Swiza D04 - thoughts after 10 days of use

[firiki]

In vino veritas!   

Nunc est bibendum 

[AimlessWanderer]

And as one further not, I will also say I have had a few G&Ts this evening, and reserve the right to read this comment tomorrow and realise I've been talking out of the wrong orifice 

Apart from a couple of typos everything seems in order to me

Good too heer 


 


 


 

[firiki]

I keep getting a feeling, lately, that more and more pocket tools are aimed at a public that buys the idea of a tool rather than an actual tool that offers value for money I hope that makes sense.

I agree. I think that's a big part of the attraction of swiss army knives for people, not to say that they aren't high quality. But there is definitely a coolness/wow factor in SAKs. We like gadgets and a sak is a gadget full of gadgets. Go go gadget saw! You hear people say it all the time "I'll probably never need it but it's nice to know I have it". A SAK is always cool because look it even has a hook!

If they had consulted me I would have asked for a hard use tool. Something with an inline Phillips driver. Made to look and be tough. But I don't think swiza had another option because it just wouldn't appeal to the general population. They needed the " swiss army knife redesigned" concept to reel people in. A company like leatherman only appeals to a certain crowd but this new swiza will look cool to a lot of different people who like that idea/concept of what a swiss army knife is. They see it as less of a tool, and more of a do everything, be prepared gadget. They're not concerned with whether or not they need it. I mean, do I really need a wrissmurfch with a grappling hook in it? Nah, but I'd pay a lot of money for one.

For me personally, the tinker is a super useful and practical tool but there is definitely a cool/geek factor. People will always say "is that a Swiss army knife can I see it wow cool" Some guys will snicker at it and look away. And I know they're sad on the inside because they didn't get to open all the shiny gadgets.

Truer words were never spoken (typed?). 

The problem with SWIZA is that they pretend to be something they're not while addressing to the general population that they need to convince. A SAK has almost universal acceptance for a number of reasons, marketing surely is one of them but not the most decisive one; I think self-evident quality is the main reason for that.

this new swiza will look cool to a lot of different people who like that idea/concept of what a swiss army knife is. They see it as less of a tool, and more of a do everything, be prepared gadget. They're not concerned with whether or not they need it.

Yes, these are a part of the people I'm talking about. Another part are the people that will just buy something, the first thing they think fits the bill for them and never look back until one day they discover the unpleasant truth the hard way. I know a couple of those . I don't know whether I should be putting the blame on consumers or manufacturers for some tools that seem useless and even dangerous to me.

 I have a love/hate relationship with one-piece-tools (OPTs), by the way. I hate most of them and I love it

[firiki]

I keep getting a feeling, lately, that more and more pocket tools are aimed at a public that buys the idea of a tool rather than an actual tool that offers value for money I hope that makes sense.

I think this is very true.  You can see it when you look at the Amazon reviews of cheap SAK-alikes that you know are of absolutely horrible quality (yes I bought one once ) and see how many happy customers leave 4 or 5 star reviews.

Good point! There are plenty of Amazon reviews that leave me ---> -wondering what have I missed. Probably people rating products without really using them any?

[SAK Guy]

In vino veritas!   

Nunc est bibendum 

Saying that 3 times makes me Horace.....

 

[firiki]

most just give 5 stars because it arrived on time and it looks nice..

I wish amazon would "clear out" all the useless reviews..

As i said many times before Multitools and SAKs are seen/are just gadgets to most people.  They are bought for showing off or showing someone your love and they are never used for anything else..

Yes, fast shipping is often the product's main good point on lots of reviews

I've said in another thread too that MTs are considered as gimmicks by the vast majority of people here, including the SAK despite its good reputation. I can't say I blame them, there's so much junk around it's not even funny.

Amazon won't clear the reviews because if it sells a lot then it must be good, right?

[firiki]

In vino veritas!   

Nunc est bibendum 

Saying that 3 times makes me Horace.....



 

Not Ovid or Cicero? 

[firiki]

This disgusts me.

I bought a 128 GB USB drive from E-Bay as it has 2300 reviews at 99% positive and of course it was a 8 GB dupe and he would not refund.

On the local auctions website there are two sellers specializing in Casio G-Shocks, one has 1800 reviews at 99% positive and the other has 700 reviews at 98% positive... they only sell fake G-Shocks, but they are listed as original

What is behind this behaviour, in your opinion? Honestly, I have no clue

[SAK Guy]

In vino veritas!   

Nunc est bibendum 

Saying that 3 times makes me Horace.....



 

Not Ovid or Cicero? 

I thought that was Ovidious.....

[zoidberg]

In vino veritas!   

Nunc est bibendum 

Saying that 3 times makes me Horace.....



 

Not Ovid or Cicero? 

I thought that was Ovidious.....

    

[Storky]

Hi,

there is a hole/gap in the spring for the can opener. What do you
mean any chance to use this (keyring or anything else)?

[Amedio]

I got my D04 2 days ago and all the back springs, except the can opener, are very strong. I am thinking about cutting the liner lock and make it a non lock. The spring is stronger than my 91mm Victorinox and I don't like locking blades.

I have no complains about ergonomics, if I hold it like a hammer I can feel the the tools sticking out. But I don't use my knife like a hammer. It doesn't bother me at all in actual use.

The blade is sharp enough to shave my arm. The main downsides for me are:
- The shape of the Philips, too pointy.
- The large flat screwdriver is very thin, I am afraid of using it in pry tasks as I usually do with Vics.
- No keyring


Overall I like it, I don't mind the holes in the blade. It is easier to open and that is a big plus for me during the winter.

Since our impressions about the back springs are so different, I wonder if they are still changing things in the first series.

[Storky]

I agree with you about the large flat SD. Good tension on backspring and
90 degree half stop but very thin 
The can opener seems stronger and more usable for pry works but here the
spring is really weak.
The spring tension on the large blade, the phillips and the awl are good. For
me is the locking blade and the good "blade size - cutting edge length" ratio
the best advantages of the SWIZAs.

[WWW]

does the blade tip lift up past the handles when you close the phillips drivers?

[Storky]

does the blade tip lift up past the handles when you close the phillips drivers?

Not on my two layer D04, but there are several reports this happens on the one layer models 

[Storky]

Sorry, double Post 

does the blade tip lift up past the handles when you close the phillips drivers?

Not on my two layer D04, but there are several reports this happens on the one layer models 

[Etherealicer]

I got my D04 2 days ago and all the back springs, except the can opener, are very strong. I am thinking about cutting the liner lock and make it a non lock. The spring is stronger than my 91mm Victorinox and I don't like locking blades.

I have no complains about ergonomics, if I hold it like a hammer I can feel the the tools sticking out. But I don't use my knife like a hammer. It doesn't bother me at all in actual use.

The blade is sharp enough to shave my arm. The main downsides for me are:
- The shape of the Philips, too pointy.
- The large flat screwdriver is very thin, I am afraid of using it in pry tasks as I usually do with Vics.
- No keyring


Overall I like it, I don't mind the holes in the blade. It is easier to open and that is a big plus for me during the winter.

Since our impressions about the back springs are so different, I wonder if they are still changing things in the first series.

Yup, large flat has a strong spring in mine too...
Weak are for the can-opener, Phillips, awl and main blade (although its no problem as it is locking). I'm surprised that the spring on your blade is strong enough you consider removing the lock. That is both good and bad news (I like me some strong spring, but it also means inconsistency in production).

I ruined both Phillips and small screwdrivers on the first use. Then I purposefully tortured the large flat a bit and it held up.

I mostly hold my blades with the pointer finger on the back of the blade. With the Swiza my ring finger exactly grips over the thin large flat and that is quite uncomfortable.

[Storky]

The more I play around with it, the more I like my D04 
For me it comes in handy on daily light use where it works fine.
So it work as designed with proper quality and fresh look and feel.

[BASguy]

For a first series, they look to be onto something.  They really need to add the tweezers


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

[leathermon]

Really great reviews guys, you are really starting to make me want one. Anyone know if there is a timeline when they will start selling in the states.

[SAK Guy]

I thought the very first review was especially good!! 

[Fast Bill]

And as one further not, I will also say I have had a few G&Ts this evening, and reserve the right to read this comment tomorrow and realise I've been talking out of the wrong orifice 

Apart from a couple of typos everything seems in order to me

Good too heer 


 


 


 

The impotent question is actually "Which Gin?" ...

[WWW]

Sorry, double Post 

does the blade tip lift up past the handles when you close the phillips drivers?

Not on my two layer D04, but there are several reports this happens on the one layer models 

No problems and thanks for the response. A few tweaks here and there and Swiza would go from good to great.

[AimlessWanderer]

And as one further not, I will also say I have had a few G&Ts this evening, and reserve the right to read this comment tomorrow and realise I've been talking out of the wrong orifice 

Apart from a couple of typos everything seems in order to me

Good too heer 


 


 


 

The impotent question is actually "Which Gin?" ...

Gordons.... I'd run out of Hendricks 

[powernoodle]

I don't see these available anywhere in the Colonies.

[Fast Bill]

And as one further not, I will also say I have had a few G&Ts this evening, and reserve the right to read this comment tomorrow and realise I've been talking out of the wrong orifice 

Apart from a couple of typos everything seems in order to me

Good too heer 


 


 


 

The impotent question is actually "Which Gin?" ...

Gordons.... I'd run out of Hendricks 

Ah well, any portable snort in a storm eh ? I'm rather partial to Adnams gin

[Etherealicer]

And as one further not, I will also say I have had a few G&Ts this evening, and reserve the right to read this comment tomorrow and realise I've been talking out of the wrong orifice 

Apart from a couple of typos everything seems in order to me

Good too heer 


 


 


 

The impotent question is actually "Which Gin?" ...

Gordons.... I'd run out of Hendricks 

Ah well, any portable snort in a storm eh ? I'm rather partial to Adnams gin

Hendricks is nice, I also quite like the Bombay Sapphire regular and east but my favorite is of course the one with Edelweiss in it (right bottle)

[firiki]

So, XELLENT is a spirits maker? I tought is was a vodka.

[Etherealicer]

So, XELLENT is a spirits maker? I tought is was a vodka.

Xellent is a branch of a larger Swiss Spirit maker that makes high class Spirits (currently vodka & gin). I think they started with the vodka and due to its success expanded with the gin. The current market is good for high quality, stylish, Swiss products. So, I would not be surprised if the line up grew even more.

[Fast Bill]

So, XELLENT is a spirits maker? I tought is was a vodka.

Xellent is a branch of a larger Swiss Spirit maker that makes high class Spirits (currently vodka & gin). I think they started with the vodka and due to its success expanded with the gin. The current market is good for high quality, stylish, Swiss products. So, I would not be surprised if the line up grew even more.

Good Gin there ... but that's not a SAK is it ? Shurely Shome Mishtake ?