Indians For Guns

This birthday i am planning to buy large Swiss Army Knife!
Hunter XT

Dual Pro


Soldier


Forester


PS i am a sucker for Serrated blades so i was thinking Dual pro two serrated blades in one then the other serrated blade is a glasscutter/seatbelt cutter after smashing window of car i dont own a car?

Hunter XT seems t be nice but does not have large lockable screwdriver?? but then again a screwdriver in a forest?

Why do they make them so i am confused one part here one part there one thing here one blade there !???

Hi kenhypno,
> Many Happy Returns of the Day in advance
> The pics you have posted makes me droooool - they all look so good.
> If you are asking for advice I would suggest go for the one that has a 'philips' screw driver bit in it.
> Screw driver in a forest???? One never knows when you may need it & where it comes handy. When you are carrying a gun with you while roaming in the forest - chances are some screw in your gun may have gone loose - what then?
> By the way are you going to buy it on the e-bay or some shop near your place sells them?
> Just let me know your choice & how much did it cost you.
Cheers
Briha

Knives are somewhat an individual taste, but of the one you have posted I would choose the dual pro unless you use the corkscrew frequently.

Victorinox makes awesome saws for their knives, but to be honest it is not used that much. I think the serrated blade would be much more useful, especially because you could then use it to cut coarse items and save the edge of the main blade for things requiring more precise work, like cutting food for sandwiches!

A corkscrew is nice to have, but if it is an emergency you can just push the cork into the bottle with your finger. If the neck is too long, just use your finger to get the cork started and use a pencil or pen or even a stick. And then say to the group "This is what you do in an emergency, the only problem is that now we have to drink the entire bottle!"

Anyway, if you need a corkscrew frequently get a knife with it, but otherwise of your choices listed I think the "Dual Pro" model would be the most useful.

Kenhypno, you shoudl either get the bundeshwehr or the Soldiers knife, both have the same features except the Soldier comes with a straight edge and the Bundeshwehr with a partially serrated blade. I prefer straight edged blades but the Bundeshwehr looks way better in the OD scales. Also please note the steel is softer than say a 440c or 8cr13Mov so the serrations would be difficult to keep sharp unless you have the right sharpening tool.

Do have a look at the Rescue tool too !!!

P.S: Many happy returns of the day in advance.

Regards
Moin.

I use this one gifted by a friend. Simple single blade, no fuss. For rest of it I have a Gerber multitool.

http://www.wenger.ch/ranger-51-1-077-051-000

I'm not sure where it will be available in India though.

Since we are on this subject, which is the true Swiss knife? The Wenger or the Victorinox, or both?

Katana wrote: Since we are on this subject, which is the true Swiss knife? The Wenger or the Victorinox, or both?

Both companies make true Swiss knives.

Victorinox ( first known as Karl Elsener) started first and a couple of years later Wenger (Paul Boechat) started making these too.

Why do you need to choose between them?

I only have these pictures at hand from the ones I own, there are a few more apart from these:















In my opinion the swiss knives are among the best EDC options.

Make a list of the tools / features you need on these and choose the one which has the most in the desired size without being too bulky.

kenhypno wrote: the other serrated blade is a glasscutter/seatbelt cutter after smashing window of car

It is not a glass cutter. The windshield cutter may be seen in the picture of the rescue tool.

And BTW I too recommend the Bundeshwehr or the One hand Trekker (I think this is what they call it). You have the locking blade, the wood saw and the large slotted screw driver which they do not say but may be used as a pry bar for light usage along with the other tools.

Rajat wrote:Why do you need to choose between them?

I only have these pictures at hand from the ones I own, there are a few more apart from these:

[ Image ]

[ Image ]

[ Image ]

[ Image ]

[ Image ]

[ Image ]

[ Image ]

In my opinion the swiss knives are among the best EDC options.

Make a list of the tools / features you need on these and choose the one which has the most in the desired size without being too bulky.

And you have to flash your fancy blades and give everyone else an inferiority complex.. hahahaha

On a serious note, any idea what steel is used in these puppies. I have been using and abusing the Bundershwehr since the last two years and all it needs is an occasional touch up on the lansky kit, the large screw driver, bottle opener and the awl is pretty handy apart from the locking blade.

Regards

Gerber is sometimes available on oliveplanet.in.

As per Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Army_knife).......

Originating in Ibach, Switzerland, the Swiss Army knife was first produced in 1891 after the company Karl Elsener, which later became Victorinox, won the contract to produce the Swiss Army's Modell 1890 knife from the previous German manufacturer. In 1893 the Swiss cutlery company Paul Boéchat & Cie, which later became Wenger, received its first contract from the Swiss military to produce model 1890 knives; the two companies split the contract for provision of the knives from 1908 until Victorinox acquired Wenger in 2005.

So now they are the same company. Also on the origins of the moniker 'Swiss Army Knife":

According to Carl Elsener, head of Victorinox in 2009, U.S. soldiers bought Swiss Army knives in huge numbers at PX stores on military bases following the conclusion of the Second World War. As German: Schweizer Offiziersmesser was too difficult for them to say, they called it the "Swiss Army knife", the name by which the knife is now most commonly known worldwide.[2]

If undecided on the functions, you can buy the Wenger "Giant" model - which includes all the implements ever made by them. Unfortunately, it needs extreme levels of pocket depth - both to carry it, as well as to pay for it (USD 1,000, minimum).

If I may, Kenhypno, I would beg you not to buy the knives with USB drives and SD card readers. Please, please!!!

Moin, again from wiki:

According to Victorinox the martensitic stainless steel alloy used for the parts is X39Cr13 or 1.4031 and for the springs X20Cr13 or 1.4021.[19]

Offhand it would seem to be a high chromium stainless steel, Cr13 would probably be 13%. Martensitic structure would be decently hard. EU steel grades, as per their website (google for this steel type, EU standards is the first), seems pretty stringent.

Here's mine:

Hey Kenhypno,

Welcome to Victorinox Swiss Army Knife madness cult ...and wish you a wonderful birthday. There are so many versions that its fun collecting. I have been carrying a few for some years...so here is my feedback

1. The Victorinox Swiss Champ is a 'must have'. It is the original all fixit baby and very comfortable to carry on your belt in a leather case or in your bag. Whip out one of these, anywhere and you will get glances of admiration, envy...this is akin to the girl next door. The one whom you take to meet your mom. Totally inoffensive, voluptuously sexy, packed with goodness and acceptable in all company. From the boardroom to the jungle. And let not the good looks or smaller size fool you. I have an old version but the blades are razor sharp. Very practical and almost any tool that will come handy are available. There are so many features that I am not going into all of them

The Cyber Tool is also a great one in this category. At least one knife buff on this forum who lives in a Jungle deep down south, swears by its efficacy and cool features

The Good stuff : Sexy, cool, inoffensive, voluptuous, packed with features, very handy
The not so nice : no one hand opening, no lockable blades, small, fat, heavy, needs a sheath

2. The Victorinox Nomad : This is a great version. Large blade, contoured handle for better grip, lockable blade and lockable BIG flat head screwdriver that can be used for light prying. Add to that a bottle opener, can opener, small screwdriver, wire stripper, awl, cork screw. Everything that you will need for EDC is here. Due to the abbreviated form, this is much thinner in width and carries much better in the pocket due to is lower weight. Wish it had a Phillips screwdriver...but I have no complaints with this one. This is a fighting babe and punches way above her weight. My EDC carry when I am in the mood for a bigger badder blade

The good stuff : Liner Lock blade, liner lock screwdriver, sexy, light, thin, has everything that you may need on a day to day basis, very economical. Great for EDC and can be pocket carried without much jangling jongling and other unpleasant stuff.
The not so nice : No One hand opening, many other features that you may not need, strange reverse liner lock closing. This is probably the only liner lock made for left handed people and every time I try to close this...i know what it must feel like to be left handed and close right hand liner lock closing blades.

3. The Bundershwehr : This is a feature rich package. Its biggest benefit is the one hand opening. I just dig it. It fixes the possible drawbacks of both the Nomad as well as the Swiss Champ. Big liner lock blade, a saw, a liner lock screwdriver, wire stripper, bottle opener, can opener, small screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, awl. This is the best combination that I have used. I actually like the chisel grind on this one. And though the serrations on the blade are different, as in ...they are in the top part of the blade, I have never had any issues in re-sharpening this one. I am not a fan of serrated blades anyway...but somehow, I like the serrations on this. However, this one is basically a muscular babe. Much like a soldier. Weighs more than the Nomad and hangs around the pocket like a grenade. Very uncomfortable if you are wearing linen trousers...might make people give you strange glances

The good stuff : Has everything that you would need. Including one hand opening. Sexy olive scales too. Big blade, liner locks, smooth opening, muscular, strong, great serrations, great for camping, hiking.

The not so nice : Many things that you may not need but are part of the Champ. Heavier & clunkier. Same strange reverse liner lock for the knife

4. The Forester : I have the Forester too. But I rarely carry it. Since it is basically a kind of Bundershwehr, without one hand opening and without a Phillips screwdriver. Same weight, clunky, muscular etc...but without the one hand opening it is beaten by the Bundershwehr. I would always carry the Bundershwehr (as opposed to the Forester) since it has the same features and has one hand opening too.

This is my view...however, you must go ahead and go to the store and meet each of these platinum blondes. There is no better way to find out which of these girls is the best buddy for you....maybe you will pick all of them

Hope this helps....and have a great birthday...cheers slingshot

Also please note the steel is softer than say a 440c or 8cr13Mov so the serrations would be difficult to keep sharp unless you have the right sharpening tool.

why is it so??

The Bundershwehr : This is a feature rich package. Its biggest benefit is the one hand opening. I just dig it. It fixes the possible drawbacks of both the Nomad as well as the Swiss Champ. Big liner lock blade, a saw, a liner lock screwdriver, wire stripper, bottle opener, can opener, small screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, awl. This is the best combination that I have used.

i love this one ! but i miss the others ,basically i want one hand opening and serrated blade,saw, flat screwdriver i have a Locksmith but it is not one handed or serrated ...so any more ideas or combinations? so basically soldier is a locksmith onehand and serrated!

kenhypno wrote:

Code: Select all

The Bundershwehr : This is a feature rich package. Its biggest benefit is the one hand opening. I just dig it. It fixes the possible drawbacks of both the Nomad as well as the Swiss Champ. Big liner lock blade, a saw, a liner lock screwdriver, wire stripper, bottle opener, can opener, small screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, awl. This is the best combination that I have used.

i love this one ! but i miss the others ,basically i want one hand opening and serrated blade,saw, flat screwdriver i have a Locksmith but it is not one handed or serrated ...so any more ideas or combinations? so basically soldier is a locksmith onehand and serrated!

Maybe you need a Leatherman Surge, Charge TTi or Wave ...or The Victorinox Swiss Tool

Wonderful write up by slingshot!

kenhypno wrote: so basically soldier is a locksmith onehand and serrated!

No, it is not so. In the soldier you will not get the metal cutter / file.