During my Rebar Challenge, I bought a Victorinox Workchamp; it was my first 111mm SAK. After the Challenge, I decided to carry both of them for 30 days and try to use only the Workchamp and use the Rebar only if the SAK couldn't do the job. That only happened twice: once when I needed the Rebar pliers and once when I needed the longer Rebar inline Phillips.
I've always been a SAK guy. I've learned to do just about anything with one, kind of like duct tape. The Rebar was a learning experience, but after 30 days, I knew I was going to carry it. The first thing I noticed about the Workchamp was the size and weight requires a different carry method than my 91mm SAKs. I tried pouches and sheaths and belt clips and plain old pocket carry before settling on either a Tec P-7 or a belt pouch depending on the situation. Carry method settled and now I don't notice I'm carrying it.
The Workchamp has every tool I need except REAL pliers, but during the 30 days, I used the smaller pliers for a lot of things. Several times, I didn't think they weren't big enough, but they did the job; I only had to go to the Rebar pliers once like I said above.
I LOVE the big, locking blade, but I didn't run into any situations where a 91mm SAK or the Rebar blade wouldn't work. I also prefer the larger saw and file, but again, a smaller saw or file works fine for most of my needs. And of course, there's all the normal SAK stuff like the can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew, tweezers, toothpick, awl, mini screwdriver, and those lovely, indispensable scissors.
Now the negatives. The small inline Phillips is great, but the #2 inline Phillips is too short. That, combined with the fat butt of the Workchamp, caused me to use the Rebar Phillips once. Recreating the situation, I was able to do the job with the SAK can opener, but then why bother having an inline in the first place? Another negative: the split ring interferes with the #2 Phillips opening. If you don't consciously move it out of the way, it sometimes gets wedged and stops the Phillips from opening completely. Minor thing, but then I couldn't find much not to like about the Workchamp.
The problem with carrying both (not really a problem since I'm doing it) is the redundancy of tools. With the exception of the larger locking blade, larger file, and larger saw, which aren't really needed, I get the same tool set with with my Rebar and my Mountaineer, and I get the HOOK!. In hindsight, a better 111mm compliment to the Rebar would have been the Outrider, but I can carry the Workchamp alone and have all the tools except the larger pliers (OK, I don't get the sheepsfoot either). For me, the Workchamp is the best 111mm SAK when it's the only tool you carry.
OK, there's my take on the 111mm Victorinox Workchamp. Are there any badges for unofficial, no pictures Challenges?
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