130mm Victorinox models in actual use out there?

israelpiper · **on:** April 17, 2018, 07:40:25 PM

Orange 111mm Hunter XT; Walnut 130mm Evowood 55, Red/Black Rangergrip 74, Black Hunter Pro; 91mm Huntsman Camo.

I am curious who uses the bigger Victorinox knives in the great outdoors on camping, hiking trips, or for bushcraft, and performance critique. I contrast them here with two classic outdoors Victorinox at 111mm and 91mm. I find the 130mm grip excellent for serious woodwork, but with a small knife for some of the knife work.

So who takes these 130mm models for a workout? The Hunter Pro is 440c, with Victorinox heat treatment and tempering. Like some other good knives, heat treatment is everything. 440c is often disparaged nowadays, yet it served tens of thousands of Buck 100 owners, before they changed to 420HC (as in most good multi tools). Put a $40 price tag on that Hunter Pro, and a little good advertising, and it would sell. It is NOT a tactical knife, despite Victorinox using that word in sales literature at one time. Nor is it "missing" a pocket clip. Most hunters do not want to dress with a knife with a pocket clip on the grip. And it most certainly doesn't cry out for a toothpick or tweezer! Once in some poor deer's gut, I'd never pick my teeth with it again.

AndyTiedye · **Reply #1 on:** April 17, 2018, 08:43:03 PM

l always have this one with me when I'm out camping,
Mostly use the big blade for food preparation.
The saw is the best part though. More like a dedicated folding saw than a SAK saw.

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Thunderpants · **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2018, 08:46:15 PM

Not so long ago I bought a Wenger Snow Hunter for 35 Euros... this I used as a renovation tool, sawing bits of wood that were otherwise difficult to reach and shaving splinters off floorboards.
I totally abused it and now the one-hand opening blade is a struggle to open with one hand!
Now that its value has doubled or tripled I am more careful with it. Next time I go camping I will probably take the 130mm olive Victorinox - the one I have doesn't have a saw, which gives me a perfect excuse to buy one that does.
Size wise, these knives are huge without adding much vs 111mm Vics. In day to day life I don't ever walk around with one in my back pocket as I do with say a Nomad or my orange Hunter XS, but I could certainly find space for one amongst all the other clobber that gets taken on camping trips.

jalind · **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2018, 01:29:56 AM

My alternative to the 2008 Soldier or (updated 2003) GAK . . .
RangerGrip 178

My alternative to the Buck 110 . . .
Hunter Pro

John

stoneshank · **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2018, 02:18:59 AM

Quote from: AndyTiedye on April 17, 2018, 08:43:03 PM

l always have this one with me when I'm out camping,
Mostly use the big blade for food preparation.
The saw is the best part though. More like a dedicated folding saw than a SAK saw.

Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk

Yeah I got one without saw and it really feels like there should be one! Way to expensive though to buy more than one imho

~ i love whittling and SAK's ~

israelpiper · **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2018, 06:32:39 AM

No doubt the 130mm saws are nice, with a handle heft that suits the "bigger" small saw jobs.

My Rangerwood 55 was ₪400, around $100. But they show up cheaper on Ebay and Amazon. It has proved sturdy. Tight as a drum after long sawing sessions. I'm looking for the red plastic handled one with a saw.

ThePeacent · **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2018, 02:12:17 PM

I had a Hunter Pro for a few years and even put a pocket clip on it,

but honestly it was not as good as my dedicated OHO blade folders from knife-specific brands and I sold it here in the forum.

The steel was very good though and the grip comfortable and ergonomic as hell