To be clear, I do not have a problem with bladeless tools in their own right.
My disagreement is more nuanced. The issue is being framed such that a SAK is a weapon, and it appears that victorinox is responding within that narrative frame. This is the quote that concerned me: “In some markets, the blade creates an image of a weapon.“
The “blade” isn’t creating the image, a narrative is being constructed (by dishonest people, imo) and that is what creates the image.
I think Vic would be better served long term to try and educate why a knife, especially a SAK, is a tool and not a weapon. And if they want to have bladeless models to meet demand, fine. Just not as an apparent capitulation to the crazies. They will never be satisfied anyway.
Victorinox is just being like water. It goes around the rock to regroup on the other side and continue on it's way. Vic is not saying the knife is a weapon, the GOVERNMENT is saying so. Vic is just trying to continue to sell tools.
By the way, I agree with you and the other poster a ove who makes the "civilization" argument. People should be trusted in polite society, not suspected.
Leatherman makes (made?) a bladeless Rebar. Did we have this same argument back then? Probably, now that I think of it