Victorinox Bladeless models are out

[Singh]

The bladeless saks are out



  *valid link to a picture that won't post on this forum for some frustrating reason*


I can't get pics to post  here for some reason and I'm sick of trying to deal with it on this site.... so you can find the saks yourself

[IMR4198]

    I could have posted a photo from a site on U toob, but don't like to do that.  Somebody will post a photo soon, I'm sure.  The only thing I saw that was not yawn worthy was the Companion that finally will be available with red cellidor instead of the New York, Sydney, Paris pricey editions.  US price for the three-layer red Companion is $48.
    For some reason, I couldn't post a photo to another thread here from my phone today.  Couldn't get the reply button.  I could read a thread, but couldn't reply.  My phone did a reset of all its functions last week and everything is messed up.  Could be that.  More of AI's bungling crap show.  Best wishes.  G
 

[IMR4198]

   I solved my inability to post from my phone anyway.  I logged out and logged back in and evidently fixed it.  Best wishes.  G
 

[LoopCutter]

The bladeless saks are out



  *valid link to a picture that won't post on this forum for some frustrating reason*


I can't get pics to post  here for some reason and I'm sick of trying to deal with it on this site.... so you can find the saks yourself

I belief the site was updated and there is restriction of less than 1MB allowed for download pictures.  I started to compress awl photos with a free app I found.

[z1913]

The new models are now listed on victorinox website

https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/New-Arrivals/cms/new-arrivals/

What are your thoughts on them? The companion slim alox looks good to me as an option for locations where blades are prohibited.

[ThisAlarm7]

The new models are now listed on victorinox website

https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/New-Arrivals/cms/new-arrivals/

What are your thoughts on them? The companion slim alox looks good to me as an option for locations where blades are prohibited.

I agree, that looks the most compelling although the Alox Jetsetter isn't too bad either. Disgusts me a SAK is banned anywhere, but I won't digress further than that. Given that they are, these aren't bad options I'd say.

[Jazz]

Rambler alox is so close, yet so far away. Come on Victorinox. Bladeless are not for me... yet, and hopefully never. Might try a Companion some time, but I really like the can opener, and that new file is not good for nails at all. You cut with scissors, then sand to smooth with a file, not rip and tear the whole nail away with a too aggressive file. I wish the small blade on most 91mm knives was replaced with an old style file. Would be a great knife then, just like Wenger did, and the Delemont Vics.

They do look like good offerings for those that need them, though. I hope they do well. Too bad there's a need for such a thing.

[gadgetman7]

Here you go.

https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Swiss-Army-Knives/Service/Contact/cms/contact/

[IMR4198]

     Whoever named these new models showed an amazing lack of creativity.  All of them named Companion?  G
 

[BPRoberts]

So, the good news is we can get Companions at a reasonable price in red Cellidor. (I actually emailed Vic last week to see if we could get a group purchase on them, since they're in the promo catalogue.) Also, yellow Alox as a standardish option is nice.

The rest is pretty meh. Like Gary said, why are they all named Companion? A 58, 91, and multiple 93s all with the same names. If they hadn't already used "Companion" as the name for the 91mm version, I could see making the "Companion Line" with all the bladeless models (and then you could have a Companion Small in 58 and Companion Large in 91 or whatever), but the 91mm Companion w/ blade is the base Companion even if it's the least like the others.

Alox Scissors only is nice, I guess. Vic scissors good. Alox good. A 93mm frame seems a bit overkill. (Are the 93s actually different from the 91s? The wiki doesn't say.) I don't see these going far outside the collector market.

The 58mm is just an Alox Jetsetter. It'll probably sell a bit (hopefully we don't lose the Cellidor version). Still waiting for my Jetsetter Champ. Or at least a redone Jetsetter 2. Do you really think people don't want to file their nails while traveling, Vic?

Companion Slim Alox is fine. Very much along the lines of most of the third party bladeless models you see. I think I'd have rather had it in Cellidor (again, do they not think we want a toothpick while we're flying?) but there's nothing wrong with it as an option, just not what I'd pick for a flagship model of a new line.

I'm happy to have more bladeless options (and at reasonable prices and from Vic instead of having to hunt them down on Etsy/eBay), but this feels like a real iffy execution (especially for how long they were in the works). I'll probably wind up getting a Cellidor Companion (might still cave and get the Sydney, it's a very nice design). I'll have to paw through my existing bladeless stock, but I think I probably have a close enough one (and the can opener has come in handy quite a few times) that I'll skip the Alox.

[Fireman]

So, the good news is we can get Companions at a reasonable price in red Cellidor. (I actually emailed Vic last week to see if we could get a group purchase on them, since they're in the promo catalogue.) Also, yellow Alox as a standardish option is nice.

The rest is pretty meh. Like Gary said, why are they all named Companion? A 58, 91, and multiple 93s all with the same names If they hadn't already used "Companion" as the name for the 91mm version, I could see making the "Companion Line" with all the bladeless models (and then you could have a Companion Small in 58 and Companion Large in 91 or whatever), but the 91mm Companion w/ blade is the base Companion even if it's the least like the others.

Alox Scissors only is nice, I guess. Vic scissors good. Alox good. A 93mm frame seems a bit overkill. (Are the 93s actually different from the 91s? The wiki doesn't say.) I don't see these going far outside the collector market.

The 58mm is just an Alox Jetsetter. It'll probably sell a bit (hopefully we don't lose the Cellidor version). Still waiting for my Jetsetter Champ. Or at least a redone Jetsetter 2. Do you really think people don't want to file their nails while traveling, Vic?

Companion Slim Alox is fine. Very much along the lines of most of the third party bladeless models you see. I think I'd have rather had it in Cellidor (again, do they not think we want a toothpick while we're flying?) but there's nothing wrong with it as an option, just not what I'd pick for a flagship model of a new line.

I'm happy to have more bladeless options (and at reasonable prices and from Vic instead of having to hunt them down on Etsy/eBay), but this feels like a real iffy execution (especially for how long they were in the works). I'll probably wind up getting a Cellidor Companion (might still cave and get the Sydney, it's a very nice design). I'll have to paw through my existing bladeless stock, but I think I probably have a close enough one (and the can opener has come in handy quite a few times) that I'll skip the Alox.

I definitely want a cellidor Companion, but I have no need of bladeless things. 

[IMR4198]

    How about a MTo 20th Anniversary Companion?  Talking about the 3 layer with the blade.   Very few people have that model, and it might make a great special issue.  Best wishes.  G
 

[LoopCutter]

The TINKER name used to identify several models.
Super, Delux, Small, isn’t there a SUPER DELUX TOO!

The Spartan which was before the Tinker is one model.  Yet it has a variety of like models.

Makes sense they are expanding the COMPANION Model line.  Imagination amongst companies is shrinking.

Also, just my opinion, I think ALOX Versions should have a different name.
Like the PIONEER and the FARMER. The ELECTRICIAN


YOU KNOW those are ALOX models.

[BPRoberts]

I just realized that these have zero marketing. No emails (at least not to me), none of the knife sites even have them, nothing. The Damascus Companion got an email push, but a whole new line gets nothing? Awlmost feels like they want these to flop so they could say, "We tried bladeless, no one bought them. Leave us alone." At least we get cheap Companions.

    How about a MTo 20th Anniversary Companion?  Talking about the 3 layer with the blade.   Very few people have that model, and it might make a great special issue.  Best wishes.  G
 

My understanding is that a "Club Knife" is different than a corporate promo and goes through different channels. I think the current policy is that club knives are selected by Vic (usually a discontinued model or slight variant of a current model), and all clubs get the same knife, with only cosmetic differences. A couple years ago, every club got Lumberjacks. I missed out on ordering from the club I usually do, but was able to get one for a different club that was the same except for the blade engraving (maybe scale color, I don't remember for sure).

I know that there used to be a Swiss Army Knights club knife ever year. Not sure who arranged that or if they're still around. If they are, probably easiest if they reach out, since they awlready know the process, etc.

In terms of ordering a bulk engraved lot, the last time I tried to do a similar order (wedding favors) I was told that I would have to go through a third party distributor, who never returned my calls/emails. In the end, we just did it as a regular customer order on the website.

Obviously they do some bulk orders, corporate promos, etc. directly, but they've never been forthcoming when I've tried to ask about the process. I admit that I've never been super impressed with Vic's customer service for this kind of thing. Lots of conflicting or non-answers when I've reached out in the past.

Victorinox's direct to customer personalization is pretty far behind Gerber's, Leatherman's, etc. Only a small portion of their lineup (and no Companion) is available, and no options to do anything but a basic message on the scales. Some of the larger third party shops do a bit better. I know I've used Swiss Knife Shop for gifts in the past, and they could engrave the blade, at least. If we can't do an official knife, I have an engraver down the street who would be much more flexible (from past experience, she says the blades engrave better than scales, but she'll put pretty much whatever we want) and probably give us a decent deal. The biggest issue there would be shipping, since I'd have to get the knives sent my way, and then individually back to awl of you (and I don't even know where to start on international shipping).

The TINKER name used to identify several models.
Super, Delux, Small, isn’t there a SUPER DELUX TOO!

The Spartan which was before the Tinker is one model.  Yet it has a variety of like models.

Makes sense they are expanding the COMPANION Model line.  Imagination amongst companies is shrinking.

Also, just my opinion, I think ALOX Versions should have a different name.
Like the PIONEER and the FARMER. The ELECTRICIAN


YOU KNOW those are ALOX models.

I feel like the Tinkers are awl a semi-coherent line. Awl backside driver models, and awl 91s (except the small, which is smaller). I have always found it funny that there are a gaggle of X Tinkers (or Tinker Ys, they can't make up their mind) and every little change to a Spartan requires a completely new name.

They almost got to "everything with a package opener is a Companion", which isn't a great line theme, but it's something. And then they gave up and put the scissors and Jetsetter in there. I think I'd have just called them the Jetsetter Alox and the ALOX X, but I'm not a marketer.

[Myron]

Sorry if someone has already mentioned this and I just missed it, but shouldn't we all be celebrating the return of red and gold Alox in a non-LE offering!  Yay!

I like the Pioneer thingie, the Companion Thin Alox I guess they're calling it.  In truth I really only use a knife blade for cutting packages, but I use my scissors all the time.  Think I'll order one each in red and gold!

I agree with the many posters who have suggested the naming convention is silly. 

[ulzhan]

It's a start, at last. I hope for more bladeless models which could also include pliers and the fish scaler.

[gustophersmob]

I'm pretty "meh" on all of them.

It does appear, assuming the renders are accurate, that the 93mm scissors on these new models have the nail nick on the same side of the scissors as the 91mm, except they open from the other end of the knife so the nail nick is still on the show side like the pioneer X and farmer X.  The odd thing is that, if they truly moved the nail nick on the Pioneer X and Farmer X from the 91mm configuration to simply build, or part sorting, these new models undo that.

[powernoodle]

I'm pretty "meh" on all of them.

Same here.  It benefits Victorinox, which does not affect me; and benefits people who live in or attend no-blade places - which also doesn't affect me.

Hey Victorinox - how about releasing a new SAK or MT that will excite the masses?  #VictorinoxScientist  #SwisstoolSpiritMini

Victorinox and Leatherman are run by bean counters, which is understandable since the primary reason they exist is to accumulate beans.  But that's not very fun for the rest of us.

[rep]

I would prefer a can opener to the package opener.  Does the package opener count as bladeless in Europe?

[zrxoa1]

Well, I picked up a Companion Slim Alox. I am intrigued by the package opener.

I made my own “companion” several years ago…






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[IMR4198]

Nice one.  I like the silver alox.  Let us know what you think of the new SAK.  Best wishes.  G
 

[nate j]

The big question is, “Will these generally be allowed through security checkpoints since they are bladeless?”

If they are, I can see some real value (even though they aren’t necessarily the models I would have picked).  If they generally aren’t or results are inconsistent, then no value.

[IMR4198]

   I can easily imagine someone taking one look at the bladeless Vic and throwing it into the confiscated bucket.  Wouldn't do a bit of good to argue.  Best wishes.  G
 

[ElevenBlade]

I'll wait for a bladeless SwissChamp, or at least something that beats the typical workarounds that most of us have such as a backup Classic SD or OPT on a keyring

[Myron]

   I can easily imagine someone taking one look at the bladeless Vic and throwing it into the confiscated bucket.  Wouldn't do a bit of good to argue.  Best wishes.  G
 

Same here.  I would never try to win the argument with a TSA employee....

[marlowe221]

My understanding is that the regulations say it’s up to the judgement of the TSA agent in the moment. I’ve also experienced differences between different airports in security procedures. So you’re rolling the dice every time, if you ask me. Personally, I chuck a SAK in my checked luggage at the terminal. It’s never been an issue.

That said, I may pick up a 91mm Companion in red cellidor.

[Huntsman]

The Victorinox website blurb really is a load of garbage 
This is what they say about the Companion X Alox:

Discover an everyday companion that is ready to help you in all kinds of cutting tasks. Pocket-sized and streamlined, the Companion X Alox is the perfect assistant for a productive day in the office or a creative day at home. Combining Swiss made precision with smart and iconic design, the Companion X Alox is a result of the Victorinox vision to make your everyday life easier with style.

What a pile of sh1t.
"all kinds of cutting tasks" .... Really ..... it's just a pair of scissors 
"make your everyday life easier with style" ..... Come on      

Now if they had said all this about the SwissChamp, or Huntsman, or such like it might have been true

Don't get me wrong - I like this model - But please Victorinox describe it for what it is   

How about something like:
"When you want a minimal carry and need a to have a pair of scissors with you, but are in a location where you cannot carry a knife blade, such as a school or government building then the Companion X Alox is for you  "

[IMR4198]

   Yes, that is advertising fertilizer of the highest order.  The red cellidor Companion should find some buyers.  It should have been rolled out at the same time as the pastel offerings.  G
 
   

[MrToolJunkie]

I actually am intrigued by the scissors model or the one without a knife and the package opener. It would pair nicely with one of my Spirits, Swiss Tools or Rebar/SuperTool MT without scissors. I think there is a place for them in the lineup. Are they the end all, be all? No. But, it is a start. I keep waiting for the ability to order a customized SAK with implements I want direct vs. Trying my own mod or sourcing through a third party.

[Huntsman]

I really am in a grumpy mood tonight       
- As someone said above, the naming of these models is all over the place, and a right effing mess!!

• Companion: 91mm .... The model we awlready know
  
• Companion Slim Alox:  94mm ....  Scissors, screwdriver, box opener
  
• Companion X Alox:  94mm ....  Scissors only
  
• Companion S Alox:  58mm .... Scissors, combi tool
  

So we have a 'Slim' model that is actually fatter than the X model
Talking of X - Didn't X in Victorinox parlance mean scissors - So shouldn't they all be Xs   
And we have a Companion S Alox and Companion X Alox - So these two should be pretty similar - Right?        
Wrong ! !!!      They are totally different and not even the same frame size   
And talking of the Companion S Alox model - That's actually a Jetsetter - Isn't it ?      

The only name that makes any sense is the Companion - A 91mm model
Oh? ....  But wait a minute ..... Wasn't that a 58mm model?     - Well kind of - as long as you forget about the 74mm Companion

The scissors is the only thing they have in common !! They dont seem like a family!   
You'd at least think it was the box-opener as this tool was introduced by the Companion

And 94mm .... Really why?  New scale size for the same sized tools Surely they are 93mm

Oh dear Victorinox - What a mess!! and totally confusing
Time to have a chat with your product managers and marketing department
- Or were these guys brought in new for this release? As they clearly do not understand the market and helpful naming!