Victorinox Knives: What's the Draw?

C

Confederate

Joined
Sep 5, 2005
Messages
2,826
I've really tried to understand it, but I can't. People have given my these things all my life, and they've always ended up in my drawer. The little Victorinox knife I carried years ago had a little nail file, scissors and a knife blade. Okay, I wasn't a big knife fan back then, but the knife just didn't seem to hold a great edge and they bend when I bend them. The blades on the Victorinox knives I've seen are somewhat flimsy, and I have no idea why they're recommended to people who want strong EDC knives.

Since I've never cared for slipjoint knives, I have considered the Victorinox tool with the locking serrated blade, but I want to see one first. I've seen the steel stated as 8Cr13-15, which is roughly what one would expect to see in a decent tactical. Still, the blades are nowhere as thick, nor as stout, and let's face it, they're competing with other tools in the knife for space.

I know that Swiss Army Knives (SAKs) have their following, but when I saw someone recommend a SAK to a fellow who needed a stout knife for digging out bullets and other chores on his farm, I had to wonder if the times have passed me by, somehow. I've also wondered, besides the knife blade, what are some of the other most popular functions? And of the SAKs, which of all of them is the most robust?

If you have photos, feel free to post them. I'd like to see....
 
If you're referring to geniune Victorinox knives, then I don't know where you came up with 8Cr13-15 as the listed bladesteel. That's a new one on me. Got a link or sumpthin?
 
Why use the blade to dig out bullets when you can use the reamer or screwdriver?

I wasn't a big SAK fan myself. I guess it might have been the handles. Then I got myself an ALOX Farmer and I love it! the blade isn't flimsy on it either.

While I still don't like all SAKs; I am more open to them now. It's not an EDC for my anymore because it got replaced with a composite Kershaw leek (which then got replaced by several other knives in line), so I basically use it as an outdoors knife. In that case, the saw and reamer would be my favorite tools.
 
The ones with locking blades are flimsy, the liner lock sucks and have major bladeplay.

The SAK Soldier/Cadet/Farmer are the most robust. The scales are made of metal and the blades are a bit larger than the other SAKs. The functions I use the most are the bottle opener, screwdriver, blade, and nail file, in that order.
 
Ooops, my mistake. They're 12C27. The two best SAKs I have are in my bug out bag (along with a Leatherman Charge Ti, a few tacticals and a Rajah II). I'll pick up a Farmer and see how I like it. Are they sold at Wal*Mart?
 
I'd check Amazon's price and look a bit around on the web. Chances are walmart doesn't carry it, but they might. I'd definitely recommend an alox farmer or similar alox model.

I used to think they were junk and pathetic, but after getting the real thing (Victorinox), I carry one of my three SAKs every day.

I have one locking blade model (Locksmith), and while the blade is stout, it does bend some. But you have to figure it'll give some being as long as it is. All in all, I can't say anything bad about anything Victorinox so far.
 
Confederate said:
Ooops, my mistake. They're 12C27.
Click to expand...

Close, but not quite. It's similar to 12C27, but it's not the same as. ;)

There is a chart that shows the steel matrix and the hardening levels of each implement for Victorinox will post if I can find it.
 
They are ok knives for most mundane chores. They sharpen up easily but, wont hold the edge like some other knives.
 
I had some Saks as a child and bought a couple recently for nostalgic reasons (Pioneer and Farmer). I was surprised by the affordability and quality. I won't be using one to replace my fixed blades anytime soon, but for me they make excellent companion tools and a good choice when a larger folder or fixed blade might not be welcome.
 
Confederate,
I hear what you're saying, and I was the same way at first. Be careful though, once the SAK bug finally bites, you'll end up with 'em crawling out of your ears! If you ever end up stuck out in the boonies, you'll be dang happy to have a Vic Farmer by your side! I honestly believe, had the Vic Farmer had been around in Nessmuk's time, it would have been the folder in his 'trio.'

Regards,
3G
 
Confederate said:
I know that Swiss Army Knives (SAKs) have their following, but when I saw someone recommend a SAK to a fellow who needed a stout knife for digging out bullets and other chores on his farm, I had to wonder if the times have passed me by, somehow.
Click to expand...

LMAO:D! I don't think the person recommending the SAK meant for the OP to use the knife/blade to do the digging. I think they were suggesting a SAK because of the different implements they have (awl, chisel, scraper, saw, hook...) that could be used for such chores.;)

Regards,
3G
 
I was the person who recommended the Farmer to the guy who wanted to dig bullets out of a post, and if you read more carefully you'll see that I recommended it specifically because the reamer or screwdriver could be used instead of the blade. if you don't understand the draw of a SAK try a farmer out for yourself, if the farmer doesn't float your boat then chances are no SAK ever will(its widely regarded to be the best). In my experience people will generally view this situation in 2 ways: A) a tool for every job (SAK) or B) 1 tool does it all (tactical folder). Personally I have been a member of both camps at one time or another. My current EDC is a G10 endrua but I have never owned a Vic SAK that was not exceptionally well made, and of the dozens I've owned and hundreds I've handled I have never come across a single Victorinox that I would consider cheap or flimsy (not counting the little keychain classic). However SAKs are possibly the most widely imitated type of knife in existence and almost every imitation is a cheap knockoff. I only buy Victorinox.
 
"Confederate" dude, you're missing the point about SAK's in general.
that they are reasonaly cheap, have a great fit and finish, a colorful long history (but that could have been just clever marketing?) and that they are a 100% Swiss made.
why do people buy SAK?
because the use of SAK's have been long and widespread.
why do people keep buying SAKs?
because it's been there and done that!
and quite frankly, SAK models have numerous bladetools configurations with multiple usage.
hence, one doesn't only rely on the large main blade for everything, least of all prying out stuff when there are less pointy 'n sharp option bladetools...
 
Go and buy a silver alox soldier...you'll be surprised at just how good it feels in the pocket and in the hand
 
I have to admit, I get quite a bit of use out of my little SAK rambler (SAK Classic with a bottle opener and a phillips screwdriver).

They're made of cheap steel, but ground thin so they cut like a higher-end knife.

They're just not hard-use prybar knives. Most of them have a tool for that, like the nail file/screwdriver on my Rambler I use to open paint cans.

I recommend picking up a SAK classic from a local hardware store. You may be surprised with how often you use it!
 
I always have a Cybertool 29 on me. The bit driver is absolutely indispensable. Ironically, I've rarely ever used the blades on SAKs. However, they do take a very fine edge, and are great, thin slicers. So I keep mine as sharp as possible, never use them, just in case I need to perform an emergency appendectomy or something.:D

My other favorite is the Pioneer Farmer (basically a Soldier with a pruning blade in place of the can opener). The pruning blade is fantastic for opening clamshell/blister packaging (the most evil device ever created), and the reamer on the ALOX models is fantastic (way better than the ones on other models). The bottle opener is also better on the ALOX models (better grip on the cap).

SAKs are also very sheeple friendly. Nobody bats an eye when you pull out a SAK (so to speak).
 
I think that the charm with a good SAK such as the alox soldier or farmer, is that the total is more than the sum of the parts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top