Victorinox Pioneer X Initial Impressions (Will it replace the compact?)

I adore the Vic compact for many reasons, the major one being the 91mm scissors in a small, 2-layer, package. Where it lacks is in the philips driving capability. It was brought to my attention that the pioneer X brings the same scissors for the same size while packing 3 layers so I had to check it out.
It's dimensions are indeed very close to the compact while gaining an extra layer. The stiffer springs and heaver duty tools make it a good work companion tool like the standard pioneer which is exactly the type of upgrade I was looking for over the compact. However the 1oz gain in weight along with the loss of backside & scale tools may be a deal breaker. For now it will replace my compact down in my left pocket but only time will tell if it will stay there.
Weight: 3.3oz (Std Pioneer 2.5oz, Compact 2.2oz)
Handle: 0.575" thick (Compact 0.577")
Steel: X50CrMoV15 @ ~56HRc
Edge: 0.014" BTE @ ~18dps
Nonaffiliated link: www.swissknifeshop.com/produc...

[@johnnoodles2155]

Great that you mention the can opener's phillips capabilities - too many just call it a small flathead! Also: Using it as a screwdriver doesn't in my experience lessen it's can opening capability - and I've used it as a phillips screwdriver as well as a can opener a lot. The important part of the tool is the puncturing point and the edge up until the screwdriver part.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I've used it as a philips for a long time and it does leave some marks in the can opener but they always still work just fine. Not to mention that I'm guessing 95% of users need a flat head a heck of a lot more often than a can opener!

[@Ty_The_Bonsai_Guy]

I carry both. The Compact in a belt pouch and the Pioneer in a leather pocket organizer along with a flashlight in my left front pocket and my wallet in my right front pocket. Its a great edc set up. Been carrying it for years. 👍😁

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Love em both! Couldn't choose between the two so why not both?!

[@dbag57]

Thinking of pairing the harvester with my compact as they will both make up for the shortcomings of the other

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I can definitely see it being a solid combo! Although the Philips driving would still be a little weak having that small blade over the can opener. Super nice to have a second blade though when carrying SAKs

[@siatbury58]

On the compact the screwdriver head is angled so it does have some ability to undo Phillips screws. Not often mentioned. Plus it can do a number as a canopener albeit not as well as the specific can opener.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I've used it many times for philips but it's very non-ideal! I've actually been surprised how well the compact opens cans, I've probably opened more with it than any other multitool!

[@soupappreciator8977]

I really like the 93mm range. The toolset is limited though, compared to 91s. I have a modded pioneer x in which the awl was changed for a pruning blade (so slightly better as package opener) and the can opener changed for an electricians blade.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I agree that the toolset is limited but what is there is well thought out and executed. Nice mods! Lots of blade action for sure!

[@Argadeux]

Good video

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Thank you!

[@miklospinter]

You didn't even mention the straight pin in the Compact scales - sometimes that comes in handy, too. But for most of my EDC task, a Pioneer and a Jetsetter on my key chain are enough. And I love the in-line reamer on the Alox! But for the additional tools (saw, bigger scissors, corkscrew, mini driver, pin etc.) I keep a Huntsman in my backpack and one in my car. Usually, at least one of those is not too far away in case I need them. In my backpack I also carry 125 mm Knipex Cobra pliers - I find those a lot more useful than SAK pliers.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I missed the pin in my dedicated compact review too, whoops! Also really dig the inline reamer, I even use it as a secondary blade for packages and stuff to preserve my main blade's sharpness. I keep a ST300 in the car and a 125mm plier wrench along with a Leatherman PST in my backpack. Backpack doesn't go far though because I'm working from home. The cobras are more useful than just about any pliers IMO, love those things!

[@FreedomFox1]

The awl and sturdier prying tool are the only practical benefits of the alox over the compact... Mostly I just like the look and feel of it. Because I use a pen frequently, I’m looking into getting a nice leather slip to hold the alox with my raw brass space pen. Another compact alternative you should consider is the Victorinox Evolution S14. I believe it’s a carryover of a Wenger model (which unfortunately means Wenger scissors). On the upside, it has a nail cleaner, awl and locking blade. No pen, but otherwise it does a lot for its size.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

The thinness is another alox advantage! I have the carryover evolution that is equivalent to the tinker. I like the file over the second blade and it’s a little more compact.

[@julo7138]

I've grinded the "blade part" of the can opener and it became a close-to-perfect phillips inline screwdriver with great reach! (Dont grind the hook of the can opener as it has the purpose to stop the tool when it is going to rest in closed position... So the Pioneer X replaces my Compact and I've got a 58mm manager on my keychain. Perfect combo for me

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Good idea! Sort of ends up like the philips on the leatherman style and squirt series then? Although if I had a manager also I'd be tempted to keep the can opener because of the philips on the 58mm. I've done A LOT with that little guy!

[@julo7138]

@@EngineersPerspective701 Exactly. It depends on your "favorite" phillips screws. Personnally I'm copying the tip of the 74mm nail cleaner wich is in my opinion the best flat phillips screwdriver frome victorinox. I'm a huge fan of the 58mm phillips but, meh, I like to mod a little!

[@stevesinclair4159]

I am carrying a Blue Pioneer X in my pocket right now, I have a collection of both Limited Edition & Special Edition Pioneers & Pioneer X's in various colors except the silver model you have as I find it as boring as the standard red scales on most SAK's including the Compact which I have & am considering replacing the boring red scales with either black or sapphire blue plus scales. As an alternate to the Pioneer I carry a Cadet ( blue, red or black ) or the Garant the blue Nomad version with Plus scales. When I'm not carrying a Pioneer or Cadet I carry a modified Huntsman with Plus scales & a SwissQlip or an Evolution EvoGrip S17 or S18 as they are the Lock Blade versions

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I agree about the colors, but there are some advantages to the plain. Mainly that it doesn't get all scuffed up which doesn't normally bother me but on these it kind of does. I had a green exclusive cadet that fell out of my pocket and lost a couple years ago, I still morn loosing it! How are you liking the swiss clip? I carry a tinker with it occasionally but it's pretty much only when I'm looking for a super lightweight tool to clip to gym shorts.

[@stevesinclair4159]

​@@EngineersPerspective701 thanks for the response, I have both Liked the video & Subscribed to your Channel just now, I am Subscriber #303. I usually put my Cadet or Pioneer in the small ticket pocket of my jeans which keeps it secure or in a pants pocket in a skai sheath, never had one fall out or drop but their bright shiny colors are not hard to spot on the ground . I have bought 4 SwissQlips so far & have just ordered another 2 - all black & I am retroactively fitting some of my 91mm SAK collection with them . I currently have my much modified Huntsman with blue sapphire Plus scales & the clip on it as my preferred daily PTK ( Pocket Tool Kit ) carried by me in place of a Pioneer or Cadet. I've fitted the clip also to another newer Huntsman bought with regular blue sapphire scales & a new Climber also with blue sapphire scales. I'm holding the 4th clip till I get some Rubi red plus scales & some Black plus scales ordered on Ebay which I am planning to put on an older model Climber , a 2nd hand but restored Huntsman bought on Ebay & another brand new Huntsman with plain red scales which I have ordered as it was on sale & is comes with a free leather pouch . I'll hold off the work till all the scales , clips & knives are delivered then decide which knife gets which color scales & clip , some of my knives will be gifted to friends & others will be used by me in my rotation. I have the Deluxe Tinker as one of my two desk top tool kits next to my computer at home, the other SAK is the rare Motorist bought on Ebay, I will not be fitting them with clips & probably wont change their red scales to plus scales as even the 30 year old Motorist came with scales like new.

[@pricexs4129]

I always seem to need an awl for some reason, the compact does give you more options but the awl I always need. I need to get a custom Swiss

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I'm the opposite in that I really like to have an awl but tend not to use it. I am genuinely surprised by that fact but it's true. I really want a custom but I just can't justify the prices. If I lived in Europe I would get one in a heartbeat though.

[@miklospinter]

@@EngineersPerspective701 What would be that different if you lived in Europe? Customs are pretty expensive everywhere, and there are SAK modders all around the world.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

@@miklospinter Carrying locking blades. If I had to carry a slipjoint as my main blade I'd probably go for a custom SAK as my main choice.

[@pricexs4129]

@@EngineersPerspective701 I am looking into the sog PowerPoint, has an awl and also has a pocket clip. Around the juice size and comes with a pocket clip

[@miklospinter]

@@EngineersPerspective701 I see. So you ment places like UK and Germany. I didn't get it because I'm also in Europe (Hungary) and we are allowed to carry locking knives under 8 cm.

[@miklospinter]

The 93 mm Alox scissors seem to be the exact same size as the 91 mm Cellidor scissors. But they are actually not the same, there are 2 minor differences: - the rivets on the Alox models are thicker, so the Alox scissors have a bigger rivet hole (but we cannot see that, of course) - the nail nick is on the opposite side (Many people complain about this because you have to open it differently. They did it so that they can use the same scissors on 111 mm liner lock models.)

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I like your attention to detail and appreciate all the comments! The nail nick has been driving me crazy! Definitely not a detraction from the tool though, just something I have to get used to coming from the standard 91mm setup. Thank you for pointing out the rivet size, not super relevant but nice to note.

[@miklospinter]

@@EngineersPerspective701 The rivet size is actually the cause of the nail nick move, too. The 93 mm rivets are thicker than the 91 mm but the same as the 111 mm, that's why they can use the same scissors on the 111 mm linnner lock models where the nail nick would not be accesable from the other side.

[@miklospinter]

@@EngineersPerspective701 Just a question of getting used to it, really. I'm an Alox fan, and for me the Cellidors are strange already :D

[@EngineersPerspective701]

@@miklospinter Very interesting, thank you for the info! I've been carrying the compact for over a year so using it is instinctive at this point. The quality & capability for the price Alox tools is just incredible. Really love them, especially the cadet.

[@miklospinter]

The thicker blade makes it a bit less slicey, but for some reason, I still like those slightly bigger and stronger Alox blades.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I'm 100% a geometry snob so it gets to me. The blade on the cadet is so amazing, I wish they were all like that!

[@miklospinter]

@@EngineersPerspective701 Just a bit too short :D If geometry matters, I have Opinels lying around everywhere...

[@EngineersPerspective701]

@@miklospinter 😂amen to that! Unfortunately that and their price are the only good things about Opinels. The whole package just doesn't come together for me.

[@miklospinter]

@@EngineersPerspective701 Too bad :( I like mine a lot.

[@Chingus696]

Nice vid. New sub here.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Thank you!

[@marklawrence855]

Very interesting, but I still love the compact, have 3 of them ,but great to see the difference 👍

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Same here, I'm giving it a shot and have been enjoying it so far actually. However, I'm missing some of the compact capability for sure. Still messing around with combos to reach nirvana!

[@ndrthrdr1]

I have a Pioneer X on a pocket clip and a Compact in my backpack. I also have a Signature Lite on my keychain. Overkill? Yeah, okay. They make me happy. I don’t know why.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

@@ndrthrdr1 Variety is the spice of life! And what’s the point if you don’t bring that spiciness around with you!?

[@gymbor183]

If only they could make compact in alox... sad that tweezers and pen cannot be added in alox

[@simonh6371]

I agree, it would basically be a Bantam with scissors. That would come out very slim at 9.5mm by my reckoning compared to the Compact at 15.5mm thick.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Agreed! I'd be on that like slop on a pig!

[@esku75]

There is a mod called pioneer x voyageur that’s basically a 93 alox with the compact toolset. It’s my dream SAK but I can’t justify the cost. Maybe one day I’ll do it

[@adamgrimes820]

The pioneer is a way cooler knife

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Can't argue there!

[@name5949]

I don't like the canopner driver on the compact design I've used it for a while and it's not as strong as the normal canopner driver also I've noticed if you pry with it like old paint cans the hole lot will begin to move a little so for working with i like the normal opener like the victorinox fieldmasder or even stronger than that the victorinox farmer x is a fantastic EDC allrandr EDC poickit/work knife/multi purpose tool the victorinox compact design in my opinion is more of a city or office Daley EDC for the person who needs to open up the odd can or bottle and lonch 🥝🍏🧅 also a bottle of wine 🍷 after work or maybe cut your nails and file so it's fantastic EDC tool for that line of work but for hard use the alox scales are above the rest saying that I do miss my scale tools sometimes when I've not got them with me so there to that i EDC it's the victorinox farmer x 👌 also the victorinox fieldmasder with plus scales 👌 both of them are my Daley EDCs also the victorinox Swiss champ is a fantastic Swiss army knife with it's inline driver file saw plus scales and Mag glass it's a fantastic option for a allrandr EDC/work knife but i use a leather Belt case for it and it's perfect 😉 by the way I've just subscribed to your channel fantastic channel and please keep them videos coming thanks again pal 👍🏻

[@EngineersPerspective701]

You really nailed it on the head with this comment! Thank you for subscribing, hope you enjoy!

[@charlesdudek7713]

The Pioneer X is nearly as slim as the Spartan.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

Near enough to be the same in my book! So impressive what they can do with the alox tool thicknesses

[@charlesdudek7713]

@@EngineersPerspective701 Yes, I like them all though :)

[@grumpyoldphart7325]

Nope. No pen, toothpick, tweezers, pin, eyeglass screw driver. Things I use on regular basis.

[@EngineersPerspective701]

I have been seriously enjoying it for 4days but will it replace the compact? I think your assessment is probably right. But I still have to give it a fair chance!