Victorinox Magnifying Lenses

Out of curiosity, is the magnifying lense more for use for magnified inspection, or for firestarting?
 
apparently, some tests have proven the Vic's lens is not really good for firestarting... but it's great for observing :)
 
Planterz said:
Out of curiosity, is the magnifying lense more for use for magnified inspection, or for firestarting?
Click to expand...
I use mine for magnified inspection because, uhhhhh... I'm getting old.
 
Last Summer I was able to start a fire with it on a very sunny day but it was VERY, VERY difficult (at least 15-20 attempts if not more). I found that it would only burn small holes in dry leaves but found some type of very dry grass (similiar to the fine husks from fresh corn on the cob) and after many attempts got the embers to ignite some largewr tinder. Put it this way though, I would NOT want to depend on the little magnifying glass as my only chance of getting a fire started!
 
I spent the better part of a day attempting to start a fire with the lens - no joy. It's too small, but it works great for looking at things close up.
 
I use mine for inspecting tiny components. For fire-starting, well, I wouldn't depend on that magnifier alone. I have a Windmill, a mini-Bic, and several firesteel-and-striker combinations for that.
 
The problem with any solar-based firestarting method is that it works best on clear, dry, warm, sunny days - exactly when you probably don't NEED a fire. When it's 3:00am, freezing rain at 33degF, you may NEED a fire, and a magnifying lens won't help at all.

On the other hand, the Vic lens is as good (as a MAGNIFIER) as any small single-lens magnifier that I have ever seen. Not a gimmick - real quality.
 
Congrats, I have had an Explorer for 20 years now, my brother gave it to me for my 21st birthday. It is a quality SAK, the knives and scissors are still ultra sharp with very little maintenance.

I mostly used the magnifying glass with the tweezers to remove splinters from my fingers.
 
I read somewhere that it is 6x but I could not find anything on Vic's website so I'm not sure if this is true or not.
 
acswan said:
According to the chart ,post#48 "Hook uses",it is approximately 8x
Click to expand...

That sounds quite high. I would emagine something that thin was more like 2X.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top