Vic quality slipping?

[ringzero]

Last week I was at Lowes to grab up some stuff needed around the old homestead.  As I was heading to the checkout lanes I remembered that one of their $20 discount cards was in my wallet.

Gives you $20 off your tab, but you have to buy $100 or more worth of stuff to qualify.  So, I picked up some batteries and a Vic Classic to wind up at just over $100 total.

Today I finally got around to opening up the Classic blister pack to check it out.

When I opened its blade using the nail nick the nailfile came out along with the blade - clumping.

I closed the nailfile and did a little cutting with the blade.  When I went to close the blade I could feel it scraping against the nailfile as it closed.

I can already see little scraped areas on the blade where it has rubbed against the nailfile.

Finally, the backspring on this Classic seems very weak compared to others I've owned.  No snap to it when the blade reaches the fully open position.  Feels weak when closing for that matter, although that could be due to scraping against the nailfile.

Anyhow, this is the poorest example quality control that I've ever encountered in a brand new SAK.  It'll be going back to Lowes to be exchanged - hope the next one is better.

Hope that this was an anomaly and not a trend for Vic fit and finish.

.


 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Sounds like you got a bit of a rogue one mate

[DoughDTD]

Sure its not a wenger?  lol just messin, I'd contact them and express your concern, you'll probably get a free one plus something else.  I don't see it as a falter of quality, just probably a slight oversight in QA

-Dough

[NutSAK]

I think it would be hard to make a case for a loss of quality control on just one knife.

[M.TEX]

 send it to Vic and get another one.... I would.

[ringzero]

I think it would be hard to make a case for a loss of quality control on just one knife.

You're right about that.  Every company will have slip ups in QC - it's inevitable.  I've encountered QC issues with most brands:  Gerber, Leatherman, Case, Buck, and others.

Guess I was especially shocked to see QC issues in a Victorinox product simply because I've never encountered a serious QC issue with a brand new Vic product.

.

[NutSAK]

I've seen a few issues, but never anything that seems to indicate a "string" of problems.

One that sticks out in my mind is an OHT that Scibeer modded for me. It's a good thing he pulled it apart to mod--when he removed the scales he discovered that one of the main pins had not been peined and was completely missing a bushing! 

[ringzero]

Ooops - forgot to update this until now.

My defective Vic Classic was exchanged the next time I made the trip into Lowes.  New one is fine, no issues whatsoever.

This incident hasn't really changed my high opinion of Victorinox.

I was just shocked to get a Vic with QC issues similar to those that might be encountered in cheap Chinese or Pakistani knives.

That defective Classic was the first brand new Vic with issues that I've encountered in over 25 years of buying them.

.

[J-sews]

Any chance it was a couterfeit? (I've heard they are out there)

[ringzero]

Any chance it was a couterfeit? (I've heard they are out there)

Yeah, if I'd got it from a street vendor or a little hole in the wall shop I'd have suspected it was a counterfeit.

But getting a counterfeit at a Big Box store like Lowes doesn't seem likely to me.

.

[american lockpicker]

I have a Vic that is of questionable quality also its still in the package theres all kinds of scrap red plastic on the scales.

[ICanFixThat]

It's sad, but I think there has been more QC issues at Vic lately.  We've seen some awefully good prices, but there have been more reports of issues.  I think they still have remarkable quality, but before they were simply the best (they set the standard).  It appears that economic conditions (hopefully not philosophy or desire) has put a small kink in their manufacturing and QC.  I think the knives are just no longer the revenue generator they once were and now they have to spend their time and money on so many other segments of their business.

[american lockpicker]

It's sad, but I think there has been more QC issues at Vic lately.  We've seen some awefully good prices, but there have been more reports of issues.  I think they still have remarkable quality, but before they were simply the best (they set the standard).  It appears that economic conditions (hopefully not philosophy or desire) has put a small kink in their manufacturing and QC.  I think the knives are just no longer the revenue generator they once were and now they have to spend their time and money on so many other segments of their business.

Anyone noticed Wengers are getting nicer(except the swiss cross...)

[John]

Maybe you got a lemon there Mark 

I just got a cheap Rally and fit and finish is perfect no clumping or rubbing of blades + a distinct snap when opening blades 


If I were you I'd email Victorinox and explain that way they can me made aware if indeed quality is slipping 

[american lockpicker]

Come to think of it the rally I had was perfect quality but my Spirit had a slight defect on the pliers and the plating on the locks is peeling.

[Benner]

Sounds like you lot need Leatherman's.   

[american lockpicker]

Sounds like you lot need Leatherman's.   

Or better yet Wengers. 

[Mr. Whippy]

Sounds like you lot need Leatherman's.   

Or better yet Wengers. 

Just as long as you don't need to use the corkscrew...

[John]

Sounds like you lot need Leatherman's.   

Nah I'll stick with my Gerber's thanks     

[american lockpicker]

Sounds like you lot need Leatherman's.   

Or better yet Wengers. 

Just as long as you don't need to use the corkscrew...

Why? The ones on the Evo S10s work fine.

[Mr. Whippy]

Sounds like you lot need Leatherman's.   

Or better yet Wengers. 

Just as long as you don't need to use the corkscrew...

Why? The ones on the Evo S10s work fine.

Just mailed off my S557 because the corkscrew is torqued out of shape from opening several bottles of wine at Thanksgiving.  It won't go in a pocket because the corkscrew sticks out.  The Vic and LM corkscrews faired much better.

[Mr. Whippy]

Here's a link to my thread

[Styerman]

I would be very dissapointed if Vic's quality was slipping . I don't see any evidence of this based on recent purchases . I hope they hang in there , we need a few bastions of quality in a world full of schlock .

Chris

[american lockpicker]

Isn't this ironic that it happens after Vic decides to become a luxury brand.

[Sazabi]

We've all had issues with Victorinox products once in a while, whether it's the infamous misaligned awl to my Spirit's handles being misaligned - every company has at least a couple items make it through QC.  My guess is that maybe they ramp up production even more in preparation for Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid ul-Fitr (yeah, I know it was in September this year, but work with me), Festivus, etc, and therefore are more prone to QC issues during late year months? :/

[twiliter]

After reading Syph's brilliant review of the Outdoorsman, it got me thinking about the quality of Vic SAK's. I have seen many companys cut tool quality in order to stay in a market, or simply to make more of a profit. I wonder this about the 91mm large blade being made with a smaller tang. The dimpled outer liner makes no sense to accommodate the small tang, it even (seen at the right angle) dimples the scale slightly, this unbalances the whole knife IMHO. Also going to a less complicated magnifier, although arguments could be made for that being an improvement. This seems like a quality downgrade to me, as there is really no serious market competition for the 91mm. As for the country of origin issues, Vic appears to have branded and marketed some very high quality items besides SAK's. I hope this is not a trend and that we haven't seen the apex of the Vic SAK. In the past, it seems to me that all the 91mm evolutions until recently have been to make the product better, not cheaper. I dearly enjoy my Climber Lite, but can't help thinking about this when I deploy the large blade.

[firiki]

After reading Syph's brilliant review of the Outdoorsman, it got me thinking about the quality of Vic SAK's. I have seen many companys cut tool quality in order to stay in a market, or simply to make more of a profit. I wonder this about the 91mm large blade being made with a smaller tang. The dimpled outer liner makes no sense to accommodate the small tang, it even (seen at the right angle) dimples the scale slightly, this unbalances the whole knife IMHO. Also going to a less complicated magnifier, although arguments could be made for that being an improvement. This seems like a quality downgrade to me, as there is really no serious market competition for the 91mm. As for the country of origin issues, Vic appears to have branded and marketed some very high quality items besides SAK's. I hope this is not a trend and that we haven't seen the apex of the Vic SAK. In the past, it seems to me that all the 91mm evolutions until recently have been to make the product better, not cheaper. I dearly enjoy my Climber Lite, but can't help thinking about this when I deploy the large blade.

I hope Victorinox maintain their exemplary (for me, at least) high standards. I have four Classics. The one stamped Switzerland is far better than the other three (blade and nailfile not scrubying eachother every bloody time I open them, better snap and overall heftiness I think). I've encountered many flaws when choosing Vic goodies and I don't know if this is a QC thing or a choice. I've had a Ranger with main blade rubbing on the liner when closed, awls scrubying the main blade on Pioneers, squeaky handles on  2008 Soldier after some use, even a rattly Spirit, now this new lockback -I haven't tried that but I'm convinced it isn't up to Vic quality. I hope that's just a passing phase 

[getahl]

In the last 6 years, I have picked up somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty SAKs. About 7 or 8 of those are Wenger; all of the rest are Victorinox. Of those 42, I have experienced no blems, defects, QC issues, or even inconsistencies. Not only have the fit, finish, and functionality on each been peerless, Vic has consistently put out this kind of quality for years.

[firiki]

I forgot to mention an unfinished can opener on a DD Forester, I'll try and get some pics tonight. This was shocking, that thing isn't sharpened at all. I still have it, as a collectors item or until I get enough faulty Vics to send them back and hope for something extra compensating for all the mess. How low is that?

Honestly, I'm starting to believe they are sending lots of good but not flawless products over here. I have a total on nine 91mm Vics with scissors out of which four sing (asked in this thread http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,42295.msg677514.html#msg677514). I realise that's not really a flaw but such inconsistency is noteworthy and alarming for me.

I admit I like grumbling more as I get older day after day but that's not the case here  I honestly fear that Victorinox has somewhat lowered their quality standards; I have a bad feeling in my bones I tell you 

[Syph007]

Since I started SAK modding I routinely buy 20-30 SAKS or so a month.  Not one quality issue ever on any of these.  The only issue I had was with the new lockback knife.