Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer Plus Pocket Tool
February 9, 2010 · Posted in Swiss Army Pocket Knives
- Large blade, Small blade, Can opener with small screwdriver, Straight pin
- Bottle opener with large screwdriver & wire stripper, Pressurized ball point pen, Patented mini-screwdriver
- Scissors, Magnifying glass, Reamer with sewing eye, Key ring
- Phillips screwdriver, Corkscrew, Hook, Toothpick, Tweezers
- Length: 91mm
Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer Plus Pocket Tool
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5 Responses to “Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer Plus Pocket Tool”
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To the eye and as other reviewers have said, it is a fine piece of art, not to mention it’s usefulness. It has everything one would need in a pocket knife be it at home, traveling or out in an outdoor activity. Out of all the SA knives, I believe this best overall. The implements are of high quality in fit, form and finish. It’s siscors is judged as the best, the can opener has enough clearance to work the can, its cutting end durable. Both large and small blades are very sharp. It is built to last a lifetime.
Rating: 5 / 5
I have carried a Swiss Army Knife in my pocket, purse, or bookbag/backpack for about 50 years. My usual carry has been the tinker because it’s smaller and lighter in weight. I got this explorer because I needed the magnifier, and I confess that the hidden pen was also attractive, since I often find myself without something to write with, as was the end mounted phillips screwdriver. The small jewlers screwdriver may have some value for me too.
For everyday carry at home, in the office, at school, or camping Swiss Army Knives are simply the best. They are solid and made of a high quality steel that lasts and lasts. The small cutting blade is simply the best in the business.
If I had one wish for a SA knife, it is that I had some way to have one custom made with only the tools that want. Does anyone know if such a service is available and from whom?
Rating: 5 / 5
I had an Explorer for 35 years, and it was in mint condition despite heavy and rough use. Alas! it fell through a hole in the my pocket.
THE NEGATIVE
This was my replacement, and while a few additions have been made, I am disappointed with the new style magnifier. I could be wrong, but I had believed the original (the one which is still pictured– with the gray plastic frame) was an acrylic lens. The new one is one molded piece and seems to be of styrene. I am suspicious it will not fare as well: that it will be more susceptible to scratches, and almost certainly will simply break off from the knife as it is no longer held by the thicker and less brittle PVC frame.
I had used my original Explorer to light camp fires on sunny afternoons– I fear this one may not have that ability.
Also, see the note on the Phillips Head Screwdriver, below.
WHAT IS NEW:
Tiny Blade Screwdriver: The addition of the tiny (bladed) screwdriver held by the corkscrew is perfect for eyeglass repair and is a nice feature.
Hook: I have no idea what I would use this for; but if I ever have to hold a thin rope or cable taught, the knife itself would serve as a comfortable handle from which to provide good control of the centered hook.
Ink Pen: Concealed just like the tweezers and toothpick, the pen is handy– just right to fill in when you realize you misplaced a full sized pen.
Straight Pen: It took me a while to find this addition (open the corkscrew and look for the head of the straight pen sticking out between the red scale and the metal frame. I cannot recall ever thinking, “if I only had a straight pen…” in my life– I have no idea why this is here.
FAMILIAR FEATURES:
Long and Short Pocket Knife Blades: Edges are durable and quite sharp out of the box. The steel, however, is so hard that sharpening is a very big chore.
Scissors: Just right for paper or thread, and always handy.
Phillips Screwdriver: Because the steel is so very hard, I have often gone to retrieve my Swiss Army Knife when a full size screwdriver could not win a battle against a steel screw. The Phillips Head is not milled to as sharp a point as my original. That is a shame as my old one was very useful for very small screws.
Can Opener / Small Blade Screw Driver : This is the best and smallest can opener I have ever owned. I have “saved” countless cans after they were mangled by automatic or common manual kitchen openers. Besides removing an entire lid, it also is sharp enough to make two triangular cuts and then fold the triangle down for pouring contents.
Bottle Opener / Large Blade Screwdriver: Until beer bottlers all use screw caps, this feature will be indispensable.
Cork Screw: Often handy, and of excellent design– never failed me.
Awl: I have found this one useful for boring, cleaning fingernails, and splinter removal.
Tweezers: Perfect for the last stage of removing splinters, or holding an eyeglass screw.
Plastic Toothpick: rarely used, but kind of handy when you are camping.
Key Chain Ring : Great. I keep mine on a carabiner so that I can attach it to whatever is handiest at the time.
Scales (the red plastic exterior). Very hard and durable. To personalize my original Explorer, I carefully pried the scales off, and used them as the guide for making new ones out of a hard wood (channels for tweezers, toothpick and now the straight pen and ink pen). About an hour or careful carving and test fits, and I epoxied them on. I haven’t done this for this replacement, yet. The original was apparently seated by both epoxy and the plastic attached while still pliable to melt and then harden around the rivet-like blade hinges. I assume I will find this one to be the same.
Rating: 4 / 5
I did a lot of research before I purchased the Explorer Plus. I need a corkscrew and also a Phillips screwdriver. However, they are both usually located in the same spot for many knives, so I thought I had to between only having one or the other. My first knife was the plain, trusty Tinker. It was small and easily fit into my pocket, but I realized I needed more functions, like in addition, a corkscrew and scissors. The Explorer Plus had both and more.
The Explorer Plus is not huge like the Swiss Champion, but it is pretty big compared to my tinker, actually almost twice as thick because it has 4 layers of tools. I really like the placement of the Phillips screwdriver because on the Tinker it sticks out on the bottom perpendicular to the rest of the knife and is difficult to use, but on this it can be used like a normal screwdriver.
I also decided to go for the Plus instead of going for the regular Explorer because the addition of a pen is very important to me. The mini-screwdriver and the straight pin (can be taken out when the corkscrew is lifted up, this took me a while to figure out) are nice additions but the pen was the deal breaker.
The Explorer Plus is a great knife and now I only need to take one knife instead of multiple ones because it has all the tools I need, and some that I will most likely use only for kicks like the hook, the magnifying glass, and the reamer (though not true for everyone). Victorinox in general makes high quality swiss army knives and this is no exception and the advantage this specific knife has over the others is that it suits me almost perfectly.
So choose your knife based on what you will actually need and not on what you think you might need for some unlikely occasion. Like if you never went fishing before, you probably shouldn’t buy a knife that has a fish scaler. More tools only means more thickness, more weight, and less ease of use.
Rating: 5 / 5
I searched and researched all the different models Victorinox has, and it came to this one and the Ranger model. Those are the ones that fit me most, I chose the explorer plus, for me it is perfect. Its not to big yet has everything i need and not full of items i don’t. I was amazed at how many times i actually use it now that i have one, wonder how i ever got by without it. It is amazingly built and super sharp, i highly recommend this to anyone, i will still get the Ranger for when i plan to go outdoors, it has a saw and few other items.
Rating: 5 / 5