Victorinox Huntsman vs Huntsman Lite - is bigger better?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- A recap of what makes the Huntsman a best seller and my favourite outdoor SAK, and what extra the Huntsman Lite brings to the party, but at what cost?
My name is Jonathan, I have a passion for all things 'gadget, travel and EDC' which has filled both my personal and work life for many years. This includes sourcing, reviewing and product development and the creation of two UK national retail chains. Find out more here: • About Jon Gadget - Who...
This channel is here to help you find great travel and carry gear on the back of solid and detailed reviews along with years of experience. I also hope to give you ideas and inspiration when it comes to everyday carry gear, travel gear and gadgets, which make life a little bit easier and perhaps more fun.
I welcome any feedback on my videos or the channel in general. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Amazon Links:
(these are affiliate links for more information see below)
Victorinox Huntsman geni.us/y2xV
Victorinox Huntsman Lite geni.us/863Tm
🐦 You can find me on twitter at:
/ jongadget
Contents of this video to help you navigate:
00:00 - Intro
00:28 - The Original Huntsman
00:56 - The Blade
01:36 - The Scissors
02:28 - The Can Opener
03:03 - The Flat Head Screwdriver
03:27 - The Second Blade
03:57 - The Wood Saw
05:53 - The Hook
06:56 - The Awl
07:27 - The Scale Tools
08:32 - The Price and Colour options
09:23 - The Huntsman Lite
09:43 - The Flashlight
10:02 - In-line Phillips Screwdriver
10:21 - The Pen
10:43 - Eyeglass Screwdriver and Pin
11:02 - Details
11:23 - Conclusion
12:45 - Outro
Product Sourcing:
When it comes to sourcing a product for review, I will usually either purchase and item personally or reach out to a supplier requesting a sample for review. Most suppliers, after seeing the channel, are supportive if they are confident in their product, appreciating the value of greater exposure.
I am sometimes asked to review a product by a supplier which I will only agree to if the product fits the channel and I believe will be of interest to you, my audience. Also the product needs to be worthy of a review. It is not in my interest to review inferior or poor quality products and therefore as you might expect many requests are politely declined.
Any sponsored videos (paid for reviews) are clearly stated as such so there can be no misunderstanding. Even with sponsored reviews I will only agree to a sponsorship on products and services which I believe will be of genuine interest to viewers.
I will always make reference in the video to products which have been provided for review by a supplier and I always make it clear to the supplier that they cannot influence or be involved in the review in any way if they choose to supply a product.
Sometimes a supplier will provide a link to the product or the supplier which I am happy to include in the description. Sometimes I will be provided with an affiliate link so I can earn a commission on sales and this helps to support channel costs but never at the expense of an honest review.
If a product I have reviewed is available from Amazon I will often include an Amazon link in the description. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.
Comments:
I really appreciate the feedback in the comments - I find it a source of knowledge and inspiration - so thank you to all of you who take the time to contribute. I have recently found that if I continue to respond to all the comments as the number of videos builds, it takes time away from being able to produce new content which would be very counter productive! - so my aim is to read everything I can and reply when I can, after each video goes live, until the next video goes live a week later. I'll see how that works out 😊
Thank you for supporting the channel so I can continue to provide you with regular reviews, thoughts and ideas and (hopefully) inspiration! Please consider subscribing to keep up to date with new video releases. - Навчання та стиль
The mountaineer is a nice “urban” version of this knife. The edge of the file is good for sawing many synthetic materials. It can even do really nice precision cuts when working on wood.
My go to Outdoor Swissy is the Ranger. For another 2mm you get the very useful Metal/Plastic File which also acts as a Metal/Plastic Saw- which can be very useful to have since you don't have the Pliers of a Leatherman. Love my Ranger.
I also agree that if you need the torch in public, you're needlessly showing off your knife if it's built in to it. So use a seperate micro- or mini-torch instead.
That also goes for the pen. Even moreso since it'll be daylight, and you'll often be noting what others are saying.
I can't wait for someone to come up with a micro-honing steel that fits into the Pen Slot. Then my Ranger will be complete!
Thank you for the review Jon. The additions I made to my Huntsman are to have yellow plus scales - which gives me the pen, tweezers, toothpick slot, and pin slot - to make it easier to find if dropped in the wild, and have my email address inscribed on the side. My thinking is that if I lose it and someone honest picks it up they have a way of contacting me.
Great suggestion 👍
Can Opener w/ Phillips driver: THANK YOU. It's such a not-widely-known thing. People keep saying they need the corkscrew to be the #2 Phillips. NO YOU DON'T. You've got a #1 Phillips on the can opener!
Exactly 💯. It's what sold me on getting the Huntsman over a number of other models.
Great review! I got a set of plus scales for the Huntsman which adds a slot for the pen. I think this is the perfect addition for the Huntsman. I also load up every Vic with a needle and corkscrew glasses screwdriver.
Happy Friday Jon, the regular Huntsman is one of the mainstays of my EDC rotation in various configurations. I have 8 Huntsman including 2 decorative scaled collectables & 5 with Plus scales & fitted with a Swiss Clip for convenient pocket carry and of course decked out with Firefly ferro rods or Fire Ants & mini-screwdriver combinations & 1 Silver-Tech scaled Huntsman also fitted with a Firefly rod, mini-screwdriver & tinder spiral. I have only one 2nd hand Huntsman Lite, bought quite cheaply in good condition on eBay & because one of the red scales was cracked ( the reason for its cheapness ) I replaced the scales with Sapphire Blue translucent ones, however because of its bulk I rarely pocket carry it ( ditto for my Ranger ). BTW Jon you forgot to mention in addition to the Light & the in-line Phillips screwdriver it has one additional back layer tool not found on the regular Huntsman, it has a Fine Screwdriver, the same one found on the 5 layer Ranger , the 5 layer Motorist ( a discontinued & rare SAK which I have in my collection ) & the 6 layer Handyman. As an alternative in the UK to the Huntsman you can have the 93mm Alox Farmer X ( without any scale or back layer tools or the 85mm Evolution 17 ( the non locking version of the EvoGrip S17 ) or if you can find one 2nd hand in the UK the Wenger Forester an 85mm predecessor of the Victorinox Huntsman & the Evolution 17 ( I have the Forester version 1 with a locking blade & secondary clip point blade ) . These knives mirror the main tool set of the Huntsman but cant be fitted with Plus scales . To conclude :- the Huntsman is King of the Forrest , one of the top selling SAK's of all time & is the preferred pocket carry of Maestro Felix Immler
The cork screw is actually very important, I remember when one of my friends try to open a bottle of wine without it and really badly cut his hand from the broken wine bottle glass.
😳 yes - when you need one you really need one
Weird hack: if you have a screwdriver (like almost all SAK), compatible screw, and a prying tool (hammer nail pulls work well) you can drive the screw into the cork and pry the whole thing out easily. Not at all a good idea for older wines, but I'd hope someone would have a proper setup to remove the cork in that situation 😅
Thanks Jon for another great video!!
I carry a Victorinox Compact as my EDC. When I need a bit more I use the Leatherman Wave+. If I really need some heavy "artillary" I use axes, saws, knives and so on...
I actually used the parcel hook to carry wood tied with a wire, to make a fire on a camping trip. Without it I would have destroyed my fingers. Great review Jon! I love my huntsman
Hello there, Mr. Jonathan, I just want to add that the hook is also super useful for pulling tent pegs.
Enjoy your videos a lot. My favourite is and will always be the Explorer. Half outdoors, half urban.
I carry the Huntsman every day. I'd rather have my light separate. Love your channel.
me too - thanks for kind words
Really interesting comparison between the two different models of the huntsman. I've said this before but I think every Victorinox should come standard with the pin, mini screwdriver and file on the hook.
But I agree, for the purpose of hiking/camping the extra weight might not be worth it.
I agree, but if they all did have those extra things then knives like the Climber would start to steal sales from the Compact and Victorinox would have to completely rethink the pricing of all models, or else the Compact would have to come way down in price.
Great review with all the essential details 👍 . I love the standard Huntsman.
I've actually used the punch and sewing awl to perform emergency stitching on a friend's backpack during a hiking trip. Very useful.
The can opener is a life saver and better than most generic kitchen store brands.
The two knife blades actually hold their edge superbly well considering the years I've used them. A few strokes with a Benchmade sharpener and good as new.
The Huntsman Lite looks good but I've never been a fan of a light source being attached to a knife held in the hand like a flashlight.
I'd always recommend a dedicated head torch worn on the head for a light source. Intuitively you'd be turning your head in the direction of where you need the light to go. Just more practical.
For urban carry, especially around the house, I find the Climber Lite to be fantastic. It has all the tools I would normally need and I I end up using the little flashlight at least once daily. I should note that I don't carry my phone around at home, nor do I keep my keys (to which I have a small flashlight attached) in my pocket all the time unless I am going out. I normally have no use for a small saw at home so at home or indoors EDC the Climber Lite suits me better. Outside (e,g, hiking) I like to carry larger SAKs like the Outrider plus the Swiza Tick Tool knife. I should mention though that larger SAKs with a lock blade are legal here in Canada. In some other, more restrictive countries, I of course would take a 91mm SAK.
I've owned the Huntsman for years and of the several SAKs around the place it's the one that has seen the most use overall with the Climber a near rival indoors and around the office. Your thoughts are valued as always.
👍 Agree with your choice. Still bouncing between the original Huntsman and Camper for outdoor use. Spartan is my in town EDC knife.
So , loving the things you have said, idea for a new vid, how much to have the best of the huntsman and the huntsman lite, . i.e ferro rod etc, Plus scales and having your recommended edc light on a key ring? with everything you have said in the vid......I can then apply that to my Ranger....Keep up the great vids. Cheers
Thanks for the idea Neil 👍
The hook is really handy for picking up dutch ovens. In fact, I thought that was its primary use until recently.
I use the hook as a pocket clip: place the hook on outside of pocket (top part of knife inside). Close the hook. Twist the knife to put it into the pocket. The knife is now held in place in the top part of your pocket, away from other stuff like keys or, in my case, a zippo (arc insert) lighter.
Great work as always! - I really enjoy your channel a lot :-)
Nice hack !
Great idea for the hook 👏
Always loved the huntsman, the farmer x and the compact, the compact gets the most pocket time I lost my original that I'd had since 2014 and had to replace it recently....couldn't live without it !
Compact is my daily carry too
I love the awl on the Alox models… wish that the regular SAKs had it, too.
My working edc is Victorinox Cybertool M, and my travelling edc is Victorinox Explorer. I love the mini pliers and the Philips head screwdriver.
mini-pliers?
on the Cybertool, or Explorer?
For outdoors I love the Hunter, the main blade locks, the saw is longer, and it has a really useful gutting blade if you're actually hunting. The can opener and bottle opener are one tool, but from personal experience they work adequately for both tasks
Makes sense but in the UK the bigger locking blade can be an issue
Would love to see you're thoughts in video on some of the 3 layer SAKs.
I wish I had known about the Huntsman Lite a little sooner. I would have considered one for my needs. I just bought a Ranger to replace my Huntsman.
I see the Huntsman as largely and outdoors knife, but on my job I am an apartment maintenance worker and I have used my Huntsman there for the last 5 months as an EDC for work as well as for personal use, and I’m stunned at how often it has been used for making on the spot repairs and saved me from needing to go get other tools and return again later. Along that line of thought, I can easily see a solid place for the Huntsman Lite as a general repair type of tool. A dedicated Philips driver is really the only thing I have missed not having on the Huntsman. For that reason I considered getting a Fieldmaster which does have one in place of the Huntsman’s corkscrew. The Huntsman Lite model has one that is inline which is even better. It makes the knife wider, but since the Ranger is also wider and heavier, it’s about the same as the Lite model, so I doubt I would mind.
I ultimately got the Ranger to retain everything the Huntsman already has while also adding a file/metal saw, chisel, and technician screwdriver. It still doesn’t have a Philips driver but I most often just use the canopener for that when I need one. I only really wanted an actual Philips for breaking loose tight screws, and for snugging them up when found loose. Sometimes they’re hard to turn in hardwood cabinets so the canopener falls just a little short on that. It kind of feels like it would damage the tip if I forced it. Otherwise it does the job 90% of the time.
Thanks for the reviews. I love SAKs, but those are a little thick for me. An Alox Cadet X is my dream SAK.
Good option
Great video, agree with your conclusion (although I have both). What do you do about how easy the scales lose their shine and scratch up. It’s drives me nuts!
The standard Huntsman is perfectly fine the way it is. If you need a flashlight, carry a dedicated flashlight in addition to the Huntsman. Crazy that the "Lite" version is double the cost!
Yes, original is best
good video, in opinion thinking about weith, a great option SAK for the outdoors is walker model. If this model (walker) had scissors it would be perfect
The Huntsman has always been one of my favorites. I ECD a Wave, so a 'big' SAK would be somewhat redundant, though I sill keep a Minichamp on my keychain. It gets a lot of use too, especially the scissors.
I totally agree. The Huntsman is a nice mixture of EDC and Outdoor. The saw is outstanding! The EvoGrip S18 is a nice urban EDC. I love them both!
Thanks. You do some excellent videos that appeal to one’s intellect. Your manner is refreshing - especially compared to some of the knife/gun/EDC outdoor types that spew forth on this side of the pond! On Victorinox SAK knives, I have noticed, particularly on my Alox versions, that one can increase the tension of the main blade by opening the other implement on the same spring. For instance, on my Pioneer X, if I open the punch at the same time as the mail blade, the main blade is significantly harder to close, adding an extra level of stiffness and possibly security. Thanks for all of your excellent videos.
Thank you for the review
Your welcome
I never knew the huntsman lite existed! Seeing the extra tool like the flashlight and philip screwdriver i got facinated by it.. Even tho its heavier then the standard one i always carried a leatherman surge (so you know i wouldnt mind the weight, its always lighter then a surge+flashlight+pen in one pouch on my belt)
Agreed.
The Huntsman is ,and has been for way too many years, my primary "pocket" knife. Very valuable asset in the field.
Huntsman is my most favorite model. Only heard of the huntsman light a few weeks ago.
Hi Jon, excellent analysis. I agree, although the phillips screwdriver is one of the most useful (I understand that the most used screws vary by country or area, in my country the phillips is the most common), the flashlight does not seem to be very useful due to its characteristics. If you allow me, I'll tell you that for outdoor activities, I wear a victorinox outraider, which seems superior to me because of its forcefulness and utility. P.S. Paying attention to your videos, I bought the Victorinox compact for urban EDC, great, I alternate it with the explorer and the Evolution 10. Best regards.
Great feedback - thanks for sharing 👍 great tool selection in Outrider although a challenge in the UK
I love all my victorinox and went for the ones with the most tools, like the huntsman lite, but have found for edc the light ones are easier to live with, i think a 4 layer could be
the sweet spot?
I have a huntsman with wood scales. You don’t only lose the scale tools, you also lose visibility. The brighter colors just make it that much easier to find if you drop your knife while working.
The Huntsman is great , however my daily is a Ranger, I got a huntsman and then about two weeks later needed a file and thought it was a good excuse to buy the Ranger and have carried it every day since.But I still keep the huntsman in the car as a back up.
It is a good option if you are OK with bigger size and weight
Hello, Jonathan - great review...I agree that regular Huntsman is the greater value...the firestarter materials are a good idea...I will generally use an Explorer in an urban setting & a Swisschamp in the field...don't have a problem with the weight...enjoyed the "JonGadget" sign over your left shoulder...hopefully the fellow was able to get his hair trimmed...otherwise he could always braid it... :))))) Good job!
Thanks Edgar 👍
I would have liked to see a bit more on the capability of the light. Understand it may not be preferred over your carry light but still would have liked a little more of an in the dark capability demo. Otherwise cool review, love my Huntsman from a boy to this day.
I feel the huntsman lite is more of a well rounded tool set. Meaning it could be used outdoors or for urban edc. I would use a pouch for carrying tho.
Loved the video.
Thank you!
Great video..thanks for sharing
Your welcome
Another great video. The Huntsman has been my choice for an outdoor knife since before it came with the hook and pin hole. I have never been particularly impressed with these flashlights and it doesn’t look like this one is any better. The other thing about an onboard flashlight is I could see a situation where you would need to use the knife and a light to see what you are doing. That would be hard with everything in one tool.
Agree - not a great variation of a great knife
You just opened my eyes of how logical that sounds, yea not really handy is it
Can you do more on combinations? E.g. a Leatherman Squrt PS4 complements the Victorinox Compact.
Excellent video, excellent channel, and I subscribed. You have answered a lot of questions I had in several of your reviews.
My Sister In-Law gave a a SAK for Christmas several years ago and I recently came across it in a drawer. After doing a little research, I know it's a Huntsman. I wish she had not spent so much money on me. :O
I really like it, but I admit I admire the "real" Phillips screwdriver on the Huntsman Lite.
I'm going to ask the lovely wife to get me an Explorer for Christmas. :D I like the tools it has and it would be a good one to use at work. The magnifying glass and scissors would be very handy for me.
I will agree that having scissors on a multi-tool is an absolute must.
thanks for the feedback - and welcome to the channel 👍
Sweet! Love my standard Huntsman, never knew about the "Lite" version though, interesting but happy with the standard too.
I think the Tinker would be a great EDC if the awl was replaced with scissors or something. Some may want to keep the awl and replace the Philips screwdriver. Others' may want to replace the smaller blade too. Either way, the Tinker is a cool piece too, the size is why I went with the Compact too:)
The awl on the tinker is on the same layer as the main and secondary blades, so scissors wouldn't fit sadly.
However, the Tinker Deluxe is basically just the Tinker but with scissors and a multipurpose hook. (Both on the same layer.)
Go Tinker Deluxe if you want both scissors AND pliers (fantastic stuff)
Or just go with the Super Tinker for just scissors (far lighter)
Good review.
Very good comparison. I’ve always found the lite models to be to much of a weight and size penalty for the additional functionality.
Agree
I just bought a huntsman 2 days ago cuz I want to start hiking and whittling again. So far I’m loving it. I just don’t get why they don’t include plus scales on all knives now. It’s not a big deal to carry a pen and sharpie in my little bag but it would be a nice standard for victorinox to add.
I know Vic do some strange things
I'd love to get links for all the add ons in the description
I've been looking at the Climber vs. the Huntsman and from what I've seen I can get it for cheaper but would love you opinion both. Great videos!
The Climber is a great option and very affordable but for outdoor I need a saw for general I prefer Compact but Climber ideal if you don’t need super slim for EDC
Just ordered the Huntsman in White. It has what I feel that I need. I already carry a really nice light, Nitecore TINI 2. It’s very small, rechargeable, and bright. The light on the new Huntsman is inferior and not worth the expense.
Thanks for your very informative presentation!!!
Good option. I really like the Tini 2 too
Can you please do a video showing how to clean and sharpen a Victorinox?
Best EDC videos on UA-cam!!
I have looked everywhere that i can think of,im looking for the ferro rod (not the flint)good tinder & the streight pin n i can not find these items,i would really appreciate some help....thank you
I bought the Huntsman lite on amzn 9 years ago, when the prices were crazy low, £43 compared to now. I agree that I would get the non lite Huntsman instead though.
I have the Wenger Forester which is about the same, minus the hook and it has a nail file instead of the small blade. It's 4 layers but only as thick as a Victorinox 3 layer.
Good to know 👍
I think my ideal SAK would be a “Companion Lite Plus…” and the diamond file on the hook as on the Compact would be nice, and then perhaps another version with the saw and pliers?
also, I wish more regular Victorinox knives had the Wenger universal wrench 🤔
Some good points
Hi Jonathan, where did you get the ferro rod from? I'm in The Netherlands and have been trying to get the Tortoise Firefly ferro rod set but can only find them in America.
I find Victorinox Sportsman a great knife for edc. It's light and compact with the right tools, better working then combo (it's just my opinion) and with nail file which I use more then a small blade (not-so-large main blade is enough for my needs). I also like that Sportsman is slighty smaller then the standard SAKs with all the durability.
Victorinox lights are emergency backups at best. For an edc light, I want something I can charge, so I always know I have a topped-off battery. You can get that in some really tiny and inexpensive lights (like the Nitecore Tube), so I wonder if this technology could be used by Victorinox.
Please show how to use the can opener
Hi, you mentioned that it's weird for the lite to be in translucent red color for an outdoor multi tool. Can I know why?
Are the tools and back spring bars made from the same steel (x50crmov15)?
Ever launch a fishing lure into an overhanging tree branch? Use the corkscrew to mount your open knife or saw blade on a lose branch, tie it to keep from spinning, reach up and retrieve your fishing gear!
Fifty four years ago I have purchased maybe "fishemans" with thirteen tools but no hoock or magnet In 1969 I paid fifty DM and no problem to fly to the US of A with it on my belt :-)
Intrigued about the toothpick sized ferro rod.
Where does he get the pharaoh stick from to replace toothpick?
My prefered Victorinox combination is the Fieldmaster.
I have an SAK, With silver insert that says L.L.Bean and further down is the Swiss flag logo. It has all of the usual SAK fold out items and the blade 6cm which is half serrated is also lockable. Red plastic has slight scruffing one place. Says Wenger, umbrelia, Delemont, etc. So???
The people that have the most sophisticated knives are the ones that camp out the least, I could bet.
The second blade of the huntsman might be the most used knife blade in my whole EDC knife collection!
I feel that the backside Phillips is somewhat overrated but the inline Phillips is underrated. It is really useful and gets into all kinds of places that the can opener can't. So if someone were picking one to be their only swiss army knife, having the inline Phillips is a great option. That said I agree that if you're going to get more than one and have one for camping or hiking, the regular huntsman plus a flashlight is probably better
Nice video. The huntsman is the second swiss army knife I bought, and still carry when the mood takes me, I let my son loose with the scissors the other day he was very surprised how sharp they are.....he wants a swiss army knife for himself now 👀 😂
😊😁
@@JonGadget 😂 I've ordered him a huntsman, might as well get his EDC started properly from the get go. 😁
My wife gave me a SAK some years ago as a Christmas gift that has all the same tools as the Huntsman with the exception of the hook. Was that a separate model?
Love the Huntsman. Raiding the wife's sewing box is a great place to find a pin.👍😎
👍
The lite switch can turn on when putting it in your pocket I would regularly find the batteries dead when I go to use it. Tried a thick rubber band but got tired of it.
👍
I wish they had the inline Phillips on the original Huntsman. I would buy it if it did. Otherwise I don’t need the extra bulk or cost because of the flashlight, as I carry 2 of them anyway. It’s a pity.
Great review Jon. What’s the best place to find the mini ferro rod?
Website or Heinnie Haynes if in 🇬🇧
@@JonGadget Perfect, thanks 🙏
Better to carry the Handyman in these dimensions. The file and pliers are way more useful.
hi, where did you get your fire rod?
My bike has a belt drive, not a chain. Glad that I have chosen the belt.
Lite, but not lighter, but has a light? Madness!
The walker is my all time favorite victorinox sak
Very compact option
I'm not sure if it was this exact model and it may have been an older version of the light, but I saw a review once that said the light comes on a lot by accident if you use a sheath. Like you, I prefer to carry regular flashlights. The Ranger model is a cool outdoors one that gives you a lot of extra tools for the extra size, but this one doesn't seem worth it.
Yes can do as push to operate. Ranger is good but big
what do you think of the mountaineer
What is your favorite Vic knife for EDC?
When I was looking for a SAK for EDC, no longer needing a leatherman as I retired, it was either the Huntsman or the Field Master. I went for the Field Master which trades the (nowadays redundant) cork screw for a Philips. Not a great Philips I admit, but a Philips of any description is better than a cork screw.
Huntsman Light? Severely compromised by silly little light of no serious use.
I like the carry option with the corkscrew but understand many prefer Philips
@@JonGadget Nothing worse that a corked bottle of wine and no cork screw, but here in Australia I haven't seen a cork for decades. The Stelvin closure was instantly and universally adopted as soon as it came about.
@@FiveRustyNails The biggest reason for the corkscrew is the tools you can put in it, for example a fire starter or a screwdriver.
I agree with you!
How is the light on the lite? Can the light help to see in a pitch black area ? Could it light a map in the dark? Is the light a novelty or something useful? How far does the light shine in the dark? Could it light a path on a trail when your flashlight quits?
Where can I get the fero rods for the toothpick slot in the UK?
Got them from a UK seller on eBay!
A victorinox video os always a good video, i can not tell you how many people have showed me wich tools are on the huntsman i cary all the time in my pocket, what is your opinion on the ranger? Greets!!
Great tool selection and great option if you don’t mind the size
Make your mind up John, you said the Cadet was once and now this. Just get the Swiss Champ and you’re sorted.
They should change the hook’s shape/size so that it can work as a spoke wrench
When the hook appeared on Swiss Army knives, news papers were bound with flat nylon tape which wont fit into the hook so I call BS on the carrying bundles of papers idea. My guess is Victorinox looked at the space they had available, saw it resembled a hook and then were ultimately able to claim an extra function for their knives which justified charging more for them.