Alox Soldier... Wenger or Vic?

[TheDude]

Why?

[Chako]

Both...because.

[sticktodrum]

Both...because.

This.

If not both, Wenger. The sharper awl and bale make it a nicer piece. Plus...it's rarer I believe.

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[Zed]

Both nice but like the hollow rivet on the wenger for a leather lanyard plus great awl 

[Jetbo]

The Victorinox gets my vote just due to the Wenger SI is now so hard to find and will cost you at least 2x of much if not more.

[Zed]

I thought they stopped making vic soldiers around 08  and the si has not long stopped preduction 

[Chako]

Here are some Wenger SI's to get this topic off the ground.

From left to right: 71, 74, 75, 83, 91, 01, and an 08/09 with no date on the blade.

















The 91 I got for a song and a dance because it has someone's name engraved on the blade. I do not mind as it is part of that knifes history. Here is the blade.

[AimlessWanderer]

Why?

Neither! No scissors, no corkscrew, no toothpick, no tweezers

[nate j]

Vic, because the F&F is just a shade better on my alox soldiers (Vic) than my SI (Wenger).

[sticktodrum]

Well, if you're going with the Vic, I'd say just go with a Pioneer. You'll get the same toolset and skip the inflated prices.

[jerseydevil]

Never even seen a Vic Soldier in person, but I've owned and used an SI for some time now.  I have three of them at the moment, one unused, one I got for $5 at a flea market that was practically brand new, and one with scissors.  SI's are tanks. 

[PTRSAK]

wow, wish the etching on the blade of my 100 Year SI was that dark.



Mine was someone's user and while the etching is still sharp it is only a matt finish on the shiny surface, not nice and contrasty like this.

[nate j]

Well, if you're going with the Vic, I'd say just go with a Pioneer. You'll get the same toolset and skip the inflated prices.

First, I find the key ring attachment on the 93mm alox SAKs too uncomfortable in use to consider carrying any SAK that has it.

Second, I bought all my alox Soldiers before they were discontinued.  At that time, the alox Soldier, Pioneer, and SI were all about the same price IIRC.  The Soldier was the clear winner in my book, however, which is how I ended up with one SI, one Pioneer (if I haven't given it away...), and about half a dozen Soldiers.

[sticktodrum]

Well, if you're going with the Vic, I'd say just go with a Pioneer. You'll get the same toolset and skip the inflated prices.

First, I find the key ring attachment on the 93mm alox SAKs too uncomfortable in use to consider carrying any SAK that has it.

Second, I bought all my alox Soldiers before they were discontinued.  At that time, the alox Soldier, Pioneer, and SI were all about the same price IIRC.  The Soldier was the clear winner in my book, however, which is how I ended up with one SI, one Pioneer (if I haven't given it away...), and about half a dozen Soldiers.

Well...if you have half a dozen Soldiers, I'm a bit jealous. Since the OP sounded like he's thinking of buying one, I'd still say the Pioneer is a better choice since one could just file down the ring attachment and then have the same setup without paying a premium for a tang stamp and shield.

Personally, I actually like the keyring and haven't found it bothersome at all, but that's just me.

[Chako]

Why even bother filing it down? A key ring is always handy and I have found, never in the way. And if you are going for a Pioneer...why not a Farmer?

[sticktodrum]

I agree. As I said, I like the keyring and prefer models with it.

A Farmer is a good choice, but I assume the OP just wants a 2-layer... Now if only the Harvester had a keyring.

[CanadianLMfan]

Both...because.

 

[Smaug]

You do realize they're collectible now, right? That means guys like Chako are hoarding them and driving prices up.

Get either one; whichever one you can find at the better price in good condition. They're basically the same.

Then, get a Pioneer to actually use.

[sticktodrum]

Yeah...I picked up a Soldier and an SI not long ago, and I wish they weren't so pricey so that I could get one to use. But oh well, mine are NIB, and will remain my precious fondling toys forever.

[derekmac]

Next time our airport chapel has a sale, and I find out about it in time, I'll have to post here.  All Alox knives are $3, regardless of condition.  I bought a like new 97 Soldier, which has now been modded, and last trip I got a red 98 Pioneer.  The problem with these sales are I only ever find out about them the day of or the day before, and I never get the chance to get to the bank to get cash out.

You can usually get a bulk discount too if you buy enough stuff from them.  They are not too sticky on the prices as they get the stuff for free and sell it to help support the chapel.


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[Chako]

I wish there was something like that up here. I am lucky to find a few SAKs for sale in a big box store like Crappy Tire. 

[k12cop]

I'll  say Wenger...cause Vic didn't make a 1972, my birth year

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[firiki]

Victorinox for me. The bail on the SI looks cool but there's the risk of damaging the blade with it and I'm not sure I like the hollow rivet.

Another point is that Vic steel is easy to sharpen. (I must say I only ever tried to sharpen exactly one Wenger -that probably needed regrinding too- and I couldn't put any edge worth mentioning of on it.)

[Marius]

Bails can be easily removed. Also not all Wenger SIs came with bails on.

Both are nice and both are collectable today. The last SIs 'sans croix' included.

[Grathr]

I prefer the SI because of the bail and the awl. I managed to get myself a few while the prices where still low. One of them is my EDC tool.

[sticktodrum]

Yeah...that awl is awl that and a bag of Vics. 

[magentus]

SI just because of the bail - I wish the Farmer had one too....................

[papercut]

My red farmer has a bail, hehe.  And it is not so flippity floppity as the one on he SI, so there is less risk of it nicking the blade.    I even have a beat up old red cross pioneer with a bail.  It seems I am buried in bails, lol. 

[sticktodrum]

The bails on the older Soldats don't flop around, it seems just the later SIs have that. Although now that I tried it with a lanyard it doesn't ever get in the way of the blade.