What's awesome about the Victorinox can opener?

[radiola]

Hello all!

I have a Wenger Evo S18 which I'm sending for repair (blade lock failed). For no good reason, I took this as an excuse to buy a smaller and lighter Delémont S16. (I wish I'd gotten the Wenger S16 while I could.)

I like the Victorinox awl/reamer, but I can't tell how the Vic can opener is better than the Wenger one. I know it has a screwdriver tip, but the S16 already has flat-head and Phillips drivers. The Wenger can opener makes a good cutting blade and I don't think the Vic one is arranged as well for that. OTOH, I've never really wanted to cut open a can with my SAK.

But, I often don't know what I'm talking about. (I'm in IT; it goes with the job.) So... tell me why the Victorinox can opener is in fact the best thing since sliced bread. I know you can. 

[smiller43147]

It's a really handy tool.  Not having it is the only reason I don't carry my Teton that much.  Aside from being a small flat driver, and working on several sizes of phillips, it's just a great little pry tool.  It's hands down the greatest staple remover I've ever used.

[zoidberg]

I've never had much success opening a can with sliced bread.      Welcome to the boards mate.   

[NetsNJ]

I can't tell how the Vic can opener is better than the Wenger one.

That's because it isn't better.  Purely as a can opener I think Wenger is substantially better.  The screwdriver tip is nice though.  Compromises, YMMV.

I wish Victorinox had left the can opener and awl alone on the Wenger line.  Changing the Tweezers and toothpick over to Vic style was an improvement though.   

[mrynnr]

[SAK Guy]

I've never had much success opening a can with sliced bread.      Welcome to the boards mate.   

+1  Welcome!!

[WoodMan]

See! The corkscrew is superfluous.  Always go with the Phillips!

[Demel]

See! The corkscrew is superfluous.  Always go with the Phillips!

I'm not a wine drinker but I DO want to try that!!!

[Barry Rowland]

Welcome aboard Radiola!!  +1 on that.  I just like the Wenger scissors and can opener better.  I have to say, though, that either one is an awesome tool and a lot more fun than any electric can opener could ever be.  Look what MacGyver did with his can opener on his Spartan in the episode "Cleo Rocks", using it as a hook to pull a release pin to save himself and Pete Thornton....not gonna happen with any other kind of can opener!!

I can't tell how the Vic can opener is better than the Wenger one.

That's because it isn't better.  Purely as a can opener I think Wenger is substantially better.  The screwdriver tip is nice though.  Compromises, YMMV.

I wish Victorinox had left the can opener and awl alone on the Wenger line.  Changing the Tweezers and toothpick over to Vic style was an improvement though.   

[Aloha]

I prefer the forward opening using the Vic can opener.  You can also use the can opener as a box opener and to score softer materials.  I've used it to scrape tape, paint, and glue very effectively.  I think it comes down to what you're accustomed to.

[Corwyn]

Not awesome. Not bad either.
The Wenger one was a nice pokey-thing, nail cleaner and box opener.
The Vic one seems marginally easier to use, is a good screwdriver, Philips and staple opener. (Big advantage on thin knives with corkscrew).
A bit better and more functionality, but the Wenger one had its merits.

That said, Wenger awl, scissors, toothpick and tweezers were all godawful.

[shibafu]

Look what MacGyver did with his can opener on his Spartan in the episode "Cleo Rocks", using it as a hook to pull a release pin to save himself and Pete Thornton....not gonna happen with any other kind of can opener!!

You know I saw exactly the same on an episode of Columbo the other day!  It was the one where Billy Connolly is the murderer.  Columbo says "Sergeant, do you still have that fancy penknife?"  Out comes a SAK of some sort, hard to tell exactly what, but from the size maybe a Champion.  He uses the can opener as a hook to pull up a trap door.

On the original question, I agree with the prevailing view that the Wenger is better as a pure can opener, but the Vic version is good enough as a can opener, and certainly more versatile.

[magentus]

Having used both I prefer the Vic opener purely for opening cans, and it has the added bonus of the SD.

[twiliter]

I like the Vic can opener and use them a lot, yes for cans.  That video is a little misleading, synthetic corks are very easy to remove, a fishscaler or the caplifter would work too. Natural corks are very stubborn and prone to disintegration, as anyone who has tried to remove one without a dedicated tool knows. 

[Steinar]

As a can opener, I open cans a little more slowly with the Vic, but the cut is cleaner. I mainly use it as a pry-thing or scraper, though.

[Daark]

That video is a little misleading, synthetic corks are very easy to remove, a fishscaler or the caplifter would work too. Natural corks are very stubborn and prone to disintegration, as anyone who has tried to remove one without a dedicated tool knows. 

Exactly this!
I also like the Wenger design more for the task of can opening. it is "larger" and works not so flimsy although the result with the vic is cleaner (as said before).
Overall the Vic wins because it is more versatile, the cleaner cut is "safer" to use and after all it does the job it is intended for and more, while the wenger hardly does more than can opening.

[radiola]

I'm not a wine drinker but I DO want to try that!!!

Same here. I might have to go get a bottle of something with a real cork, and try it out. I haven't yet had occasion to try the Vic opener as a box cutter, but I will.

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. I've been an off-and-on lurker for a while, and it's been fun reading the board.