EDC my Hunter after having carried my Rucksack daily for 16 yrs. IMHO, it is in no way to big for EDD. I guess that is the beauty of SAKs. There is one for almost anybody.
 
I EDC a Hunter everyday, without fail..., even on Sundays. It is my hands down favorite SAK. I have carried it for months, and I bought a couple of extra to put up (just in case). I have dozens of SAK's, including some fairly rare models, and I would highly recommend a Hunter. The Huntsman is a lesser knife, no offense. :)
 
Have you checked out the Outrider? It is the big brother of the Huntsman, same tools plus an in-line phillips driver under the scissors.

The Huntsman is pretty sweet, though.
 
I've owned a Hunter for years. Before I got into collecting SAK's I only had a Huntsman and a Hunter. The Huntsman was my first SAK and was used a lot when I went camping in the UK and for EDC because the laws here don't allow a locker unless you have a good reason to carry one. I used the Hunter when I went on holidays abroad. My Hunter has been with me on many trips to Europe and the USA, often with the Huntsman riding shotgun. I've found it to be a very good knife. I can't really say if I prefer it to say the Rucksack, they are very similar, it depends if you like to have the second blade really, and I've not found that much of a problem in actual use. I prefer the OHOTrekker these days, though I did used to like to buy some wine when on holiday so that might tip me towards the Hunter or the Rucksack for those occasions.
I doubt that's helped you much has it? ;)
 
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