Victorinox Rangerip 71 Gardener - Review After 4 Years of Use

The Ranger Grip 71 Gardner is a large-size knife/gardening tool by Victorinox.
How well does it handle some basic gardening tasks?
This is my review/opinion after using this knife for 4 years.
Early this morning, while watching other channels, I happened upon
"RangerGrip 178 MOD" by WoodHiker.
He shows that the 178 has a bit driver made into it but the scales cover it, meaning that we don't know it is there. He demonstrates how to open that part of the scale to enable the knife to use 1/4 inch hex bits.
I removed the scales on all my Ranger Grips and voila - they all have this feature.
A few hours later, Viewer: Estereos - mentioned in his post that my knives do have this.
Just giving credit where credit is due.
I plan to make a video tomorrow afternoon of opening the hex-bit adapter "holes" on my 71 and 79 to enable the added function of being able to use a hex-bit.
This will probably void my warranty on each knife, but "oh well".

[@robertbrown3064]

I appreciate the casual and laid-back style of your reviews. A lot of people try too hard to be funny and entertaining, and it leads to 45+ minute long videos about a tool that needs a fraction of that time to adequately review which are filled with bad jokes, boring stories, and important information completely overlooked. That, or they act like a robot and quickly, mechanically list off all the data points with no personality whatsoever. Both of those styles are fine in their own way, but sometimes a person wants to hear from an actual human being and get their subjective, honest feedback. Watching your video, it's more like you've invited us over to your place to hang out, and we're just having a conversation about the tool as you use it on various projects. I suppose you could say your style is a perfect middle ground. Thumbs up!

[@MasterYoist]

Many thanks. I really appreciate the kindness you are showing me. Take care.

[@itsallasimulationman]

This tool has been discontinued, unfortunately. I an picking one up off a Japanese ebay seller for just over $100 shipped. I'm looking forward to carrying fewer items for incidental garden work, such as thinning fruit, cutting and building garden stakes, etc. The corkscrew does seem a little useless, at first, but I saw someone use it for untying tight nots, which was a real eye-opener. It will also hold a small phillips/flathead driver for small electrical work (wire terminals for 12-volt projects, eyeglass repair, etc). Thanks for posting some of the few Ranger 71 Gardener videos that are available :)

[@MasterYoist]

Thank you for watching and commenting. I also like to use the corkscrews for untying knots. It has been very helpful for that. Thanks again and take care.

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

I can tell this guy knows his sh*t and fears no man, due to his "socks with sandels" flex. Lol. Subbed.

[@MasterYoist]

Thank you so much for watching and for the compliment. I appreciate the chuckle I got out of that. Take care and have a nice day.

[@DavZell]

This is one of my favorites. They have now discontinued them, so grab one while you can!

[@MasterYoist]

Thanks for watching and letting us know.

[@marrty777]

If it had the one handed open for the blade, it would be my ultimate for outdoor. I also have the Ranger Grip, which *is* one handed, but lacks the scissors but has the bottle opener and can opener, which I don't need in the backcountry. But the Gardener wins with the scissors, I'd say.

[@MasterYoist]

I generally carry my Ranger Grip 79 when I go out in the woods. But for the gardening the 71 is really nice. I don't really need that bottle opener on it or even the screwdriver that I could have got instead. But, I really wish this came with the awl. That's no longer a big deal, because I exposed the bit driver and I use hex shank drill bits of small diameter for what I need to drill holes with. The awl would have been nice out of the package though. Thank you very much for watching and for commenting. Take care.

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

You could grind down the cap lifter into a awl.......nothing to lose. 👍

[@metasequoia3097]

Awesome looking knife, considering getting it. One question I have: is the tip of the blade pointy or is it more on the "blunt" side like with the Victorinox Huntsman?

[@MasterYoist]

Thank you for watching and your question. I don't have the Huntsman so I can't really compare to that. But I am looking at it right now with my alux Cadet as a comparison. The cadet has more of a rounded slope to the top part or the back part of the blade as it approaches the tip. The gardener, on the other hand, is more of a steep slope bringing it to a sharper tip. Sharper is probably not the best word to use but it's from a glance it would look like a sharper because of it. Hope this information helps. It's a very good knife. The only problem I've ever had with it was the corkscrew.

[@metasequoia3097]

@@MasterYoist I see. Yeah, it does sound similar to what the Huntsman blade tip is like. Thanks for the info!

[@hitchpost5822]

What is the hardest thing you have cut with the scissors ? How thick of a branch have you cut with scissors ? Have you put any nicks in the scissors ? Thank you for your time.

[@MasterYoist]

All valid questions. For branches, I use the saw. It is good for diameters of 2.5 to 3 inches (saw is 4 inches in length). However, for the stems of leaves, about 2 - 3 millimeters, the scissors worked fine. No nicks yet. We use this everyday in our vegetable garden and have been very happy with it. Many thanks for watching. Have a wonderful day.

[@hitchpost5822]

@@MasterYoist Thank you very much for the information. I really like the large scissors and saw blade on that model.

[@Estereos]

you knife has the bit holder already. you just have to take off the scale and cut the hole from inner side of the scale, your scale has marks from inside where the hole must be cut. You can easily do it with small chisel.

[@MasterYoist]

You are so right. I noticed that a few hours ago after watching a video of somebody doing that with the ranger grip 178. Thank you for telling me anyway I do appreciate it.

[@BUZZKILLJRJR]

I have the ranger grip 79 and the mp600 haha nice choices

[@MasterYoist]

Thank you. I tend to agree that 79 and the 600 are really good tools. Thank you for watching and the comment. Take care.

[@Vickz818]

Does the 111mm have it?

[@MasterYoist]

Thanks for asking and for viewing. I've been searching for this online since your inquiry. I don't have one of the 111mm knives to check. And, I have found no mention of it as of yet. The one, who might know, is Felix Immler. If you check out his channel, which is a plethora of cool and interesting S.A.K. videos you might get him to give a better answer than I can give to your question. Sorry that I'm not more helpful. But, I have not found any info about this. Take care.

[@Vickz818]

@@MasterYoist I appreciate the help though. You’re video definitely helped me and I did it the way with the utility knife .

[@apmikalogran]

There is a hole under the scale like the one in bostsman

[@MasterYoist]

True. I made a later video on how to easily, and cleanly, expose it. Thanks for watching and commenting.