Would you buy a Victorinox knife?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- Is the most iconic EDC knife brand still relevant?
Gear that I always pack • Non-Negotiable Outdoor...
Outdoor essentials kit • Essential Gear I ALWAY...
Full loadout for backpacking in cold and exposed terrain • Cold and Exposed: The ...
Connect with me: / kane_does_outdoors
#backpacking #hiking #wildcamping #ultralightbackpacking #gear #fastpacking
YES! Victorinox is still my go-to pocket knife!
I'm 73 years old now and have been backpacking, kayak camping, motorcycle touring camping, and traveler most o fly life. In high school and the years I was in the army engineers, I carried a SAK for a pocket knife. This included a tour in Vietnam, 39th Combat Engineers. I've had all the name brands and some customs like Randall, Bone, Hastings and other high end knives. Then after about ten Years I woke up to the insanity of it all, and sold off the whole collection and went on with life with a SAK in my pocket. Had a few different models depending on what I thought I'd be doing that day.
Victorinox has the largest knife factory on earth, does millions of dollars of market research, makes more knives each year than the total output of three of the well known 'tactical' knife companies. This is no accident that this family owned and run business has existed since 1890. It's no accident that Victorinox has incredible quality control, consistency of manufacture, the most world wide sales, and a great lifetime warrantee. I've had Buck, Gerber, Schrade, Camillus, Benchmade, Spyderco, and others, but got rid of them because they could not fill the role of all around pocket knife as well as Victorinox. None of them could tighten a radiator hose clamp, fix an electric fan at the office, do a road side repair on a vintage Vespa motor scooter by the side of the road, fix an electric trolling motor at the far end of a long and winding lake, or open that can of chili to warm by the campfire that night.
My pocket knife will always be a Victorinox.
I would be happy if there was a simple medium size model with a blade, scissors, saw, and nail file. Essentially a slightly more robust and larger version of the classic. But yes, Victorinox has stood the test of time for a reason.
I’m 75 and I’ve not been without a SAK since I was maybe 22. I’ve never felt the need for any other. 3” legality and non locking is the case here in the UK and I’m happy that’s the case.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors Are you sure you mean the Classic? That's the little inch long one and it doesn't have a saw obviously. There are a couple of the Delemont made Victorinox knives with the toolset you describe, however they do add the 2 openers; for example the Evogrip 18 or the Evolution S17. A bit shorter than the standard 91mm Vic models but a bit chunkier in shape too. Or the Ranger which has a proper file but obviously you can file your nails with that no problem.
I use the corkscrew all the time in fall/winter. I don't drink wine. I am a truck driver. When you use the rest room and the coat hanger is missing on the stall door you screw the tool into the hole that held the hanger and now you can hang your coat.
That's pretty ingenious! I don't have a corkscrew, but I do have a bicycle tool with allen keys that'd probably do OK in a pinch.
I use Victorinox knives in my kitchen, at camp, and I carry a Victorinox Swiss Army knife daily. Victorinox makes great, reliable products and I will continue to purchase from them.
No innovation? I don’t want innovation from this brand. I want to give my grandkid a Victorinox 30 years from now that was the same that my uncle gave me 30 years ago.
That’s completely understandable.
I carry a SAK Hiker as part of my EDC. It is my multi tool.
Of course I would. My first knife ever was my dad's old Spartan, and I always have a Classic on me unless I'm not allowed to(if I'm not, I have a simple bottle opener/flathead pry tool on my keychain and a pair of folding sewing scissors). Personally I don't buy into the controversy over lack of innovation. The only thing I've ever wished they would do is consolidate the bottle opener and can opener, which they did with the Combo Tool ala the Compact. Aside from that, their range of tools has stood the test of time for generations.
Now, as for getting a young bushcrafter their first pocket knife, I think I would go with, as you mentioned, the venerable Camper. While it's true that they're not going to need the corkscrew for its namesake purpose(at least not yet), I have on occasion lent out the mini screwdriver that can be held there. There are also mini ferro rods that can be inserted in place of the toothpick, which is very nice as I have never once used the toothpick(I carry floss for that), as well as small bits of compact tinder that can be screwed in the same way as the screwdriver. Half of one of those is enough to get at least two fires going, and will fit perfectly alongside the mini screwdriver.
My nail clip with knife, blade, file, scissors, tweezers and tooth pick is always with me. By far the most used tool I have, but my trekker model with lockable blade and saw is my prefered knife out on the trail. Of course I have others but Victorinox still manages to stay relevant in its own way.
I hadn't looked to much at the larger models, but the Outrider has a pretty complete tool set, adding scissors to the Trekker. A little pricey for kids though. Locking blade is a definitely a nice safety feature...
When I went to a university around 15 years ago, I had my Victorinox, that my dad gave me as a Christmass present few years prior, I rarely used it, but at the dorm, me and my roommate bought some cans and realized, we don't have a can opener. So I used my Victorinox and from then, it helped me many times during my University years. I still have it and like it very much, even though I don't carry it (I usually carry ESEE 3 or Buck 110 as my edc and sometimes paired with leatherman Charge). And for your sons, I think Huntsman is the best over all. If you want something slim and urban oriented, I would go for a Compact. 🙂
Would I buy one, every opportunity I get, I do buy one.
RAMBLER: Best Swiss Army Knife for both EDC & UL backpacking hands down: knife, flathead/prybar, file, scissors, phillips screwdriver, tweezers, tooth pick, and the all-important bottle opener for the celebratory beverage at the end of the adventure, and all of this for 1 oz.
Right on! I've got a blue variant called the Signature that is my go-to for laptop repair, opening boxes, trimming my nails, cutting cord/thread, and of course, marking my name on the top of my leftovers when eating out with friends 😀
Yes I carry one because of living in the UK :(
Yes, the only knife carrying option open to us.
@@backrowbrighton I've got a few UK legal folding knives, there are a lot of options we can carry. Just as long as the blade is no longer than 3in and it doesn't lock. I have a traditional folder made by Arthur Wright in Sheffield, a Spanish Joker which is also essentially traditional, an Italian Mercury with a corkscrew and bottle opener (but the bottle opener is very thin and easy to bend), a Manly Wasp with excellent edge retention and super strong springs, a Bokerplus Atlas which is great and slim, and a Spyderco Urban and a Byrd Tern which have excellent ergonomics, one handed opening and a thumb choil so it's almost impossible for the blade to close on you. But I always go back to carrying my SAKs because it's other tools like the openers for prying - you know like popping the aiirtight seal on a jar, or getting those indented metal lids open on spice tins - or the scissors, or the small blade for a controlled cut; there aren't many knives with a small blade in a handle you can wrap 4 fingers around.
I've carried a mechanic version in my pocket for 25 years. I had to replace the toothpick once.
I replaced the scales with translucent green on my climber a couple years ago I made it into a plus version and added the pen screwdriver to the cork pin in the scales I'm satisfied with it for my EDC
I still have my Victorinox that I got in 1988 as a Cub Scout. I have a little Victorinox keychain knife (Signature) for everyday use: the ballpoint pen actually gets a lot of use! And I keep a knifeless Victorinox SwissCard in my wallet for airplane travel. Best mini scissors out there, and the straight pin comes in really handy for SIM cards, SD cards, optical drives, etc. I keep a multitool in my bicycling tool kits: pliers can come in really handy. Have used Gerber, Leatherman, etc.--all are just fine. I'm not really into the whole "tactical/EDC" scene: it seems to appeal to this sort of "rugged outdoorsy" lifestyle that isn't 95% of everyday life--kind of like driving a big SUV/truck in the suburbs. Ultimately it's about having the right tool for the job at hand.
The mini is the best…nail file, knife, scissors, tweezers, toothpick (which I replaced with a mini ferro rod), can opener/screwdriver. 🤷♀️. I don’t need corkscrew backpacking, alcohol exceeds the weight limit.
I go outside and carry a Huntsman (got in 1977) or a Farmer. Your points are great but Leatherman and Gerber have not innovated in years, if you exclude colors. Most of the innovation is coming out of China. A few years ago, lot of people in tech stated that Microsoft was going out of business and risk adverse. Victorinox sells more knives than the next 4 largest companies. I have a variety of Leatherman's but a SAK is never far away.
Surely the most popular pocket tool in the world. I have half a dozen or so. Thanks for sharing.
I carry a Super Tinker every day. I've carried it for years. Once, I thought I lost it and went online right away and bought a new one. A few days later, I found the one I lost and now have a brand new backup if I ever lose this one. I've about 8 or 10 Victorinox knives of varying designs. I really like the large folders with things like files and saws.
I wish it had a saw!
I own the kids vixtorinox with saw blade und the other things and its lighter than a normal one and smaller but bigger than the mini...thats for me the best one
I've got an old Victorinox that my dad gave me as a gift. I have it mainly for nostalgic purposes, like you said, I want to use it more but always end up gravitating towards another knife. I have my multi tool which is an old Craftsman model back from when Sears used to make it. If I had to upgrade I'd probably go Leatherman, I like the story of the company and how everything is designed, built and tested in the PNW.
I have several SAK'S, and have for years. I carry a Classic every day and a Huntsman on every hike or backpacking trip.I think it has the most useful tool set of any option.
Here are some similar pocket tools to a SAK and are arguably better...
Leatherman: Skeletool, T Series & Micra.
Roxon: KS2 Elite & Companion
MKM: Malga 6 & Ocampo 8.
Vulpis Fox: If you need a Keychain size SAK.
There are others out there as well but those were just what came to mind.
But the Victorinox has a much lower price, better fit & finish and QC that can't be beat. Also easier to customize/upgrade if you're into that.
The Leatherman stuff is really nice. I still have a Micra floating around--great scissors and a nice small flat screwdriver. I used to have a great Leatherman Squirt with wire strippers until it got confiscated at a sporting event. Leatherman also used to make this great "by the numbers" keychain tool series--both metric and SAE box wrenches. Still keep one on my keychain and a Leatherman Croc in my bicycle patch kit. Looks like all are starting to be collector's items!
@jorymil I had a Squirt. That thing is more capable then it looks. Unfortunately it fell out of my pocket.
Still have 20year old swiss army knife, have replaced tooth pick and tweezers several times
Kane. To this I would add: SAKS are sometimes criticized for not being something, rather than appreciated for what they are..I am one of those that carries a SAK, in my front pocket, dangling from a pocket chain, made from a spoon...It cannot be felt while sitting or walking......It is not the big , one handed opening locking blade. That is carried in the other pocket. That big blade is what I mostly use, compared to any one tool on the SAK. But for a small amount of money, with no discomfort, I have and use most of the SAK tools quite often. The only thing I really like about plier based tools is the design element. They are cool. But as far as using the pliers? Just give me a 5 dollar pair of pliers from the junk drawer.
Good point!
I will never buy another folder without a lock. I have a nice scar to remind me. I'm glad Victorinox finally has some Swiss Army knives with liner locks, but Leatherman, Gerber, and even Roxon all have great alternatives now. The Roxon KS2 Elite with the D2 steel blade is my current EDC. It's not as pretty as a Victorinox, but it's super functional and a great value.
Knock on wood - that hasn't happened to me yet! I 100% agree that a liner lock is a great feature.
Is that the knives fault ,Or the users fault😑Honestly blaming a knife because of user stupidity😂Slip joints usually don’t lock most people know that.
@@1977NOBODY 👍
If you can't use a knife without a lock, maybe you need to carry around some nice scissors like the EMT ones. Just make sure they have rounded ends so you don't poke yourself.
I carry the Nail Clip 580 and the Mini Champ with me every day, perfect for urban EDC.
For backpacking I started off with a 200g gerber multitool, but downsized to 30g victorinox, that just has the knife, can opener, tweezer and toothpick. I turned the can opener into a pokey spike, to make small holes if i need to. I don't bushcraft or anything so overall this works well. I would like a good, light locking blade knife at some point tho. Not sure what? Your boys are gonna be stoked with their new knives! When I was a kid I thought they were so cool.
For backpacking I agree that a 200g multitool is overkill. I've done a lot of big trips with the 20g Victorinox Classic.
For my boys I like the look of some of the gerber models with a blade, saw, scissors and exchangeable bit driver. Good feature set and not too pricey.
@KaneDoesOutdoors yeah good call I think they will love it!
Here in the UK we have restrictive laws regarding carrying knives. I have a Tinker model in my pocket and a Classic with my keys. All legal and all I need. Victorinox are a great brand.
A good starter sak: Cadet or Bantum, cheap basic rugged. A really good light weight city EDC the Compact, a good bush/trail heavy duty EDC The Hunter or Farmer X. A good heavy duty large EDC the Outrider.
SD Classic on my keys, Huntsman or Tinker in my left pocket daily. I swap out a small edc fixed blade or larger locking knife in my right. The SAKs are what I go to most often. I've never liked the idea of innovation for innovations sake, so I feel like the fact that Victorinox is sticking with tried and true is rather refreshing.
I use a Classic SD for backpacking. I just picked up a Mini Champ in Alox and a Bantam Alox for EDC. I'm thinking of picking up a 'first knife' for my nephews and niece for Xmas.
I love the Classic SD on my keychain and on my wish list is an Alox Bantam to slip into my wallet, complementing the Classic SD with no redundancy from either overlapping features or from unnecessary functions that I wouldn't use.
@DanAddison It's incredibly thin. I'm stashing it in my Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear wallet when out and about. In the tiny back pocket of my running shorts when jogging. I think I'll stash it in the front small pocket of my fanny pack while backpacking. I'll leave the Classic SD with the first aid kit. I really wanted the combo tool. It would be nice if Victorinox would put that in more knives. It's a can and bottle opener, flat head and Philips screwdriver, and wire stripper. I'll probably mostly use it as a pry tool or to open boxes.
@@rodoutdoors yeah I’ve yet to own a SAK with the combo tool but I’m feeling like the standard two tool opener layer that most models has is overkill anyway. I don’t care if the combo tool performs the same tasks slightly worse, as long as those tasks ultimately get done, in an occasional pinch. I’m an EDC minimalist so i have high hopes for the Bantam.
I always have a classic on my key chain and i drop a pioneer in my pocket. If i know i'm going to need something else i bring it, but i do not bring a "real knife" unless there is a specific need for it - and 9/10 times, i go the entire day without needing a single tool.
At work is a different story, there i carry a fixed blade stem knife, a snap blade utility knife, a mini crowbar, a leatherman wave and knipex pliers - a swiss army knife would not survive even a week.
I hardly ever go out without a SAK in my pocket.When im in the woods I will have a fixed blade and a SAK.Guy named Felix has a channel that does some amazing stuff with Swiss A. Knives.
I always have a Victorinox Army 7 in my pack as a back up. It may be a great outdoor starter knife for your boys. Having said that years ago I bought my boys Spyderco Delica knives and they still carry them 15 years later.
The Army 7 is definitely a nice looking model, with a minimalism that I appreciate. Those alox versions are fairly pricey for a kid though!
The only thing worth getting from Victorinox are the keychain mulltitools, and that's only because Leatherman isn't making the squirt any longer.
Leatherman really went away from the whole keychain market; they used to have a _ton_ of cool stuff. I still have a bunch of discontinued stuff that I use often. I _really_ miss the Squirt with wire strippers: those were the best thing ever for small electronics projects. Mine was sadly confiscated at a sporting event.
I love victorinox as a company, love all my knives (trailmaster, hunter, venture, etc etc) and always carry one of them, depending on the situation.
The reason why they sell these Lifestyle products is that the knives last to long and you didn't buy enough of them! ;)
I still have a Victorinox but I don't use it at all. The most used and useful tools in the backcountry has been scissors, pliers, and knife. My go to is a Gerber Dime. Best weight to tool ratio IMHO. I rarely wish for or need a tool that isn't included in the Dime.
I was a single blade guy most of my life. Then I start to whittle again. The only true whittling blade in the market is the pen blade of the SAK. Other blades, even on traditional slipjoints, need some customizing work till they can do the job properly. Your camper is a pocket workshop for my hobby. Hard to replace. The belly of the can opener is a great scraper for spoons, the saw have the perfect reach for the kind of branches useful for whittling, the long blade can do easily the tough cuts and then the star of the show, the pen blade, do its magic. All that stuff on a single handle.
Spartan got me through some tough times. Now having Classic SD on the keychain. It’s been helpful and comes to hikes too. Their multitools are getting lift in the EDC community.
I carry an Explorer SAK (has a magnifying lens) and a Ganzo folding, locking pocket knife with a D2 blade.
Have the SD sleeping in my gear repair kit, rarely use it. Also have a Swiss Card in my fishing/hunting kit, has more useful tools, lightweight, rarely use it. If I had cash to burn, I'd consider the Trekker with the saw, otherwise SAK hold no interest for me as there is lots of good blade steel knives available and decent multi-tools. On long remote or winter hikes I pocket a Gerber Dime, mainly for the pliers.
Replaced mine when my son began camping with me. Need a lock blade now, cannot remember the type.
It’s a tough spot for them. They have the classic multitool design, so how do you even change that?
But if I had to make my own thing, I’d steal from the GOAT tool and roxon flex.
I’d want to see more ability to customize tools and scales. Also, integrate a picket clip into the scales.
I have a SAK I found on top of a mountain, but never really use it. I think it's a Spartan Wood. If I want to bring a small, light knife I bring an opinel. If I need tools, I bring the tools i need. The SAK might have some of the tools I need, but it's an inferior version of them plus it has all these things I don't need tacked on to it.
I do use our Victorinix bread knife almost daily.
I don't EDC a tool So it depends on the job but Leatherman Wave is a go-to, otherwise the tiny 30g victorinox for long thru hiking is definitely always in my kit.
I only have the swiss so I guess its all I go for. Don't really use knives though, the screwdriver and scissors are more useful for my needs. (Midnite Manager)
Like many I have collected several Victorinox pocket knifes, they have all been gifts, I didn't choose any of them. I almost always have one with me when away from home, a classic lives permanently in my backpack, although I cannot remember the last time I used any of them. I do carry a no-name multitool in my day hike pack were weight is less of a concern and I have occasionally used that tool, obviously that's the one I should replace with something better, a quick search didn't reveal a Victorinox product that caught my eye 🙁
i carry a modified swiss army bantam every day. when backpacking i have a modified swiss army walker, less frequently a modified swiss army harvester. yes they are all modified to the tools i wanted on them, factory style is ok, just not exactly what i wanted.
What kind of mod?
@@KaneDoesOutdoors on the bantam, replaced the multitool with an awl. the walker was drastically changed to only have an awl, wenger scissors and a pruner blade. on the harvester was actually a harvester X and just swapped out the scissors for the SAK ones to the wenger scissors.
they are simply too useful not to have
The Walker for backpacking has a blade, saw, and cap/bottle opener
ultralight
blade gets dull, sharpen it on a coffee cup bottom, or stone
Future knifetuber??? Btw if u want an ultralight locking knife you can look at the spyderco ladybug/manbug.
I used to have a ladybug… disappeared somewhere.
I’ve been using a leather wave for a few years, I’ve been trying to find something to replace it. It’s 200g, the blade looses its edges pretty quickly and it keeps breaking. (Leatherman does fix it for free but I’m without a tool for 6-8 weeks). Like you said, nothing from victorinox really excited me. The search continues!
You break the blade?? What are you doing with it - mining?? I've never heard of that except in break tests.
Hahah no, not the blade😅 (Excuse my shitty grammar). On the pivot point for the pliers, the frame cracked. Then the other time the rivet broke that holds tension for the pliers
I have broke two Leathermans also.Not sure whats going on in the QC dept
The Victorinox and Wenger swiss army type of knives are just shit. That is 5Cr15 stainless hardened to about 53 HRC.
It is basically an today outdated technology and there are way more better alternatives. Not as an multitool since the swiss army knife is not so much of an knife but an multitool. The EDC knife I chose is the Ganzo 729 which is an Paramilitary 2 clone. That is 440C stainless and the best blade shape and blade geometry in the world, IMHO. I dispatched last time one of my dogs which was bitten by an rattle snake. One stab with the PM2 blade between the ribs into the lung and the dog was dead in 12 seconds. The knife went in like butter. Guess what, animal care NGO's ain't goona hear it wenn I dispatch animals like that. So I ordered an handfull of more Ganzo 729's. The "Spyderco" PM2 type of knives is the knife of my choice do to its ergonomics and blade geometry. Hard to beat that design from Spyderco in 1994 of the Military back then. They nailed it.
I have had in my youth swiss army knives. There was nothing else basically as that. Things have improved lots since then. Do not fall for the knife addiction. Chose one knife type which works for you and use that - buy several of them.
There is another company which does as well an axis lock knife but with an drop point/spear point blade in 8Cr13MoV which is DuraTech. Yes another chinese tool company but they cost 16$ and on sale I got 2 for 12$. They told me those blades where hardened to between 55 to 60 HRC. For the price hard to beat and flat grind as well with an axis lock.
The problem is this type of swiss army knives collapse into your fingers (had that happened back then) and they tend to cut you. And how are you going to do an knife fight with these? They will just collapse into your own fingers. That is a big no go.
Swiss army knives are old tech from around WW1 aerea. The germans had these friction blades for electricians and pioneer troops of the Wehrmacht as well. Just another model made in Germany. All friction folders. Some came with 2 blades, one in sheepsfoot (karambit style) and the other blade had an cut for electrical wire stripping and allways an 6 cm blade. Cheapest pot steel as it seem since the originals are all rusted over. This is the one the Wehrmacht had back then and it was used by pioneer of the Bundeswehr till 1990 I believe. www.hoffmann-group.com/US/en/hus/p/844500-1?tId=387&wayIntoCart=PLP&comingFromCategory=60-05-04-00-00&triggerSelectItemEvent=1
Models 1 as shown and 2 with 2 blades one as sheepsfoot and the other regular. Still produced new today by Hoffmann Group under their Holex brand (today in stainless steel of no name sort - so pot steel). So this swiss army knife tech is 100 years old by now and outdated.
The Holex 1F is however a lock back model. That may have worked for the folks 100 years ago as well more safely as the other friction locks.
Better knife steel would go a long way in helping their ties to their core knife market.
100%
You break a blade or tool on a SAK, you send it back to Victorinox. Lifetime warranty.
@@la_old_salt2241 It's more about using a tougher steel alloy on the larger knives: they sharpen very easily, but it comes at the expense of holding an edge. Fine for opening boxes or chopping vegetables; not as great for tougher materials. If I were cutting through cardboard boxes all day, I'd want a locking blade knife for sure. Gerbers have been cheap and reliable for me there since I can pick them up at the hardware store.
@@jorymil Victorinox aren't the knives for cutting cardboard all day, you'd definitely want a locking blade, with more edge retention, and probably a more ergonomic handle for that. SAKs just come in handy for little everyday tasks that pop up sometimes rather than for what you mentioned, and to be honest if you were cutting boxes all day you'd be doing that in a work setting so you'd get the right tool for the job. Also I wouldn't generally use my SAKs to cut vegetables, obviously not at home in the kitchen but even if I go camping I take a folding knife for food prep which is easier to clean, but still take a SAK as well for general tasks.
I don’t know what it is about Victorinox’s business model, sales and international appeal that makes people believe that they are in any sort of trouble. That video by Jon Gadget was pure clickbait. He’s the last person I would listen to for business ethics and advice.
I have no idea how they are doing, but many large brands are struggling these days. Imports are flooding almost every market. If you look at other sectors like stoves, it's hard for most people to justify spending 75-200$ on a product from MSR or Primus when you can get a perfectly functional model on amazon for 25$. Ultimately it's trust in the brand that will make people be willing to spend a premium for innovation, quality, warrantee etc.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors Amazon seems to offer just about everything for $10-20 less than anyone else. But they're often disposable types of purchases. I think the pendulum will swing back, but probably not for a decade or two.
Kane - once clear issue is with the paradox of choice. Too many choices. There's a 2000 study led by Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper. They set up two displays in a grocery store, one with 24 varieties of jam and another with only six. While the larger display attracted more interest initially, the smaller one led to significantly higher sales. The study proved that customers were ten times more likely to buy when presented with only six options.
The takeaway? With too many options, people can feel overwhelmed, leading to decision paralysis or worse... post-choice regret. When it comes to picking something useful-like a Victorinox knife-it's easy to get lost in a sea of options and second-guess yourself, wondering if you’ve made the "best" choice.
Like you, I have fond memories of my first knife - mine was an Old Timer Pal Pocket Knife 12OT. I must have been 9 or so when I got it - still have it today.
I agree. In this particular case there’s no method to the madness of options. On top of that, scale material options are presented as different model variants with the same tool set.
I'd like to see a more modular design: have basic keychain and pocket options, then just offer different tools that could be swapped out. I'd pay a little more for something like that.
Leatherman all day
When you need pliers, you need pliers.