Victorinox Mini Champ - Thoughts?

[sergemaster]

Amici,
Thought I would ask what any opinions that you may have regarding the mini champ? Is it useful for any moderate tasks one may encounter to make it worthy for EDC, either as a primary or a secondary to a dedicated folder, or just a neat collectible? Alox or Cellidor?

Cheers,
Serge

[Rich S]

Just MHO, but to me knives of this size have very limited usefulness (other than opening mail and cleaning fingernails).

Rich

[Ron Who]

Just MHO, but to me knives of this size have very limited usefulness (other than opening mail and cleaning fingernails).

Rich

Possibly. But if you like 58mm, any 58mm, you'll love the MiniChamp. It also cuts flowers.

[Sakpan74Gr]

Sweet little knife. A very good urban companion. Pair it with a Leatherman Style PS, and you have the most elegant and effective urban edc combo.

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[Sakpan74Gr]

Obviously cellidor gives you tweezers, but if you carry a second tool with it, then alox is the way. I prefer silver because scratches don't show. Make it silver for edc and black for the collection!

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[Spartan19]

I like it. It's a neat little knife to carry around for fun.

[GoatDragon]

I have never wanted to get a Minichamp because the extra tools it has over the Rambler / Manager don't seem to be worth the increase in weight and thickness to me. The tiny Philips combo tool is the best addition the Minichamp brings over the Classic IMO and the Manager and Rambler just add that.

[Thunderpants]

I have one. I never use it.
Too much garbage on there. The spatula thing can go. The ruler thing can go. The orange peeler is fun - I tried to rip open a clamshell package and ripped open my thumb instead. So that's not much use either. The second blade is almost comically small and I can't say I have ever used it. So that can go too.
What remains is the ingredients for a Rambler. But even that is too chunky, as the the cap lifter / Philips combo tool really is not all it's cracked up to be. It takes several moves with the cap lifter before a lid pops off anything, which drives me nuts. And pretty much every Philips screw in the world requires a beefier driver.
In the end, the only elements of a Mini Champ that are worth having are the nail-file, scissors, and main blade. The cheapest way of getting those indispensable tools is to buy a Classic.

[GoatDragon]

I have one. I never use it.
Too much garbage on there. The spatula thing can go. The ruler thing can go. The orange peeler is fun - I tried to rip open a clamshell package and ripped open my thumb instead. So that's not much use either. The second blade is almost comically small and I can't say I have ever used it. So that can go too.
What remains is the ingredients for a Rambler. But even that is too chunky, as the the cap lifter / Philips combo tool really is not all it's cracked up to be. It takes several moves with the cap lifter before a lid pops off anything, which drives me nuts. And pretty much every Philips screw in the world requires a beefier driver.
In the end, the only elements of a Mini Champ that are worth having are the nail-file, scissors, and main blade. The cheapest way of getting those indispensable tools is to buy a Classic.

If you ever tinker with electronics, the tiny Philips driver handles the small screws you will often encounter beautifully. And yeah it is far from the best bottle opener,  but it is way better than the one on the leatherman squirt!

[Thunderpants]

... it is way better than the one on the leatherman squirt!

Haha! That's another toy I've played with recently... it's the first Leatherman I actually took a liking to. But the cap lifter on that is indeed another dispiriting experience. Apart from being incredibly inefficient at opening bottles, the one on my ES4 does a fine job of stripping my thumbnails down to the bone every time I try to coax it into action.
If Victorinox put their skills into something like a Squirt or a Juice it would be an absolute masterpiece... but that's a red herring, sorry...!

[VICMAN]

Amici,
Thought I would ask what any opinions that you may have regarding the mini champ? Is it useful for any moderate tasks one may encounter to make it worthy for EDC, either as a primary or a secondary to a dedicated folder, or just a neat collectible? Alox or Cellidor?

Cheers,
Serge

I love the alox minichamp.

If you spend a little time with it, it is a very useful little knife.

When using the curved blade, if you will open up the spatula(cuticle tool) it extends the handle and is more comfortable to use. I have used the curved blade for cutting flaps off of cardboard boxes, and it zips right through them.

The spatula(cuticle tool) works as a screwdriver for slotted screws, and as a small prybar.

When using the scissors, if you will open the ruler, it extends the handle and is more comfortable to use.

I have opened a lot of clam shell packs with the orange peeler(open the ruler to extend the handle when using the orange peeler). I opened the clam shell pack for a Vic Classic just this morning,

The phillips screwdriver works great on the phillips screws in the battery compartments of handheld electronic devices.

The nailfile and cleaner works great.

When using the spear blade, open the phillips screwdriver to extend the handle.

I always carry a Swisschamp and a MInichamp and a victorinox pocket steel to touch up the blades regularly. I carry the Alox Minichamp on my belt in a leather pouch made for it.

The Minichamp is capable of handling a lot of every day chores and is a great companion to a larger pocket knife.

[GoatDragon]

I have opened a lot of clam shell packs with the orange peeler(open the ruler to extend the handle when using the orange peeler). I opened the clam shell pack for a Vic Classic just this morning,

So what do you use your SAK for?

Oh you know, opening up the boxes for new SAKs. 

[VICMAN]

I have opened a lot of clam shell packs with the orange peeler(open the ruler to extend the handle when using the orange peeler). I opened the clam shell pack for a Vic Classic just this morning,

So what do you use your SAK for?

Oh you know, opening up the boxes for new SAKs. 

 

[Pacu]

I love my red one. Use it bout every day. It's on my desk at work. Thinking about getting an Alox one to carry daily. Talk me in to it....please.

[AimlessWanderer]

I have never wanted to get a Minichamp because the extra tools it has over the Rambler / Manager don't seem to be worth the increase in weight and thickness to me. The tiny Philips combo tool is the best addition the Minichamp brings over the Classic IMO and the Manager and Rambler just add that.

^^^ This!

If you want more function than a Rambler, look to the Wenger (or Vic Equivalent) Pocket Tool Chest aka Evo 88

I view the Minichamp as little more than a collectible

[jaya_man]

I love it... My Minichamp is paired with the Style PS and sees permanent duty on my keychain...

Combo phillips have been used often to help the kiddo with his toys... orange peeler is used for opening packages of goodies from clamshells to boxes...

Blade and scissors have been used to cut paracord and stuff... cuticle pusher/spatula I use for scraping stuff...


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[shadowrider]

Do'nt have one, but considered it before, then settled for a smaller one.
The small straight blade is great for opening letters.
The Phillips driver on the cap lifter (mine has a slotted driver) has a magnetized tip (I think), which I think is pretty cool.
The orange peeler is an odd but somehow fashinating tool. I wonder who is the guy that thought of it and decided a SAK needed one. Maybe he really liked oranges.
What I see no use for are the ruler, and the cuticle pusher. What the hell is a "cuticle pusher" anyway???

[redmond]

I recently found a used Mini Champ and carry it during the work day, replacing the Executive I've carried for many years. I like the Mini Champ! For an office job, it is the right size and tool mix for me.

[gene stoner]

Wenger Pocket tool chest.  Once you go 65mm you won't look back at 58's. In my opinion it's a great tool set for a stand alone SAK or as a back up for a larger SAK. With the micro screwdriver and awl it far out weighs the usefullnes of a coke spoon, picker blade and micro ruler.

Just my .02.

[ThePeacent]

I'd love it. Even more, I'd marry it if it were a person.
The only SAK I got both in normal cellidor and Alox version. The Alox is beautiful, and kicked my Vic Classic from the permanentne keychain place after a life of carrying the small one.



It's extremely versatile and amazingly light and small for what you get. It truly is the Swisschamp of the small size SAKs.



excellent scissors and Phillips (electronics fear not!), versatile multi purpose variety of blades (no more stubborn packages), and it's easy to find alternative uses to the other stuff   

I recommend it a lot!

 

[Aloha]

I was a devotee to the wonderful Minichamp.  I had several and loved each and every time I called upon its service.  It never failed to deliver nor failed to be a joy to carry.  Sure there are interesting tools on it but thats what made it such a fun tool to carry.  Creativity is your friend when you've got a "coke" spoon on your SAK. 

Then one day I got a Manager.  I really struggled to come away from my Minichamp since I knew that tool so well.  The extra thickness at that time was worth the carry time it received.  Then I carried my Manager.  GAME OVER for me.  The Manager has dominated the 58mm SAK line for me for over 4 years.  I finally tested the mighty Manager to its fullest ( I posted about it ) and I came away more than confident in my choice of 58mm. 

I still have a Minichamp because it was such a great tool but as far as daily carry, no way.  I pondered getting the Alox but without T&T somehow it left me flat.  Don't get me wrong, I would accept one in a heartbeat but I don't think it would dethrone my Manage. 

If you can pick on up on the cheap I say give it a run.  I really think this is the only real way to know for sure.  I've got nothing bad to say about the tool but the Manager dominates my keychain and will continue to for the foreseeable future. 

[Barry Rowland]

  +1.  The bottle opener really works, and the tiny philips head screwdriver is awesome for those battery covers on small toys and appliances.  You'll love it Serge!  I forgot to mention the ball point pen!!

Just MHO, but to me knives of this size have very limited usefulness (other than opening mail and cleaning fingernails).

Rich

Possibly. But if you like 58mm, any 58mm, you'll love the MiniChamp. It also cuts flowers.

[ColoSwiss]

Another vote for the Wenger Pocket Tool Chest. Find it easier to use than the Mini Champ. Not my EDC, but been carrying it on foreign trips where my Traveler might be a bit too conspicuous.

[surfdaworld]

Just picked up a Mini Champ on Ebay cheap last week, been wanting to try one for a while.
Third day with it in my pocket, and I can't help feeling like my perception of it's coolness........is greater than it's true coolness.  I really want to like it, but I'm having a hard time justifying the space it's taking up in my pocket. I already have a PS4 on my keyring, and so far it gives me a lot more functionality in only slightly more space.
Glad to have it as part of my collection, but I suspect it won't get much pocket time.

[an0nemus]

I have one. I never use it.
Too much garbage on there. The spatula thing can go. The ruler thing can go. The orange peeler is fun - I tried to rip open a clamshell package and ripped open my thumb instead. So that's not much use either. The second blade is almost comically small and I can't say I have ever used it. So that can go too.
What remains is the ingredients for a Rambler. But even that is too chunky, as the the cap lifter / Philips combo tool really is not all it's cracked up to be. It takes several moves with the cap lifter before a lid pops off anything, which drives me nuts. And pretty much every Philips screw in the world requires a beefier driver.
In the end, the only elements of a Mini Champ that are worth having are the nail-file, scissors, and main blade. The cheapest way of getting those indispensable tools is to buy a Classic.

My thoughts as well. But I'd buy a Mini Champ IF its being sold at extremely low price. But not brand new.

[theonew]

I had a Minichamp for awhile and liked it very much. All those fiddly tools did come in handy on occasion. I ended up giving it to a guy who would use the spatula on a regular basis and replaced it with a Manager.

[GoatDragon]

I had a Minichamp for awhile and liked it very much. All those fiddly tools did come in handy on occasion. I ended up giving it to a guy who would use the spatula on a regular basis and replaced it with a Manager.

Are you implying drugs? Cause I always wondered if that little spoon tool would actually function as a good coke spoon. (I have never done coke so I have no idea what makes a good coke spoon.)

[theonew]

According to him it appeared to have been designed specifically for that purpose

[El Corkscrew]

I carry one sometimes, I have a couple of the cellidors..  I want an alox one but if you're trying to have  bunch of tools on your keychain why cut out the the T or T or a cool pen?

I find I don't really miss my MC when carrying a Rambler or Manager.     The MC is cool though, it's fun to try to find a job for each of the tools.

[NorCalJim]

I am a fan of the Minichamp and strongly favor the Minichamp II over the original.  I have an alox Minichamp but it doesn't see any time on either of our car keyrings.  I guess I bought the alox because I wanted it.  I have a red scale Minichamp II that lives on the keychain for my wife's car and a green scale Minichamp II on the keychain for my car.  Here is a photo of the green Minichamp II along side a green scale Explorer:

Green Explorer and Minichamp II by Jim Person, on Flickr