Victorinox Magnifying Lenses

[Thirteenth Star]

Are the magnifying lenses that come with Victorinox SAK's made of plastic or glass? Do they scratch easily?

 

[Larry S.]

Glass. No.

 

[PWork]

...And they work extremely well.

Paul

 

[Planterz]

Out of curiosity, is the magnifying lense more for use for magnified inspection, or for firestarting?

 

[choubbi]

apparently, some tests have proven the Vic's lens is not really good for firestarting... but it's great for observing

 

[Frank]

Out of curiosity, is the magnifying lense more for use for magnified inspection, or for firestarting?

I use mine for magnified inspection because, uhhhhh... I'm getting old.

 

[Leighman]

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!

 

[Thirteenth Star]

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[Charlie Fox]

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.

 

[cardimon]

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.

 

[Alox]

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.

 

[Thirteenth Star]

Yep...today I'm the proud new owner of an Explorer.

 

[Ramirez]

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.

 

[cardimon]

I mostly used the magnifying glass with the tweezers to remove splinters from my fingers.

You should try Uncle Bill's Sliver Grippers instead of the onboard tweezers. The Grippers are the best.

 

[FitzSimmons]

What magnification is the Victorinox glass?

 

[heathah]

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]

According to the chart ,post#48 "Hook uses",it is approximately 8x

 

[Will]

According to the chart ,post#48 "Hook uses",it is approximately 8x

That sounds quite high. I would emagine something that thin was more like 2X.