Victorinox Knives: What's the Draw?

SAK blades are very effective at what they were designed to do: cut stuff. Period. They're not sharpened prybars and they're not stabbers.

If I had to limit myself to knives from only one manufacturer (I mean, from a gent's knife for office or formal carry, to an EDC, to something sturdier for outdoors use), I would choose Victorinox products with zero hesitation. I love their steel and edge geometry, by the way. But then again, I don't mind spending 3 minutes sharpening a knife every so often.
 
The typical Swiss Army Knife is one of the best multi-purpose, light-to-medium duty pocket knives a person can carry. Affordable, relatively rust resistant, and exhibiting good fit and finish, the SAK can do many mundane things the user is likely to encounter in his daily life, and do them well. They're personal knives, not really chore knives or work knives primarily.

Growing up, I knew my father always had a SwissChamp in his pocket. That knife saw daily duty for myriad things that will always stick in my mind. Whenever I got a splinter, Dad and that knife (and its tweezers) were there. When packages on Christmas morning were sealed tight with tape, there was Dad with his knife. When a random screw needed to be tightened, the knife had the Phillips-head driver for it. When a light-duty pliers emergency around the house came up, Dad had what he needed in his pocket.

The SAK is a tool of personal convenience. It is a general pocket utility implement, not a heavy-duty field item and not an industrial blade.
 
Sharp Phil said:
The SAK is a tool of personal convenience. It is a general pocket utility implement, not a heavy-duty field item and not an industrial blade.
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What is an "industrial" blade? Also, do you consider the old Camillus "demo" knives carried by countless soldiers over the years to be heavier-duty than SAKs
 
An industrial blade, to me, would be a blade designed for hard work use, such as knives used in a slaughterhouse, or knives used daily, all day long, to cut linoleum, or wire, etc.

I think the typical all-stainless Camillus slipjoint, such as the knives you used to be able to get that had branches of the military labeled on them, were indeed heavier duty than the typical SAK, yes.
 
As Phil mentioned, Swiss Army Knives are more intended for the little day-to-day tasks that most people encounter. And they can do a lot more if you use them carefully.
 
I didn't get it either. Got a soldier around Christmas time, didn't think twice about it, just threw it in a drawer. Then carried it one day knowing I was going to need a little screw driver later in the day. Hasn't left my pocket since. Sure, I still carry around my Spyderco's, Kershaw's, and Benchmade's, but that little soldier is always there riding around with my wallet. Thing is, if I'm going out for a quick trip, I'll just take the soldier.

No idea why anyone would say it's flimsy. Mine is a sturdy little bitch. I wish I could quickly open the blade for quick jobs. It's my only gripe about slipjoints. My axis locks are out of my pocket, doing the job, and back in my pocket before I've even managed to open the blade on my soldier. It's those quick type of jobs that keep my axis lock knives around.

mike
 
They are very rust resistant, and the geometry on the knives (full flat) cuts very well. While the steel doesn't win edge holding awards, it's more than sufficient (especially considering the price), and easy to resharpen.

They are very high quality for the price, and I find them very, very consistent. The quality control at the factory must be great. I get slipjoints from other manufacturers all the time where from one knife to the other there are huge differences, but all my Vics are almost identical.

The tools and carry-ability are what makes them so valuable, IMO. A Farmer or Huntsman would be my "one knife in the woods" choice, no doubt about it.
 
I think the mystique of the SAK is right under our nose. It's a SWISS ARMY KNIFE, developed at the turn of the 20th century for issue to mountain troops who could use it for daily tasks and equipment harness for themselves and pack animals.

Being government issue, it had to meet a price point. Plastic scales have been on US military issue knives since they were invented, too. Stamped construction, rivets, and the tools involved on the Camillus originated on the SAK. Most Boy Scout knives, Campers, and multiblade utility knives can trace their origin to the SAK.

If anything, the quality has improved over the last 100 years - they are now all stainless, offer any choices you need, and can literally be built to custom order. Kinda like the 1911 - sure, there are better combat pistols out their now, but it still does the all around job.

Tacticals will never replace the SAK in a soldier's field kit, they can't do the same things. When you're hunkered down in a field situation for weeks on end and need one tool that can possibly do it all, a SAK is the first thing experienced soldiers grab. Anybody can baton wood with a field knife or an e-tool, but will it turn screws, remove a splinter, open a can of tamales, or trim your nose hairs?

Just pick the right one, you got it covered, and the darn thing looks nice, too.
 
Maikutis said:
Got a soldier around Christmas time ... Hasn't left my pocket since. ... No idea why anyone would say it's flimsy. Mine is a sturdy little bitch.
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Agreed. :thumbup:

Maikutis said:
It's my only gripe about slipjoints. My axis locks are out of my pocket, doing the job, and back in my pocket before I've even managed to open the blade on my soldier. It's those quick type of jobs that keep my axis lock knives around.
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Those extra 5 seconds here and 5 seconds there can add up to real minutes over the course of two or three months. ;)
 
I love my SAK, pound-for-pound and dollar-for-dollar, you can't do any better. I've got my share of $500 knives, but none of them could replace my little $25 climber. The blade is not as sturdy as my Razel, for example, but it out-slices and out-push-cuts everything else I own. It's a thin blade that gets stupidly sharp.

I'd like to expand the thread, and throw out my accolades for the Victorinox Swisstool. I've handled many multi-tools, and this one is my hands-down winner. The fact that it is less expensive is just a bonus. it's a great tool, and I'm convinced that Vic's long heritage making multi-bladed knives has given them a step up on everyone else.

TC
 
soldier, yes , the old one
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i had 3, have 2 now...got to get more before they dissapear...and one or two farmers
 
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The SAK is one of the most useful tools you can have in your pockets! Sure there is the Leatherman but plier-based tools are twice as big and far heavier, meaning you get less utility for the weight. I admit that I rarely ever use the blade on a SAK because I carry a "real knife" with it like a sport utility folder or a small fixed blade, but having all the other tools is really handy and I can't think of a single blade more sheeple friendly than a red SAK. If I could only carry ONE bladed object I'd take my SAK without hesitation.

The little Swiss Army Knife is so useful that the only end to their utility is when your imagination and creativity runs out. I have little uses for my Swiss Army Knife every day and when I don't have it I feel pretty lost. The corkscrew makes for a pretty decent marlin spike, the screwdriver/bottle-opener is great for prying (on the heavier models like the OHT and Soldier, they are even tougher), the awl for cutting zip-ties, the saw for striking a firesteel, the can opener for putting on split-rings and the nail file for removing o-rings!

To the OP: pick up an ALOX Victorinox like the Soldier or Farmer or Pioneer or Electrician from one of your favorite online retailers. If these beefy slipjoints don't win you over then I doubt anything else will.
 
They are simply useful little knives. I have a fondness for them My alox Soldier is never too far away. And I keep a blue alox Farmer in my truck.
 
I think this is the Woodsman model. I wasn't too crazy about the fully serrated blade at first but it has proved to be a real work horse when I needed it. Having a cap lifter and a corkscrew has kept the Swiss Army from thirst for many years and it's benefits for me seen inalienable. Love the saw in the woods and around the farm. I'm always grinding down shattered fingernails with the file and it works on aluminum and plastic for de-burring and fitting. A can of tuna (non-poptop) is a great meal to carry in the field since getting the can wet isn't a concern when in the swamp so the can opener makes lunch on a fallen log a breeze. I've used the awl/punch for so many things I can't remember. I always have more than one knife on me but you can bet one of them is this model SAK. This one is the one that lives in my desk drawer, my field blade has worn off a good bit of camo paint and the red plastic shows through on most of the corners.
XXX
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What Dagon said and especially the alox models. I always thought they used something like 12C27 but just heat treated a little on the soft side. A VSAK isn't a tactical hard use knife in the serious sence. It's a fine little versitile tool to compliment the more serious knife. Life would suck with out a SA to throw in the pocet, glove box, back pack etc. in my humble openion!
 
I got a Soldier a few years ago (fall 2007, a few years!?:eek:), initially just because of all the positive feedback surrounding them, and it was only $25.
I was impressed by the quality and simplicity of the design. Simple construction, but well made. The balde profile is especially impressive, flat ground distal taper, like the Spyderco Military only smaller. Then you have the fact that it's so small and light you can carry it "just because", only to find out that the extra tools do indeed come in handy a lot.
It's also a last ditch effort to be low profile around people who are sensitive about sharp things.
 
What more to say? The Alox models pretty much are the greatest thing since the proverbial sliced bread. I don't dislike the ones with plastic scales but Alox makes them just more stout and inspire more confidence. Great for almost all daily needs and they don't even cost much. Carried a Soldier and Cadet, loved them, now it's a red Farmer that goes in my pocket everywhere. For me, the best size and selection of tools, not too big and not too small.
 
I saw a movie when I was a kid called "The Double McGuffin." It was a mystery with a bunch of cool kids solving it with the help of a Swiss Army Knife as wide as your hand. I guess it would be a Victorinox Super Champ with the pliers, magnifying glass, etc.

I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I'm 40 now, but that has stuck with me. My father gave me a Spartan when I was ten or twelve and I loved it till I lost it.

I now have a Trekker which is my regular knife for hard use like stripping wire or cutting drywall and it works fine. I also have a Farmer in Alox, that I use in public so as not to scare folks with my Spyderco Military. I also keep a Swiss Champ in my first aid kit and a Rucksack that I've used to pry up vinyl tiles. I just bought a Wenger (don't remember the model) for $10 that is the equivalent of the Victorinox Spartan. I'm not a big fan of the classic, and don't have one anymore, but I did like the scissors.

I get what has been said about an SAK's value as just a knife, but i would still say Victorinox makes a better knife than Leatherman, most CRKTs, and most Gerbers.

Like most of here, I like having a bunch of knives from many makers and SAKs have their place in my lineup.
 
I've carried my Vic Solo with Alox handles everyday since my buddy gave it to me as a gift. No other tools, just a stout and useful blade. Inexpensive, built like a tank, sharp and useful. Also, perfectly legal here in Nanny York. Peel oranges every night, open tyvek packages every day, cut down boxes, etc. Great little knife. And when it gets so beat up that it needs retiring (probably years from now), I'll pony up another $15 and get a new one. :thumbup:
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I have a Farmer but now I want an Electicians Plus. I like the sheepsfoot blade. I have at least 20 SAKs already but I only have one Alox version (the Farmer), I want more of the Alox versions. I guess you can call me a SAK fanatic.
 
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