Victorinox Soldier knife
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Victorinox Soldier knife $89.99
It’s been 48 years since the Swiss Army updated its Soldier knife and in the knife’s 120-year history, only four knives, including this latest addition from Victorinox, have been used. That’s some big shoes to fill, but it’s hard to see the Swiss Army being disappointed with the decision to give Victorinox the exclusive contract once again (all Soldier knives have ben made by Victorinox.)
The original Soldier knife was made for troops who needed a foldable tool that could open canned food and help them disassemble a rifle. It included a blade, a reamer, a can opener, a screwdriver, and oak handles. The 2011 version might come minus the oak handles, but it has everything else the 1890 model has, but on steroids. The 78mm blade can be opened with one hand and locks in place. It’s partly serrated and has an extremely sharp edge.
Gone is the corkscrew which, in these days of screw-top wine bottles, had become redundant, and in comes a functional Phillips screwdriver which I’ve used on numerous jobs around the house.
Other features include those that are now standard on most knives: a wood saw, can opener, reamer, bottle opener, wire stripper and screwdrivers.
The knife is perfectly weighted and its bi-component handle is easy to grip thanks to black ridges which are made from an anti-skid polymer. One-handed opening is smooth and aided by a large hole on the blade which means it can be opened this way even with gloves on.
The nit-picker in me wishes the locking mechanism was for a right-handed person. As is, I open the blade with my right thumb but can only unlock the blade with my left.
That aside, this is a nice collector’s item or practical tool for any pack.
- Alistair Hall
Related review: Leatherman Wingman multitool
It’s been 48 years since the Swiss Army updated its Soldier knife and in the knife’s 120-year history, only four knives, including this latest addition from Victorinox, have been used. That’s some big shoes to fill, but it’s hard to see the Swiss Army being disappointed with the decision to give Victorinox the exclusive contract once again (all Soldier knives have ben made by Victorinox.)
The original Soldier knife was made for troops who needed a foldable tool that could open canned food and help them disassemble a rifle. It included a blade, a reamer, a can opener, a screwdriver, and oak handles. The 2011 version might come minus the oak handles, but it has everything else the 1890 model has, but on steroids. The 78mm blade can be opened with one hand and locks in place. It’s partly serrated and has an extremely sharp edge.
Gone is the corkscrew which, in these days of screw-top wine bottles, had become redundant, and in comes a functional Phillips screwdriver which I’ve used on numerous jobs around the house.
Other features include those that are now standard on most knives: a wood saw, can opener, reamer, bottle opener, wire stripper and screwdrivers.
The knife is perfectly weighted and its bi-component handle is easy to grip thanks to black ridges which are made from an anti-skid polymer. One-handed opening is smooth and aided by a large hole on the blade which means it can be opened this way even with gloves on.
The nit-picker in me wishes the locking mechanism was for a right-handed person. As is, I open the blade with my right thumb but can only unlock the blade with my left.
That aside, this is a nice collector’s item or practical tool for any pack.
- Alistair Hall
Related review: Leatherman Wingman multitool
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