Victorinox Rangergrip 78 VS. Leatherman Signal

Here I compare and contrast the elements and purposes of each of these tools for outdoor use.

[@khamen723]

I edc the Ranger Grip 79 with the green/black scales. Great knife! Picked up a leather hip sheath that a guy made specifically for it. 🎉

[@pathrst]

That’s god way to go.

[@renviluan2842]

I love the ranger grip with serrations. Tweezers are more important than people think. I'm usually the first aid guy during camping and tweezers are so important. So thorns, leeches, and stitching people I'd prefer the ranger grip. As well as you can build a shelter in minutes.

[@graymanbushcraft8633]

the signal is an everyday carry for me and absolute worst case scenario. you will work harder with the saw by comparison for sure but it is definitely quality. if i need to get home from a job because of a shtf situation i would prefer the signal. i love the fero rod attached. is it going to last long; no. but will it start a few fires in a pinch; absolutely. also, the sharpener is perfect to hone the blade before skinning game in a survival situation. And that is the point of the Signal, truly a survival EDC piece. It comes in handy around the house, in the garden and on Christmas morning when im putting batteries in everything and opening up packages for the little ones. The Ranger is my camping and bushcraft pocket knife of choice. handles all of the small tasks around camp and the saw definitely makes quicker work especially when making traps. that said, i always have a fixed blade with me in the woods and usually a saw, axe, and shovel as well. There is a reason everyone at the pathfinder school carries the ranger. both are great knives in my opinion but tailored to different situations. Great video and happy someone finally did a comparison on these 2!!!

[@AndreyAkimushkin]

Absolutely enjoyed your video! Used Wave and small Evo14 before. Never had neither Signal nor Ranger Grip but now I have both and used them for some time. Now I know for sure: your experience and conclusions are very close to what I encountered, using both these great tools!

[@simonh6371]

Cool. As the Rangergrip is £60 ($75) cheaper than the Leatherman, I'll buy that and buy a firesteel and a bunch of other survival gear with the difference.

[@pathrst]

Can’t go wrong with that logic.

[@backrowbrighton]

That would be my thinking too.

[@rbowman368]

The toothpick can be replaced by a ferro rod made specifically for Swiss Army Knives by a company called Tortoise Gear. The ferro rod is called firefly. tortoisegear.com/product/firefly-3-pack/

[@rubiconoutdoors3492]

If they put the magnifying glass in the Rangergrip, it would be perfect. Yes, you cant staer fire in the dark, but in the sun you can, and just always keep a coal going.

[@Mart687]

I've owned a Leatherman like 25 years ago but it was stolen from my bag. It was cool. And I own a Victorinox rangergrip 78 since a year. I love the rangergrip 78 for camping and bushcraft. And for that scenario I don't need a bitholder or pliers. The rangergrip with 1 hand opening and a blade that locks is awesome. They are made in the Wenger factory Victorinox took over. They are the biggest Victorinoxes they have in their collection. And a good blade and big saw is what I wanted. This rangergrip is actually so big and heavy, IMO it's not really a 'pocketknife' anymore. I got a sheath for it to put it on my belt from Tasmanian Tiger, the tool pocket size M is perfect for a rangergrip.

[@airoilcool]

Great review and comparison! You answered so many questions that I had! Now I don't need to get out and go to a store! :D

[@airoilcool]

I bought Ranger Grip in Onyx Black yesterday :)

[@mrhalfstep]

I remembered one other item that may be useful to you and your subscribers since I made my last post. You can buy a number of different sized screw-tipped auger bits that are equipped with a 1/4" hex drive shank. The hex hole in this SAK will drive the ones that are 3/4" and under if you are using them, carefully, with green soft woods like pine. Irwin ( the folks that make Channel Lok pliers ) sells shorty versions of the bits that pack up well and are very useful around camp for making furniture and the like. You can also use them with the 1/4" 6 point socket hack I mentioned and don't have to be quite as careful.

[@troyjenkins3886]

I just got the Rangergrip 78 ,for Christmas and did not know that the badge closes the blade until watching your video.lol I have a Signal that has to be repaired and both of these companies are good about that.Nice comparison.

[@pathrst]

Hey, thanks! Glad I could help

[@Geared84]

I own multiple Leatherman tools and a Ranger Grip. But when it comes to the LM Surge, not multitool beats it, cause you can use mutliple t shank saw blades in the exchangable adaptor. I like switching up, when it comes to this stuff.

[@roytore5062]

The Vic actually has a bit converter. It's under one of the scales, you take it off after leaving it in warm water for a while and then carve out the scale from the inside.

[@pathrst]

That is interesting. Didn’t know that.

[@Northanteus]

Leatherman needs to make a larger version of the signal, then you could compare the two blades and saws. For now, I think Leatherman made it smaller because the weight issue many people complain about when they're hauling a lot of other equipment in the wild. I'd pick the Leatherman in any situation because that diamond file sharpener, especially, and the ferro rod, whistle, pliers, etc. That makes it a much better tool. Even though Victorinox is bigger and thus does a little better at cutting, at least Leatherman has an option to cut and saw to begin with, whereas Victorinox does not have the pliers, blade sharpener, ferro rod, hammer, etc. That is a huge deal to me. Even if you dull your Victorinox and think that you can just go home and sharpen it, you now have to drop everything you're doing and go do that. How annoying that'd be if you just drove out 3 hours to then go home again. Obviously, one can buy extra tools to make up for what is lacking on the Victorinox. Yet the same can be said of the Leatherman. So if we are only comparing these two items alone, Leatherman wins, hands down.

[@pathrst]

That’s a fair assessment. And as you point out it has a lot to do with all the other things you are willing to carry and what you intend to use it for. In my day to day life, the signal is top two favorite edc tools. And when I just want to go out and be chill in nature it’s a go to.

[@mrhalfstep]

Just so you know, and you may have learned since making this video, the SAK DOES have a hex driver hidden under the scale that has the push button. You have to remove the scale and carve out access in the scale with a Dremel or some other tool meant for fine shaping. The hex hole is down towards the split ring end of the knife. It will take 1/4" hex bits, but you can't put too much torque on them because the hole is only as thick as one of the aluminum dividers and the plastic scale just adds a little more strength on this iteration of the SAK, but it, IMO, is well worth the time it takes to do the mod. A magnetic female to male 1/4" hex bit holder makes it even more useful. As an alternative to revealing that built in driver, you can find 1/4" six-sided sockets that will allow you to use your flathead screwdriver blade, inserted across corners, to drive all 1/4" hex bits. I can't remember whether I used a 1/4" square drive socket or a 3/8" square drive socket , but I'm pretty sure it wasn't 1/2" drive. Anyway, use the one that fits your large screwdriver blade best when you stick it in diagonally. I LOVE this SAK, by the way.

[@pathrst]

I did learn that! Though, you just taught me a bit more. Thank you.

[@stefanaleksic4113]

I don't know in USD but in europe victorinox is so much cheaper then leatherman knives

[@pathrst]

Here too. But I imagine cheaper still over there. In terms of what you get per dollar? It’s hard to even compare, really. Vic is just better in that regard.

[@allemander]

Title says model 78 but in your intro, you said model 58.

[@gpodgorzak]

Felix actually uses Victorinox Champ

[@briancox2592]

The book he wrote actually says he used a rangergrip 79 that he is referring to. Otherwise his other book said he used a huntsman.

[@marksandmon731]

Fire starter to replace toothpick or tweezer??

[@pathrst]

It can be done. Not the best fire starter in the world, but if you’re worried about it, it is something.

[@Sugardaddy501]

I'd rather just the rebar.

[@pathrst]

An undeniably good option. Simple and pure. I like the rebar and the SuperTool 300 for that reason. A slightly modern version of the tool that made Leatherman famous.

[@jofrigi]

Exactly, the Rebar for me is kind of the modern "classical" Leatherman - I carry it for several years and until now I've still not found a better one, even though I'm excited for shot show each year to show off a new king ^^ Not yet, Rebar is my baby :P

[@rigohook1160]

In terms of quality and performance, Victorinox blows Leatherman out of the water. Used both, no comparison imo