Alox ... what am I missing ... ?

[Mr. Whippy]

Here's a heavily used blue Farmer:

[volbu]

Here's a heavily used blue Farmer:

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Even more beatiful used !!! cheers use it to the end!!!

[derekmac]

Here's my worn old blue. It's actually more worn than what it appears in the pics.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[tosh]

I'm in the same club as 50ft and Gareth.

I have the usual Alox's that are often found on Amazon at ridiculously cheap prices - several I think, all silver too .
And whilst I'm glad to have them, I don't get the fascination either. Yeah the red and blue versions look great in their distressed state - but long before they get that distressed patina - they simply look like a shiny new Alox but scratched - it's the fading of the colour that makes it work, otherwise they have to be absolutely Mint or the whole allure is lost.

I'd definately pocket carry the right one - but a shiny one, no thanks. I'd rather have the standard RED Cellidor. Classically timeless and totally un-threatening.
After all it's just a "swiss army knife" - lol.

[Syph007]

If you want to aid the distressed look, wet sand the top of the scale and it'll just take off the color from the raised parts.  Just like pre-worn jeans look people buy. 

[tosh]

If you want to aid the distressed look, wet sand the top of the scale and it'll just take off the color from the raised parts.  Just like pre-worn jeans look people buy. 

In theory yes.

But at $79.00 a chuck, It'd be a brave man that took wet'n'dry to a shiny new coloured Alox.

Incidentely, years ago I did a small stint as a press photographer, I was hung up on all the henri-cartier-bresson, Don McCullen life style. I read that back in the days of the true photojournalism - we're talking LIFE here, not your crappy daily tabloids. The staff Photographers would often take sandpaper or even just scrape brand new leica's, nikons along the walls, floor some even went as far as denting the pentaprisms!!  to get that war photographers distressed look. I too had a go (olympus OM1) black tho! .

Years later, I tried to part-ex it against the new A/F cameras - I got offered less than what the strap had cost me -lol.

[Syph007]

If you want to aid the distressed look, wet sand the top of the scale and it'll just take off the color from the raised parts.  Just like pre-worn jeans look people buy. 

In theory yes.

But at $79.00 a chuck, It'd be a brave man that took wet'n'dry to a shiny new coloured Alox.

Ive got some messed up red alox scales where I really messed up the holes in them.  I'll give it a try on those as a test and see what it actually looks like. 

[PTRSAK]

If you want to aid the distressed look, wet sand the top of the scale and it'll just take off the color from the raised parts.  Just like pre-worn jeans look people buy. 

In theory yes.

But at $79.00 a chuck, It'd be a brave man that took wet'n'dry to a shiny new coloured Alox.

Ive got some messed up red alox scales where I really messed up the holes in them.  I'll give it a try on those as a test and see what it actually looks like. 

Try Scotch-brite scouring pad rather than wet&dry.  It will give a much nicer effect,  it looks more "worn" than sanded. If you get them from a hardware you can get different grades rather than just the Green heavy-duty one for scrubbing pots that you will find in the supermarket.

[PTRSAK]

... or you could just pick up one that has spent 40 years in someone else's pocket.

[papercut]

I recently picked up three based on you awesome pics!

What polishing compound do you use.  The refurb of your old old metal clad sak is amazing!

[PTRSAK]

I use the wax based sticks in red, green and white on a stitched cloth wheel on my bench grinder.

The white one is what I use the most and I only have a piece a bit smaller than a golf ball left.

I wear leather riggers gloves when I'm polishing most parts as they get hot and your hands end up filthy.

You have to be careful because as well as polishing parts, the cloth wheel can propel them under the bench at 3/4 the speed of light.

[IoNForce]

Alox SAKs are so darn addictive... I'm starting to sound like a junkie   
The Vic Farmer was my first Alox, it got me hooked as soon as I touched it! The Farmer was a gift for my best friend, I had it engraved with our names (you can see it partially on the blade). Was so hard to let the SAK go, but oh well she loves SAKs too, therefore it's in good hands...

[papercut]

Wait until you have more than you can reasonably use, then you can start calling yourself a "junkie."  At that point you can always consult yourself by saying they would make great gifts...

:p

[Lynn LeFey]

In the past year, I've gifted a SOG Crosscut, and Leatherman Juice S2. Ain't nobody getting my Farmer, till they pry it from my cold, dead, covetous hands.

Why, WHY don't they make a ALOX with scissors? If the farmer had scissors, it'd be near perfect. Yes... I know, folks have modded them, but that doesn't get ME one.

[papercut]

It could be that they feel the Vic scissors are not heavy duty enough for 93, and they no longer make 84mm scissors.  Would the scissors from the Spirit fit on 93mm? 

+B, who has direct insight to Vic, has asked before and he said Alox with scissors is not gonna happen. 

[Monrogue]

Why, WHY don't they make a ALOX with scissors? If the farmer had scissors, it'd be near perfect. Yes... I know, folks have modded them, but that doesn't get ME one.

I know right?  If my Pioneer Rancher had scissors, it would definitely be one of my most carried SAKs (would like the tweezers and toothpick too).  Yeah, people mod them, but like you said, that doesn't get ME one   I am unable to mod myself, and I can't afford to pay someone a considerable amount just to get scissors added to it.   

[Monrogue]

It could be that they feel the Vic scissors are not heavy duty enough for 93, and they no longer make 84mm scissors.  Would the scissors from the Spirit fit on 93mm? 

+B, who has direct insight to Vic, has asked before and he said Alox with scissors is not gonna happen. 

Well that's depressing, and infuriating   Would it really be that hard for Vic to put scissors into an Alox model??

[KiwiMark]

I kinda wish the alox models had the toothpick & tweezers.
My favourite SAK scales are the red cellidor - such a classic trademark look!
Not that I'll be getting rid of my Cadet or Farmer - they are really nice SAKs, but the cellidor is just so recognisably Victorinox!
I also like how the cellidor wears, a worn cellidor SAK has a certain something that a shelf queen misses out on - you can see that it gets carried and used!

[Outback in Idaho]

Saw the Wenger version of the standard alox the other day, has a bail on it. It's on my wish list!

[papercut]

Don't wait too long, it is my understanding that Wenger has already ceased production on the SI. 

The bail is quite cherry, it bothered me for a bit, but after some cutting, I realized how great it is- no hand pain from the keyring and it can be used for lanyards and such. 

[Outback in Idaho]

Don't wait too long, it is my understanding that Wenger has already ceased production on the SI. 

The bail is quite cherry, it bothered me for a bit, but after some cutting, I realized how great it is- no hand pain from the keyring and it can be used for lanyards and such.

 

EDC Source got an order for one just a few minutes ago. Means no lanyards for it or my Climber for a while. They do seem to be vanishing from other online dealers. Amazon had 3 left. Other places the prices are going up. Must be a sign.

It's that awlsome attraction that will break me yet. 

[papercut]

These guys seem to have em in stock:

http://www.knifexx.com/p-2589-wenger-swiss-army-standard-issue-aluminum.aspx

Can't vouch for them either way though.

I can vouch for Felinevet and he has 7 left in stock atm.  The price difference when including shipping is not very large either.

[Outback in Idaho]

These guys seem to have em in stock:

http://www.knifexx.com/p-2589-wenger-swiss-army-standard-issue-aluminum.aspx

Can't vouch for them either way though.

I can vouch for Felinevet and he has 7 left in stock atm.  The price difference when including shipping is not very large either.

Yeah, he had 8 when I placed my order. 

[Lynn LeFey]

I'm going to second Felinevet. Not only has every order I've made (4 or 5 now) been super fast, but it's supporting a great cause.

[Outback in Idaho]

Put one of them Universal Wrenches on the end of a Farmer and would consider getting one. How can that be a real farmer tool with no wrench attachment?

[nuphoria]

I'm going to second Felinevet. Not only has every order I've made (4 or 5 now) been super fast, but it's supporting a great cause.

100% every time. Tim's a top bloke and will always try and deliver the best service he can

[Lynn LeFey]

He's my #1 go-to SAK source. In fact, I just ordered a Climber, while looking for a Super Tinker, because the difference of the backside phillips versus corkscrew means less to me than supporting him.

Now I just have to wait for the Climber.

Waiting... Waiting...........

[Outback in Idaho]

He's my #1 go-to SAK source. In fact, I just ordered a Climber, while looking for a Super Tinker, because the difference of the backside phillips versus corkscrew means less to me than supporting him.

Now I just have to wait for the Climber.

Waiting... Waiting...........

Congratulations!   

[Lynn LeFey]

Thank you. Seems I recall you just got one yourself recently.

[Outback in Idaho]

Thank you. Seems I recall you just got one yourself recently.

She wanted a friend too. Wenger Standard Issue was ordered from EDC Source - only because was informed these models are now no longer in production.
Have an awlsome attachment to awls for some obscure reason. Guess we all have a tool temptation.