Video: Wenger EvoGrip S16 vs. Victorinox Super Tinker

Great review, Smaug! I definitely will check out an EvoGrip.

And a great plug for Frulatté!

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Nice review . I have also carried the Super Tinker a lot and agree that it makes a good edc . Lots of utility in a reasonable package . The Wenger looks really nice , love the yellow scales . Not sure I would like the lock tho . I have heard from other members that the lock digs into there hand while using the knife .
Jim
 
Boy, they sure make that lock release stand up there. I've never handled one, but it looks like it would be in the way of certain grips on the knife while working. I guess some people like a lock on a blade, but I've never found it really a needed thing. PLus I saw an old Wenger back in the 80's that had that lock, and if you pushed at all on the back of the blade, it folded up. Not really that good. I've never trusted the Wenger locks again, and blade locks in general.

Sak's need a blade lock like Wales needs more coal. Just my own opinion of course. Aside from that, I like the looks of the S16, and you did a good review of it.:thumbup:

Carl.
 
I agree with ya Carl , never felt the need for a lock on my sak either . Different strokes for different folks I guess .
Jim
 
jackknife said:
Sak's need a blade lock like Wales needs more coal. Just my own opinion of course. Aside from that, I like the looks of the S16, and you did a good review of it.:thumbup:
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Grateful said:
I agree with ya Carl , never felt the need for a lock on my sak either . Different strokes for different folks I guess .
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Obviously Wenger agrees with that potential objection. As the OP noted at the beginning of his very nicely done review, you can get the same knife as the S16 by just going for a 16 without the lock.

Wenger is really doing some nice work lately. The Evos are quite handy, well made, and feel good in the hand.
 
One thing I'm noticing lately is that Wengers are generally more expensive than Victorinox. I think Victorinox is aggressive with their pricing to try to discourage competition from China. It has worked so far, but that may have also been what drove Wenger into dire straits.

The lock does protrude. It would indeed be in the way for certain types of cutting, especially a lot of the cuts in whittling. But this knife is a poor choice for whittling anyway, because a) it hasn't got a small blade, and b) the large blade it does have, has a lot of belly. For day-to-day odd jobs, the lock is never in the way.

If I grab the knife in a death grip AND bang the back of the blade on something, I'm sure I could get it to release the lock. But the highest point of the lock release button is placed so it goes between the index and middle fingers, so it would really have to be a death grip.

I'd say the fact that it obscures the nail nick for the scissors is more of a drawback than any concerns about inadvertent lock releasing.

As for whether the lock is "needed" or not is akin to whether I need guard and splitter on my table saw. It's a safety feature, and if that safety feature impedes normal operation of the device, the user will reject it. So the key is designing it so that it doesn't get in the way too much. (if at all) Furthermore, the guard and splitter would only be needed if my technique was wrong. But in case that happens, it would sure be nice to not have a chunk of plywood flying at me at 130 mph. (or to not slice the back of my finger open, in the case of the non-locking pocket knife)
 
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