About Swiss Army Knives

I want to apologize to my readers for my absence again.  I have been so busy I haven’t been able to write…lame excuse I know, but it’s the truth.  Things have slowed down so I’ll be doing my weekly posts again.

My last post featured the Victorinox SwissChamp XL – as much as I love it, I have recently replaced it in my affections with the Victorinox SwissChamp XLT Swiss Army Knife.  It’s the grown-up version of the XL.

The SwissChamp XLT comes with a ton of features – some of which I use regularly and some of which I haven’t touched yet.  It comes with the standard things – blades, ruler, toothpick/tweezers but it also includes gadgets like the pharmaceutical spatula,  fishscaler with hook disgorger and a ball point pen.  I happen to love the fact it has a fishscaler – we are a big fishing family.  It’s a lot less hassle to pull this out of my pocket than dig through to the tackle box to find a hook remover.  At 3.5 inches, it’s small enough for my pocket but large enough to hold the following things:

Large blade
Small blade
Nail file with Metal file
Nail cleaner
Metal saw
Pharmaceutical spatula
Scissors
Wood saw
Fishscaler with hook disgorger
ruler (cm & inches)
Pruning blade
Electrician’s blade with wire scraper
Case and Wrench with
-5mm female Hex drive for D-SUB connectors
-4mm female Hex drive for the bits
-Bit Phillips 0 (Pozidrive)
-Bit Phillips 1 (Pozidrive)
-Bit Slotted 4 mm
-Bit Phillips 2
-Bit Hex 4 mm
-Bit Torx 8
-Bit Torx 10
-Bit Torx 15
Pliers with
-wire cutters
-wire crimping tool
Magnifying Glass
Phillips screwdriver
Cap lifter with
-screwdriver 6 mm
-wire bender
Can opener with small screwdriver 3mm
Corkscrew
Chisel
Universal Hook (also parcel carrier)
Fine screwdriver 2 mm
Reamer
Punch and sewing eye
Key ring
Tweezers
Toothpick
Ball point pen – also to set DIP-Switches
Pin
Mini-screwdriver

It comes with Victorinox’s lifetime limited warranty and and instruction manual.  Read it, it’s helpful.

Ok, I already can hear it – the moans, the groans, the eye rolling…You can’t imagine spending so much on a little swiss army knife…I felt the same way until I purchased the Victorinox WorkChamp XL Swiss Army Knife.  I really love this swiss army knife.  It really seems to me that the higher pricepoint really gives me a superior quality tool.   There are three tools on this swiss army knife that, to me, set it apart from the rest -

First, the belt cutter tool: it actually works!  If you keep up with any of my blogs I consistently push for safety/readiness tools.  I own a few swiss army knives with “belt cutters” but I haven’t been impressed.  I don’t want to have to saw saw saw in order to cut something in an emergency.  I was able to cut through a seat belt with some effort but I’m certain in a real emergency it wouldn’t take as much.    This does not take the place of dedicated cutting tools but sure is great substitute.

Second, the shackle opener with marlin spike is SO handy to have.  If you’re not sure what it is, it’s the last tool in the large cluster, closest to the small cluster.  I believe it was originally designed for sailing purposes but I find it works wonders on knots and swollen leathers, when it’s just too tight or small to unsnarl.  The weirdest use I have for this particular tool is unlocking my bathroom door…don’t ask why it was locked and why I don’t have a key for it.  It’s a long story.

The third feature that I love on the Victorinox WorkChamp XL Swiss Army Knife is the hoof pick.  I don’t know how many of my readers own/ride horses but we use them extensively around my neck of the woods.  This tool is not the full size pick that is a stable staple but it gets the job done when you need it.  It’s super effective at mud and gravel.  I also use it to clean poo out of our shoes when we step in it…and trust me, someone is always stepping in it.

You may still be wondering if it’s worth the price.  I say it is.  I trust Victorinox to produce a quality product and I feel that have outdone themselves with the Victorinox WorkChamp XL Swiss Army Knife.  Try it.  If you disagree, let me know.

Welcome back to the fourth installment in my series of favorite swiss army knives at different prices.  I’ve been enjoying the comments you’ve sent my way to please keep them coming.

For the $76-$100 price-point, I felt like it was important to pick something a bit different than those I’ve showcased before as well as something that, should the need arise, becomes priceless to the user.  I firmly believe in being proactive in life rather than reactive and one of those ways I do that is with this – the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Rescue Tool.  The very first thing I want you to know about this knife is that it won a pretty prestigious award back in 2007 – the Knife of the Year 2007 during the IWA (the biggest knife exhibition in the world).  That’s like winning the World Series or Superbowl.  Maybe more like winning Gold in the Olympics since knives from all over the world compete.  Pretty nifty, isn’t it?

Victorinox talked with rescue squads and put together a swiss army knife that satisfied their needs.  It features liner-lock on both the knife blade and the crate opener.  It opens with one hand, using the large eye on the knife blade.  It really can be used with or without gloves with no problems.  It features luminescent handles so you can find it in the dark.  The Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Rescue Tool features two removable items – the window breaker and safety glass saw.  They easily snap in and out.  The screwdriver/crate opener is seriously heavy-duty.  It has to be – it’s used by rescue to pry out windshields.  The seat-belt cutter is super effective.  It slides through restraints like a hot knife through butter.  It also has the regularly featured swiss army knife accoutrement with bottle opener, reamer, key ring, tweezers, and toothpick.  It comes with a nylon cord and nylon carrying case.

This knife is big and it’s heavy.  It’s not meant to be carried around like a pocket knife.  It’s a serious knife for serious situations.  I don’t go out without it.

*I could have sworn I posted this last week but apparently I didn’t.  I’m sorry!

This next swiss army knife I’m presenting to you at the $51-$75 price-range is one that really excites me.  It isn’t the prettiest (in my opinion) but it’s a workhorse. I used mine to put together a bookshelf when my tool-set went missing (thanks Honey!).  I was really impressed with the torque this thing could handle.  The Wenger Ranger 57 Swiss Army Knife is one of the few Swiss Army Knives in my collection that is used regularly.  I only got it about four months ago but I have found myself reaching for it at least three times a week.  It’s turned out to be so useful for the smaller things – sawing a half inch dowel in half, adding a new hole to my belt (smaller, not bigger, than you very much!), even prying the frozen mailbox open.  This may seem like small things but try doing them with full sized equipment. 

Like I stated before, this isn’t the prettiest swiss army knife I own.  The grey knurled ergonomic handle is about 5 inches long.  Surprisingly, it’s a nice fit in my hand.  I have no problem getting a good grip.  The just under 4 inch blade is nice and strong.  If you keep the blade sharp you should have no problem cutting through things.  It features one handed opening, which can be done by using the large eye opening on the back of the knife. You unlock the locking blade by pushing the logo.  There is a blunt ended gutting tool that works well for small game such as rabbits.  Trust me, it glides right through the hide with little issue.  It also features the standard items – reamer, bottle/can opener, saw, screwdriver (which really works well) and corkscrew.  I haven’t had the occasion to use the corkscrew yet but I will. 

If you’re an outdoorsman or a hunter, you could really use the Wenger Ranger 57 Swiss Army Knife.

So I’ve been thinking long and hard about the second installment of my series on personal favorites at different price-points and I couldn’t make up my mind.  I spent the past week playing around with my pocket knives and I have finally found my answer – the Victorinox One-Hand Trekker Swiss Army Knife.

My favorite thing about this swiss army knife is that it’s a Victorinox.  Hands down, Victorinox makes a swiss army knife like it should be made.  Their attention to detail and the care they put in producing their product is second to none.  Don’t get my wrong, Wenger makes a great product too but Victorinox is in a class by itself. 

Now, on to the real review. I love the One-Hand Trekker Swiss Army Knife for a variety of reasons.  It’s a little larger than most of the swiss army knives at  4 3/8 inches but I find it fits just fine in my back pocket. The One-Hand trekker packs twelve tools into this wallet-friendly swiss army knife.  The blades are all stainless steel and it’s held together with brass rivets and bushings.  The outer cover is plastic but it’s not the cheap stuff.  The One-Hand Trekker Swiss Army Knife is one of only three Victorinox Swiss Army multi-tools with a one-handed serrated locking blade.  The One-Hand feature is awesome when I’m holding something in my right hand and need to open my knife.  The tool include a serrated locking blade, a bottle opener with a large locking screwdriver and wire stripper, a can opener with a small screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, key ring, toothpick, tweezers, reamer, and wood saw.  I can attest to the fact that the screwdriver’s will put up with a lot of force and still not break. 

The Victorinox One-Hand Trekker Swiss Army Knife comes in a few different options but my favorite is the camo.   Check it out and you’ll understand why this knife is the official field knife for the German Army.

So I was debating with myself over the subject of my first blog of the year.  Did I want to talk about the awesome knife I got for Christmas or should I focus on something else…after a week of wavering, I finally decided – Knife Steel.  

The blade of your knife should be your first consideration when you make your purchase.  No matter how cool a knife looks, if the steel is bad, the knife is bad.  The main component of steel is carbon and the carbon content dictates the strength, corrosion properties, and ease of sharpening. The strongest knife blade is made of Damascus Steel.   It is a hard steel, sharpens easily, retains it’s sharpness well, and it beautiful to boot.  If you can afford it, buy it.  Stainless Steel would be the next best.  Stainless steel offers the best bang for your buck.  It’s pretty strong, is relatively easy to sharpen, and remains sharp for a good period of time.  It does need to be cared for a bit or it can corrode, especially if it’s mistreated.  Most pocket knife manufacturers use surgical grade stainless steel. Victorinox Pocket Knives are generally stainless steel.  Carbon Steel would be next, but the only real issue with carbon steel is that it corrodes easily.  Carbon Steel must be cared for, or you’ll be replacing your blades regularly.

Next time you’re pocket knife shopping, keep this info in mind.

I’m lucky enough to live in a part of the states that allows me to play golf most of the year.  The clubs are open year round here, but when the snow flies, you can find us in the clubhouse keeping warm and sharing stories.  This is also the time for us to show off our gadgets and gizmo’s which is how I was introduced to the Victorinox GolfTool Swiss Army Knife. 

This thing is cool! It’s small - just over 3.5 inches and doesn’t weigh much. It has a one-handed divot repair tool, removable ball marker, a blade, tee punch with groove cleaner & bottle opener, nail file, scissors, toothpick, and tweezers.  I like the fact it comes in red, black, and blue so I can keep track of mine.  It also has Victorinox’s lifetime warranty so I’m confident in my purchase. 

Spring is coming.  Get ahead of the compitition and get your Victorinox GolfTool Swiss Army Knife first.

I often get asked my opinion on what is the best Swiss Army Knife.  Each time I find a new model, my opinion changes.  The one knife that is always in my top five though is the Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife. 

The Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife is a great pocket knife.  It is 3.5 inches long when closed and has two stainless blades (large and small), a corkscrew, a can open, two screwdrivers, a bottle opener, wire strippers, wood saw, a reamer with sewing eye, a hook, tweezers, a toothpick, and a key ring.  The Huntsman Swiss Army Knife has all the tools you’ll need in a handy package. 

The Huntsman Swiss Army Knife comes in a variety of colors. The handle is made of High-Impact Polymer so it will last a while. It also comes with Victorinox’s lifetime limited warranty.  You will not be sorry if this the the pocket knife you choose to carry.