Victorinox Spartan vs Pioneer

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edmundo.gurza

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May 15, 2013
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I have both and keep switching back and forth.. If you were to have one of these two, which one would you get?
 
edmundo.gurza said:
I have both and keep switching back and forth.. If you were to have one of these two, which one would you get?
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Spartan, although I prefer its cousin the Tinker because of a ph screwdriver in place of the corkscrew. While the Pioneer is always a good choice, the Spartan gives you more implements and is only slightly wider. Chief advantages of the Pioneer are a better awl in a better position and tough alox scales. OTOH, I have been using SAKs with celidor scales for decades, have never broken any that I couldn't fix myself, and that was only once. However, mine seldom got hard use. So it depends on how you expect to use the thing. If you beat on your pocket tools a lot, you're better off with a Pioneer. Otherwise, Go Michigan State! :D
 
The Spartan, more tools in similar size. Mini eyeglass screwdriver in the corkscrew and the can opener work ok on phillips screws. I do like alox knives as well though.
 
Ill second SAKsRCool's opinion, on the Spartan the cork screw is great for the mini screw driver, and Ive gotten surprisingly good use out of the can opener for phillips head screws.
 
I'm planning on getting the alox Pioneer (silver color). I don't need the cork screw.
 
The cork screw is great for the mini screw driver and behind the cork screw is a hole in which you can keep a pin. If you can find scales of a Plus model, you can even add a pen.

The Pioneer is a great model too. A little bit longer and I love the awl on the alox models.
 
Pioneer for me.

I've had both, and while the cellidor SAK's are oaky for edc, they just don't have the class and bomb proof feel of the alox. I love alox. I've got an old Wenger SI around, and even though I have a lot of other knves, the SI is my go-to knife for when I'm going to strange places I haven't scouted or have been before. People talk on the general forum about their so called "hard use" knives of the tactical type. Well, I consider the pioneer/soldier/SI to be the original hard use knife. Designed for soldiers, just like the U.S. made MLK knife that is often mistakenly called a demo knife. It's a soldiers pocket knife designed for when failure in the field is not just an inconvenience.

I'll take alox every time.
 
Harayasu said:
The cork screw is great for the mini screw driver and behind the cork screw is a hole in which you can keep a pin. If you can find scales of a Plus model, you can even add a pen.

The Pioneer is a great model too. A little bit longer and I love the awl on the alox models.
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:cool: Harayasu Please give more detail about storing a "pin" behind the corkscrew. What kind of pin and exactly how is it stored? It would be nice to have a really sharp needle/pin for removing splinters.
 
jackknife said:
Pioneer for me.

I've had both, and while the cellidor SAK's are oaky for edc, they just don't have the class and bomb proof feel of the alox. I love alox. I've got an old Wenger SI around, and even though I have a lot of other knves, the SI is my go-to knife for when I'm going to strange places I haven't scouted or have been before. People talk on the general forum about their so called "hard use" knives of the tactical type. Well, I consider the pioneer/soldier/SI to be the original hard use knife. Designed for soldiers, just like the U.S. made MLK knife that is often mistakenly called a demo knife. It's a soldiers pocket knife designed for when failure in the field is not just an inconvenience.

I'll take alox every time.
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Totally agree :thumbup:
 
Faiaoga said:
:cool: Harayasu Please give more detail about storing a "pin" behind the corkscrew. What kind of pin and exactly how is it stored? It would be nice to have a really sharp needle/pin for removing splinters.
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There is a teeny, tiny hole in the scale behind the corkscrew/back-mounted Phillips driver that can accommodate a small straight pin.
 
Hope these pictures explain where the hole can be found (not all SAKs with a cork screw have this hole) and what kind of pin can be stored.



 
Thanks for the useful information. My own knife seems to lack the storage hole. I wonder if there is any reasonable way to in the hole (drill an opening, replace the scales) or if the knife should be kept as a valuable collectors item worth $2 million.

You were very kind to give such a detailed response. I am curious about your NL location: is it Canada or the Netherlands?
Faiaoga
 
You're welcome. I wouldn't treat a Spartan as a collectors item. You could try drilling an opening, but I'm not sure how the scale on your SAK looks on the inside.

NL is the Netherlands in my case.
 
Faiaoga said:
Thanks for the useful information. My own knife seems to lack the storage hole. I wonder if there is any reasonable way to in the hole (drill an opening, replace the scales) or if the knife should be kept as a valuable collectors item worth $2 million.

You were very kind to give such a detailed response. I am curious about your NL location: is it Canada or the Netherlands?
Faiaoga
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This would be the way to go... replace the scales. It's cheap, your knife will look nice and new, you have your choice of colors, and you have the option to go with the Plus scales and add a ballpoint pen.

All 91mm scales produced currently have the pin hole.

A Spartan with yellow or white Plus scales would be a very classy little package.
 
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BradGad said:
This would be the way to go... replace the scales. It's cheap, your knife will look nice and new, you have your choice of colors, and you have the option to go with the Plus scales and add a ballpoint pen.

All 91mm scales produced currently have the pin hole.

A Spartan with yellow or white Plus scales would be a very classy little package.
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:cool: Do you know of a source for these? Thanks for the help.
 
I think it might be useful to upgrade to a Victorinox Camper for carry in a belt sheath. Does the Camper have s hole for storing a small pin?
 
That question will also depending on where and how you plan to use your knife. Pioneer as an alox has a stronger blade and the overall construction is more robust and the awl if great for firesteel striking, probably more suitable for an outdoor setting. But in an urban setting, the value of having small knife and corkscrew-screwdriver probably will be more appreciated.
 
I think an Alox knife to have the good screwdrivers of the opener layer and a Rambler/Manager are a pretty outstanding combination, but I do sometimes take a Tourist or Sportsman instead.
 
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