A Discussion on Victorinox Swiss Army Knives

Discussing and comparing Victorinox SAK's

[@jjpki4654]

I've heard that the Spartan is the most popular model quite a few times over the years. I believe that a significant number of Spartans sold every day are given out as gifts for it is one of the cheapest 91mm you can find, having only two layers. I like the Spartan but I prefer the Climber, which comes with the unrivaled Victorinox scissors.

[@felinebline7154]

For me its the Ranger.

[@PRESTONDAWS]

Thanks for all the comments on this video. I realize it was shot a while ago and I have not responded, but discovering that this video has nearly 25,000 views has convinced me to make a followup to show my new SAK's, as well as a Leatherman video.

[@paigesanchez7779]

I’m 13 and I just started collecting the translucent Swiss Army knifes and I am addicted

[@vybtom1]

Knife addiction is a good addiction.😉👍

[@TheReal1953]

Very cool! I've been collecting them since the '70s but only recently picked up the translucent models. They do have an appeal/lure....the blue and the red for me! Buy the mini screwdriver that goes into the corkscrew and replace the flimsy toothpick with a firestarter. Makes the knives even more utilitarian.

[@scottedwards2322]

My dad used to ask why the corkscrew was still put on those versions and who would take a bottle of wine camping?. When I was 12 back in the late 80's we were camping and he asked me to get a few wood blocks to sit on. I had to go a ways into the bush to get to the wood pile and I don't know how I did it (or what soft wood it was) but I somehow twisted the cork screw 3/4 of the cork screw depth into the big wood block carried it like a T back to the campsite with my right hand and had a smaller block under my left arm. I distinctly remember him looking at me walking upto the camp site and saying "I guess" that little cork screw is useful but if that comes off it's gonna do a number on your toe."

[@docwilkey]

Love the SAK. I have carried one now for 50 years. My grandfather gave me one on my 7th birthday. And the one he gave me was used and was brought back after WW2. I still have that one and it is like a spartan but the seal is in bronze and the scales are blood red bakalite and not plastic. The tang is stamped with the swiss markings. I had sent a picture to Victorinox and they said it was made in the 30s or 40s. I carried around the world as a missionary but did retire it 28 years ago. To this day I would not carry anything else. As a side note I was carrying mine 20 years before the first MacGyver ever was aired.

[@vatiammatri2660]

My dad too and it was one of his prized possessions. He was an engineer and I think really appreciated the design of the SAK

[@pappaclutch3266]

Life time warranty on these, I would have sent it in to fix the scales. Great video by the way! I enjoyed hearing your reasons to own a SAK.

[@allenjanes5976]

Holy smokes! I didn't know anything about these knives until a few years ago. Local hardware store here in town sells them. Picked one up for about 20 bucks and never put it down. Rarely a day goes by I don't use it. Love it

[@CommonCentsOutdoorsman]

I enjoyed your discussion! You have made me like the cork screw again although I have never used it and never will. My most used vic is the classic... I have them everywhere! Real good job!

[@LF1988]

fun fact all the knifes issued to swiss soldiers have no corkscrew i wonder why...

[@FWGlockGuy]

Great review! I appreciate the time that you took to talk about each knife!

[@RealBushMonkey]

hey, really enjoyed your take on the whole corkscrew issue, well done

[@ggabe2865]

I love the EvoGrip 16, I EDC it every day. I've never understood why it's so underrated. I also keep a Midnite Manager on my key chain and i love it so much.

[@yespeace2000]

Hunter is probably the best all-round SAK you can buy. Scissors, wood saw plus blades and can/bottle openers, corkscrew, but still light enough to carry in your pocket without noticing. There are more models that can suite you and your use case, of course.

[@Adventurer-Rikth]

when i was a kid, the price and quality of these knives were like a dream. But then I grew out of them. I carried normal pocket knives, till I found the credit EDC community where I found that people still love the utility of these tools. I went to the shop and got me a Vic Tinker just to try it out... The price, quality and user experience of this age old tool still surprises me.

[@robertrodriguez5907]

Very thorough vid! SAK's are classy!

[@felinebline7154]

I agree to your observations on the cork screw.

[@michaelweedmark2774]

+Bob Heater Yes, its my first swiss army knife and i love it.

[@dgunn4408]

On the '08 Soldier model, the blade profile is a modified sheepsfoot, meaning it has a blunt tip. Fully serrated sheepsfoot blades are pretty common in rescue cutting knives; such as the Gerber Hinderer, off the top of my head. If you needed to cut yourself out of a seatbelt or some other kind of rope, strap, or webbing, you would slide the knife upside down under it with the spine of the blade against your body. The reason the blade has a blunt tip is so you can do this technique without stabbing into your own body. Following this method, you need minimal effort to free yourself. The serrations on this knife absolutely rip nylon webbing to shreds.

[@MrWekiejed]

Awesome vid, love it very informative

[@Bushmen918]

You are a book of knowledge good video. It's the Huntsman for me, yardwork , The saw and scissors A+++++ on the smaller, serrations help in cutting rope/wire and MREs ,I'm like you though they are kind of blightly if that's a word . My current EDC right front pocket is the 111mm Hunter the gutter blade is a perfect pruner wish it was not serrated but regardless it cuts like a dream, The coin pocket gets Midnight Champ and the keys have a Rambler , the set it up the MC so you can write messages in the dark, most recruits when I was in boot got to get a SD or SD variant with their first trip to the PX being able to write letters home in the dark on your time worth the money.

[@RealBushMonkey]

nailed it on the serrations too!

[@shanemaguire1938]

great video:) id love to see more knife discussions like this :-)

[@wearandtear6692]

Main reason I still have Swiss Army knifes around is exactly the corksrew! I tend to take them on travels where bigger knives may sound alarms at security checks points i.e. on cruise ships. I have a bigger Victroinox which I sometimes use as a primary knive but other than that I prefer bigger blades now which also support fast one-handed deployment.

[@Tilbily]

Good vid. I like the black scales, too. Classy like it's wearing a tuxedo. Yet with all the same function. Would love it if Victorinox allowed tailored orders where we pick the functions we want. I imagine the price wouldn't be as desirable....

[@simonh6371]

They'll never do that because then you'd just buy one for life. This way they keep us buying different models.

[@basbas63]

I got a Victorinox Spartan and it is by far my fav EDC knife, just because of the added functions over a folder and I don't need a really sturdy knife most of the time and when I do, I usually expect it. Anyways, my spartan has my name engraved on the blade. It is the only victorinox I have though, I might get another one! :) Or an Opinel, hmmh, choices! Btw I like the video and the small changes they make show that they try to make what people see as a form of perfection better. Those little things they think about makes them one of the best in my opinion.

[@basbas63]

A few years later my knife addiction spun out of control quite a bit. Anyway, the reason I like the corkscrew just because it gets more use than a screwdriver here.. The can opener screwdriver fits well in screws used in computers and that is about all I need a Philips head screwdriver for.

[@philipb.kelley2609]

I have opened many wine bottles with the cork screw. It’s great at parties!

[@TukaSlave]

My Manager has the blade, the pen and the scissors opening away from the key link. The Phillips screwdriver opens on the same side as the keys. So the problems are much fewer than with the Classic SD. My favourite SAK is the Bantam (Celidor and Alox) as the Combo tool is the best can opener ever invented, and the only one I now use. The regular SAK can opener is much harder work, and makes a mess of the can. But I truly love them all, and will never sell them, especially my Evogrip S18. BUt I also bought a Corona 10 inch folding saw and a Corona pruning secateurs, as they are more effective and quicker than any SAK tool, even though they cost more space and weight, but are very economical for what you get.

[@Schnolko]

Nice vid! Great points you bring up.

[@1969jmac]

great review..I too have had a liking for SAK's since i can remember. I have had several models of both Vic and Wenger SAK's. It is by comparison and use that I feel that in my oppinion Wenger quality and build is better than VIC's. They both offer comparable tools at comparable models but I feel the Wenger quality is better. Either way you cant go wrong with a SAK

[@vatiammatri2660]

I love the ferro rod and tinder mod for the corkscrew by Tortoise gear, as well as the eyeglass mini driver mod, which keeps me in the plastic. I will get a pretty alox for the keychain though 😉 Nice vid, thx

[@jormawails]

i have a bantam on my key chain and it is perfect

[@MinstrelOnTheRun]

Nice discussion. I was unaware of the lanyard differences before your video. Did you ever get the Midnight Manager? The MM and the Compact are the best options for 58mm and 91mm EDC use, respectively (imho).

[@DaveD1868]

The corkscrew is also good for picking gaskets and removing plastic wall anchors.

[@JoannaJedrzejczyksForehead]

love the SAKs. You can get used ones on ebay uber cheap. There are some sellers who sell nothing but used SAKs. Just grabbed a Victorinox Hiker for 8 bucks shipped

[@certs743]

Serated edges stay sharp longer and as a soldier in the field you don't always have the option of resharpening a straight edge. So for the military knife it makes more sense.

[@RoaringJaguar]

Tremendous review, very good and useful! You should get a Victorinox Manager, It is the knife you said was on your wishlist. It's similar to the Signature lite you had there but it adds the -Amazing- magnified phillips-head screwdriver with bottle opener and wire stripper (It works incredible well on both very small- and average big screws). But it also removes the LED light and swap it out for the classy tweezers, witch I prefer because It makes the whole knife okey for water-related purposes (since it doesn't have an electric gear in it). The Manager also has another advantage over the Midnite version and that is the Victorinox emblem has the metal texture and is stamped into the plastic, that is more durable than the logo on the Midnite knife which seems to rub off by the time. You had lot of nice knifes in there, including the alox models, Think I gotta get one alox knife installed in my collection soon (Just wish the cadet had the scissors, would be nice to have them on on the 84 mm models. I'm gonna suggest that to Victorinox) .....Anyhow, hope my advices helped you choosing your right key-chain knife. Stay fresh, Roaring Jaguar!

[@TukaSlave]

For the Alox, I would recommend a Pioneer. I have bought a Pioneer X, which should arrive in the post any day now. I also have an Alox Bantam, a real gentleman's accoutrement (but stiffer springs than the Celidor).

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

I have three, 2 minis and I just bought the Farmer. The Alox is a better knife as the plastic sides get damaged. I am tempted to collect more but I will end up looking at them instead of actually using them!

[@stephenmarshall1777]

Great video👍

[@carslover3509]

great report

[@andyschroeyers2614]

I would argue that the "tinker" family are the most common instead of spartan. great video thanks.

[@supermario2134]

Awsome review

[@Yosefschannel]

Thank you someone made a video

[@alexkrikorian54]

Do you use the lanyards to your the knives to your keys?

[@willoneill2831]

very good video thanks

[@leamgramling1800]

I am 11 and the Spartan was my favourite knif and my first

[@gabrieldarksider]

I have a small swiss army knife with tweasers, a file and a normal blade. It says cashway(building centres inc.) and on the other side it says customer bonding. It also has the standard logo. Its also yellow. Is it unique?

[@basbas63]

If you like wine.. it is very handy if you can take the cork out xD ^^ So it is very usefull for some people :P

[@certs743]

Just some interesting tidbits. The reason Wenger made virtually identical knives to the same specs and is considered the other maker of the original swiss army knife is because from day one the contract with the Swiss government was split in two. Half for Victorinox in the German speaking part of the country and Wenger in the French speaking area (despite Wenger being a german name). Also with the older soldier model some of the tools were designed to be used in field stripping the rifle in service with the Swiss and German armies at the time. So no need for additional tools to disassemble your rifle to clean it.

[@vladspb_]

the corkscrew is classic. period!

[@bobheater4286]

Is the camper a good knife for beginners

[@jungroe94]

I agree about the iconic corkscrew. A screwdriver on the back just doesn't look right on a Swiss Army Knife. The 3mm flat head on all the can openers work on phillips heads anyway.

[@jackkenno5775]

My favourite is the hicker

[@kenslaughter00]

You can get replacement scales off eBay and lithe places around the net.

[@atlas8838]

My mom gave me one yesterday but it had: Scissors, knife, and a nail filer. No cork screw.

[@bananaassasin7514]

Atlas that's the sad classic

[@vybtom1]

@@bananaassasin7514 SD Classic

[@simonh6371]

@@bananaassasin7514 Nothing sad about the Classic SD bro! It pairs up well with an alox SAK like the Farmer, so you have scissors - which are excellent for their size (better than Leatherman Squirt scissors) as well as tweezers & toothpick, plus you can use that small blade for opening almost any packaging including blister packs, and save the beefier bigger blade on the alox SAK for when you need it.

[@penneverett783]

nice mine was a sparton to i got it when i was like 7 maybe

[@tecnotrog1]

Own 18 SAK: Majority are camper (my personal favorite own 5) spartan 4 tinker 4 super tinker 1 campet 1 huntsman 1 cadet1 recruit 1

[@bodiosman]

Good job

[@Pinki2019]

Wenger's version of the Classic is the Esquire and the blade opens on the opposite side from the key ring. The Esquire also has much better scissors than the Classic.

[@giannhsmp4288]

I am between the cadet alox and the small tinker i want a pocket knife that is strong (cadet) but also have a good tool set (small tinker) what sould i buy are the plastic scales strong enough to see lots of use or should i buy the cadet for the strength but sacrifice some tools...???

[@giannhsmp4288]

By strength i dont mean the tools themselves like the knives and all but i mean the scales durability to like drops etc.

[@fredde90210]

very nice vid :-)

[@thepofmeister]

the wenger soldier is 93mm. like the victorinox farmer, pioneer, electrician, etc. the cadet is the smaller one. i hope that's right!

[@felinebline7154]

Interesting that Warhol didn't do a painting on a SAK.. It's probably the worlds most Recognizable Iconic design and color.

[@felinebline7154]

I never new what the. SD means with the Classic...

[@felinebline7154]

I go with the RED on my Classic sd Keychain because I can spot them better.

[@Joey-ch3gb]

the compact has a pen

[@marcdee4427]

How good is the steel quality?

[@netyr4554]

Money Clip looks like a nice improvement over the Classic, just a shame they didn't give it a new single cut file that the Cadet got. Alox models need some loving from Victorinox.

[@davidcarson7855]

I prefer the Tinker over the Spartan since I rarely drink wine

[@drivin69]

i just don't care for the cork screw.. i have been looking at a leatherman ps but who the heck wants to buy a multi tool with no knife....the one i think i am going to go with is a Victorinox EvoGrip16 just has the tools i like and the ones i don't and would be perfect for a key chain...i think the tinker is a better choice wether it is the small or the regular one both great choices...

[@TukaSlave]

I had an Evogrip 16, but foolishly sold it. Luckily there was a Black Friday sale last year that enabled me to get an Evogrip S18 for half price, so I now have my wonderful knife back, in yellow, with a locking blade and a saw as well.

[@rsxtypes06usdm]

the soldier you can use for self defense

[@kobelcofan]

I want a model with a knife, pliers flashlight,pen,tweezers,awl, screwdriver and a file.

[@norby0418]

I would much rather use the Recruit than the Cadet. The pen blade is much more useful than the nail file. I personally don't hold my knives in a death grip fist hold the for daily use and carry I prefer the 84 mm models especially the Tourist.

[@TukaSlave]

I love my Evogrip S18 precisely because it has a nail file instead of a small blade. When "inspecting" my SAK collection, my thumb nail inevitably picks up a few nicks and scrapes, and the nail file tends to that nicely.

[@gregp716]

It’s 240p Max res

[@SeantheDog1]

I love the Victorinox pocket knives, and I've carried one since high school. I don't leave home without it. However, I have always been disappointed with the scissors. When they work, they work very well, but the spring to open them always seems to screw up and shift off to the side so it won't work. A version I had in high school 30 years ago had two little "butterfly wing" tabs that wrapped up around the handle sides and stopped the slippage from happening, but that has since been replaced by a heavier end on the spring and a groove in the bottom of the handle to guide and retain it. It doesn't work nearly as well. Wenger has a much better spring setup, using a lever that is actuated by the same springs that hold the blades open and closed.

[@TukaSlave]

I just noticed today that the scissors on my Evogrip S18 have a slight up and down movement when using them, which is less apparent with the scissors on my Super Tinker. But I always grab my kitchen scissors if anything heavy duty is required at home. The Evogrip scissors will probably last longer and stay sharper than the other Victorinox ones.

[@CarnageChicken]

My Swiss Army knife has both : |

[@TheRealSpicke]

why sould you have a corckscrew on a soldierskife? you dont want to have wine dringing soldiers on the field^^

[@TrojanSalesmen1]

Good for taking out knots,

[@seanbutler1410]

Wine is not the only drink to have a cork top.

[@Redshift313]

Take a guess why the Swiss Army is feared by all on the planet... Jahajahaha

[@smeagle6092]

attack enemy soilder with the cork screw

[@Chilam.]

Bruh I just noticed i had 3 lmao

[@gensior1981]

WENGER SOLDAT

[@marktuyet]

if you're only going to have one , get the camper ..

[@thomassrensen2141]

No! Hiker ;)

[@MrPleers]

Aluminum? That metal is named aluminium. Why is it so difficult for Americans to say it? Good review by the way. I love Victorinox knives. I have 3 of them. The Spartan and two Swiss Champs(red & black).

[@TukaSlave]

I'm sorry, you appear to be speaking the Queen's English, not to be confused with American English, courtesy of Mr Webster. Mr Churchill: "Two nations divided by a common language".

[@robopup16]

U 34

[@barbarianscum492]

I stopped watching when he said the corkscrew was more useful than the screwdriver :(

[@_light_catcher]

never repair (glue) a victorinox on yourself. send it to switzerland you have a lifetime guarantee.

[@simonh6371]

Not sure if that warranty covers the scales, especially if you warped them in the dishwasher. In normal use scales just get worn, or lose their grip and fall off if you keep taking them off or swapping them around, you'll see tiny strands of plastic around the rivets every time you do this. The good thing is you can just buy new scales to upgrade the look, change colour, or even upgrade by getting a Plus scales set which comes with a pen as well as replacement tweezers, toothpick and a pin for the small hole.

[@Richard-1776]

Jesus why are you crying about an extra 2mm of length, or extra 2mm of thickness . I have a tinker on both of my key chains. Why the hell do they put files and cork screws on these things? Useless unless you MAKE yourself use it because it’s there.

[@juliusgonzo7527]

If you started out planning how to make a bland commentary, I'm not sure you could have done any better....

[@WR3ND]

Breath of fresh air away from all the typical hype and BS that sells hits. More of a real conversation.