Spirit Review (As seen on Messenforum.nl)

american lockpicker · **on:** November 21, 2009, 09:56:17 AM

Heres my latest tool the Victorinox Swisstool Spirit. I ordered from amazon it was around $58 and I got $10 off, free shipping and, a free Rally. The construction of this is amazing, its the nicest multitool I've ever had.

Heres it closed. While it may look a bit odd closed with curved handles its very comfortable to use.

Here it is opened.

Heres the Swiss cross. Oddly enough it doesn't have that line going through it like on Vic SAK scales.

This worried me when I first saw it, I thought someone had cut hardened wire with it and ruined the cutters but apparently its hard wire cutters. I use a dedicated pair of Knipex wire cutters(71 31 200) for just about everything as its not worth risking ruining my multitool cutters.

Notice the pliers aren't parallel.

Heres the Spirit with the tools fanned out. As you can see it has a nice assortment of tools.

Heres a closeup picture.

And another one.

"Swiss Made" thats a sign you have a high quality item. Also notice the "I" in stainless. I wonder if they are all like that.

Heres the blade. Its different than any other knife blade I've seen on a mutitool.

Heres a side view. Notice how thin it is, yet it holds a lot of tools. Also the tools don't clump.

Heres the sheath. It works well but I wish they hadn't used Velcro. Since its a Swiss invention I guess thats why Victorinox chose to use it.

Sheath closed.

Heres the phillips in action. This was the only thing I had in the room that had a phillips screw in it. Also the screwdriver fit perfectly.

Medium flat head in action.

Bottle opener in action. I would have used a Grolsch but all I had in the fridge was swingtops.

Heres the smallest flat head. As you can see its to big to be used as a eyeglasses screwdriver.

Heres the scissors they don't open very wide but they are well built and do the job. I tested them on a Radio Shack coupon.

Heres the chisel. This is the one tool that convinced me to buy a Spirit. I almost got a Workchamp. It has a few other tools on it a wire stripper(V shaped) and a curved blade that I have no idea what its purpose is.

Heres a Stanley chisel for comparison.

Since this is a blade forum I thought I would get another picture of it. Its made by Stanley in Sheffield England.

Heres the free Rally.

Close up of the bottle opener/phillips.

Heres something I almost forgot the corkscrew holder.

Dunc · **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2009, 10:35:16 AM

A very nice write up

Dunc

zepla · **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2009, 11:52:40 AM

Thought it was purple at first

Nice work man!

Woz · **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2009, 01:15:33 PM

Thanks, guess I´ll have to carry my Spirit today

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2009, 01:43:36 PM

Great review and piccies mate

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2009, 01:46:39 PM

Nice write up!

BTW, that Rally multi-function driver/opener/stripper is an awesome thing. The magnetized Phillips head is extremely good (and not at all slippery

)

I gotta start carrying my Spirit more. I have a hard time working it over though--it's so pretty.

Nikos · **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2009, 02:01:14 PM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on November 21, 2009, 01:46:39 PM

Nice write up!

BTW, that Rally multi-function driver/opener/stripper is an awesome thing. The magnetized Phillips head is extremely good (and not at all slippery )

I gotta start carrying my Spirit more. I have a hard time working it over though--it's so pretty.

See? That's the difference... Some people just love working over pretty things...

TangoDown · **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2009, 06:32:26 AM

Nice score and review!

I love my Spirit and this won't be the last time I say that either.

The spirit is the first MT that convinced me to EDC a MT. Even though I have Gerbers, LM Wave, Skeletool, a few SOG's and even its big brother the SwissTool. The Spirit with its combination of size, comfort, ergonomics, capabilities and drop-dead good looks inspired me to EDC it.

max6166 · **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2009, 08:16:57 PM

Nice write up and photos!

Although you can use the "medium flat head" on the can opener for slotted screws, I think it is actually a phillips driver.

I find it often works better than the "proper" phillips head on smaller screws.

Nightshade · **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2009, 11:19:21 PM

Great photos and review!!!

Don't be afraid of using a Spirit. They can take it.

I have been put one through it's paces. Been using it for the past 13 months and it has put my old favorites on the bench. I like the tool so much I have purchased two spares.

Sazabi · **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2009, 11:26:18 PM

Quote from: Nightshade on November 22, 2009, 11:19:21 PM

Great photos and review!!!

Don't be afraid of using a Spirit. They can take it.
I have been put one through it's paces. Been using it for the past 13 months and it has put my old favorites on the bench. I like the tool so much I have purchased two spares.

BO Spirit is nice. :3

american lockpicker · **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2009, 01:34:35 AM

How consistant is the BO finish?

Zack · **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2009, 02:01:07 AM

The Bo finish on my Spirit S feels more like DLC than anything else. I use it almost daily and the only real worn spots are on the rivets.

Blackbeard · **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2009, 02:31:15 AM

Nice pics

Quote from: american lockpicker on November 23, 2009, 01:34:35 AM

How consistant is the BO finish?

Mine has some patchy areas, but not too bothersome

thebullfrog · **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2009, 06:39:37 AM

Quote from: Nightshade on November 22, 2009, 11:19:21 PM

Great photos and review!!!

Don't be afraid of using a Spirit. They can take it.
I have been put one through it's paces. Been using it for the past 13 months and it has put my old favorites on the bench. I like the tool so much I have purchased two spares.

Man that thing looks worked over. The first pic I've seen of a Spirit that actually looks like the tool gets used for something. I just found my Spirit's first battle scar today. A couple of fairly deep gouges on the small flat head. I've never used that tool so I can't even figure out how they got there. At first I was kinda upset that my precious Spirit was no longer pristine. On the other hand, I don't have to be afraid to use the thing any more. Time to start really putting it through it's paces I guess

Dunc · **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2009, 03:03:38 PM

Quote from: Nightshade on November 22, 2009, 11:19:21 PM

Great photos and review!!!

Don't be afraid of using a Spirit. They can take it.
I have been put one through it's paces. Been using it for the past 13 months and it has put my old favorites on the bench. I like the tool so much I have purchased two spares.

Hows the phillips driver holding up ? All my one on my Swisstools get chewed up quite easily .Any chance of a close up pic ?

Dunc

american lockpicker · **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2009, 01:41:35 AM

Quote from: Dunc on November 23, 2009, 03:03:38 PM

Quote from: Nightshade on November 22, 2009, 11:19:21 PM
Great photos and review!!!

Don't be afraid of using a Spirit. They can take it.
I have been put one through it's paces. Been using it for the past 13 months and it has put my old favorites on the bench. I like the tool so much I have purchased two spares.

Hows the phillips driver holding up ? All my one on my Swisstools get chewed up quite easily .Any chance of a close up pic ?

Dunc

Could that be because you use them on pozidrive screws?

Benner · **Reply #17 on:** November 24, 2009, 01:44:01 AM

It's because they are all slippery.

Dunc · **Reply #18 on:** November 24, 2009, 03:38:16 AM

Quote from: american lockpicker on November 24, 2009, 01:41:35 AM

Quote from: Dunc on November 23, 2009, 03:03:38 PM
Quote from: Nightshade on November 22, 2009, 11:19:21 PM
Great photos and review!!!

Don't be afraid of using a Spirit. They can take it.
I have been put one through it's paces. Been using it for the past 13 months and it has put my old favorites on the bench. I like the tool so much I have purchased two spares.

Hows the phillips driver holding up ? All my one on my Swisstools get chewed up quite easily .Any chance of a close up pic ?

Dunc

Could that be because you use them on pozidrive screws?

I use it on any screw it will fit . The same as I do with any other brand .

Dunc

american lockpicker · **Reply #19 on:** November 24, 2009, 04:06:08 AM

Well that shouldn't be a problem for me. Here in a week or so my bit kit will arive and I'll be EDCing a Schroder screwdriver.

Nightshade · **Reply #20 on:** November 24, 2009, 04:18:28 AM

Hows the phillips driver holding up ? All my one on my Swisstools get chewed up quite easily .Any chance of a close up pic ?

Dunc
[/quote]

Dunc,

It's holding up well. The Vic phillips profile is a compromise, as are all of the MT manufacturers.

I do like the steel used for the Swisstools. The steel has a tendency to flex and bend a bit when being pushed too hard. It's a clear and certain warning to stop and find a dedicated tool. I like that as opposed to some of the other multitools that are of a more "brittle" nature.

Edited to add a photo, and to exhibit horrid photography skills.

Mercury · **Reply #21 on:** March 05, 2010, 07:10:58 PM

Quote from: Nightshade on November 24, 2009, 04:18:28 AM

Hows the phillips driver holding up ? All my one on my Swisstools get chewed up quite easily .Any chance of a close up pic ?

Dunc

Dunc,

It's holding up well. The Vic phillips profile is a compromise, as are all of the MT manufacturers.

I do like the steel used for the Swisstools. The steel has a tendency to flex and bend a bit when being pushed too hard. It's a clear and certain warning to stop and find a dedicated tool. I like that as opposed to some of the other multitools that are of a more "brittle" nature.

Edited to add a photo, and to exhibit horrid photography skills.

[/quote]

I love to edc my cybertool along with the spirit, so the phillips thing is usually not an issue for me. Although today I found a particularly stubborn little smurf screw that chewed it up a little, and since my cybertool is still in Rotokid's shop getting some upgrades, I had to use the spirit. I eventually got up and went to find a dedicated screwdriver as my work doesn't pay for my multi's.

Also, LM has particularly brittle tools, they actually shatter if you do it right!

Zed · **Reply #22 on:** March 05, 2010, 07:18:48 PM

good review ,

Magic Bus · **Reply #23 on:** March 05, 2010, 08:32:29 PM

Quote from: zed6309 on March 05, 2010, 07:18:48 PM

good review ,

You know what you gotta do Paul

GET ONE !!!!!

WhichDawg · **Reply #24 on:** March 07, 2010, 12:24:47 AM

Quote from: gadgetguy35 on March 05, 2010, 07:10:58 PM

The steel has a tendency to flex and bend a bit when being pushed too hard. It's a clear and certain warning to stop and find a dedicated tool. I like that as opposed to some of the other multitools that are of a more "brittle" nature.

I have noticed this when using my Spirit "hard" and like you "backed off."
a good point to make

hawkchucker · **Reply #25 on:** March 07, 2010, 12:27:02 AM

I still dont get the blade on it? It is just strange..

Mercury · **Reply #26 on:** March 07, 2010, 12:41:39 AM

I thought I didn't like the blade either, and when i made the trade for mine, I thought I was getting an S model. I was a little disappointed but as I used the spirit, I realized that I never used the main blade on my LM blast, but I always needed a serrated blade. I always carry some other sort of SAK anyway so the blunt serrated blade works perfect for me. As a rule I always have at least two blades on me. 3=2. 2=1. 1= none.

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