Swiss Bianco Alox Minichamp

[mvecin]

Hi guys. I've started a small collection is small tools (Squirt,Dime, SAK's Rambler, minichamp, etc...) list goes on and on. I just started but already have around 12-15 pcs since its not easy to find them here where I live.

I saw the Alox SAK's and really love the look.

I see that a company called Swiss Bianco sells the minichamp in Alox. Really love the look. Is it worth the price? 65 $ plus shipping. Are these modified SAK's or originals?

Thank you in advance for any replies.

[kkokkolis]

It is a collaboration between Victorinox that produced limited editions of their SAKs and +B that sells them at high prices for collectors.
About the price; The regular Minichamp worths every penny. It could be easily the only EDC for most people that usually encounter personal grooming and office needs and tasks.
The +B model sacrifices some tools (retractable pen or LED light and tweezers or toothpick) and doubles the price in return of beauty, portability (?) and tactile sensation (almost pornographic).
I think that a regular is by far more cost effective but sexuality is usually paid by some manner or another in this world.

[kirk13]

I have both cellador MiniChamp,and Manager,as well as a +B Rambler.

I've retired my MiniChamp,and replaced it with the Rambler.Is the +B worth the price new?HELL NO!If you can grab one 2nd hand at a good price,then their well worth it.

[Marius]

Have a look here:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,39389.msg632130.html#msg632130

and:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,39342.msg631174.html#msg631174

These postings were before I got the latest Copper ones.

The alox MiniChamps are all limited edition SAKs done by Victorinox exclusively for Swiss Bianco.

[mvecin]

Thanks! Said liek this, I should definitely get one. Sexy factor is well worth the extra dollars

It is a collaboration between Victorinox that produced limited editions of their SAKs and +B that sells them at high prices for collectors.
About the price; The regular Minichamp worths every penny. It could be easily the only EDC for most people that usually encounter personal grooming and office needs and tasks.
The +B model sacrifices some tools (retractable pen or LED light and tweezers or toothpick) and doubles the price in return of beauty, portability (?) and tactile sensation (almost pornographic).
I think that a regular is by far more cost effective but sexuality is usually paid by some manner or another in this world.

[mvecin]

Thanks! I love them all!! hahaha

I've been in contact with Alexei of Swiss Bianco and about to order one. He was offering me the sunset orange of the copper one. Not sure if he had more colors available.

Have a look here:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,39389.msg632130.html#msg632130

and:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,39342.msg631174.html#msg631174

These postings were before I got the latest Copper ones.

The alox MiniChamps are all limited edition SAKs done by Victorinox exclusively for Swiss Bianco.

[Farmman]

I ordered a orange rambler yesterday

[mvecin]

Nice! I will order by next week. I'll have ti see what he has on stock to see what I should order

I ordered a orange manager yesterday

[mvecin]

Just ordered my copper minichamp. Cant wait to get it

[Ashley]

I want a mini champ alox but I think the price is pretty

Ash's mobile on the move.

[armèe-suisse]

Here's mine, thanks to Alexei from Canada.





Squirt PS4, Micra, Manager, Minichamp, Pocket Tool Chest

[neillcurrie]

Can anyone verify the exact anodizing on the SwissBianco 58mm models? I hope they are Hard Anodization type 3.

[Ashley]

I believe its the same thing that victorinox usually uses.

Ash's mobile on the move.

[ICanFixThat]

Can anyone verify the exact anodizing on the SwissBianco 58mm models? I hope they are Hard Anodization type 3.

No it is not HA.

[mvecin]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question but cant find this anywhere...is it possible to replkace the scales of the minichamp for other colors?

would the classic ones fit on the minichamp?

Thanks and i apoligize if this is in some thread but I can't find it anywhere

[neillcurrie]

Any 58 mm (victorinox) scales will fit any 58mm (victorinox) knife.

[mvecin]

Thanks a lot

[ICanFixThat]

Any 58 mm (victorinox) scales will fit any 58mm (victorinox) knife.

Except it's harder to swap out the Alox ones... 

[jrp316]

Any 58 mm (victorinox) scales will fit any 58mm (victorinox) knife.

Except it's harder to swap out the Alox ones... 

A bit of light drilling is involved...and if something goes awry, a bit of light profanity follows...ask me how I know

[Syph007]

Ive got some alox 58s coming for work.  I got pretty good at ripping apart the bigger sizes.  I hope the little ones arent too much more aggravating.

[neillcurrie]

I just attempted a repair of a minichamp 7-blader, that had 2 broken backsprings. I consider myself someone who's quite accomplished at modding various things, but I only have hand tools, hand electric drill, etc.
Anyway, drilling the pins out without damaging the collars proved really tricky. I damaged three of them enough that I wouldn't try re-using them, and I ended up donating the knife guts to a more accomplished modder.

[jrp316]

Ive got some alox 58s coming for work.  I got pretty good at ripping apart the bigger sizes.  I hope the little ones arent too much more aggravating.

The main issue, IMHO, is figuring out the backsprings and how they work. Once you figure that out, everything else should fall right into place. If you want to save the bushings, make sure you get the punch mark for drilling dead center on the pin. Doubly so for the alox so that the scales don't get fouled up. Be careful punching the pins out too, preferably punch them out on a flat surface. The scales and liners bend so easily it's not even funny.

@neillcurrie - Many a modder here has only ever used hand tools like you describe and have made fantastic mods. Those bushings, because of how small they are and how small the pins are, are very easy to foul up even at the best of times. Don't let it get you down.

[neillcurrie]

Is there any ready source for replacement bushings, other than ones that can be gathered from another donor knife??
By the way, I did center punch the pins dead center before drilling them. I guess the drill started to wander fractionally, and there's so little room for error that it's easy to cut into the bushing rather than the pin.

[jrp316]

I don't think anyone has ever been able to find bushings of any size for these knives; I believe they're made either in house by Victorinox or as a special item specifically for them. I'm batting about .500 in terms of saving them versus buggering them up. You might come out ahead to buy a job lot of Classics (or other such 58mm cellidor knives) and build a stock of parts and bushings that way. If nothing else, you'll get the intact bushings from the opposite side.

[Syph007]

If you want a tip that saved me alot of aggravation, when drilling out rivets for cadets and pioneers, is that regular drill bits suck for that job.  I use center drills and they work about a million times better.  I have some small enough for the 58mm pins that I plan to use, and I hope they work out as well for that small size.

Center drills...

[jrp316]

Now that looks like it's worth looking into...