Victorinox Soldier: First Impressions

Daniel Moore

Daniel Moore

Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Messages
2,790
Yeah, I know. We all know what a SAK is like, I'll just put a few words in on the Soldier.

Well, first off, I ordered it Sunday through Amazon.com. They're peddling it for Gallagher & Forsythe. I ordered it standard ground and it got here today (2 business days later). Most impressive.

What's more impressive is the Alox critter itself.

Blade:
I like this blade for more than the blade of the other models. It's thicker and has more belly. The production year is stamped on the reverse tang (in my case, 03). It didn't come hair-poppin scary sharp, but it will shave if a little drag. It snaps shut with the telltale genuine authority of a good slipjoint. I find the blade rub pretty minimal, as the scratch line isn't too bad.

Can opener/bottle opener: Haven't tested them yet, but I'm sure they're just like their cousins' :)

Awl/reamer:
I'll tell you, I really like the awl in the main tool area. Victorinox paired it with the blade and instead of a cumbersome nail slot, they made it overhang the scale. It's very sharp and well designed. It does not have the threading hole characteristic of some of Victorinox's other producs, however. That's of no consequence to me, however.

Scales:
Here's where the knife really shines. The alox scales are very grippy. The logo with its painted red backing looks very sleek on it. The rivets in handle aren't a pretty site, and one has tiny dots of what appears to be corrosion, and if I notice it growing I'll sandpaper it a little. The edges of the scales have small areas toward the tools where it looks like chipped paint, as if it had been painted silver. Nothing too noticeable, and it certainly doesn't detract from the beauty of the knife.

Overall, the fit and finish are excellent, the tool selection will suit me as a minimalist, and I'm definitely a Victorinut know.

Here are two scans of the knife in question. I highly reccommend this to anyone who doesn't need a lock in a practical sense.

sakshut.jpg

sakopen.jpg
 
I have the Soldier too, but my swiss shield or logo is different. Its like the one that Victorinox usually uses. That looks like a Wenger logo, but it says Victorinox on the blade!

Im confused...

:confused: :confused: :confused:

Mine also doesnt show the year it was made.

I bought mine when I was in Switzerland this summer.
 
Great choice. The Soldier is one of my favorite SAKs along with most of the other Alox line. Nice scans.
 
Dont know for sure, but it could be the fact that the edge is not ground perfectly on both sides and it just gives the illusion of a curve. Or the fact that the blade has to go in the handle at a slight angle, so the way its ground also give the illusion of a curve. Mine looks like it when looking from the top (spine). Nothing to worry about.
 
The Soldier is one of my favorite knives and it makes an excellent gift. The "high tech" look even appeals to people who might otherwise not appreciate a good pocket knife. It's a first rate product from a first rate company.

I'd like to see some of the other models with the same grip/scales and heavier duty tools. A Soldier with scissors and a second blade would be great!
 
The Wenger Standard Issue and the Victorinox Soldier share the same logo on the scale (which is different from the usual Victorinox and the usual Wenger logo), and they both have the year of production on the main blade's tang, and the same tool selection, because both companies supply the Swiss Army with this particular knife.

Happy hunting,
Allen.
 
Cool how the production year is stamped on the blade. I just traded into a NIB Vic Soldier that's exactly a decade older than the one above ('93 production).
 
I love the Victorinox Pioneer; it's a Soldier with a split ring on it for keychain or lanyard carry. I've used various Pioneer models for years, used 'em hard too, and they've always held up well. I particularly like the sharpened awl. My ideal alox model would have scissors, too. I wrote to Victorinox some months ago, asking whether it would be possible to custom order a Pioneer with scissors. It appears, alas, that you can't custom order from Victorinox, nor do they seem to have a scissors Pioneer in the works for the future.
 
sph3ric pyramid, does your '93 soldier have a hollow rivet for a lanyard. I have a '91 that does, but sometime in the early '90's, they eliminted it for cost considerations, and because the Swiss Army didn't require it. I can tell you any knife for military or survival use needs some method to secure it to yourself or your gear. The woods are full of lost knives because of this. Soldiers can't afford to lose the gear they depend upon.

Bruce
 
It does have the hollow rivet for a lanyard, although it looks fairly narrow. Might have trouble getting paracord through, if it fits at all.
 
I always carry a Vic Soldier regardless what other knife(s) I am carrying on any day. It is extremely useful and a low-maintenance knife. I actually own two; I recently got a second one at a Target store a month or two ago. These knives are very durable, handy, high-quality and inexpensive. They also are easy on the pockets as there are no sharp protrusions in the closed position. I consider the Soldier as almost the "perfect slipjoint" pocketknife.
Jim
 
I think '93 was the last year Victorinox provided the hollow rivet to secure the knife. I like the key rings but they are not as hardy as a hollow rivet. Yes the hollow rivet hole is small. I took MILSPEC parachute suspension line (what most call "paracord"), removed the seven inner strands, and then fed the OD woven sheath through the hole. It was hard to get through but finally went. I could have used one of the white inner strands but liked the more substantial outer sheath better.

Bruce
 
F-22 don´t worry....now, in Europe, the victorinox soldier for "civil" market, don´t have the year in the blade, and have a different shield (like you said). But it is the same knife:).
Your knife is the "european" vic. soldier!:)
 
Oh sweet! I have a "special" European version! Pedrope, thanks for letting me know! I feel all special now :D
 
I just noticed, my soldier has a saw, while the one shown in NeedleRemorse's pic doesnt have a saw. On the Victorinox website, it doesnt list a saw as one of the features either. Does anyone know what this means?
 
Originally posted by F-22
I just noticed, my soldier has a saw, while the one shown in NeedleRemorse's pic doesnt have a saw. On the Victorinox website, it doesnt list a saw as one of the features either. Does anyone know what this means?
Click to expand...

I believe you have one of the versions of the Victorinox Pioneer.
 
Needle , the curve you see is intended , so the blade doesn't come in contact with the other tools .

From what I understand and have seen there are (or used to be) 2 versions of all alox models , with keyring and without . All those without are Soldier models .
 
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