 Only the best! - From Victorinox |
| Review Date: January 17, 2006 |
| Reviewer: A. Chopra, |
In 1895, Karl Elsener thought of manufacturing quality Swiss Army Knives (SAK) to be used by Swiss Army, as he was irritated to see the Swiss using a German multipurpose knives during the military operations. What makes Victorinox stand apart from other (so called) manufacturers of SAKs are that it was formed by none other than Elsener himself. For almost a centuary, only two manufacturers ruled the SAK market they were: Victorinox, and Wenger. In April 2005, Wenger was acquired by Victorinox. Now the Victorinox has monopoly in supplying SAK to Swiss Army, and to the retail civilian market.
I am currently using the Victorinox Forester, and the Explorer, but my favorite is the Explorer, as it is comes very handy in your everyday's work. The most used features by me are: Philips screwdriver, scissors, magnifying glass, and of course the large blade.
I am using Swiss Army knives since last 5 years. I tried Wenger (before it was acquired by Victorinox), and I was surprised to see the difference in quality. No doubt, Victorinox came out as the winner here. Exceptional high quality and attention to detail makes them the world's best Swiss Army Knife manufacturer. Don't even think of buying the cheap (made in China) SAK, you will just waste your money. So, the Victorinox is your best bet!
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Simply the best
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| Review Date: March 25, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Long Island Larry, Long Island, NY |
| This is my second Swiss Army Explorer; I lost the first one on a trip last summer. While it is true that there are Swiss Army knives with a greater number of tools than the Explorer, at a certain point, they tend to become unwieldy and somewhat expensive. At a price point of under $30.00, the Explorer combines great utility, economy and compactness. The only tool I have never used on the Explorer is the hook; in fact, I have never quite figured out what its purpose actually is. |
The ideal SAK?
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| Review Date: July 1, 2007 |
| Reviewer: R. Cox, |
I have had many Swiss Army Knives over the years and this style has always been my favorite. It has all the tools that I am ever likely to need and is light enough to carry everywhere I go.
The fact that this has two knives is especially appealing to me since I can keep one for "dirty"/rough work whilst keeping the other blade clean.
Now if only it had a belt clip. |
Exactly what I needed
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| Review Date: May 30, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Kelly J. Perrin, |
This knife has been perfect for me. I ride my bike to work and have been able to tighten loose screws no matter where I happen to be when I find them, open boxes without resorting to my keys, and I've even used the magnifying glass to identify some writing in a 100 year old photograph when I was away from my office.
Plus, I was the most popular person at a recent cook-out when nobody remembered to bring a bottle opener.
The scissors are of good quality, the tweezers work well, and the cork-screw will open a bottle of wine without feeling like it's about to snap off. All in all I'd have to rate this as one of my better purchasing decisions.
*Edit*
A year and a half later I've still got it in my pocket. None of the blades or tools have broken off, and I've even managed to keep track of the toothpick and tweezer! If I had to find something I didn't like, it's that the magnifying glass is plastic rather than glass. I'm not sure you could start a fire with it, but it works fine for looking at photos or small text. Also, even though it is plastic it hasn't discolored like some plastics do. |
Great Pocketknife!
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| Review Date: July 3, 2007 |
| Reviewer: M. Dowd, |
| I bought this for my 9-year old son. Every young man should have a really good pocket knife. He loves to take it camping. We used the tweezers on our last trip to get some splinters out of his little brother's hand. |
The most useful functions that still fit comfortably in a pocket
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| Review Date: December 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Work In Progress, San Bruno, CA |
| I've carried a Swiss Army Knife of one type or another every day for the last 30 years. I've gone through about a dozen during this time period. None of them has ever broken, all were either lost or given away and then replaced. Of the different types I've tried the Explorer is the best compromise between size and functions that can comfortably belong in your jeans pocket. I tried to carry a Swiss Champ for a while, but I quickly relegated it to the glove box (waaay too big). The functions I use the most are the knife blades and the scissors (almost daily). Next would be the Phillips screwdriver which on the Explorer is on the END, which is a big deal, since most have it on the side which makes it difficult to reach tight spaces. I think I've used every blade with the exception of the "hook" (what the heck is that for anyway?). The corkscrew, the hole tool, can-opener, bottle opener, the flat screwdrivers, even the magnifying glass (rarely), are all useful and well designed. The scissors are sharp and precisely designed (though it would be nice if they had a tad more leverage). Anyway, overall the best compromise and the only other one to consider might be the Explorer Plus (with a pen and a mini screwdriver in the corkscrew which is nice). The only feature I think I've ever missed would be a file, but that's life. And there's something about the distinctive "snick" sound it makes when a blade opens which just makes your day sometimes. |
Never Leave Home Without It
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| Review Date: January 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Thomas N. Casey, Buffalo, WY USA |
I have been using my Explorer since 1982 or so and could not get through the day without it. I always lose the toothpick and tweezers, and extra replacement springs for the scissors are useful as they can eventually break--say every five years or so. Sent it in to the repair center about fifteen years ago for handle replacements and general tightening up. The main blade is getting a bit wiggly but it is just as functional today as it was when I bought it around 27 years ago.
As noted--everything you need, nothing you don't. |
Victorious Explorer!
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| Review Date: October 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Michael, Olive Branch, MS |
I've been a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife enthusiast since I was a kid. I never actually owned one until I went to Switzerland, and simply had to acquire one (along with a clock...) I don't remember the model of the first one I owned. I had the two blades, the scissors, the can opener/screw driver and a cork screw. I lost it out in Los Angeles about 25 years ago. Since then, I've had a variety of different models. I've settled on the Explorer as my pocket knife of choice. Here's why:
1. The blades are excellent (a standard Victorinox feature.) I use both (for different purposes) and have never been disappointed in the quality.
2. The scissors are just the right size. (I've got big hands, and these are easy to hold and to use, yet small enough to get into tight places that regular scissors just won't go.) Seldom a day goes by when I do not use the scissors for cutting something. Thread, paper, string, labels, tape, whatever... the scissors are the best! Always sharp, and never a jam. They work perfectly every single time.
3. For me, what really sets the Explorer apart from other knives with a Phillips head screw driver is that it opens all the way out to the side. I've had some other Victorinox knives where the Phillips head opens half way, and you need to use it like the corkscrew. Well, that's just unwieldy, and I searched high and low for a knife with the Phillips head on the side. This one has it. I use it quite frequently for tightening the little screws which seem to come lose all too regularly around the house.
4. The magnifying glass comes in very handy. As I'm getting older, I just don't see as well up close as I used to. And, when there's fine print that my bifocals just won't handle... I've used my handy Explorer to read it.
5. I've poked holes with the awl...
6. I've opened cans with the can opener...
7. I've opened bottles with the bottle opener (as well as tightened or loosened standard screws...)
As for the hook... I don't know what it's for. I've never found a use for it. But... it's there. If they sold a knife with the other stuff without the hook, I'd buy that. But, this configuration is the only way I've found to get the full opening Phillips and the magnifier without having to get a whole bunch of other stuff that I'm not going to use. And, who knows? Maybe, one day, while I'm out in the wilderness, a life-saving use for the hook will present itself. In that event, I'll update this review. In the meantime, I'll just live with it.
So, overall, I highly recommend the Victorinox Explorer. Just enough good stuff to make it wonderful. Not too much to be unwieldy, and not too little to make it not as useful. We've got 4 in the house. I have one I carry around everywhere. My wife has one. My son has one. I have another one that sits on my desk (in the event that my regular one is on the dresser...) They're just too useful to be without. I might acquire another one to keep in the car... just in case.
Good luck, and God bless you! |
Best of the Lot
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| Review Date: November 9, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Miguel, Seattle |
| I had one of these for years before it got ripped off going through airport luggage control. So, this is a replacement. It really has everything you need in a pocket knife, and the optional clip-on belt pouch keeps it readily at hand. The magnifying tool comes in amazingly handy, and is only included with a few Swiss Army Knife models. If you need more tools, get a Leatherman. Highly recommended. |
Toolbox in my pocket.
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| Review Date: December 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jeff Gersonde, Naples, FL |
| The main thing I was looking for was the Phillips screwdriver. The best part about this one is that it comes off the end instead of in the middle like on some of the other knives. Quick jobs are even quicker when you have the tool in your pocket. I use the knife, toothpick and magnifying glass on an almost daily basis,and the scissors and screwdrivers at least weekly. |
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