Victorinox in the 2020's: Realistic Possibilities

[ElevenBlade]

I would venture to guess that the overwhelming majority of people that own a SAK (a SwissChamp) don't know what the file+metal saw is capable of, and just consider it an overgrown nail file.  A wood saw on a Hiker or Camper just sounds like it would be more useful, to the uninitiated buyer... whereas a full length file just sounds either too big or too small to be useful. 

This past winter I was doing some work with one of my friends around his house... (and we both happened to have SwissChamps).... long story short, he waited around to do something later on because he needed a metal saw and a neighbor was going to stop by that afternoon to lend him a 6 inch hacksaw.  When I realized why he was doing things out of order I said "you know you could have done that with the metal saw on your SAK".  He didn't believe me, and wouldn't let me try since he already waited so long.

Remember, we're a rare breed.  Most people who own/get SAKs don't know how to use them.  The Sales department knows that. 

[SgtTowser]

 

But I know the metal saw is a killer tool and I just bought an old champ plus to get a metal file back on my person 24/7.

With a metal file I can hack a can open. With a metal file, they could drop the can opener and add another inline driver to any model.

Metal file = good.

[ulzhan]

Enriched plutonium?

Just four horsemen...

[ulzhan]

We also need a Workchamp XLFT with an oversized Fishscaler and an oversized bit driver which can be used with standard bits (and has some space für standard bits).

[Jothra]

Just four horsemen...

George, John, Paul, and Ringo?

[ComboTool]

Just a random thought which will certainly not happen (they probably had the idea years ago), but which would be easy for Victorinox to implement: cellphone cases with Swisscard accessories.

[ulzhan]

George, John, Paul, and Ringo?

Horsemen oder Madmen?

[SgtTowser]

Kamakiri,

I just noticed the tin foil hat pic. Classic!

Maybe apply Swiss army cross from vinyl tape?

 

Maybe a full line of tin foil clothing?

David Byrne might come out of retirement for a tin foil big suit!!!

[ToolJoe]

Put replaceable cutters on the Swiss took and Spirit. Also, inline Phillips In numerous lines and ditch the backside Phillips.

[SgtTowser]

Also, inline Phillips In numerous lines and ditch the backside Phillips.

 

[Marcellus]

I would venture to guess that the overwhelming majority of people that own a SAK (a SwissChamp) don't know what the file+metal saw is capable of, and just consider it an overgrown nail file.  A wood saw on a Hiker or Camper just sounds like it would be more useful, to the uninitiated buyer... whereas a full length file just sounds either too big or too small to be useful. 

This past winter I was doing some work with one of my friends around his house... (and we both happened to have SwissChamps).... long story short, he waited around to do something later on because he needed a metal saw and a neighbor was going to stop by that afternoon to lend him a 6 inch hacksaw.  When I realized why he was doing things out of order I said "you know you could have done that with the metal saw on your SAK".  He didn't believe me, and wouldn't let me try since he already waited so long.

Remember, we're a rare breed.  Most people who own/get SAKs don't know how to use them.  The Sales department knows that.

Agreed. but...
I don't want to carry 4+ layers for a metal saw tool.
My Hiker or Camper  concept , with a metal saw replacing the wood saw ,  lends itself to keeping the knife to 3 layers. And no hook !
Just a thought.

[SirVicaLot]

Put replaceable cutters on the Swiss took and Spirit. Also, inline Phillips In numerous lines and ditch the backside Phillips.

No thanks  I like the backside Phillips in combination with the can opener. Between those two I can handle most Phillips screws. The inline Phillips on the other hand is too one dimensional (can only turn Phillips screws, compared to other tools who have multiple uses) and takes up space that could be used by other tools.

[SgtTowser]

A GARDNER MODEL with a tool for pulling up retracted sprinkler heads to make radius adjustments.

 Pictures are just to suggest the concept. The sprinkler plier could replace the regular plier. The driver could replace an in-line Phillips.

Lots of irrigated parts of Mediterranean Europe, Mideast, North Africa, Southwest USA, Mexico, Australia = big market of gardeners, grounds keepers, and home owners.

[kamakiri]

When I realized why he was doing things out of order I said "you know you could have done that with the metal saw on your SAK".  He didn't believe me, and wouldn't let me try since he already waited so long.

 

Kamakiri,

I just noticed the tin foil hat pic. Classic!

Maybe apply Swiss army cross from vinyl tape?

 

Maybe a full line of tin foil clothing?

David Byrne might come out of retirement for a tin foil big suit!!!

 

......


I think there needs to be a new 4th tool that works in the inline Phillips/Lite/Magnifier backspring layer.

Not sure what it should be...but a USB thumb drive might be cool since they have those in 58mm.

[TazzieRob]

Agreed. but...
I don't want to carry 4+ layers for a metal saw tool.
My Hiker or Camper  concept , with a metal saw replacing the wood saw ,  lends itself to keeping the knife to 3 layers. And no hook !
Just a thought.

Buy a Mountaineer and remove the scissors?

[MacGyver]

Buy a Mountaineer and remove the scissors?

Or get a Vic Clipper...? 



https://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Clipper+91mm


Love this sak... 

[Marcellus]

Or get a Vic Clipper...? 

(Image removed from quote.)

https://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Clipper+91mm


Love this sak... 

Yes that Clipper would work.  Thanks for the suggestion MacGyver.

The Mountaineer suggested above has the metal saw,  but I prefer 3 layer Vics.
 Thanks Tazzie for the response.


Edit (again)   The Clipper is another discontinued model. Well,  who needs a saw/file anyhow? 

[Frailer]

The Mountaineer suggested above has the metal saw,  but I prefer 3 layer Vics.

Bring back the Trail Guide!

[SgtTowser]

Frailer

 

[SgtTowser]

Marcellus,

Don’t give up.

Don’t be a slave to three layers unless you are a nudist and like a neck knife.

Buy pants with better pockets if you fear wear.

Saw file is empowerment in the metal age.

My new old Champion Plus is not a problem carry.

One just sold for $32. Price per tool = bargain basement. Plus an In line Phillips. It is a thin man among super champs a light heavy weight.

Better than 111-130s Series machetes unless you are looking for Dr. Livingston I Presume!!!

[ElevenBlade]

Marcellus,

Don’t give up.

Don’t be a slave to three layers unless you are a nudist and like a neck knife.

But pants with better pockets if you fear wear.

Saw file is empowerment in the metal age.

My new old Champion Plus is not a problem carry.

One just sold for $32. Price per tool = bargain basement. Plus an In line Phillips. It is a thin man among super champs a light heavy weight.

Better than 111-130s Series machetes unless you are looking for Dr. Livingston I Presume!!!

 

[MacGyver]

Marcellus,

Don’t give up.

Don’t be a slave to three layers unless you are a nudist and like a neck knife.

Buy pants with better pockets if you fear wear.

Saw file is empowerment in the metal age.

My new old Champion Plus is not a problem carry.

One just sold for $32. Price per tool = bargain basement. Plus an In line Phillips. It is a thin man among super champs a light heavy weight.

Better than 111-130s Series machetes unless you are looking for Dr. Livingston I Presume!!!

IMO, more than 3 layers for regular EDC, it's just over kill. 4 layers for camping or hiking it's OK.
If one actually needs 5 layers or more of tools regularly, better to take dadicated tools or a multitool if it's a simple job.
I don't even own any over 4 layers Saks, and the ones I did, I gave away. They are nice for the engenuity and engeneering that goes into them but not really terribly useful or practical as real tools for real work. Again: IMO

[SgtTowser]

McGyver,

I must be doing some unreal work then. 

Seriously, I am kind of the opposite. Since I EDC carry a tiny pen shaped multi head screw driver LIGHTER THAN A SAK with 8 driver tips, I don’t urgently need a two layer for any thing, since I quit drinking beer and soda, and since tabs and twist tops are ubiquitous if I fall off the health wagon. A three layer often leaves me under tooled. My recent return to Champ Plus with a tiny crescent actually will keep me from getting my tool chest occasionally. That I like even with my tool chest on wheels.

But that’s the beauty of layered SAKs; they accomodate many different operating approaches.

[MacGyver]

McGyver,

I must be doing some unreal work then. 

Seriously, I am kind of the opposite. Since I EDC carry a tiny pen shaped multi head screw driver LIGHTER THAN A SAK with 8 driver tips, I don’t urgently need a two layer for any thing, since I quit drinking beer and soda, and since tabs and twist tops are ubiquitous if I fall off the health wagon. A three layer often leaves me under tooled. My recent return to Champ Plus with a tiny crescent actually will keep me from getting my tool chest occasionally. That I like even with my tool chest on wheels.

But that’s the beauty of layered SAKs; they accomodate many different operating approaches.

Mate, I appreciate your passion, really do... but...

If you feel "undertooled" with a 3 layer sak, than I guess you are missing the point a bit of sak's in general, and dedicated tools in a professional environment in particular...

If you look at the opener layer on the sak just as a cap lifter or can opener, then you are really missing the point.
I can say the opener layer on a sak is indispensible to me, and I open an actual cap bottle with it maybe once or twice a year, and actually used the can opener to open a can, like, once in 30 odd years of sak use/ownership. And those are my most used tools on sak's, even more than the blade.

That's what a sak is, it's an open canvas for "out of the box" thinking and "criativity". A simple assortment of sime generic tools you can carry in your pocket that can really help you in a pinch and save the day when you have no other tools, that and a generic pocket knife use of course 

For any kind of  real/professional work, real dedicated tools are needed/ideal. I can't even imagine having dedicated proper tools available to me to do a job, and trying to use a sak to do it instead... To me it's just plain silly....

Carrying a SC instead of a Spartan just because "it has more "tools", there for must be better" has nothing to do with creativity, quite the opposite.

[ElevenBlade]

IMO, more than 3 layers for regular EDC, it's just over kill. 4 layers for camping or hiking it's OK.
If one actually needs 5 layers or more of tools regularly, better to take dadicated tools or a multitool if it's a simple job.
I don't even own any over 4 layers Saks, and the ones I did, I gave away. They are nice for the engenuity and engeneering that goes into them but not really terribly useful or practical as real tools for real work. Again: IMO

I think the other way around really.... Thats why I like the SwissChamp - because it has more tools than a pliers based MT in a smaller package... more or less.  So in other words... If I need more than 5 layers of tools, I would rather go with a Swisschamp than a combination of dedicated tools and a MT (assuming it's not a big job)

[Jothra]

I can't even imagine having dedicated proper tools available to me to do a job, and trying to use a sak to do it instead... To me it's just plain silly....

It's not easy. I learned even more about myself than I did about my pocket tool, and I learned a lot about my pocket tool.

[Marcellus]

Well my comment about having a metal saw/file  in place of the wood saw on either the Hiker or Camper prompted further discussion. 

Sargent Towser- thanks for the suggestion, but  the Champion Plus with 7 layers would live in a drawer or glove compartment only.
Oh,  and my wife wouldn't  let me be a nudist.

Anyway,  it appears we are of at least two camps here.
Those that prefer 3 layer SAKs and those who will carry the wide body models.
I personally  draw the line at 3 layers but mainly  carry 2 layer  models with Rambler on my key chain.
My 1 four layer,  Fieldmaster rarely see any action as I have those tools covered with daily EDC and key chain for the most part.

To each,  his own.
As the saying goes:
"Difference of opinion,  that's what makes a horse race"

We got off topic, but interesting points of view expressed.

[ElevenBlade]

Realistic possibilities....

New carry systems:

- Horizontal belt pouches for the larger 91mm models like the Swisschamp and Cybertool.
- An open topped pouch for the 2-4 layer models with a deep riding pocket clip that comes with their standard lanyard to use as a pull tab... Allowing Victorinox to be true to their identity and not alter the knife itself. This would be the answer to the pocket clip  mods and the suspension clips.
- some sort of sheath for the 111-130mm models that allows the knife to be sheathed in the open position as well as folded up, for the bushcraft types.

[Storm]

Realistic possibilities....

New carry systems:
- An open topped pouch for the 2-4 layer models with a deep riding pocket clip that comes with their standard lanyard to use as a pull tab... Allowing Victorinox to be true to their identity and not alter the knife itself. This would be the answer to the pocket clip  mods and the suspension clips.

A thousand times yes. Would be easily brandable too,  so there's the advertising market kept happy .

[Kraken]

I'd like to see the return of the Yeoman along with the serrated main blade (or 60/40 serrated) option on more models. And how about some new scale colors? I'd like to see an international rescue orange, a battleship grey and a navy blue, available in standard or plus.