victorinox ranger

S

snapper6356

Joined
Jul 16, 2003
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What can the sak gurus tell me about this one? Got it same place for like 20$ It looks real interesting. I dont know what one would do with the chisel, but all the other tools look usefull. What do you all do with the chisel?? The knives are supringly sharp. How well do they hold their sharpness? And how easy is it to restore the sharpness?? I also picked up a plain tinker at wal mart. These things are addictive!! but i think i will stop. So tell me about this model(ranger)??


Later?? snapper6356
 
I would not say that Victorinox holds edge very, very long time, but it is extremely easy to resharpen to razor sharpness on Spyderco Tri-angle,less than 4 minutes if it is not very dull. Many people argue if it is worth having any knife more expensive than Victorinox. Even space shattles have one (SwissChamp, I read somewhere). So, you should be wrong if you get one. I personally like any SAKs and I bought one immediately after I moved to the West. I bought quite a few of them, and one of them is SwissChamp. I used all tools on it! And I never thought I would.
Regards,
 
I've never had a Ranger in particular but I am a lifelong Victorinox SAK addict. I've had a Huntsman, a Recruit, a couple I can't name off the top of my head this very second, a Classic, a Swisschamp, a Rambler, a couple more I can't name at the moment, and have been EDCing the Cybertool 34 lately. Next I plan to get a Compact.

I can tell you that they're not made of cutting edge materials but they sure do get the job done! The steel is I believe 420. True it doesn't hold an edge that long (most go dull after a month of steady cutting) but it's not hard to resharpen one, especially if you like to put a working edge on it like I do.

I've never seen a spot of rust on any of my Victorinox's and that counts the ones I've "rescued" from becoming scrap metal.

They really are subtly brilliant.

I say all this to make the point that I heartily endorse all Victorinox's SAKs but I want to make the point that what configuration/model is best for you is entirely up to you. They're addictive though. If you're like me you'll soon find yourself buying them when they go on clearance so that you can have spares!

I personally EDC a Cybertool 34 and a Classic. Between those and my LM Supertool 200 I feel like I am prepared for anything.
 
I have been carrying my Ranger when outdoors and it's a great knife. You can't go wrong with a Victorinox. As everyone has said, they are easy to sharpen. I haven't used the chisel yet but you never know.
 
I've got a Ranger, for the saw, file, and scissors. The fairly good variety of other tools makes it a reliable backup away from home, as APS said, outdoors.

This old thread has information on SAK steel: AUS8 vs SAK steel at the end of page 2 and onto page 3.
 
I can't speak for the chisel. V-nox's edge holding is very good. No, it's not anything like the super steels, but it is very acceptable. Cutting ability is another story all together. SAKs will out cut most super steel "tacticals". This is due to the edge geometry. A thin edge out slices a thick edge every time.
I EDC a Victorinox Settler.

Paul
 
The Ranger is a great knife, I used to wear down the files in SAKs very fast so now I carry a separate file and EDC a Huntsman.

Can´t see much use for the chisel either.
 
I have never owned a ranger but have entertained the thought more than once. I never leave the house with out my climber or explorer. The explorer has been with me for over 8 years and still cuts like a charm. The only thing is the handles get worn but everything else is the same. Keep it lubed up and sharp. True the steel may not be these high speed steels everyone wants these days, but i have never had a spot of rust form on any of the ones that I own. I have taken them swimming, canoeing, drenched in liquid fertilizer, weed kill, and chlorene, and salt water. You never know when you might need something on it. The ranger would not be a bad choice, the biggest one I own is the champ, got it brand new for $20.00, so I took the champ instead of the ranger.
 
the ranger is the SAK i carry, it just has the tools i need, that and a leatherman juice and i am pretty much set, ready to travel, an excellent little knife, not TOOO big like some of them imho.
 
I EDC a Camper which is essentially the smaller Ranger. (Camper is three layers to Rangers five)

The Ranger is a great knife. Especially for $20!! :cool: Good find.

The blades, like others have said are supurb cutters and will out cut almost all other knives, including other slipjoints. The steel is fine, and as DeadManWalking said, it lasts me about a month of steady use. If you cut less though, it would last you much longer. Resharpening is a breeze, taking me literally minutes on the sharpmaker. You will have no problems putting an extremely sharp edge on it.

The chisel's uses are anything you come up with. This model, like the Camper, is specifically made for the outdoors, so with that in mind:
1. Hollowing out a branch for a spoon
2. Making small bowls or cups out of deadwood
3. Making a trench on a board to create a fire-plow
4. Making notches in sticks for figure four deadfalls
5. Use your imagination ;)

This is a good link to give you some ideas of what the other tools will do:SAK Tool Uses

Enjoy your new SAK. You will have years and years to bond with it. :D
-Kevin
 
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