With the ascendency of multi-tools the classic Swiss army knives may have lost some of there appeal. I still have 4 Victorinox Officers knives and they are still in my BOB's and truck kits.. A relic or still a useful tool?
Still a very useful tool! Lighter duty maybe but also easier to carry in a pocket when a multi tool is overly large or inconvenient. Most multi tools in their smaller sizes don't have the versatility of the good ol swiss army knife.
Victorinox is still very much alive and in business. Every few years I give away knives for Christmas. Small pretty basic Victorinox knives have always been high on that list. They seem to be welcomed by all hunters and fishermen as well as gentile ladies as long as you choose the appropriate knife. Their catalog online is quite impressive. . Swiss Army Knives by Victorinox, Makers of the Original Swiss Army Knife . imho, by all means USEFUL TOOL
As you can see on the front page of their catalog, you can even get one with a thumb drive (for use as a key, storage, boot drive, or perhaps encryption use.
The little ones with scissors are good for keeping my moustache offa my lip. ...and trimming nose hair.
There is still a place for one, in my left front pocket everyday. Every cache, every bundle of supplies that we have set up always has at least one swiss army knife and one gerber multi tool in it. I have purchased well over a 100 of these knifes over the years. Some new, many from pawn shops, some more from flea market type places. IMO, only buy the victorinox (sp?) brand. There are a lot of cheap knock offs out there.
one can never have too many swiss army knives I absolutely LOVE the Huntsman knife. I keep one in my car kit, one in my BOB, and one is my EDC along with my leatherman. Old habits die hard. I have carried one almost daily since 1985.
Used to EDC a good size SAK, only Victorinox or Wenger brands. Moved to a smaller one when Leatherman came along but still EDC a small one still by Victorinox (logo is the shield shape with cross in middle) or Wenger (logo is a slightly rounded square with cross in middle). Both are excellent quality. AT
The responses are pretty much the way I look at the Swiss Army knives. They make a nice companion to my Leatherman MUT. Victorinox makes nice products and I picked one of the their watches a few years back keeps great time and still on the original battery my Eco-Drive is my main watch and this is one of my spares.
I have been carrying a Swiss Army knife for almost four decades. Feel naked when I fly. Miss being able to carry one on the plane.
The tiny keychain model with the scissors can almost always make it through the TSA checkpoint in a toiletry case or so I've heard.
Classic SD small Victorinox Very small, hardly even know it's in your pocket. I like to carry one all the time.
my edc is a real issue swiss army knife. I also have a german "same model different handle" in waiting for when I break my swiss. I have used it heavily for the last 2 years. I love the real swiss army issue knifes. the small red swiss victorinox knives are not my cup of tea. I have has awesome luck with the military issue knives... mine is getting worn the frame is bent a bit making it hard to get the screw driver out but I still use it and trust it daily. once I break a blade or completely kill it, I will switch to my other one and buy another spare.
I'll chip in with a bit of unsubstantiated lore on the whole SAK story. I read years ago that the Wenger company has righteous claim to the original "Swiss Army" knife moniker, as it has provided their regular army troops with one of their models for decades on government contract. Victorinox, according to the story, has the "Swiss Officer's" knife label, or could only market their product as such due to Wenger's large contract and original claim. Victorinox has enjoyed a more profitable global civilian market exposure for decades, and likely some military contracts.
I've owned a SAK since high school. Back then it was a Champion. Most useful thing I've ever owned and saved me from a variety of difficult situations. Now I own two SwissChamps. The Sapphire model is my EDC knife. The StayGlow model is in my gear bag.