# Swiss Army knives **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 2, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015 "2008-01-02T18:58:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/41 "2008-01-09T13:17:39Z")
The rounded points and edges on screwdrivers are a drawback with the SAK. That can be corrected, however, by literally a couple minutes work with a whetstone, file, or diamond stone. You don’t need to remove any great amount of metal; just square up the regular screwdrivers and slightly flatten the point on the philips. I’ve owned bunches of SAKs, a couple leatherman models, and sundry other multitools. The SAK gets my vote as most useful; you have a good pocketknife with some other tools in it. The multitools (including my Victorinox Swisstool) are basically pliers with some other tools in them. I need a knife more often than I need pliers. The SAK is in my briefcase. The multitool is in the glove compartment. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/42 "2008-01-10T12:57:30Z")
I actually get most use out of my [Swiss Card](http://www.swissknifeshop.co.uk/acatalog/Victorinox_Swiss_Card_Lite.html#aSWISSCARDLITE). Small and easily fitted into a drawer full of crap or my pocket, small knife, scissors and a pen, most useful 🙂 Dad keeps a Leatherman in his car for any number of events that have not and probably will not occur. Whatever the effectiveness of the tools may be, the knife is a sharp bugger and I cut myself open nicely when it snapped closed on me. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/43 "2008-01-10T13:26:47Z")
[QUOTE=Pushkin] I actually get most use out of my [Swiss Card](http://www.swissknifeshop.co.uk/acatalog/Victorinox_Swiss_Card_Lite.html#aSWISSCARDLITE). Small and easily fitted into a drawer full of crap or my pocket, small knife, scissors and a pen, most useful 🙂 Dad keeps a Leatherman in his car for any number of events that have not and probably will not occur. Whatever the effectiveness of the tools may be, the knife is a sharp bugger and I cut myself open nicely when it snapped closed on me. [/QUOTE] That’s cute, never have seen one up close. I’m a little skeptical as to it’s usefulness. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/44 "2008-01-10T15:38:32Z")
[QUOTE=Arnold Winkelried] I don’t think so, but I don’t know for sure. I will try to find out for you. [/QUOTE] Thanks. > [@Pushkin](#): > > I actually get most use out of my [Swiss Card](http://www.swissknifeshop.co.uk/acatalog/Victorinox_Swiss_Card_Lite.html#aSWISSCARDLITE). Small and easily fitted into a drawer full of crap or my pocket, small knife, scissors and a pen, most useful 🙂 Hm. :dubious: I don’t really like that everything comes out of it. I prefer to have most things attached. (Obviously not the toothpick or tweezers or pen.) So last night I noticed a screw had backed out of the trim plate for the light switches by the front door. Once again, the SAK was at hand. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/45 "2008-01-10T15:59:28Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] That’s cute, never have seen one up close. I’m a little skeptical as to it’s usefulness. [/QUOTE] Well, I’m not an outdoors type or even one to be stuck in the garage/garden shed up to all sorts of Heath Robinson nonsense, it works as a sort of tool for the desk if you want to get rid of some clutter. The knife is sharp enough for packages and envelopes, the scissors just big enough to be manageable and the other implements are useful as a back up. [QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] Hm. :dubious: I don’t really like that everything comes out of it. I prefer to have most things attached. (Obviously not the toothpick or tweezers or pen.) [/QUOTE] The blade and scissors fit back in securely enough but then I’ve probably not used it enough to loosen them. As gimmicky presents go its neat enough, I got an “everlasting” torch, a credit card sized thing with LEDs that gives a decent light to go with it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/46 "2008-01-11T15:49:48Z")
[QUOTE=Arnold Winkelried] The tradition will still be maintained that only officers will have the corkscrew. [/QUOTE] I asked Victorinox which is ‘the’ Officer’s knife. I’ve just received this response: > [@](#): > > The Soldiers knife is the knife issued to all soldiers when entering the Swiss > Army. This began in 1891 and still continues today. In 1897 Victorinox developed > a range of knives that were and still are called Officer’s knives (our 91mm > range). The Officer’s knife has more features, including the corkscrew or Phillips > screwdriver, than the Soldiers knife. It was never issued to Officers but offered > for sale as an alternative to the issued Soldier knife. It sounds as if officers may choose to carry any of the SAKs they choose as a private purchase. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/47 "2008-01-11T16:20:04Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] I asked Victorinox which is ‘the’ Officer’s knife. I’ve just received this response: It sounds as if officers may choose to carry any of the SAKs they choose as a private purchase. [/QUOTE] that would imply that soldiers are prohibited from owning (buying) the officer’s knife. Actually, I kinda doubt that. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/48 "2008-01-11T16:27:45Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] that would imply that soldiers are prohibited from owning (buying) the officer’s knife. Actually, I kinda doubt that. [/QUOTE] I don’t know about that. All I have is the response quoted. What I get from it is that officers may be issued a Victorinox Soldier or a Wenger Standard Issue, but if they want the corkscrew they have to buy an ‘Officer’s Knife’ on their own. Perhaps **Arnold Winkelried** can answer that? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/49 "2008-01-12T00:59:02Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] In my experience, the Victorinox knives are better-built than the Wenger ones. [/QUOTE] I picked up a Wenger Standard Issue to add to the collection. I haven’t used it yet, but it is visually identical to the Victorinox Soldier as far as the blades and the scales. The one thing I did notice is that the red shield is a slightly darker shade and not quite as shiny. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/50 "2008-01-12T14:10:29Z")
I got a nice Tinker Deluxe, a few years old. I wish they’d dump the cargo hook, & just add a nail file in it’s place, though. ---
**Author:** ![odgbubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac91a4/32.png) [@odgbubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/odgbubba)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/51 "2008-01-13T21:40:12Z")
Currently deployed with the US Army and part of our task force is Swiss Army. Yep, they’ve got the knives. Better yet, they sell them at their coffee shop in their base camp - - Camp Casablanca. They’re the real thing. And they’ve got a lot of different models. Most useful over here is the rescue tool, yellow case in red carrying pouch to fit on Molle gear. Great Soldiers, too. Be safe. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/52 "2008-01-13T23:41:29Z")
:eek: I can think of a few times I could’ve used a small hammer. Just a little one, for tap-tap-tap. Really. I’ve used the pliers on my big ol’ Leatherman to flatten bent stuff and to start a wood screw. About the same weight as the pliers would do it. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/53 "2008-01-14T23:34:29Z")
[QUOTE=odgbubba] Currently deployed with the US Army and part of our task force is Swiss Army. Yep, they’ve got the knives. Better yet, they sell them at their coffee shop in their base camp - - Camp Casablanca. They’re the real thing. And they’ve got a lot of different models. Most useful over here is the rescue tool, yellow case in red carrying pouch to fit on Molle gear. Great Soldiers, too. Be safe. 🆒 [/QUOTE] Where you at? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/54 "2008-01-15T00:54:27Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] :eek: I can think of a few times I could’ve used a small hammer. Just a little one, for tap-tap-tap. Really. I’ve used the pliers on my big ol’ Leatherman to flatten bent stuff and to start a wood screw. About the same weight as the pliers would do it. Peace, mangeorge [/QUOTE] You mean like [this](http://www.eddiebauer.com/eb/product.asp?product_id=28304&nv=5%7C21474%7C216&lview=&cm_cg=C216&tid=&c=&sc=&lp=v1i012)? I got one as a stocking stuffer at Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/55 "2008-01-15T01:04:20Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] You mean like [this](http://www.eddiebauer.com/eb/product.asp?product_id=28304&nv=5%7C21474%7C216&lview=&cm_cg=C216&tid=&c=&sc=&lp=v1i012)? I got one as a stocking stuffer at Christmas. [/QUOTE] I’ll be damned. 🙂 What do you think of it? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/56 "2008-01-15T01:19:58Z")
I like it. It doesn’t travel in my pocket or anything, but I’ve already used it to pound some nails in my classroom. Just the thing as a tack hammer. ---
**Author:** ![papaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@papaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papaw)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/57 "2008-01-15T05:59:23Z")
I have lost several SAKs, so I don’t buy them any more. I do have one of [these](http://www.swisstechtools.com/productdetail.aspx?PID=VZ75GDTdP68A) on my key ring, along with an authentic [P-38](http://www.swisstechtools.com/productdetail.aspx?PID=VZ75GDTdP68A) , and between the two, I get along well. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/58 "2008-01-15T15:11:46Z")
[QUOTE=papaw] I have lost several SAKs, so I don’t buy them any more. I do have one of [these](http://www.swisstechtools.com/productdetail.aspx?PID=VZ75GDTdP68A) on my key ring, along with an authentic [P-38](http://www.swisstechtools.com/productdetail.aspx?PID=VZ75GDTdP68A) , and between the two, I get along well. [/QUOTE] The Utili-key looks pretty neat. What’s a P-38? The link you posted is identical to the Utili-key link. RR ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/59 "2008-01-15T15:20:23Z")
[P-38](http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/images/P38CanOpener.jpg) The P-51 is slightly larger and has the dogtag chain hole at the base of the handle rather than at the top. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/60 "2008-01-15T16:08:22Z")
I’ve had a P-38 on my keyring for about 20 years. It really does open cans, and it was the only tool I had available to fix an electrical problem that shut down my bike. (It thought the kickstand was down, so it shut off the engine on the freeway. And I’d decided that day that I really didn’t need to carry a knife!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015.md?page=4)