Comments on: Swiss Army/ Victorinox Camper Knife http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife The Pocket Knives That Do It All Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:09:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Alberto Vargas http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife/comment-page-1#comment-137 Alberto Vargas Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:18:14 +0000 http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife#comment-137 In my humble opinion this model has the optimal set of features, and for most things a bigger Swiss Army knife (SAK) would be overkill. Like practically all SAKs, this one has large and small blades, can and bottle openers whose tips double as screwdrivers, and a cork screw (sometimes replaced by a Philips screwdriver in other models). For most daily tasks, this does the job well. What this model adds on top of the basic set is a wood saw, which can come handy when camping, cutting wood for a fire or building shelter. I guess you can also cut plastic tubes or other tough things around the house which can't easily be cut with a small knife. <br /> <br />All of the tools snap into position pretty solid, although they don't lock in place, so you should still pay attention when using them to make sure they don't snap closed. My minor disappointment with this knife is that the large blade is actually rather short, somewhat awkwardly positioned in the middle when closed, and is not ambidextrous (there is only one nail slot for opening). Something easier to open would be much better, ideally with just one hand. The latest SAK model called Trekker solves this issue, but it is also noticeably larger, heavier, and more expensive. <br /> <br />SAKs bigger than this one tend to get too bulky for carrying in your pocket, and if you need more than what this one offers, you are probably better off with a multi tool from Leatherman, Gerber, SOG, or Victorinox - those have pliers, more screwdrivers, files, etc. But then again, SAKs are normally cheaper and more fun than multi tools :) <br /> <br />If you don't care about the wood saw (which is rather useless if you don't camp and live in the city), get the Spartan model, which is the direct descendant of the original Swiss Army knife, and also thinner and lighter than this one. <br /> <br />If you want the wood saw but would rather have a Philips screwdriver instead of a cork screw, check out the Tinker model. Rating: 4 / 5 In my humble opinion this model has the optimal set of features, and for most things a bigger Swiss Army knife (SAK) would be overkill. Like practically all SAKs, this one has large and small blades, can and bottle openers whose tips double as screwdrivers, and a cork screw (sometimes replaced by a Philips screwdriver in other models). For most daily tasks, this does the job well. What this model adds on top of the basic set is a wood saw, which can come handy when camping, cutting wood for a fire or building shelter. I guess you can also cut plastic tubes or other tough things around the house which can’t easily be cut with a small knife.

All of the tools snap into position pretty solid, although they don’t lock in place, so you should still pay attention when using them to make sure they don’t snap closed. My minor disappointment with this knife is that the large blade is actually rather short, somewhat awkwardly positioned in the middle when closed, and is not ambidextrous (there is only one nail slot for opening). Something easier to open would be much better, ideally with just one hand. The latest SAK model called Trekker solves this issue, but it is also noticeably larger, heavier, and more expensive.

SAKs bigger than this one tend to get too bulky for carrying in your pocket, and if you need more than what this one offers, you are probably better off with a multi tool from Leatherman, Gerber, SOG, or Victorinox – those have pliers, more screwdrivers, files, etc. But then again, SAKs are normally cheaper and more fun than multi tools :)

If you don’t care about the wood saw (which is rather useless if you don’t camp and live in the city), get the Spartan model, which is the direct descendant of the original Swiss Army knife, and also thinner and lighter than this one.

If you want the wood saw but would rather have a Philips screwdriver instead of a cork screw, check out the Tinker model.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: T. Gold http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife/comment-page-1#comment-136 T. Gold Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:43:16 +0000 http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife#comment-136 I had one of these when I was ten and it was lost or stolen somewhere along the way. I recently purchased online because I searched for the product in stores for years and never found the black colored model. Same great quality as always. Rating: 5 / 5 I had one of these when I was ten and it was lost or stolen somewhere along the way. I recently purchased online because I searched for the product in stores for years and never found the black colored model. Same great quality as always.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: T. Sipes http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife/comment-page-1#comment-135 T. Sipes Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:23:56 +0000 http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife#comment-135 This knife is just as good as all the other Victorinox's I've owned. It can take the rough and tumble world of backpacking , camping and hiking. Rating: 5 / 5 This knife is just as good as all the other Victorinox’s I’ve owned. It can take the rough and tumble world of backpacking , camping and hiking.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Dan http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife/comment-page-1#comment-134 Dan Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:07:31 +0000 http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife#comment-134 Great Product overall. Cant beat my Leatherman Fuze though. would give 4.5 stars but amazon doesn't allow it. great warranty, and reliable tool. would entrust my life with it, but would still pick my leatherman first. being a boy scout, i need a reliable knife, and this fits that category and surpasses almost all other knives. Rating: 4 / 5 Great Product overall. Cant beat my Leatherman Fuze though. would give 4.5 stars but amazon doesn’t allow it. great warranty, and reliable tool. would entrust my life with it, but would still pick my leatherman first. being a boy scout, i need a reliable knife, and this fits that category and surpasses almost all other knives.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: MacGuffin http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife/comment-page-1#comment-133 MacGuffin Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:47:21 +0000 http://swissknifetools.com/swiss-army-victorinox-camper-knife#comment-133 ...this WAY cool pocket knife! (Knowing me as well as they do, the saw was ultimately the deciding factor--in case, it was explained--I should need to saw my way out of handcuffs in the event that I'm taken hostage or some other exciting such scenario as is likely to befall someone of my age and sex...their perception of me never fails to warm my heart). And it really IS cool. <br />Research discloses that Victorinox, a family-owned business, was started in 1897 for the purpose of providing jobs to counter Swiss emigration. Their employees number nearly 1,000 and nothing is outsourced; this is evident in the quality of the Camper. As other reviewers have noted, it packs a number of very handy features into a small, slim profile (the other reason it was chosen: more features = clunky and heavy). And I imagine that there are knock-offs available that are less expensive. But not only is the quality of this little knife superb (I managed to cut myself almost immediately), it's very reasonably priced...in fact, I suspect it costs more in der Schweiz than on Amazon. So should you be headed on any sort of adventure that would be enhanced by having all of these tools at your fingertips in a small, attractive package, this is a worthwhile investment that's guaranteed (by a lifetime warranty, no less) to provide years of service. And there's also that saw... <br />(Hey LEMBERG--you seem to have gotten access to the means of voting twice...why don't you get yourself a life as well? And stop using my reviews as a writing tutorial.) <br /> <br /> Rating: 5 / 5 …this WAY cool pocket knife! (Knowing me as well as they do, the saw was ultimately the deciding factor–in case, it was explained–I should need to saw my way out of handcuffs in the event that I’m taken hostage or some other exciting such scenario as is likely to befall someone of my age and sex…their perception of me never fails to warm my heart). And it really IS cool.

Research discloses that Victorinox, a family-owned business, was started in 1897 for the purpose of providing jobs to counter Swiss emigration. Their employees number nearly 1,000 and nothing is outsourced; this is evident in the quality of the Camper. As other reviewers have noted, it packs a number of very handy features into a small, slim profile (the other reason it was chosen: more features = clunky and heavy). And I imagine that there are knock-offs available that are less expensive. But not only is the quality of this little knife superb (I managed to cut myself almost immediately), it’s very reasonably priced…in fact, I suspect it costs more in der Schweiz than on Amazon. So should you be headed on any sort of adventure that would be enhanced by having all of these tools at your fingertips in a small, attractive package, this is a worthwhile investment that’s guaranteed (by a lifetime warranty, no less) to provide years of service. And there’s also that saw…

(Hey LEMBERG–you seem to have gotten access to the means of voting twice…why don’t you get yourself a life as well? And stop using my reviews as a writing tutorial.)

Rating: 5 / 5

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