Youtuber Jon Gadget - who has some serious credentials to back up his opinions - has opined that Victorinox has not done anything innovative in the SAK lineup in the last 3 years. Instead, he notes that Victorinox has been more focused on "style", scents, watches and other ancillary products.
Changing the outdated can opener into a package opener on most models would be an easy innovation that would get an instant sale or two from me. It would make the tool much more relevant for modern day use and save my main blade from tape glue mess.
A quick wipe with a bit of IPA on a tissue removes all traces of tape/glue residue, and it's a far cleaner job than it would be with gunked-up serrations on the newer tool. Personally I still use the can opener to open cans about 3 times a week, along with all my other off-piste uses, so it doesn't seem very outdated to me...
Are there models Vic has discontinued over the years that I liked and was sorry to see go?Absolutely.
If it is family-owned, it is a closely-held corporation but it would still have shareholders - in this case the family.However it is configured, it exists for the sole purpose of maximizing revenue. So I can't blame Victorinox for carrying out its mission. I just wish it gave us a couple of new SAK models along the way, or at least integrated the box opener from the Companion into the general lineup in place of the can opener. And lose the stupid cork screw, and . . . .
“Innovations” may not be the best word for some of these ideas. Maybe just “common sense updates”? For instance, they could offer the package opener as an option on many of their mid-size models. They could call it “Urban edition” or something, (Spartan Urban, Cadet Urban, etc). But I don’t own a century-old company so what do I know. [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ] *Edited for clarity and to remove some previous quote