INTERESTING.Will be watching.
I dont carry Gerber tools. The one I did carry was the Shard but it was left at a job. I have a couple polished big scissors older ones. They are purely for the collection. I had a couple other Gerbers but I moved them on. I just prefer LM however my Spirit is on my belt for work every time I head out.
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I felt it is relevant for what is coming. Later today I am expecting one of the latest versions of a SwissTool X. One with the cutters reversed, SS precision cut file and fatter pliers heads. I am quite excited about it and still thank Douglas for his original gift of the OG SwissTool(1998 version), that added Vic as a brand I keep in the ever-growing MT collection. I have since bought an OG SwissTool RS as well. Both are fantastic tools. I have also acquired two Spirits and like them a lot, but just find the bigger SwissTool to be my favorite of the two models. Likely, because I prefer thicker tools for gripping comfort.Since I made this thread, my opinions have changed, some better and some worse. However, I still like Vic's pliers-based MTs quite a lot(some assume my criticisms of the SwissTools to be born oit of fandom for other brands, but that isn't realy the case). Not my absolute favorite, but the SwissTool is in the top five of my favorites. I have my little subjective issues, so may be this thread could be proof that I have never been a SwissTool denier, and generally have the highest feelings about tools I haven't used yet. Since using both the SwissTool and Spirit, my views have altered and it has made it easier for me to objectively look at the tools themselves. Here's hoping the modern SwissTool X is a winner.My old pug passed last year, but we'll see if our new fur baby approves of another SwissTool.
The same has been said about me and Leatherman Tools ... In the end the best tool is still the one you have on you in a time of need, and most of the modern Multitools will get the job done anyway, and they all have their pros and cons.
Maybe change your name to "Vic Gerleatherberman" quite a mouthful but nobody would assume you don't like em
Great write-up gerleatherberman .I'm glad you like the "new" Swisstool, and I agree on the "negative" points, like the pliers opening less wide (handle splay isn't really a problem for me, but I've got quite large hands so ...) and the soft Phillips driver. This last one being number one on my list of things Victorinox should change on their tools, maybe they should take a look at the ST300, which has the best Phillips on a multitool out there (in my own humble opinion).I also prefer the Swisstool over the Spirit, since I always carry my tools in a sheath on my belt anyway the bigger size/weight doesn't really bother me, and I think it just feels better in hand (but I should also say that, during the time that I carried my Spirit, it hasn't failed me once ...).Thanks for the write-up mate .
Nice write up. Handle splay isn't a bother to me as I also have large hands. The phillips on my Spirit will be rounded over sooner than later. A dirty Victorinox can be a problem, I've had a few experiences with this. I was a much bigger fan of the Swisstool over the Spirit but I've now carried my Spirit more and more and quite like it. Can't argue ergonomics in plier mode thats for sure. I still very much like my Swisstool. You are very right about those scissors being some of the very best. The Spirit scissors are a big fail in my book so much so that I wish they weren't even there. Both tools however have a great compliment of tools. I do appreciate the bluntish pliers very much.
Great review and pics gerleatherberman! Thanks for taking the time to post it.
Superb synopsis G-Man. The Swisstool and Spirit are still my favorite MT's but I must concede Vic could take a few lessons from Leatherman and others. I love the build of the new pliars but am in total agreement with you on the smaller opening being a step backward. I would even go so far as to say this could be VIc's first lesson. With the extra strength why not include replaceable cutters and increase to opening of the jaws. How about moving the knife blade to the opposite side add a thumb stud with a shape simular to the locking mechanism etched with measurements to maintain the ruler while adding right hand OHO to the main blade. Couls we upgrade the chisel on the Swisstool to match the superior one on the Spirt. Speeking of superioir and matching, how about upgrading the Spirit scissors to match the Swisstool. Lesson 2: FOR HEAVENS SAKE, STOP polishing the drivers to the point the ends are rounded. Lesson 3: pocket clip option, if the Surge can be carried with a pocket clip so can a Swisstool. How about adding a blade exchanger or just a diamond file. Has anyone considered adding 1mm to the width dropping out the phillips shortening the awl and small driver and putting a 1/4 inch bit driver in place of the phillips. Let's face it Vic gave us a superior design with unmatched build quality at a time when the MT was realy just starting to come into it's own. The Swisstool and Spirit are still great tools and set an unparalleled high quality standard to this day. While they are virtually unchanged, the rest of the industry has been taking chances. Those chances have seen some real flopps but they also have made some geat strides. Now Victorinox it's time to once again step up to the plate get inovative and raise the bar to a new level.
I wound up using the ratchet set from my Swisstool RS on a project tonight after the battery died on my cordless drill. Like GMan, I didn't understand until Aloha sent me his Swisstool to try. After that, I understood!
Thank you, Douglas! Excellent notes there too! I think that Vic isn't going to change anything anytime soon. IMO anyway. Their pink elephant in the room is that they can produce high quality tools for lower-than-expected prices. That is that they depend on the same basic design, machining, and parts to make just a handful of actually unique products. Example: the 91mm line only differs in the tool selection and scales, so the different models really don't differ much, since the only notable distinction is the toolset/scale color. Same with their two pliers-models. The same tooling and automation are used for decades, so the materials and tooling-parts are most of the expense.There are exceptions to this, like some of the shears/pliers RangerGrips, but there again, most of the parts are used in other models. It is a great system to help in keeping costs down on high-quality products, but the downside is that they rarely ever produce anything radically different or new. When Vic does produce tools with production-unique aspects, the price is extremely high. In short, from my subjective view, their party trick is consistency. It serves them well as far as profit goes, and it serves us well as far as pricing and quality goes. As long as people keep forking over the money for the SwissTool as it is, we will likely not see any upgrades that would require new tooling and production alterations. Fortunately, having now added the new version of the SwissTool, it is obvious the tool is just as useful, and possibly more reliable, than its' predecessors.
but one can DREAM
I think that sometimes collectors lose sight that Victorinox are producing tools, not collection pieces. The Spirit and Swisstool are the absolute pinnacle of an already high standard of quality and the toolset is pretty awesome as it is. Yes, they could produce slightly different models, but that would really only be for collectors who will only make up a tiny percentage of the customer base.
I was told a certain era of Spirits have zero flaws(perfection was the term used) and I now have to locate a Spirit with the engraved Vic logo on the pliers.
Like this one?
Well said, I think there maybe a fundamental difference of believes between Vic and LM camps--Vic seems to make their MT to cover 80% of our common daily needs, they were never meant to be real tools replacement nor a comprehensive solution to tradesmen. Their tools don't have OHO blade nor replaceable pliers cutter, partly due to Europe regulations, but again, one could also say it is in sync with their philosophy. With every tools available on the outside, opens and closes with Swiss precision, their tools strike a great balance between efficiency and effectiveness. On the other hand, LM seems to try to capture a different part of market, by offering something different from Vic. With the adapters and bits, replaceable cutters and OHO blade, they moved away from the original PST design which serves similar 80% philosophy as Vic's tools. I think these tools are successful in their own ways, especially the OHO blade, it speaks to modern folding knife communities in US, which is huge. The Charge/Wave chassis trade in some efficiency of non blade tools, but gain extra effectiveness with the bit adapter.I personally always felt a little torn between Vic Spirit and my Charge/Wave. Don't get me wrong, Spirit is perfect for my use in every way, but if they could have OHO, that would be so much sweeter! Now what makes thing interesting is the new LM Free series, with all tools available outside, magnets to solve the OHO pliers puzzle and help outside tools retention, I felt LM is re-introducing that 80% philosophy back with all the convenience of all tools OHO.
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