Easy RangerGrip Bit Driver Mod

If you watched my review videos on the Victorinox: Boatsman, RangerGrip 71 Gardner, or RangerGrip 79 you may recall that I mention that Victorinox should have made the bit driver a standard feature on all the RangerGrip knives.
After posting my video, I saw a video by WoodHiker, called RangerGrip 178 MOD. Here is the link • RangerGrip 178 MOD
Note - it is not in English, but is very easy to follow along and understand what he is doing.
Shortly after seeing this video, one of my viewers of the "Gardner" video mentioned that the Gardner does indeed have the bit driver. But, it is covered by one of the scales. That was Estereos.
Just giving credit where credit is due.
What I do different than WoodHiker is how I make the hole.
I practiced my technique on the 71 Gardner just to make sure it was a good idea. Then, I used the technique on this video with the RangerGrip 79.
I'm including a bit driver depth comparison video so we all know how much depth the bit penetrates into each of the knives: • Victorinox Rangergrip ... .

[@Estereos]

1. You can use the "sharpen" old credit card to remove the scales. This is better than a sharp utility knife. This is safer for your hands, as well as for your knife. 2. The reason why Victorinox does not reveal this hole on each knife is a different number of layers in different models of this knife. Less layers in your knife makes bit holder weaker, and with one layer knife you can easily break it with a high torque. That is why Victorinox sells only one model with this hole open, the largest. However, you can still use this feature for more gentle tasks, like tightening small screws.

[@MasterYoist]

Thank you for the information and the tip I appreciate that. Mine is already done. But you may have just helped countless other people that may see this video. I think that's what KZbin is supposed to be all about. Again thank you very much. Have a wonderful day.

[@Estereos]

@@MasterYoist you can also buy yellow scales separately and replace red ones.

[@MasterYoist]

@@Estereos I was shopping around for them online and couldn't find any. I even checked the Victorinox website in the hope that they sold the scales for people that had a need for them. But - no luck. Anyway, it's done now. Many thanks and take care.

[@jdyowa1]

I've watched about six other people doing this and by far, you way is the quickest. No sanding, no Dremel (which seems risky), and super easy. Thanks for the info,

[@MasterYoist]

Thank you. I hope my way helps people.

[@Spanky8402]

My childhood Victorinox Ranger had a bent saw, broken file, and a few other things were wrong with it and Victorinox did totally clean and replace all the tools. I basically have a new Victorinox Ranger. I have changed some scales on a few Victorinox and now that I am older and know how to use a tool without breaking it, like letting the saw make a cut, I don't care about the warranty anymore. I was shocked when they fixed a 90's Ranger last year though and it was a easy process. I have been wanting to get a bigger Victorinox and I had no clue this had a 1/4 hex. This makes me want to get 1 more now. Thank you.

[@MasterYoist]

You are welcome. I'm glad I was able to give some insight into the 1/4" hex. Thank you for watching and commenting. Take care.

[@feralgrandad4429]

Oh wow, now that is super helpful. As I said on your Rangergrip Boatman video I'll be buy one tomorrow and now I don't have to get one with the socket on coz they all do! Cheers mate.

[@MasterYoist]

I'm glad I could help. I have seen other videos that do show different techniques on how to open up that bit Driver part for the other Ranger grips. However, I think mine is the easiest way. Note: I did sharpen up the edge of the 4 mm screwdriver bit that I used to punch through the plastic of the handle. I mainly sharpened the bit with a fine 400 grit sand paper.

[@BladeObssession]

That's such a cool easteregg

[@MasterYoist]

Agreed. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@thomaschainey533]

Great video thanks

[@MasterYoist]

You are very welcome. Thank you.

[@rigohook1160]

Nice video. I see that the thing with what the layers and the warranty is already mentioned in the comments, so there is that. But i had another tip for you, from Felix Immler 's channel. Even if you have a 91mm model with no hex hole at all, you can work with with all hex tools. You need an adapter from a quarter inch square hole to hex hole. Out comes the bottle opener, and it fits right in diagonally in the square hole. And to my surprise, you can use a good amount of force (though you need to be careful with the models with no locking mechanism , all 111mm models have a locked bottle opener). I am sorry to hear you are unsatisfied with the victorinox customer service. I live here in Austria, wich is neighbor to Swiss, and xustomer service here is excellent, i'd give it a 10 out of 10. Greetings from Vienna, Europe

[@MasterYoist]

Thank you very much for the input and suggestions. Have a peaceful day. Take care.

[@raymond4775]

Nice collections...i love the yellow ❤

[@MasterYoist]

Thank you 😊 I agree.

[@duanebledsoe7566]

Awesome tip! I saw that feature on the Boatsman and wished it was available on the other models. Now I guess it is. I wonder if its possible to just drill a round hole from above and then just cut away material by hand to sort of sneak up on the hex shape, without removing the scale. Being cellidor, the material may be damaged just popping the scale off. I know that’s common to happen on the 91mm knives.

[@MasterYoist]

The message you are suggesting, I did on my Ranger grip 71 gardner. It did work. However, I think sharpening a screwdriver and just tapping it through the plastic of the scale is quicker and easier to get good results. The scale itself was easy to remove and put back on. So, once the scale is removed you can turn it over and easily see the hexagon shape that needs to be cut out.

[@thaddeusmikolajczyk4518]

Great idea thanks for sharing.

[@MasterYoist]

You are so welcome!

[@mirkokrizan214]

Good one, the boys in Nox fabric should watch this :-).

[@MasterYoist]

Many thanks. I'm hoping this will be helpful for many people.

[@exploringitall8588]

That’s also a good way to open the hole. I may try that with my next one. I still think heating the scales helps prevent them from breaking the edges of the holes.

[@MasterYoist]

You have a very good point. I may have just gotten lucky that I didn't have any breakage. Fortunately though, I've already got that done with all my Ranger grips. Thank you for the comment and take care.

[@VolkerHett]

Warm water does the trick! 60 to 70 Celsius is enough.

[@armondobbabone8556]

Thanks...took me less time to make the mod than watching the vid. The steel that receives the bit takes all the force, not the scale; as you say, other than marketing, I don't see any reason why they wouldn't just knock out that hole in the scale. I won't be changing any lug nuts on my truck with the knife, but it will come in handy with a myriad of driver bits.

[@MasterYoist]

So true. I mainly use it with small drill bits and various sockets that don't require a lot of torque. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@bobpadrick7718]

Wow! Thank you for sharing that! BTW, does the hole in Boatman have any sort of finish to it? Or is it just a punched hole like you made?

[@MasterYoist]

The hole in the boats man was done in the factory. It was like that when I ordered it and came with a couple screwdriver bits that would fit into it. I hope that helps.

[@bobpadrick7718]

@@MasterYoist I understood that it was done by the factory. I was wanting to know if the factory hole in the Boatsman had any sort of finish to it (smooth edge, beveled edge, raised lip, etc.) or whether it was just a hole like the one you made in the 79.

[@bobpadrick7718]

All my screwdrivers were too wide. Went to Michael's craft store and bought a flat leather punch for $8. Then scored the inside perimeter of the hole and punched it just like you did. Turned out great! Thank you.

[@michaelbuddy]

wow, hand no idea it was there. Now I kinda want to get that knife.

[@MasterYoist]

Cool. Thanks for letting me know.

[@Plasticmad1]

Is there any way of telling which ranger grip knives have this function without taking the scales off? Thanks.

[@MasterYoist]

From the look of it I think all the Ranger grips have this. My reasoning is that the scales and the knives themselves are all the same size.

[@bubba7626]

Huge!!!!

[@MasterYoist]

Thanks. Have a wonderful day.

[@mikehoward8201]

Please answer me this question….does the Vic Forester have this feature hidden under its scales also? Thanks!

[@MasterYoist]

I've never had the Forester so I'm not exactly sure. However, it has the same size handle and grip as the knives I do have. It would be more cost-effective for Victorinox to use the exact same blanks for all their knives that are of this size. So if I had to make a guess I would say yes it does have this feature. But, I cannot 100% verify that because I've never had the forester. Thank you for watching and for the question because it made me think. Take care.

[@steffrouen]

Does the pre-hole for the bit holder also exist on the hunter xt and the soldier please?

[@MasterYoist]

I'm not sure because I haven't used them. Thanks for asking, though.

[@steffrouen]

@@MasterYoistthanks

[@madcat1007]

What do the different numbers mean on Rangergrip knives ? 58,74, 78

[@MasterYoist]

As far as I know, they are just the model mumbers. Also the 78 and 79 are identical except the 78 has a Phillip's screwdriver where the 79 has a corkscrew. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@PaddyThePole]

Hi. I have the same as you, I love my rg79 and don't really care about the warranty. Btw I think Victorinox deliberately covered this hole to keep the price of Boatsman high. At the moment in Europe, rg79 costs £55 and Boatsman £137. Greetings from Glasgow mate 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@MasterYoist]

Thanks for watching and the info. Take care.

[@staceygandy2009]

I love victorinox swiss army knifes but they know those knifes have that feature already in them but covers it up with the grip. Why do that? That feature would make more sales for them just my opinion.

[@MasterYoist]

Very true. Knives like the yellow Boatsman are at $200 now. Some people buy them for the big driver feature (mine was $127). If they showed the less expensive knives have this feature, the more expensive one might have less sales. Felix Immler showed that he can drill a 1" hole using just the blank, without the knife. So, they hold up well. Mine still get plenty of use. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@eagriggs1]

You've got to be kidding me! Why on earth did victorinox not include this!?

[@MasterYoist]

My feelings exactly. Thanks for commenting.

[@lucchese20]

Liability perhaps? 🤷

[@Kleiner_Lutz]

Do all 111mm knives have that hidden bit driver?

[@MasterYoist]

As far as I know yes. However, I only have these three. I did link to another video in the description or a another person is showing these bit drivers. If I recall correctly, he says they all have this. So, you might want to check that person's video also.

[@divineantiwokegangster]

victorinox doesn't punch all because these bitholders are risky to use if there is to much torque your knife breaks and thats not according to the lifetime waranty, i think you destroyed your lifetime waranty with this

[@MasterYoist]

Felix Himmler has a great video out where he took the scales off the knife and he took all the metal dividing pieces out from the structure of the knife. They used each individual piece of the blank that has a hex hole in it and he used it to see how much torque he could apply and drilling through wood. He drilled a hole more than an inch diameter with a single piece. So that's pretty strong. I'm never going to do anything that strenuous on Mine. Mine's just for a very small work. As far as the warranty is concerned, I have a video out about the warranty that Victorinox has and compare them with a lot of the other companies. The warranty that Victorinox has is absolutely pathetic. I'm never buying another one of their products because of their customer service and their warranty. And this is on a knife that didn't have anything done to it at the time so the warranty should have fully covered what needed to be done. I got a video out about that. They've got the worst warranty service out of all the companies. Thank you for watching the video and commenting though I appreciate it thank you.

[@DaikenkiniPosso]

I will forever condemn and hate all snap-on scales, wether they be Celidor, Polyamide, something grippy, or Wood. Scales need to be screwed on, bolted on, soldered, whatever, but not snapped on. I hate Victorinox scales.

[@MasterYoist]

I fully understand that sentiment. Thank you for commenting and have a wonderful day.

[@DaikenkiniPosso]

@@MasterYoist The worst spit in your face by victorinox is that their Alox versions are exclusively knives that don't lock, and are literally their only knives that don't have the scales tools (tweezer/toothpick/flintrod/pen/etc). I recommend you look into Ruike LD-11 to LD-51 if you want to talk about a different-built SAK style multitool in one of your videos! Cheers