# Your Swiss Army Knife (a poll) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 10, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722 "2003-01-10T12:09:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/1 "2003-01-10T12:09:54Z")
My everyday Swiss Army Knife is the **Tinker**. It used to be the **Spartan** , but I’ve had that one so long (about 15 years) I’d feel bad if I lost it or it broke somehow. It’s now retired and resting comfortably in my nightstand. For camping I have the **Adventurer** , which is much like the Tinker, only it’s bigger, doesn’t have a little blade and the big blade locks. There’s a **Classic** in the diaper bag, and the Little Woman has a **Cavalier** in her purse. Of course they’re all Victorinox. We’re not heathens after all. So, whatchoo got? -Rue. ---
**Author:** ![Harry\_Lime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Harry\_Lime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry_Lime)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/2 "2003-01-10T12:15:13Z")
I’ve got a rather nice one that I’ve had for @ 25 years (Christmas present from my Aunt). Do you have some photos you can post or a website to direct us to, so we who aren’t up on the various editions can compare, contrast and give you a better answer? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/3 "2003-01-10T12:21:20Z")
I don’t got nothing. Confiscated getting on a plane in LaGuardia. Jeez Louise. ---
**Author:** ![cybersnark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@cybersnark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cybersnark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/4 "2003-01-10T13:25:17Z")
> **[Victorinox Swiss Army Knives ++ explore online ++](https://www.victorinox.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/c/SAK)** > > Victorinox Swiss Army Knives ++ Explore the world of perfect Swiss quality online ++ Home of the Original Swiss Army knife ++ Order online ++ I own about a half dozen SAKs, but on my keychain I have a Minichamp, and I carry a Swisschamp and a Cybertool. I used to own an OLD Victorinox/Elinox Traveller model, with a picture of St. Christopher carrying the christ child across a stream, but I lost it. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/5 "2003-01-10T13:38:18Z")
2 Classics (both red) 2 Classic SDs (1 white, 1 black) 1 SwissLite (blue) ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/6 "2003-01-10T13:53:40Z")
Camper. All a girl needs for a nice picknick on the train, and includes an manicure/tweezerset to appear groomed at her appointment. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/7 "2003-01-10T13:54:16Z")
I have nothing… Wait! I think I have a **Leatherman** around here someplace… does that count? ---
**Author:** ![royjwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@royjwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/royjwood)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/8 "2003-01-10T13:54:38Z")
I have: one little black one on my key chain, with a knife, file, scissors, toothpick, and tweezers. one black Swisscard in my wallet (gets through the airport customs every time!). and one stainless steel SwissTool on my belt. I prefer the needle nose pliers of the Leatherman SuperTool, but the locking mechanism on the SwissTool is far superior, plus it has scissors and a special rescue blade. ---
**Author:** ![Jimson\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@Jimson\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimson_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/9 "2003-01-10T14:00:18Z")
One red classic almost 10 years old now and sharp as a razor. I had a mini on my key chain but it was confiscated at Cincy Int’l Airport when I mistakenly left it my carry-on. It even had my name engraved on it. My hands down favorite though is not a Swiss Army knife but [A muti-tool](http://www.gerberblades.com/gerberlegendaryblades.html?07500) I’ve used it to do everything from cut and strip military commo wire to open boxes. It was a gift from my wife when I was promoted to Section Chief in the Artillery. That’s right ladies the way to a man’s heart is a good knife… Wait that doesn’t sound right. Never mind… carry on! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/10 "2003-01-10T14:01:38Z")
I have a Classic SD. Carry it everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/11 "2003-01-10T14:14:44Z")
Ummm, I have a pair of nail clippers, but I don’t think it’s the style the Swiss Army uses. I don’t like using pocket knives - I have visions of blades slipping and puncturing my delicate epidermis. But my husband has a pocket knife, so if something needs cutting, I get him to do it. It reinforces his masculinism and I get out of the chore. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/12 "2003-01-10T14:14:49Z")
Mini black ---
**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, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/13 "2003-01-10T14:19:23Z")
My first was a Champion (not a SwissChamp), which I lost. So I got another one. Then I found the first one. So… 2 Champions (my first one is in the glovebox of my car) 1 SwissChamp 2 Spartans (one red, one black) 2 Classics (a black one, and a red one on my keychain) 1 Soldier There might be one or two others, but I don’t remember right now. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/14 "2003-01-10T14:31:16Z")
I think my wonderfull friend my Swiss knife is “classic” - well it is a fairly basic model. It does not have attachments for getting Boy Scouts out of horses hooves etc. Well - blades, bottle opener, corkscrew etc - screwdriver, nailfile (not that I have used it) - what more could I want? Eek - I realise I have had it for over 20 years now! ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/15 "2003-01-10T14:39:52Z")
I’ve got the Explorer. I’ve had it for over 25 years. I used to have the Spartan, but a “friend” stole it from me. Some friend. ---
**Author:** ![royjwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@royjwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/royjwood)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/16 "2003-01-10T14:47:19Z")
I tried the Gerber, but the blades were way too weak and broke way too easily. I used to love the SuperTool, but as previously stated the SwissTool has a much superior lockling mechanism, neither Leatherman nor Gerber can match it! Neither can SOG for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/17 "2003-01-10T14:55:48Z")
Wenger (“The **Genuine** Swiss Army Knife”) Swiss Pocket Grip for me. See [http://www.wenger-knife.ch/english/nouveautes.html](http://www.wenger-knife.ch/english/nouveautes.html) for details. I may be a heathen for not owning a Victorinox, but my can opener works better! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/18 "2003-01-10T15:00:18Z")
**Huntsman** model here. Carry it on my laughing donkey keychain. I can’t tell you the number of ways I’ve used it. It’s the only one I carry and it’s never failed me. Oh, and it’s red, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/19 "2003-01-10T15:04:46Z")
**Tinker Deluxe**. They don’t seem to make it any more, which is a shame. It’s like the Tinker, plus scissors, pliers, and that hook thing. There’s also a hole in the awl. The pliers are damned useful. I don’t have a corkscrew, but I don’t find I have occassion to be screwing a lot of corks. As my Swiss friend says, in a pinch you can just break the neck off the wine bottle. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722/20 "2003-01-10T15:12:50Z")
I’ve been carrying a Gerber multi-tool with me for years. I love it, and it’s bailed me out of more tight spots than I can recall, up to and including fixing a busted car at 11:30 PM in the middle of nowhere, South Dakota. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-swiss-army-knife-a-poll/147722.md?page=2)