Swiza Swiss Army Knives

[ducttapetech]

Your take is correct. There are easier to clean and don't built up junk as much. These one on this new knife seem to be very smooth and polished. I doubt they well scratch or catch a finger nail. But then again, I could be wrong. I would love to hold the SK in person.

That's us mobile.
Nate

[SAK Guy]

I'm a traditional SAK guy, these are too "modern" for me.

The only way I see me buying one of these is if they incorporate a light sabre into it and then, it would have to be reasonably priced with free shipping..

[twiliter]

I'm a traditional SAK guy, these are too "modern" for me.

The only way I see me buying one of these is if they incorporate a light sabre into it and then, it would have to be reasonably priced with free shipping..

+1 And beside the light sabre a folding wand from Ollivander's. 

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I want one with a wood saw. Can it be modded? Has anyone seen my pants?

[beerbaron]

The question everyone should be asking-

"Which one would MacGyver use?" 

[TonySal]

The question everyone should be asking-

"Which one would MacGyver use?" 

Old topic- but still- Swiza? NEVER!!!!

[SAK Guy]

The question everyone should be asking-

"Which one would MacGyver use?" 

Old topic- but still- Swiza? NEVER!!!!

 

[shibafu]

The question everyone should be asking-

"Which one would MacGyver use?" 

Old topic- but still- Swiza? NEVER!!!!

Not until Swiza offer more money than Victorinox anyway

If they switch to Swiza they'll run out of episode names much sooner though

[Oxford_Guy]

Swiza knives are all useless to me, as they lock, so not legal carry in the UK. Wish they offered non-locking versions for all models as an option, then I might be interested.

[Oxford_Guy]

Swiza knives are all useless to me, as they lock, so not legal carry in the UK. Wish they offered non-locking versions for all models as an option, then I might be interested.

BTW I've actually email Swiza to ask if they have any plans to offer non-locking versions, maybe others who'd like to see this could also harass them ask them about this?

Contact details here:
http://www.swiza.com/en/Brand/Services/Contact/Contact.html

[shibafu]

BTW I've actually email Swiza to ask if they have any plans to offer non-locking versions, maybe others who'd like to see this could also harass them ask them about this?

I hope they will.  It would be incredibly trivial for them to do.  The backspring is strong enough already.

[sawman]

They're STILL making these???

[Corwyn]

They're STILL making these???

Not only that, but they're churning out new colours and a blunt version:

[firiki]

They're STILL making these???

Not only that, but they're churning out new colours and a blunt version:

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Coz funky colours and patterns on the handle are an integral part of a knife's good construction quality [/sakazm]

Blunt version I can understand but I don't think that's what this wannabe-SAKs line is missing at the moment.

[alexTOOL]

They're STILL making these???

I can´t understand so much hate against this brand

If you don´t like them then don´t buy them

And live and let live

P.S.: And I don´t own any Swiza knife, but I wouldn´t care if they fill my needs in certain moment

[Mechanickal]

In white it looks like a tampon 

And for the retail price of €30, I would see myself buying an Opinel no.8 with plastic handle before a Swiza. Unless I would stubmle across one for a bargain.
Or when more positive reviews show up I might consider one... just not in white 

[NetsNJ]

I recently got a black D03 (corkscrew instead of the much-maligned phillips).  I don't get the hate for these.  (The obnoxious way their marketing took on Victorinox and claimed to reinvent the SAK definitely left a bad taste in my mouth, but the knife itself is fine.)  I think it is a pretty nice knife.  I really like the push-button liner lock, robust tweezers, and inline awl.  I don't mind the weak backspring on the can opener.  I haven't found the tools sticking out to be uncomfortable in the hand, but the claim that this knife is "ergonomic" is definitely misleading.  The curve takes some getting used to (i.e., the blade pointing "down" not "straight") but it hasn't gotten in the way.  The awl is sharp and inline is of course awesome, but it could definitely be a bit beefier.  Both screwdrivers have worked fine for me for light tasks, but I haven't hard-tested them.  (The beefy can opener but tapered large flathead is definitely puzzling though.)  The rubbery coating feels great but I can't see it lasting long in the pocket or tossed in a bag.  I have the black, but any of the other colors they offer seem like dirt magnets.  Also, love the stainless steel liners.  Stainless steel liners and inline awl instead of small blade are really things I'd like to see on 91mm Vics.

Overall, I like it a lot and look forward to their future offerings.  When will they add the pharmaceutical spatula?  That said, I am saying that as a collector and SAK (or SAK-style) nut.  For a general schmo, I can't see recommending this knife when one could get a Vic Tinker or Spartan for half the price. 

I am disappointed that their new models are just scale variations or a rounded blade tip.  It has been a year since they launched these tools, time to start adding new tools.  They have probably designed themselves into a bit of a corner here, given how the opener layer tools line up perfectly with the blade profile.  Not sure how they'd add more layers, the tools would have to stick out even more.

[zoidberg]

In white it looks like a tampon 

And for the retail price of €30, I would see myself buying an Opinel no.8 with plastic handle before a Swiza. Unless I would stubmle across one for a bargain.
Or when more positive reviews show up I might consider one... just not in white 

Probably best to avoid the used ones as well, in red.   

[Mechanickal]

In white it looks like a tampon 

And for the retail price of €30, I would see myself buying an Opinel no.8 with plastic handle before a Swiza. Unless I would stubmle across one for a bargain.
Or when more positive reviews show up I might consider one... just not in white 

Probably best to avoid the used ones as well, in red.   

[firiki]

I can´t understand so much hate against this brand

No place for hate in firiki's life but... strong dislike for the marketing approach SWIZA took yes there's plenty of that.

Indirectly bashing at Victorinox (and Wenger, to be fair) as obsolete relics and claiming to have re-invented the SAK and then trying to cash in the very heritage of those two companies while only offering a silly, hipsterized copy of a SAK is too much insolence for this SAKnight

Besides, what an innovative can opener design

[jalind]

The D01 and D02 are very minimalist. Blade, awl, Wenger style tweezers, and either corkscrew or Phillips. Strange combination for a single layer. Would have been better to have a combo opener and flat tip blade instead of an awl. D03 and D04 are like a Spartan or Tinker without the pen blade and toothpick. At 83mm they're more the size of a Small Tinker or Tourist/Sportsman, or an Evolution S101 or S111 with locking blade, again without the pen blade and toothpick. I'm ambivalent about a locking blade in a knife this size. If it's available I'll take that model variant; if it's not I'll do without. Equally ambivalent about the "soft feel" scales or the hilt's curved shape. In a knife this size, a straight or curved hilt doesn't make much difference unless you're using it continuously for many hours each day.

Street Price: too high, almost 2x the Tinker and Spartan street price; significantly higher than the Evolution S101/S111.

Dealbreaker: no toothpick!
(seriously)

John

[Etherealicer]

[...]I don't get the hate for these.[...]

There are three good things about the Swiza
- The feel of the scales
- The lock release
- Their warranty service (at least it was in my case)

There are lots of bad things:
- I broke the small screwdriver and the Phillips in my tests, where the 91mm took no damage.
- The hole in the blade collects dirt and is really bad if you want to spread butter or something (so does the nail nick, but not nearly as much).
- For me the grip is uncomfortable, as I grip over the tools (and there is only one layer, as the other is open).
- Poor use of space

To me those cons outweigh the pros by a huge margin. So a (for me) bad product with a totally boastful marketing campaign makes me dislike the product.

[alexTOOL]

I recently got a black D03 (corkscrew instead of the much-maligned phillips).  I don't get the hate for these.  (The obnoxious way their marketing took on Victorinox and claimed to reinvent the SAK definitely left a bad taste in my mouth, but the knife itself is fine.)  I think it is a pretty nice knife.  I really like the push-button liner lock, robust tweezers, and inline awl.  I don't mind the weak backspring on the can opener.  I haven't found the tools sticking out to be uncomfortable in the hand, but the claim that this knife is "ergonomic" is definitely misleading.  The curve takes some getting used to (i.e., the blade pointing "down" not "straight") but it hasn't gotten in the way.  The awl is sharp and inline is of course awesome, but it could definitely be a bit beefier.  Both screwdrivers have worked fine for me for light tasks, but I haven't hard-tested them.  (The beefy can opener but tapered large flathead is definitely puzzling though.)  The rubbery coating feels great but I can't see it lasting long in the pocket or tossed in a bag.  I have the black, but any of the other colors they offer seem like dirt magnets.  Also, love the stainless steel liners.  Stainless steel liners and inline awl instead of small blade are really things I'd like to see on 91mm Vics.

Overall, I like it a lot and look forward to their future offerings.  When will they add the pharmaceutical spatula?  That said, I am saying that as a collector and SAK (or SAK-style) nut.  For a general schmo, I can't see recommending this knife when one could get a Vic Tinker or Spartan for half the price. 

I am disappointed that their new models are just scale variations or a rounded blade tip.  It has been a year since they launched these tools, time to start adding new tools.  They have probably designed themselves into a bit of a corner here, given how the opener layer tools line up perfectly with the blade profile.  Not sure how they'd add more layers, the tools would have to stick out even more.

You pay for the lockin blade, not comparable.
Similar price to a Wenger/Victorinox Evolutions with locking blade, have a look and check it! 

Just saying 

[shibafu]

You pay for the lockin blade, not comparable.
Similar price to a Wenger/Victorinox Evolutions with locking blade, have a look and check it! 

Just saying 

If that means a non-locking version, which they really should make, would be much cheaper, then I'm sure a lot of people will be very happy

[NetsNJ]

AlexTool, fair point!

[Oxford_Guy]

You pay for the lockin blade, not comparable.
Similar price to a Wenger/Victorinox Evolutions with locking blade, have a look and check it! 

Just saying 

If that means a non-locking version, which they really should make, would be much cheaper, then I'm sure a lot of people will be very happy

Quite, with a lock it's basically no-go for us UK peeps as an EDC

[maxt]

I really do not understand the hate. So, they said they reinvented SAK. Who cares what thay said )
I do not have Swiza myself (yet) but I have been following many posts about them for a year now. Most reviews are positive. Almost everyone says that the handles are great and lock-release is cool. They make new scales and the blunt blade - it is not a step up, but at least something. Let us wish them new models and see how they develop.

[jalind]

You pay for the lockin blade, not comparable.
Similar price to a Wenger/Victorinox Evolutions with locking blade, have a look and check it! 

Just saying 

I mentioned the Vic Delemont Evo S101 and S111 specifically because those have locking blades versus the Small Tinker and Sportsman (or Tourist). The D03 and D04 street prices are significantly higher, by 50%, than what I found for the Evolution S101 and S111. In addition, the Evolution deliver more tools with an awl, clip blade, toothpick, and IMHO better tweezers than the Wenger design Swiza's using. I keep seeing references to the Swiza Phillips having some issues but haven't seen the details anywhere. Swiza's marketing doesn't matter too much to me as I don't pay much attention to the typical hype from any company.

John

[alexTOOL]

You pay for the lockin blade, not comparable.
Similar price to a Wenger/Victorinox Evolutions with locking blade, have a look and check it! 

Just saying 

I mentioned the Vic Delemont Evo S101 and S111 specifically because those have locking blades versus the Small Tinker and Sportsman (or Tourist). The D03 and D04 street prices are significantly higher, by 50%, than what I found for the Evolution S101 and S111. In addition, the Evolution deliver more tools with an awl, clip blade, toothpick, and IMHO better tweezers than the Wenger design Swiza's using. I keep seeing references to the Swiza Phillips having some issues but haven't seen the details anywhere. Swiza's marketing doesn't matter too much to me as I don't pay much attention to the typical hype from any company.

John

The Swiza are bigger

And innovation (rubber grip, similar to Soft touch scales in Wenger).

Imagine a S101 or S111 but bigger and with soft touch scales (in different colors!) >>>>> more expensive even!
And the Wenger locking system with tab is crap! Bad ergonomics!

[Etherealicer]

I really do not understand the hate. So, they said they reinvented SAK. Who cares what thay said )
I do not have Swiza myself (yet) but I have been following many posts about them for a year now. Most reviews are positive. Almost everyone says that the handles are great and lock-release is cool. They make new scales and the blunt blade - it is not a step up, but at least something. Let us wish them new models and see how they develop.

The handles are nice, but that alone makes not a good tool. Poor ergonomics (tools are sticking out and you have to grip over them), poor use of space, blade at an odd angle (you probably get used to that quickly), poor tool quality (I have ruined the tip of two small screwdriver, the Phillips and blunted the awl on its first use. All during applications, where the Victorinox tools showed no wear), weak back-spring on the non-locking tools.

As a Victorinox fan I of course also care what they say about Victorinox.
As someone from Switzerland I strongly dislike anyone who is boastful.