Victorinox Spartan black 1.3603.3 review - YouTube


Stumbled across this pretty good video of my favorite pocketknife, the Victorinox Spartan.

This one has black handle scales, as does one of mine.

I've got more expensive knives, but none that do as much for so little bulk or weight. And they're terrific values.

The narrator, like many making knife videos, doesn't know the words for "corkscrew" or "leather punch", but does show them well. BTW, if you'd rather have a Phillips-head screwdriver in lieu of a corkscrew, the knife is the Tinker model, otherwise the same. But the small screwdriver on either will turn most Phillips screws.

Resolution of this video is especially good, so you may want to check it out.

As for Swiss Army knives, people tend to love or hate them, depending on what they expect a pocketknife to do. But this one is profiled rather well here. My only negative observation is that he isn't trying to slice hair on his hand the right way. I have owned many Vic. pocketknives, and I think all, without exception, DID slice hair on my arm, right out of the box. That wasn't true of most Wenger rivals. Those had to be honed first.

TS.. Been carrying almost the same model, in black only with a small set of scissors added.. Brought back from Switzerland by my sister many years ago.. ( was told at that time that the ' Black" was only available in Europe at the time.. ( Early mid 70's)

The question is could you tell what model it might be from the description??

Thanks

__________________
SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

I'm almost sure that the Spartan plus scissors equals the Climber model. Add a saw and you get the Huntsman. The saw (only) to the Spartan results in the Camper.

Due to falling sales since knives became illegal on planes and in various other places like courthouses, the Swiss Army imports have narrowed, but I think you can still get all of those mentioned, in black and red. Some have other handle options, inc. transparent. I don't think white is normally imported now, but they might order you one, or Vic. may ship directly and offer other options.

I've seen photos of dark green scales, usually offered here only on the tiny Classic model. My daughter admired my green Classic so much that I got her one when I found another. Normally, she isn't too interested in knives.

Alas, sales of multitools have also cut deeply into SAK sales. But Swiss Army brands here still imports many of the basic models.

I really like knives and love swiss army knives.... but.... my kershaw assisted opening knife is so much easier to open and use.

On the other hand some people have a bigger fear of knives than guns, so carrying a swiss army knife puts people at ease where to some my kershaw looks like a evil assault knife capable of accepting a high capacity death magazine clip.

For probably 30 years I have had the little guy on my key chain.
You wouldn't, or in your case, you would believe how many times I have used it.

__________________
Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Victorinox Tinker

I use them until they are worn to a nub.

Everything I need, nothing, I don't need.

A man without a knife, is without, the most basic tool, for just about everything.

Bruce

Victorinox Climber - YouTube

DITRINA-

Here's the Climber, but with a handle that glows. Apart from the handle scales, is this what you have?

Labworm-

Yes, I'd believe how often you use it. But I never put a knife on a keychain or in a pocket with anything but a handkerchief. Otherwise, the coins, keys, etc. chew up the knife.

I have a tiny Classic in my inside jacket pocket in most coats. It's handy there when seated, and easy to use to open mail or when I want the little scissors.

My larger knife goes in a belt pouch. This is most often either a Benchmade 710 or a Puma Whitetail. (The Whitetail was a limited production item that is basically their famous Game Warden, but with white Micarta scales. Looks about like the famed Buck Model 110.)

I occasionally pack a Gerber Spectre or a Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn. At home, I wear the Gerber most often, but am mildly concerned that it might look too much like a dagger to a cop, so don't pack it in public as often as I used to.

But if I had to carry just one knife, it'd normally be the Vic. Spartan.

Attachment 110500

A knifeless man is a lifeless man.

I have a black Vic. that has the same tools as the Spartan, plus scissors. It lacks the mimi screwdriver (much envy) and the parcel hook (not so much) that appear on the Climber in the video. An older Climber? A few observations:

1. The reviewer really likes the scissors. So did I, until the spring broke. This is one factor that led me to carry a Leatherman instead.

2. I use the toothpick a lot.

3. It occurred to me that the little hole in the blade of the awl might allow it to be used for sewing. A look at one of the SAK sites confirms this is a "sewing eye". I used to carry a Speedy Stitcher on my moto trips, and actually used it a couple of times to repair some motorcycle luggage. I can't believe the result would have been any uglier with the Victorinox tool.

I think you probably do have an older Climber. The scissors springs are replaceable, and Swiss Army Brands sells them, as do some of their dealers. I've never broken a spring, but like to keep spare tweezers and toothpick on hand.

What I need to order is the newer small screwdriver that fits into the corkscrew on some models. The first ones have slanted tips that won't fit my eyeglasses screws well. I've seen in a video a new form that is flat ground to do that better.

I've have owned the Huntsman (in black) for many years and have a brown leather sheath that it fits in with a small sharpening steel holder built into the sheath. The sharpener is made in England by Sheffield and is approximately three inches long.
Another one of my favorite Victorinox knives is the "Soldier" a very basic knife with metal scales.

__________________
"Life is short, hunt hard"

I have been carrying SAKs for many many years. I lean towards the Alox models because they are thinner and the scales are more durable.
The downside is you don't get the tweezers and toothpicks, but with a sharp knife you can make a toothpick from just about any twig.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I only have one SAK. My grandmother brought it back from Switzerland in the early 50's. It's a Wenger. I used to carry it exclusively when I was in Boy Scouts. It's retired now and will eventually be passed on to one of my grandsons.

__________________
Pack light and cinch tight.

Until recently that was the model actually issued to the Swiss army troops. You can still buy them, but they're called something else now. I always have one in my pocket, primarily for the tools, and another plain two- or three-blade pocketknife for cutting. The Pioneer Farmer, which is that same SAK plus a really surprisingly effective little saw, is another great choice.

I recently lost my favorite conventional pocketknife, an old U.S.-made Schrade Old Timer 8OT, the four-inch three-bladed stockman. Good old 1095 steel--takes and holds a fine edge, but is easy to resharpen. Schrade folded and sold the line to be built in China, and I'm told the quality has gone way downhill. I looked on eBay to find an older 8OT, and they're selling for $60 to $75 dollars now. Can't swing it.

Right now I'm carrying an old Old Timer trapper model along with my Swiss Army knife.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

I prefer the SAK lockback models. Have too many scars on my fingers from those slipit types folding back on me.

I haven't seen many of those. I knew a guy in high school who had one.

Pat-

Sheffield is a place, a city in England that was once a cutlery center, not a company. Same for Solingen in Germany, although it still survives as a knife mecca. But even Soiingen is having tough times, mainly due to cheap knives from the Orient.

In WW I, troops raised in and around Sheffield had such a high casualty rate that Sheffield never again attained its former status as a cutlery city. Many of the items made there from the 1950's-on were junk. The famous brands like Wostenholm's I*XL are gone. The famous London-made knives are gone now, too, inc. Wilkinson's.

I really hope that the Swiss knives survive and flourish. Famous US makers lke Buck even make some items in the Orient now. Thankfully, Case remains.

I have two favorites. The pic is my Schrade I found over 30 years ago when I was a kid. I still carry it daily. The other favorite is my dad's Old Timer that he carried all the time.

Attached Images

IMG_20130414_163724_547.jpg (104.4 KB, 16 views)

I haven't seen many stockman knives with Turkish clip blades in awhile. Remember when we took Schrade for granted?

I have a couple of their better knives, Uncle Henrys. You used to be able to buy new ones for $12-20. Not now!

I had an uncle who worked for Schrade Cutlery in Walden, NY when we were kids. All our houses (brothers and cousins) have too numerous to count Schrade knives from the 50's....many still in boxes.

Haven't seen one like that in a long time!My father was a Swiss immigrant and every few years when he'd go back for a visit,someone would give him a new one.

Some years ago, the Swiss postal system (I think it was them) took a survey of which items the Swiss public thought most represented them to the world.

I forget whether it was cheese or the knives that won.

I have a book published by Victorinox on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary in 1984. It includes letters sent by users from all over the world. Some used just a sketch of a Victorinox knife as the address! The postal system delivered them.

One of my favorite letters was about a doctor who had to do a tracheotomy aboard a commercial flight. Someone on board had a Swiss Army knife, and it saved a choking passenger. Some expedition leaders also mentioned how wonderful they had found the knives.

Whenever I carry a stockman or trapper pattern, I need some blade/tool I'd have if I'd carried a Victorinox instead.
That's one reason why I always keep a SwissChamp in my briefcase. I've occasionally used every tool on it.

I must have 4 or 5 Victorinox spread around the house and truck.I usually just carry a small lockback knife

What is that? Brand should be marked on the blade tang.

It's a Bear,probably bought it at K mart about 30 years ago when I did a lot of small game hunting :-)

Gerber Folding Sportsman II, I have owned 6 or 8 of them over 35 years. They quit making them several years ago. I managed to hold on to one the better part of 20 years but lost it a year or so ago. I mentioned to my daughter how much I missed it as I considered it the best pocket knife made. She found a new one on the web and gave it to me for father's day last year.......

__________________
dd884
JMHO-YMMV

"Better" is a relative term.

I've had both Uncle Henrys and Old Timers. The older ones were all great knives, but I'm a sucker for the 1095 steel in the OT's, and the sawcut Delrin scales that give a good grip even when wet.

I miss them all. Still have a number, but I hate not being able to replace them with knives of equal quality if one is lost.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

Yep, they used to be everywhere. Now I look at the knife display in most stores and see Chinese junk with serrated blades that can't hold an edge. Here's the Old Timer that was my dad's. I really need to clean it up.

Attached Images

IMG_20130414_194255_840.jpg (105.7 KB, 12 views)

My favorite pocket knife is a Marbles large Stockman 3 blade made in Gladstone MI by the Marbles (MSA) Custom Shop. It has Sambar Stag handles and is really sort of a collectors item although I carry it every single day. If memory serves, I believe I bought this on 2000 or 2001.

I have a "Camper" I bought in Mexico in January of 1974, this is semi retired and only goes camping nowdays, but is an old trusted friend. When we got married, I gave the wife a SAK, that is always in the purse. For our 20th anniversary, I gave her among other gifts, a SAK that had every function (108) and a small steel in the sheath. She loved it, and put in in her purse. The wedding SAK, she gave to our daughter as a gift at her wedding rehearsal dinner, and now it is in her purse except when camping, it's on her person. My wife's purse got stolen some years ago and she has a SAK from my stash in the new purse, but next month is our 35th Anniversary, I think I need to find a Special Swiss Army Knife for her. Thanks for reminding Me! Ivan