Victorinox Spirit Questions

T

TWBryan

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Jun 11, 2006
Messages
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I'm not allowed to search anymore (poor boy),but I did read the first 20 pages to hunt for answers.
I'm thinking of buying a Vic Spirit multi-tool,possibly from felinevet. I am leery of doing so because of customer service issue w/ victorinox in the past (not felinevet). So I would like to hear what others have experienced with Victorinox in regards to warranty issues.
Also: how good are the plier heads? Will they cut barbed wire without deforming? Do the tools in the handle fold out like the ones in the knives? How sturdy are these tools? Does the saw work for cutting small (1" dia) branches?
Considered other multi-tools,but not interested in supporting China or Mexico.

Thanks

TWBryan
 
I have just got the spirit for christmas and love it.
The only expensive Multi-tool I had before this was a LM Pulse and it broke. I compared a LM Wave and the Spirit side by side in MEC and the Spirit just seems that little bit better quality, it had just the right gadgets on that I was looking for and the finish is superb...I don't think you would regret laying down the cash for one of these !!!
 
I've been carrying a Spirit almost daily for about two years. I have owned a few multitools of various brands and the Spirit is easily my favorite due to its quality, tool array, and ease of use. Although it is small enough to be carried constantly, it is strong enough to be used hard. I have sawed limbs, cut various kinds of wire, pried with it, etc. with no problems. I didn't like the serrated knife blade, so I ground it into a plain edge which I am having trouble keeping sharp. That's due to my poor skills with a whetstone though, and not a fault of the tool.
 
The Spirit is of top quality workmanship. Very strong and very well designed. The tools lock into place with a confident "click" and come out without clumping, like many competitors do. The wire cutters on the pliers are not the best (SOG Powerlock is) and will not cut thick wire (like barbed wire). Also, you have to watch out with stranded wire...anything stranded will cause the pliers to jam with the wire in between the pliers. The serrated blade is awesome....its a lot better than many people believe. It holds its edge better than plain edged and cuts through rope or webbing quicker. I have tried many other multitools but I always end up carrying the Vic Spirit and getting rid of the others.
 
Jscalia- Thanks for the reply,so you're saying the Vic Spirit won't cut through barbed wire? Bummer,I was going to get Swisstool next. Hate to have a tool I have to baby like that.

TWBryan
 
For a HARD use tool a LM Super Tool or a SOG Powerlock is the answer. Both are on the large and heavy side but can be beat on pretty good. I think the tools on the LM are a bit better but I like the SOG pliers a touch more. YMMV.
 
TWBryan said:
Thanks Foilist,what size were the wires?

TWBryan
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I was cutting single strand household electrical wire - 14 gauge if I remember right. ALso wire coat hangers, which are thick but soft. I have not tried barbed wire, but I think I'll try it the next time I'm outside. You don't have to baby a Spirit, but a full size Vic tool would give better leverage.
 
gmarthur said:
For a HARD use tool a LM Super Tool or a SOG Powerlock is the answer. ...
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FYI, the original version Leatherman SuperTool that I have can easily cut copper wire but does not have a hard wire cutter. Leatherman upgraded the SuperTool later on and included a hard wire cutter with the newer version.
 
I am leery of doing so because of customer service issue w/ victorinox in the past (not felinevet). So I would like to hear what others have experienced with Victorinox in regards to warranty issues.
Click to expand...
I sent a used SAK back to Vic after a backspring went, and several weeks later they shipped me a NIB replacement. No questions asked. Great service, IMHO.
 
gmarthur said:
For a HARD use tool a LM Super Tool or a SOG Powerlock is the answer. Both are on the large and heavy side but can be beat on pretty good. I think the tools on the LM are a bit better but I like the SOG pliers a touch more. YMMV.
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The gear pivots on the Sog are excellent, because they take up a lot of stress that would eventually kill the pivots on a LM (or other similar). I lost my PST that way. Sogs are built like a tank, and have great sheaths.
 
Foilist-Thanks, a guy on another forum videoed his swisstool cutting through barbed wire w/no damage.

gmarthur-I have considered a Sog powerlock,they have a good reputation for strong plier-heads.

mp510 -I'm glad to hear that,hopefully my experience is an isolated one. I wish I liked the tool selection on the Sogs better.

Thanks All

TWBryan
 
My Ti cuts through coat hangers no problem. If you are cutting barbed wire, it sounds like you are on or around farms. May I suggest a surge as I found it the toughest MT I have ever handled.
 
Dinkum-Not around farm,but I run into stuff like this from time to time. Have heard Surge is made in China. Sog is more of my liking made in usa,even though I dislike the tool selection..

TWBryan
 
Hi TW,

Surge is made in Portland, Oregon. There are some international components, but the last time I checked, none from China.

By the way, not everything made in China is bad. I don't think that Leatherman would risk their reputation as the number one MT producer by dealing with poor quality producers.

Joe
 
JoeBW-One of the reasons I stopped looking at the Leatherman line was knowing the people that make the heads for their pliers moved the factory to Mexico. I can't morally support such a thing.

TWBryan
 
GarageBoy said:
The beefy plier heads and the scissors that don't open all the way annoy me to death
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Those dinky scissors are the worst feature on the Spirit, scarcely larger than those on the Classic. Good for cutting thread and fish line, maybe, but otherwise disappointing. That sort of thing is acceptable on the 58 mm Vics, but in a larger, heavier duty tool is bogus. I'd rather have a Spirit S with functional PE blade and carry a Micra for scissors.

Other than that, great tool.
 
I definitely would prefer conventional SAK scissors on the Spirit, but tome they're better than nothing if I don't want to carry a second tool. Eventually I'd like to try a Swisstool X even though it is bulkier than the Spirit.
 
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