Sportsman nail file rubbing the main blade

[SteelWing]

Hello, I just got a Victorinox Sportsman today. It appears the nail file slightly rubs the main blade when deploying. I don't really mind it scratching the blade itself, since I personally think the scratch marks look interesting. However, I am a little worried if this damages the file in the long run.

Would this contact significantly reduce the lifetime of the file?

[colt 1911]

return it !

[Gareth]

Na, it's very common with Vic's 84mm line.  I'm assuming that we're just talking about a very little contact.  Both the combo tool and nail file tend to rub on the blade and it's nothing to worry about.

[gustophersmob]

I agree with Gareth.  All my 84mm Cadets do this to some degree, and I have not noticed any reduction in life of the file.

[SteelWing]

It is indeed just a little contact, but still noticeable. I was only wondering whether this could lead to a large lifetime reduction of the nail file. I expect this rubbing to be negligible though, since the pressure on the file is much greater during use than during opening the tool.

How durable are these nail files actually? Can they last, say, 5 years?

[Gareth]

Perhaps I don't use them very often, but I've never noticed any kind of wear on them at all.  They are a lot harder than your nails though so I don't think that's particularly surprising.

[kkokkolis]

Mine lasts for a quarter of a century, EDC.

[gustophersmob]

I have an old ribbed Cadet that is likely from the 70's.  Its file is just fine, and it looks like the knife has seem some use over the years.

Even if you were able to wear out the file, they do have a lifetime warranty.

[SteelWing]

Thanks, that is good to hear. The Sportsman is quickly becoming my favorite SAK. I am very fond of 2-layer SAKs (I have a Recruit, Spartan, Tinker, Alox Soldier, Pioneer, Nomad, Compact and Evo S101). This model seems to have the most varied assortment of tools. Well, that is if you could call the small blade and the (backside) Phillips redundant due to the large blade and can opener.

Are there any other uses than using it to file nails? By the way, the red shield on that picture looks really beautiful.

[kkokkolis]

Removing staples, examining things, making holes to carton and other materials, carving your sweetheart's name on trees, screwing Philips' screws, rubbing off paint and glue from surfaces, spurring a horse, prying boxes, filing plastic (from plastic model kits for example) etc. I did everything except the one that requires a horse.

[SteelWing]

Really?! The file surface seemed a bit tiny to me, so I did not expect the tool to be that capable. I am positively surprised. Besides, can the tool really turn Phillips screws in its unaltered form? Or do you need to slightly mod its shape? And what kind of Phillips screws do you mean, since the file is quite thin?

[kkokkolis]

Small ones, those found on toys, remote controllers etc. The rest are handled by the can opener's screwdriver. Try it.
I carry a Spartan now in place of my Cadet, after many- many years. I miss that tool. Maybe Wenger knows better and keeps a similar file in place of a penknife in most of their SAKs.

[gustophersmob]

It can also be use to strike the strike-anywhere matches.

I remember seeing some pics on here somewhere of the tip of the nail file being modded for philips screws, but it seems to work just fine for me in its un-modded form as kkokkolis has said

By the way, the red shield on that picture looks really beautiful.

Thanks