Finally! My first Victorinox... SwissTool Spirit.... yeah baby!

[Splat]

    I'm in multi-friggin'-tool heaven, guys! I just got back from picking up my first Victorinox, a Swisstool Spirit.  I already love it.    I got the Spirit/Rally pack. I'm off to work now. Funny that I actually HOPE there's some work to be done so I can use this bea-u-tiful piece of Swiss machinery.  ;D  A review will be in order if anyone cares later. Cheers!
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Splat

[Dunc]

nice one  ;D be sure to let us know how your first day with it goes .

Dunc

[J-sews]

Looking forward to that review! 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

It won't be your last victorinox either thats for sure ;D

The spirit really is a thing of beauty, what version did ya get

[Splat]

It's the regular Spirit, non-S, version. Here's my initial review of my new Vic Spirit...............

First impression out of its clamshell cocoon: beautiful design of purpose. This thing is built like a tank. No rattle. Everything snaps into place with a suffonsifieing audible CLICK! I found some residual oil in various places around the tool. That's good. I've never seen that on other multis when browsing at the stores! The size and weight is also perfect for me. I've been told I've got meathooks, yet the Spirit's small size fits my hand better than my LM Core did. The curved handles allow me to open the pliers easier since they're closer together than on my Core. At work I had the tool on my belt the entire time. After a short while it disappeared, unlike my LM Core whose weight always reminded you it's there. I wondered if I would miss the pointed blade, as found on the Spirit S. I try to think of the times I've needed a pointed blade and can't think of any! I figure if I find myself really needing the pointed blade I can grind the combi-edge blade into one. The holster/sheath included is the black/brown nylon one with Velcro closure with a very nice Victorinox shield on the front. All in all a very good looking holster/sheath.

The only question I put forth is: the individual springs...are they  stronger than a solid metal piece, ala Leatherman?

The only real chore my new Spirit confronted at its first day at work was wrenching a 1/4" nut off an old rusty screw. No problems there! I tested the Phillips driver and it really doesn't seem as slippery as I've heard.  I'm amazed at how quality just exudes from this tool. Fit and finish is outstanding. No other brand of multi I've seen comes close. I know it sounds clichéd but it is a finely tuned, precision machine. I, of course, showed the Spirit off to my buddies. Victorinox should be selling 5 or 6 more tomorrow.     Oh, and I forgot to mention the Vic Rally included with the package. What a surprisingly nice, well built, little SAK it is. I was expecting a little dinky thing but even the Rally felt more solid than some of the $ multis I've handled!  I really want to test drive all the functions of my new Spirit. Within the oncoming days I've got a few jobs that can definitely call upon the Spirit to prove itself. I'll let you know how it does. Cheers! 
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Splat

[David Bowen]

The spirit and it's bigger brother the swiss tool are easy to love, these guys over in swiss have got us all hooked big time. Quality is amazing and with people like Dunc being around here, it's like having a pusher on the street corner trying to get you hooked, and if you have one....you have to buy 3 more.

Seriously thought, no other tool I have screams quality than my swiss tools. I may not use them daily but I would not give them up for anything, might even be buried with them....whoa, that's a dark thought.

David

[Dunc]

. Quality is amazing and with people like Dunc being around here, it's like having a pusher on the street corner trying to get you hooked,

David

 ;D 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Great review there mate

Trouble is you can't stop at one, you'll be after a swisstool soon

As for your question about the springs, in theory the leatherman's I supose would be the stronger, but in practice I've never had, and never heard of anyone having a problem with the springs on a spirit or a swisstool

[Grant Lamontagne]

Man, I love watching what SOSAK members always refer to as "The Revelation!"

Most of the time it's guys ditching tacticals for SAKs, but I think this counts too!   ;D

Def

[ufox9al]

Def, I thought You were away for a couple of days? Guys at KF are running wild  ;D

Back to the subject, If you like the Spirit, you will love the Swistool X! 

Alexei

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yup, I just got back, safe and sound.

Def

[Benner]

Yup, I just got back, safe and sound.

Def

Pleased to hear it! 

[Splat]

Back to the subject, If you like the Spirit, you will love the Swistool X! 
Alexei

Alexei, I almost bought the Swisstool X!    They had the Spirit, ST X, ST, a boatload of Leathermans, a few SOGs, and Gerbers. I took my time and spent a good hour just going thru them all. I did love the feel of the SwissTools compared to the others. As said before, they're simply solid.  I loved the heft of the Swisstool X but I've had a LM Core for roughly a year now and the carry weight nagged me. I love the Core, but wish it was an outside-opener and lighter. Gee, that sounds like the Swisstool Spirit! So it was between the X and the Spirit. The Spirit won out because of the weight, size, and I forgot to mention the feel of the handles just felt better in the hand. So, the Spirit won and I'm absolutely loving it. Like Def said, I get that "Man, now that's friggin' nice" feeling every time I handle the Spirit. 
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Splat

[ufox9al]

... I get that "Man, now that's friggin' nice" feeling every time I handle the Spirit...

What I meant was, you need both! ;D
I have Spirit with bits and ratchet and I use it all around the house, but I grab the Swisstool X for the dirty jobs in the yard...
Alexei

[Grant Lamontagne]

Both?  I think he needs more than that!

So now that you've banged it around for a few days, any new thoughts on it?

Def

[Splat]

A few new thoughts on the Spirit.....

Surprised that so far I've done fine without the pointed blade. If I need to puncture I can use, depending upon the material, the scissor tip, the awl, or the largest screwdriver which has an almost knife-like edge. I love that the tools don't clump up. I love how they snap into place with an "Hey, I'm ready to work for ya" sound.  The Phillips driver has been better than I thought it would be. So far, no slipping and no signs of wear. It's nowhere near the negative descriptions I've read. Again, the fit and finish of the Spirit just kills me. Dare I say, it's almost a joy to use it! 
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Splat