So cool to see a video where someone says, "Hey, I tested this thing and I'm going back to my previous choice." It's that honesty and integrity that make your channel so useful.
It’s like. Ok. I have little to say but if I say a negative it’ll let me find a positive. So. I’ll say a positive. I’m waiting for the negative. And so it continues. But. It’s all money in the bank. And it’s UA-cam paying. But in reality. You’re selling your self short. Easy money isn’t exhilarating. It’s boring. Do it for love not gain less is always more
If I remember correctly, and correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you say didn't need those extra's that the Compact had because they were in your edc kit? Either way, cool video. The Compact has been my edc since watching your video on the Compact. The only time I don't carry it is at the school I work, so I carry the Victorinox Jetsetter instead.
@@kilruf I think the deal here is, sure, he has those tools but having the same tools in your pocket, easily at hand, suits him more because he uses those tools very frequently. Doesn't require opening a pouch, etc
Agree with your observation about the ‘non- threatening’ and friendly appearance of the familiar Victorinox. This is a key reason for this being my pocket knife of choice.
Well the blacked out is very aggressive looking. Color changes perception strongly. I once was at an Airport check with metal detector (for the visitor deck, so not as strict). My baby-blue Mini Griptillian was ok, but my Victorinox Spirit RT (dark glossy frame, polished tools). And let's face it, that makes no sense.
Your previous videos had made me realize what I was missing when my EDC knife has evolved from a Boy Scout to a tactical knife. I had switched back to a three blade stockmen knife like I carried from elementary school through being a Marine grunt. I finally got a Compact just before you released the Ellis video, and have been very pleased to carry it for many of the same reasons as you. Now I’m fully back, after several decades, to EDC a utility pocket knife. Like you, and thanks to you, I found the Victorinox Compact hard to beat. I do have a Hunter for hiking and camping. Looking back, a Victorinox or Wenger was my go to even when my EDC was a Kabar and my knife was in constant use, from meal time to gear maintenance, and even personal grooming and minor medical chores.
Cool to hear you have a Hunter as well. It’s what I went with and I really enjoy it. Mind you some if that enjoyment is just pulling out all the tools to look at them, haha
I like this video and your brand as a whole. Many youtubers say that "this is the best thing ever and I'm only going to us this form now own" and we never see them use or talk about it again. Its also nice to see someone try new things and not just swear by the same old gear that they've always used.
I retired 8 years ago from my job in corrections, where carrying any type of knife was strictly forbidden. I chose the Compact for my EDC. I carry it in a leather sheath made for me by a dear friend 40 years ago. I've found the Compact meets almost all of my needs. I've even used the pen on a few occasions!
I’ve been carrying a Spartan for years, I saw your video on the Compact with the KeySmart clip. This clip is a game changer, it keeps your SAK in place so it’s easy to get to. I used to fish around in my pocket trying to find my Spartan, not any more, I also bought a Compact which I just received and I am loving it. Thank you for videos and the great tip on SAK accessories, I’ll probably be ordering the Firefly ferro rods and tinder. Keep up the great work.
These videos are always so informative: there's loads of detail about the equipment and the visuals + audio are excellent as well. JG is an ambassador for safe EDC knife use in the UK, and anyone who wants to own + carry a swiss army knife should refer to his videos. Great material.
I was disappointed when you went away from the Compact, but I’m glad you’re back. I bought one thanks to your previous review. I have 10 Victorinox knives, but the Compact is my go-to. I sometimes carry the Explorer, but I miss the file on the Compact hook.
For years, I carried the Pioneer. In 2016, they came out with the Pioneer X. Since then, I have carried it a lot but I still often go back to the original Pioneer. I fully understand going back to what works for you.
Great video, thanks! You know, I first got the Compact about a year ago, based solely on your recommendation, and carry it daily in the 5th pocket of my jeans. I saw your switch to the Ellis, but EDC a larger knife as well, a Spyderco, Benchmade, ZT, Chaves, Reeve, etc. And thought the James Brand stuff was overpriced for the steel you get, so just stuck with the Compact. I’m glad to see you take another look at your EDC needs and go back. I also have the tortoise gear setup on all my SAK’s, and it’s a great option. I learned quickly NOT to strike on the Firefly rod with the tip on the ground with the wire stripper pushing down as they’ll snap pretty easily (dumb lesson) but now do it correctly the way you show. Thanks again.
Glad your back! Please give more consideration to the humble hook. I use it often. Mostly to open tabs of packaging. Consider a product with clear plastic packaging with a tab clasp on one end.(usually for rectangular packages). With my hands to open the tab only pulls the sides in tighter till I must rip it and hopefully not cut myself on the rough jagged plastic. Much better to slide the hook in the packaging parallel to the tap. Turn perpendicular to catch the tab and pull open the package! For boxes like nails and screws, this saves the cardboard box from tearing making its reuse easy over and over. Lastly it’s a great zipper pull when you catch your clothes or gear in the teath of the zipper. I hope you give these suggestions a try. Thanks for reading my comment.
Great video Jon. I like it when someone admits they were wrong in the light of new evidence. Great call out to Felix. He is a Swiss star! So practicality won out over style. I chose the Pioneer X alox after your video. Less doodads than the Compact but enough for me and so much more stylish/slimmer in my pocket.
I also purchased and daily carry the Pioneer X after watching Jon's video. It's a great tool. I do kinda wish the alox scales could be produced with the ability to include the two compartments to hold the toothpick and tweezers.
Just ordered a compact yesterday and can’t wait to get my hands on it. Been wanting it for many months and a 15% sale on Amazon give me the push to make a move and buy it. Love your channel, one of my favorite of all time. Thanks !
My desire to own a Compact is gone (as I've realized my scissors use has greatly diminished and I never use the pen), but I completely understand why people like them. I have seen them modded with a Phillips screwdriver in place of the corkscrew. My favorite SAK carriers these days are Spartans, Tinkers, Pioneers, and Alox Bantams. A wood saw is a must if I'm doing yard work. From the Ellis being a little more intimidating to the bit about the ear hairs, there is much truth in this video. Nicely done!
@@NaturalBornGriller I can't recall having gotten my SAK saws gummed up with sap. But they usually come pretty clean with warm water, mild dish soap (blue Dawn excels if you can get it), and a toothbrush.
There is a version of the compact that has a Phillips instead of the corkscrew. It's called the Duke of Edinburgh pocket tool. Bought one for my daughter to gift to her when she is older. For myself I had a compact modified and switch between the regular and the modified version when there is a need to...
Nothing beats my Compact personally at this stage of my life. I actually just bought black scales to replace the original red to make it more preferable for me. A lot of us for sure keeps on coming back with Victorinox Compact.
I really love my compact, it's always on me even though for everyday cutting tasks I prefer a one-hand operated blade. But while those change rather often, the compact always stays in my other pockets because of its (in my eyes) perfect toolset for edc
Great video Jon. I finally picked up the Compact after watching many UA-camrs and scouring over the comments and have to say you are so right 👍 I really like it for an EDC. I have a pretty fair collection of Victorinox pocket knives that I have collected over the years to choose from but I think this one will be hard to beat. Glad you came back to it and that guys like you take the time to share these videos and information for everyone. Take care.
I love that your channel just reads like every one else that EDCs stuff. "Ohhhhh a new shiney, I love this thing, this is perfect!" .... then stuff happens and you miss that other perfect thing you liked before and you back and forth. Great content!
I've had a similar experience with a similar SAK, the Climber (not going to go into why I prefer it over the Compact but really they're very similar). I own a Farmer X which is more or less the same thickness but still find myself carrying the Climber 5 days a week as (a) I am less afraid of losing it as the Farmer X is around 50 quid and my Climber was less than half that and (b) I use the small blade pretty much every day for mundane stuff like cutting boxes for the recycling at work. I have other nice knives with better blade steel like Manly Wasp in S90V or Bokerplus Atlas in 12C27 but these have less functionality - so I only carry them in combination with a multitool like the LM Squirt - and are a bit threatening looking in deepest London, so the Climber which I bought on a whim as it was a good price for the black scaled model at the time, and didn't carry a lot at first, has ended up being carried and used most. But like me it gets a weekend off so tomorrow it's probably the Farmer together with the Nextool Mini.
Welcome back to the Compact squad. Still the best urban EDC ever. The other day I fix my roborock with only a compact and a screwdriver, stripping wire, with the blade and combi tool, clean up hard places with the pin and the tweezer…etc feel so good!
I like 7:03 ongoing. Thanks to you Jon, I now know what to replace my lost toothpicks with. The more I like starting fires with such firerods. Great you showed that. Indeed Felix is genuine and he showed in one of his clips the fire ants form VI, also nice and tiny fire starter.
Another victorinox that i like besides the Compact is the smaller Manager, it has blade, scissors, file, tweezers, pen, bottle opener, small Phillips to work on my sunglasses/glasses and flat screwdriver.
I started with a Huntsman and then picked up a Handyman for the extra pliers and a more complete edc tool but just ordered the compact for warmer days I want to wear shorts or when I’m just bumming around home in just track pants for something a little lighter but still chock full of useful tools. Wasn’t really on my radar but thanks to UA-camrs like yourself I have since seen the light! Great little edc on those days you might want something a little lighter, slimmer and basic! I love it! Love Swiss Army ❤
I’ve had my huntsman for 41 years and still use it although I often carry my pioneer x. My most useful knife is a little alox sd for cutting and filing my nails. 🙂
Two reasons why the corkscrew is, for many, a better choice than the phillips screwdriver: 1 - Many other tools, such as included can opener tool, can be a screwdriver when needed. However, no other tool really works when you're facing a cork. 2 - The screwdriver lets you also include the eyeglasses mini-screwdriver, and, if desired, the tinder.
Nice to see that your Compact is back. I use a Victorinox Compact as my daily goto EDC knife, i carry mine in a homemade canvas holster together with a small torch. I think i use it everyday. Sometimes my coworkers calls to me do you have your tools on you. About thd pin, in every Victorino i own if they can carry a pin i put one there.
My compact version is from 1992 and called a timekeeper because it has a watch in it, it's a bit different because there's no file on the back of the hook and also no tweezer. That's because the watch sits there. Glad you went back to the compact..
Grest video. I also purchased a Compact. It will arrive today and will replace my current Bantam as EDC knife because of more options by being light and compact at the same time.
Right! The Compact is a “stand alone” carry, but in sacrificing the extra goodies of the Compact assumes you are carrying an additional case to supplement. One does not always carry all the additional accouchements.
I love a Victorinox and carry the Explorer as I need to read the tiny print on stuff that I am building all the time, and the magnifying glass is essential. I would love to see some gadgets around us older guys who need such enhancements to keep doing what we love HEHe I find your honesty and precise style to be totally refreshing and I am a huge fan of your channel!
I was searching and searching for my everyday carry and I knew I wanted it to be 2 layered not 3, have the standard blade plus scissors and the corkscrew after watching some of your reviews. After looking at various UK high street sites I thought I was going to have to compromise on either the Spartan or the Climber and then I saw your review on your top 8 Victorinox and at last, it does exist!- the Compact, has everything I think I might need everyday and nothing that I wont - that's what you want in your pocket! Great videos, keep up the good work and thank you👍
LOL! Tweezers and the story ear hair! For all of us “of a certain age”, I heartily thank you for reminding me how often I use those tweezers for just that purpose! As I’ve aged it seems incredible to me how hair just seems to sprout from the most inopportune places. Great review!
The years of experience Victorinox has in knife construction really paid off in the well designed Compact model. I like your tip in using the wire stripper to strike the Firefly, up until now I didn’t have a good use for that tool. I prefer using the blade to strip wire or a proper stripping tool. Thanks for the video, reminded me why I like the Compact model so much.
I used to use the small blade to strip wire too, I found it quicker than the cutter (with a bit of practice). My most left field use for a SAK tool was the awl for poking holes in your beret to put a cap badge through. Improvise, adapt and overcome and all that.
@@NaturalBornGriller I do (and did) know mate but as I said, for what I was doing I figured out how much pressure to put on to cut the plastic and bite the end off quicker than folding the tool over. I was doing a lot of them at the time but whatever works eh ?
@@deeps2761 The proper technique isn't folding the knife blade over on the wire (which doesn't work at all on thicker SAKs anyways). But there is a technique to use the wire stripper that seems to work surprisingly well when you get the hang of it.
Totally agree, I've carried a small knife in my pocket since I was a boy and I'm 54 now. Mostly a SAK of some sort and for the last 30 or so its been a Spartan. Nobody bats an eyelid when you pull a SAK out of your pocket (I've a AAA powered smally torch attached to mine which can be a hindrance and can be removed but adds to the 'fluffiness') as they're sort of known as a handy tool rather than a knife, all down to perception of course but that's where we're at so why make life hard for yourself by carrying some 'tacticool' looking pocket knife when there's a SAK that will cover pretty much all your bases whatever it is you're after (apart from a machete).
@@deeps2761 I carry a handyman despite the girth. The large blade never sees any use, the small blade is my package opener, otherwise it’s an entire toolbox in my pocket.
I've carried a Camper (I think) in the past and I didn't take to that slightly wider knife. That's absolutely batcrap crazy because I carry a lot of other gear in my pockets so don't have a leg to stand on with that logic but there ya go.... people, we're a strange bunch. There's pretty much a SAK for whatever you want though and I still have to stop and stare like a kid if I'm passing a display of SAK's.
I do absolutely agree on your decision, I own 8 Victorinox knifes and more than 50 pocket knifes in total, but the Compact is the one I carry all day and it never disappointed me for now.
So I’m a farmer and used several compacts since 25 yrs, I put a yellow cable tie loop on mine and find because the loop is stiff it’s the easiest way of pulling it out of your pocket with one finger.
Glad you went back! I live in the USA and collected all different pocket knives from Chris Reeves to Victorinox. To this day a Swiss Army Knife is the only Knife that doesn't cause alarm in any way. Understandable in any environment. There is a positive level of intelligence tied to a SAK with no violent attributes and rightly so.
@@NaturalBornGriller yup, in most cases but sometimes, because of the locking blade they can be misconstrued as a weapon. Not that it is, I think it's just an image thing.
I was thinking about you last week when I was using my Compact to solve more than one problem on a tractor-trailer connection here in the USA. I thought, "I wonder how Jon is making out with the.....the......um, that black knife he switched to a while back! " Happy to see your initial logic prevailed. And THANKS AGAIN for helping me sort out my EDC preferences in a real-world thought process. Now if I can just find a more compact alternative to a Cold Steel Espada XL......
I saw that little pocket clip and I'm buying like three! I always carry a SAK in my left pocket and my main tool or knife in the right, and that clip is brilliant!
Great video. A lot of people feel like going back is somehow wrong, but it isn't. I personally had a similar evolution, from multi tools to a tactical knife (USA), but I added on instead of going back. I found I had a lot of uses for the larger blade that wouldn't be fulfilled by the multi tool, so now I carry both a Victorinox minichamp and a ZT or OKT RAT.
I saw the video when you went away from the compact and it had me thinking. I’m not surprised you went back to it. I’ve carried a Leatherman Juice SC2 for almost 20 years.
I ADORE my Vic Compact. Hook can be use to retrieve keys if to deep to grab, just tie some cord on the SAK with the hook opened and lower to get keys or whatever you can with the hook.
Perfect Jon, many times i changed some edc gear and many times i went back to my older stuff. In Switzerland we say, you can better cook on a old pan.👍😏 Kind regards Eugene
In the American vernacular "I love me some Felix too!" I am also quit fond of your series. Thanks for this video. I have a small collection of knives and I am currently trying to explain to my wife why I need "just one more" and I think you've just shown me the perfect knife. Help me by wishin' me good luck with the Mrs. So here I go. Thanks again!
Create job explaining why you went back, Thank you very much. I find myself using the Victorinox Midnight-Manager more and more these days. I wish the compact had a retractable pen and flashlight.
I like the changes to the editing! I had a feeling you'll come around 😉But every tool has its role, I guess for a nicer occasion you would prefer the Ellis.
I have two knives that are 24/7 around me: Victorinox Camper and the bigger Forester. I added a screwdriver for my glasses into the Camper and a Fireant set into the Forester. My son much prefers a Huntsman with an extra screwdriver for glasses and an additional pin.
I went with the Victorinox based on your remommendation. The Compact replaces so many other tools that it has become my indispensable companion...if anything I'll probably buy another one just to have a back up!
Glad you recommended Felix “Hello UA-cam “ Immler. He’s a legend. I don’t think I’ll ever get round to all the tricks and clever uses he has on his channel. Or even some of your tips ( ear hair pulling!). But I love all things SAK and have but a few choice models that I love. Your presentations confirm my choices are justified.
I carry a Buck spitfire quite often, but my Victorinox is indispensable and certainly the most versatile knife/tool I own.I have owned a Victorinox pretty much since I was old enough to own a knife. I have given them to all my family members, so I guess that says it all!
You just saved me quite a bit of money. Thanks! It turns out it's hard to beat the original and I already have a couple of Victorinox knives that do their job very well.
I think the perfect EDC tool is going to vary greatly depending on the person. I use a SOG powerpint, which is somewhat similar to the leatherman micra. It's tiny but the tools are all quite functional. I have a full sized leatherman, but it tends to stay at home or in a larger bag. The powerpint is always on me. It's light, totally non-threatening, and does so much. The leatherman micra is pretty nice as well (the one with the scissors in lieu of pliers). The big scissors are excellent. But the other tools are a bit flimsy. I had a gerber dime too. it's better than the micra, but the scissors were too small, pliers too thin, and the bottle opener can get in the way. And it's just slightly too small.
I love the PowerPint… very capable pliers and locking tools (impressive for the size). But I find myself missing the scissors on the compact (also the combi-tool for cleaning my nails). The PowerPint and Compact compliment each other nicely.
I was just watching your 'my new edc is the james..' video, saw your comment that you'd update in a few months, and thought "great i'd like to see the update', then realize the video was posted a few months ago, so I came to your channel (and subscribed) to see if there was an update...and here we are. You're really playing with my EDC emotions here
I love the Compact for its size. That said, I’ve settled on the Explorer because it has an in-line Philip’s (and as a dad, using the Philip’s to open battery compartments of my kids toys is one of the most common things I use my SAK for). Likewise, if ever there was anything less intimidating than the Victornox logo when using a knife in public, it’s the Victornox logo plus the Eagle Scout badge - which the Explorer offers but the Compact doesn’t.
Great video! Always fine to hear opinions based on experience. I learned a truth two years ago: it's impossible to get rid of these red things as soon as you get them, hahaha. One may say that you're being unnecessarily focused in minor details - like the scale texture and clip - but those "minor details" truly show up in everyday carry and use and may be really annoying to just ignore.
Happy Friday Jon, the parable of the return of the prodigal son comes to mind. I told you that the James Brand Ellis is not an EDC knife its a Wottsisname, an undefined gizmo more suited as a door stop, paper weight or a waiters cheese knife as serrated edge blades are only suitable for cutting bread & cheese. I hope you will be donating your JBE to the Oxfam Shop. As you know I am not a fan of the Compact & mine languishes in the cupboard since like Maestro Felix Immler I prefer to carry the Huntsman ( albeit mine are fitted with plus scales, a SwissQlip for convenient pocket carry & firefly ferro rod instead of a toothpick, tinder & eyeglass screwdriver on the corkscrew ), the Climber ( decked out like the Huntsman with add ons ) & a number of other SAK's that I wont detail here as you cant legally carry them as they are lock blades & some over the 3" blade limit in the UK . I also have in my EDC rotation the Pioneer X & Farmer X and several flipper knives as I am covered for the tools they lack by my permanent key ring carry SAK, currently a hybrid SilverTech scaled 58mm Midnite Mini-Champ. Just one more observation of why I was disappointed with the Compact is that it wont take the SwissQlip like almost all the other popular SAK's & its just too long to fit in the ticket pocket of a pair of jeans unlike most of the 84/85 mm 2 & 3 layer useful SAK's I own including the various Wengers & Victorinox models that have a scissors & corkscrew enabling them to carry the fire ant & tinder set up just like the 91mm models
Hi Steve 🤣 you're options are great and I have many of them! The Keysmart Nano does a brilliant job for the Compact carry and I wouldn't change to a SwissQlip even if it did fit! I'm glad to be back 👍
@@JonGadget Its good to have you back in the Brotherhood of the SAK. We all occasionally get seduced by the sirens song of some new gadget but sooner or later we come to our senses & realize that the SAK is the king of the EDC hill when it comes to practicality, reliability, availability and often on price too!
@@JonGadget Happy Monday, I have an announcement which will no doubt please a devotee of the Compact like you. " The Victorinox Compact is BACK in my EDC rotation as from today July 4th 2022 " This morning I was doing a checking & cleaning of my SAK collection in my cupboard. By chance I found a set of unused 91mm Rubi red translucent Plus scales that I had forgotten about ( I have several brand new & reusable 58mm, 85mm, 91mm & 111mm scale sets ) and having checked & cleaned off any dust on several disused SAK's including my almost never carried 91mm Compact, I decided on the spur of the moment to take off those dull & boring Red Plus scales on my Compact & fit it with Rubi Red Plus scales! My favourite SAK scale colours are SilverTech followed by Rubi Red then Sapphire Blue & so within a few minutes I had mounted the brilliant Rubi Red Plus scales on my Compact & thought "go all the way old son! " and decked it out with a Firefly ferro rod in place of the useless toothpick & put a tinder spiral held down by the micro-screwdriver on the corkscrew, replaced the 91mm sized split ring with the small 58mm sized split ring, added a green & black nylon Victorinox lanyard & a put a straight pin in the pin shaft and after satisfying myself that this dolled up Compact was in order popped it into a skai ( artificial leather ) pocket sheath & carried it in my pocket when I went out today! ( I also had in my pockets my 58mm key ring SilverTech Midnite Mini-Champ SAK in its sheath & a 3" blade assisted opening Kershaw Leek lock back knife ). Now back at home the knife I have on the computer desk in front of me as I type this is my revitalized 91mm Rubi Red Compact & I put it down to your good ( or bad ) influence on me in reintroducing the Compact into my EDC rotation, so Jon a big thanks to you for inspiring me, like yourself, to put the Compact back into service !
Lol, didn’t plan this so that you could make a couple of videos did you Jon 😂. Still, I actually agree with both videos - the Ellis is my EDC at work (emergency services) and I carry either a victorinox (but not the compact, I like a saw for when out with the dog) or real steal Luna outside of work. Keep up the good work chap, best EDC channel on the tube 👍🏻
Your first video made me think about getting a compact. Your newer video is gonna make me get one right now. As I mentioned in the last video, the only thing that would make the compact perfect is if they made one in Alox WITH the pen, tweezers, toothpick, and pin.
The EDC knife is an extremely personal thing, what's right for one person is totally wrong for another. For me, the Victorinox Deluxe Tinker is the best fit, I've been carrying one for at least 30 years. The way that I carry it on my belt means that I don't notice the weight but on occasion I do notice the size when I'm forced to lay on the floor to repair something and roll onto that side. I cannot count how many time these knives have bailed me out of a situation, as I'm sure all Victorinox owners can. They are wonderful little knives. Very nice video, Jon. Oh yea, I also carry a Victorinox Classic on my key chain, sometimes smaller is better. 😀
My everyday carry has changed somewhat over the years. Leatherman T4, Victorinox farmer x, Victorinox Explorer. While these are all good choices, the Victorinox Compact is my number one choice. I reach for it several times a day.
You inadvertently sold me on the Ellis. My must haves are a substantial blade, scissors and a clip. In my wallet I carry a Swiss Card Lite which has anything else I want. I was turned off by the half serrated blade on the Ellis but on their website they show a full straight blade. Given the quality you have mentioned, I ordered it. I’m excited.
I’m waiting for an Ellis two, even though I’ve seen the (clearly planned, but still good) return to the SAK. But for use case (emergency services) the serrated blade is exactly what I need to cut clothing and other fibrous things.
Great video. I'm discovering the EDC capabilities of Victorinox SAK's. This started from another content creator, "Kit Badger," who reviewed Prometheus Design Werx SAK replacement scales with a built in pocket clip. The Key Smart pocket clip is a far less expensive alternative that I'll also try in the near future. I find the SAK's to be more useful than a stand alone knife for most EDC.
I wasn’t aware of the Compact... I carry the Huntsman, but see why you’re fond of the Compact. I’m going to have to check into that pocket clip you’re using, thanks for sharing.
I agree with you about the Compact. For its size, I don’t know of anything that even comes close. I do have a Robert Jessard mod where the awl replaces the hook and the Philips replaces the corkscrew. That’s my perfect version of the Compact.
Appreciate the video. Bought a couple of the pocket clips. Makes carrying a Swiss Army knife easier, frees up pocket space, and improves access. Still trying to decide on a new Compact. Really like your channel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Love the compact I find myself using the spartan on a daily basis also have a pin and fire rod in the cork screw I like to use the awl reamer for striking cheers mate
Diggit. The Compact is arguably my own favorite. Surprise use for the hook. Backscratcher. Albeit not a large one. But definitely works to catch some of those just out of reach spots.
So cool to see a video where someone says, "Hey, I tested this thing and I'm going back to my previous choice." It's that honesty and integrity that make your channel so useful.
Thanks Jason that's appreciated.
It’s like. Ok. I have little to say but if I say a negative it’ll let me find a positive. So. I’ll say a positive. I’m waiting for the negative. And so it continues. But. It’s all money in the bank. And it’s UA-cam paying. But in reality. You’re selling your self short. Easy money isn’t exhilarating. It’s boring. Do it for love not gain less is always more
If I remember correctly, and correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you say didn't need those extra's that the Compact had because they were in your edc kit? Either way, cool video. The Compact has been my edc since watching your video on the Compact. The only time I don't carry it is at the school I work, so I carry the Victorinox Jetsetter instead.
I thought it was his buttery accent and mild mannerisms
@@kilruf I think the deal here is, sure, he has those tools but having the same tools in your pocket, easily at hand, suits him more because he uses those tools very frequently. Doesn't require opening a pouch, etc
Thanks a lot for this interesting reasons why you go with the Victorinox. Greetings from Switzerland
Hi Felix, hope you are keeping well.
When legends collide!
Agree with your observation about the ‘non- threatening’ and friendly appearance of the familiar Victorinox. This is a key reason for this being my pocket knife of choice.
Well the blacked out is very aggressive looking. Color changes perception strongly.
I once was at an Airport check with metal detector (for the visitor deck, so not as strict). My baby-blue Mini Griptillian was ok, but my Victorinox Spirit RT (dark glossy frame, polished tools). And let's face it, that makes no sense.
Your previous videos had made me realize what I was missing when my EDC knife has evolved from a Boy Scout to a tactical knife. I had switched back to a three blade stockmen knife like I carried from elementary school through being a Marine grunt. I finally got a Compact just before you released the Ellis video, and have been very pleased to carry it for many of the same reasons as you. Now I’m fully back, after several decades, to EDC a utility pocket knife. Like you, and thanks to you, I found the Victorinox Compact hard to beat. I do have a Hunter for hiking and camping. Looking back, a Victorinox or Wenger was my go to even when my EDC was a Kabar and my knife was in constant use, from meal time to gear maintenance, and even personal grooming and minor medical chores.
Thanks for the great feedback Doug 👍
Cool to hear you have a Hunter as well. It’s what I went with and I really enjoy it. Mind you some if that enjoyment is just pulling out all the tools to look at them, haha
@@lemmyjoker3678 A fidget toy since whenever the first one was made.
I like this video and your brand as a whole. Many youtubers say that "this is the best thing ever and I'm only going to us this form now own" and we never see them use or talk about it again. Its also nice to see someone try new things and not just swear by the same old gear that they've always used.
I retired 8 years ago from my job in corrections, where carrying any type of knife was strictly forbidden. I chose the Compact for my EDC. I carry it in a leather sheath made for me by a dear friend 40 years ago. I've found the Compact meets almost all of my needs. I've even used the pen on a few occasions!
I’ve been carrying a Spartan for years, I saw your video on the Compact with the KeySmart clip. This clip is a game changer, it keeps your SAK in place so it’s easy to get to. I used to fish around in my pocket trying to find my Spartan, not any more, I also bought a Compact which I just received and I am loving it. Thank you for videos and the great tip on SAK accessories, I’ll probably be ordering the Firefly ferro rods and tinder. Keep up the great work.
These videos are always so informative: there's loads of detail about the equipment and the visuals + audio are excellent as well. JG is an ambassador for safe EDC knife use in the UK, and anyone who wants to own + carry a swiss army knife should refer to his videos. Great material.
I was disappointed when you went away from the Compact, but I’m glad you’re back. I bought one thanks to your previous review. I have 10 Victorinox knives, but the Compact is my go-to. I sometimes carry the Explorer, but I miss the file on the Compact hook.
Hi Kevin. It looks like the Compact is going to be hard to beat!
Same here, Compact my number one and sometimes Explorer. I own 8 knives / multitools and love them all but Compact is the king for daily urban EDC 🥳
There's a file on the Manager, except for the corkscrew the Manager has smaller versions of tools but is even smaller.
For years, I carried the Pioneer. In 2016, they came out with the Pioneer X. Since then, I have carried it a lot but I still often go back to the original Pioneer. I fully understand going back to what works for you.
Great video, thanks! You know, I first got the Compact about a year ago, based solely on your recommendation, and carry it daily in the 5th pocket of my jeans. I saw your switch to the Ellis, but EDC a larger knife as well, a Spyderco, Benchmade, ZT, Chaves, Reeve, etc. And thought the James Brand stuff was overpriced for the steel you get, so just stuck with the Compact. I’m glad to see you take another look at your EDC needs and go back.
I also have the tortoise gear setup on all my SAK’s, and it’s a great option. I learned quickly NOT to strike on the Firefly rod with the tip on the ground with the wire stripper pushing down as they’ll snap pretty easily (dumb lesson) but now do it correctly the way you show. Thanks again.
Glad your back! Please give more consideration to the humble hook. I use it often. Mostly to open tabs of packaging. Consider a product with clear plastic packaging with a tab clasp on one end.(usually for rectangular packages). With my hands to open the tab only pulls the sides in tighter till I must rip it and hopefully not cut myself on the rough jagged plastic.
Much better to slide the hook in the packaging parallel to the tap. Turn perpendicular to catch the tab and pull open the package!
For boxes like nails and screws, this saves the cardboard box from tearing making its reuse easy over and over. Lastly it’s a great zipper pull when you catch your clothes or gear in the teath of the zipper.
I hope you give these suggestions a try. Thanks for reading my comment.
Thanks for the great suggestions - I am beginning to appreciate the hook more!
Great video Jon. I like it when someone admits they were wrong in the light of new evidence. Great call out to Felix. He is a Swiss star! So practicality won out over style. I chose the Pioneer X alox after your video. Less doodads than the Compact but enough for me and so much more stylish/slimmer in my pocket.
Thanks Mark - Pioneer X is a great option.
I also purchased and daily carry the Pioneer X after watching Jon's video. It's a great tool. I do kinda wish the alox scales could be produced with the ability to include the two compartments to hold the toothpick and tweezers.
Just ordered a compact yesterday and can’t wait to get my hands on it. Been wanting it for many months and a 15% sale on Amazon give me the push to make a move and buy it. Love your channel, one of my favorite of all time. Thanks !
My desire to own a Compact is gone (as I've realized my scissors use has greatly diminished and I never use the pen), but I completely understand why people like them. I have seen them modded with a Phillips screwdriver in place of the corkscrew. My favorite SAK carriers these days are Spartans, Tinkers, Pioneers, and Alox Bantams. A wood saw is a must if I'm doing yard work.
From the Ellis being a little more intimidating to the bit about the ear hairs, there is much truth in this video. Nicely done!
Thanks for the feedback and comments 👍
My favorite SAK is the Fieldmaster. Double blades, scissors, saw, & no corkscrew.
i'm not really a big fan of the saw. Sure it can be handy but damn does it get FILTHY with sap and crap. difficult to clean.
@@NaturalBornGriller I can't recall having gotten my SAK saws gummed up with sap. But they usually come pretty clean with warm water, mild dish soap (blue Dawn excels if you can get it), and a toothbrush.
@@daninmi1648 SAK saws are designed for green wood that's why they don't gunk up like others.
There is a version of the compact that has a Phillips instead of the corkscrew. It's called the Duke of Edinburgh pocket tool. Bought one for my daughter to gift to her when she is older.
For myself I had a compact modified and switch between the regular and the modified version when there is a need to...
Unfortunately the DoE knife seems to only be available in the UK. I also don't like how they rounded the knife end. Makes it much less usable.
Nothing beats my Compact personally at this stage of my life. I actually just bought black scales to replace the original red to make it more preferable for me. A lot of us for sure keeps on coming back with Victorinox Compact.
I really love my compact, it's always on me even though for everyday cutting tasks I prefer a one-hand operated blade. But while those change rather often, the compact always stays in my other pockets because of its (in my eyes) perfect toolset for edc
Nice review. I ordered my compact today. It is exactly what I wanted. Thank you
Great video Jon. I finally picked up the Compact after watching many UA-camrs and scouring over the comments and have to say you are so right 👍 I really like it for an EDC. I have a pretty fair collection of Victorinox pocket knives that I have collected over the years to choose from but I think this one will be hard to beat. Glad you came back to it and that guys like you take the time to share these videos and information for everyone. Take care.
I love that your channel just reads like every one else that EDCs stuff. "Ohhhhh a new shiney, I love this thing, this is perfect!" .... then stuff happens and you miss that other perfect thing you liked before and you back and forth. Great content!
I've had a similar experience with a similar SAK, the Climber (not going to go into why I prefer it over the Compact but really they're very similar). I own a Farmer X which is more or less the same thickness but still find myself carrying the Climber 5 days a week as (a) I am less afraid of losing it as the Farmer X is around 50 quid and my Climber was less than half that and (b) I use the small blade pretty much every day for mundane stuff like cutting boxes for the recycling at work. I have other nice knives with better blade steel like Manly Wasp in S90V or Bokerplus Atlas in 12C27 but these have less functionality - so I only carry them in combination with a multitool like the LM Squirt - and are a bit threatening looking in deepest London, so the Climber which I bought on a whim as it was a good price for the black scaled model at the time, and didn't carry a lot at first, has ended up being carried and used most. But like me it gets a weekend off so tomorrow it's probably the Farmer together with the Nextool Mini.
Yeah, I like having the secondary blade and the awl/reamer.
Welcome back to the Compact squad. Still the best urban EDC ever. The other day I fix my roborock with only a compact and a screwdriver, stripping wire, with the blade and combi tool, clean up hard places with the pin and the tweezer…etc feel so good!
It is a great feeling!
I like 7:03 ongoing. Thanks to you Jon, I now know what to replace my lost toothpicks with. The more I like starting fires with such firerods. Great you showed that. Indeed Felix is genuine and he showed in one of his clips the fire ants form VI, also nice and tiny fire starter.
Cheers John! I just got mine in the mail and couldnt be more pleased. Im hoping to carry it for many years
Another victorinox that i like besides the Compact is the smaller Manager, it has blade, scissors, file, tweezers, pen, bottle opener, small Phillips to work on my sunglasses/glasses and flat screwdriver.
I started with a Huntsman and then picked up a Handyman for the extra pliers and a more complete edc tool but just ordered the compact for warmer days I want to wear shorts or when I’m just bumming around home in just track pants for something a little lighter but still chock full of useful tools. Wasn’t really on my radar but thanks to UA-camrs like yourself I have since seen the light! Great little edc on those days you might want something a little lighter, slimmer and basic! I love it! Love Swiss Army ❤
Called it! This is why I enjoy you videos Jon, we're often on the same wavelength when it comes to EDC.
You did call it!
I’ve had my huntsman for 41 years and still use it although I often carry my pioneer x. My most useful knife is a little alox sd for cutting and filing my nails. 🙂
Two reasons why the corkscrew is, for many, a better choice than the phillips screwdriver:
1 - Many other tools, such as included can opener tool, can be a screwdriver when needed. However, no other tool really works when you're facing a cork.
2 - The screwdriver lets you also include the eyeglasses mini-screwdriver, and, if desired, the tinder.
I switch from the Cadet to the compact for my EDC. Thanks for reviewing this knife.
Hey there Jon, great video. You said it, Compact is the best! Love mine and I feel naked leaving home without it!
I recently bought a Real Steel Luna LIte and gave it a try for everyday carry, but after a couple weeks went back to my Victorinox Compact.
Nice to see that your Compact is back. I use a Victorinox Compact as my daily goto EDC knife, i carry mine in a homemade canvas holster together with a small torch. I think i use it everyday. Sometimes my coworkers calls to me do you have your tools on you. About thd pin, in every Victorino i own if they can carry a pin i put one there.
great feedback and good to know 👍
My compact version is from 1992 and called a timekeeper because it has a watch in it, it's a bit different because there's no file on the back of the hook and also no tweezer. That's because the watch sits there. Glad you went back to the compact..
Grest video. I also purchased a Compact. It will arrive today and will replace my current Bantam as EDC knife because of more options by being light and compact at the same time.
Right! The Compact is a “stand alone” carry, but in sacrificing the extra goodies of the Compact assumes you are carrying an additional case to supplement. One does not always carry all the additional accouchements.
Best choice! Welcome back to SAK! As a minimalist I prefer the Bantam (in urban areas), outdoor the Camper 🙂.
Good choices 👍
I love a Victorinox and carry the Explorer as I need to read the tiny print on stuff that I am building all the time, and the magnifying glass is essential. I would love to see some gadgets around us older guys who need such enhancements to keep doing what we love HEHe I find your honesty and precise style to be totally refreshing and I am a huge fan of your channel!
I was searching and searching for my everyday carry and I knew I wanted it to be 2 layered not 3, have the standard blade plus scissors and the corkscrew after watching some of your reviews. After looking at various UK high street sites I thought I was going to have to compromise on either the Spartan or the Climber and then I saw your review on your top 8 Victorinox and at last, it does exist!- the Compact, has everything I think I might need everyday and nothing that I wont - that's what you want in your pocket! Great videos, keep up the good work and thank you👍
LOL! Tweezers and the story ear hair! For all of us “of a certain age”, I heartily thank you for reminding me how often I use those tweezers for just that purpose! As I’ve aged it seems incredible to me how hair just seems to sprout from the most inopportune places. Great review!
Ha! I'm glad I'm not alone on that one 🤣
Totally agree! My most use for the tweezers 😅
I am learning this pain. Usually use different tweezers though
Lol, I get mine waxed
The years of experience Victorinox has in knife construction really
paid off in the well designed Compact model. I like your tip in
using the wire stripper to strike the Firefly, up until now I didn’t
have a good use for that tool. I prefer using the blade to strip wire
or a proper stripping tool. Thanks for the video, reminded me why
I like the Compact model so much.
No problem - you're welcome.
I used to use the small blade to strip wire too, I found it quicker than the cutter (with a bit of practice).
My most left field use for a SAK tool was the awl for poking holes in your beret to put a cap badge through. Improvise, adapt and overcome and all that.
you should look up a video on how to use the SAK wire stripper properly. It's not how you think.
@@NaturalBornGriller I do (and did) know mate but as I said, for what I was doing I figured out how much pressure to put on to cut the plastic and bite the end off quicker than folding the tool over. I was doing a lot of them at the time but whatever works eh ?
@@deeps2761 The proper technique isn't folding the knife blade over on the wire (which doesn't work at all on thicker SAKs anyways). But there is a technique to use the wire stripper that seems to work surprisingly well when you get the hang of it.
This is exactly the appeal of victorinox, the blade is non threatening and the tool set is unmatched.
yeah exactly
Totally agree, I've carried a small knife in my pocket since I was a boy and I'm 54 now. Mostly a SAK of some sort and for the last 30 or so its been a Spartan. Nobody bats an eyelid when you pull a SAK out of your pocket (I've a AAA powered smally torch attached to mine which can be a hindrance and can be removed but adds to the 'fluffiness') as they're sort of known as a handy tool rather than a knife, all down to perception of course but that's where we're at so why make life hard for yourself by carrying some 'tacticool' looking pocket knife when there's a SAK that will cover pretty much all your bases whatever it is you're after (apart from a machete).
very true!
@@deeps2761 I carry a handyman despite the girth. The large blade never sees any use, the small blade is my package opener, otherwise it’s an entire toolbox in my pocket.
I've carried a Camper (I think) in the past and I didn't take to that slightly wider knife. That's absolutely batcrap crazy because I carry a lot of other gear in my pockets so don't have a leg to stand on with that logic but there ya go.... people, we're a strange bunch. There's pretty much a SAK for whatever you want though and I still have to stop and stare like a kid if I'm passing a display of SAK's.
I do absolutely agree on your decision, I own 8 Victorinox knifes and more than 50 pocket knifes in total, but the Compact is the one I carry all day and it never disappointed me for now.
So I’m a farmer and used several compacts since 25 yrs, I put a yellow cable tie loop on mine and find because the loop is stiff it’s the easiest way of pulling it out of your pocket with one finger.
I think that’s a great idea! I’m going to give that a try-thanks!
Glad you went back! I live in the USA and collected all different pocket knives from Chris Reeves to Victorinox. To this day a Swiss Army Knife is the only Knife that doesn't cause alarm in any way. Understandable in any environment. There is a positive level of intelligence tied to a SAK with no violent attributes and rightly so.
@@charlesandrews2513 thanks Charles! 😊
Thanks Brian (and Charles) I completely agree 👍
leatherman products don't have negative connotations. If anyone asks it's 'ah it's just my multitool'. Regardless of how accessible the blade is.
@@NaturalBornGriller yup, in most cases but sometimes, because of the locking blade they can be misconstrued as a weapon. Not that it is, I think it's just an image thing.
I like your reviews a lot. I like your voice (it's calming), your backdrop, professionalism and neatness.
thank you - very kind
I was thinking about you last week when I was using my Compact to solve more than one problem on a tractor-trailer connection here in the USA. I thought, "I wonder how Jon is making out with the.....the......um, that black knife he switched to a while back! "
Happy to see your initial logic prevailed. And THANKS AGAIN for helping me sort out my EDC preferences in a real-world thought process. Now if I can just find a more compact alternative to a Cold Steel Espada XL......
Thanks for the feedback Elliot, I'm glad to be back!
I saw that little pocket clip and I'm buying like three! I always carry a SAK in my left pocket and my main tool or knife in the right, and that clip is brilliant!
Two layers are my favorite for EDC
I'm a PT and the parcel hook is great for untying knots in Theraband without tearing it.
Great video. A lot of people feel like going back is somehow wrong, but it isn't. I personally had a similar evolution, from multi tools to a tactical knife (USA), but I added on instead of going back. I found I had a lot of uses for the larger blade that wouldn't be fulfilled by the multi tool, so now I carry both a Victorinox minichamp and a ZT or OKT RAT.
Classic: “I use the tweezer to grab a stray ear hair” That’s the clincher for me!. 😁 Welcome back to the SAK Compact. 👍🏻
Thank you 😁
I saw the video when you went away from the compact and it had me thinking. I’m not surprised you went back to it. I’ve carried a Leatherman Juice SC2 for almost 20 years.
I ADORE my Vic Compact. Hook can be use to retrieve keys if to deep to grab, just tie some cord on the SAK with the hook opened and lower to get keys or whatever you can with the hook.
Thanks for posting this review 😊. The pen also fits into the corkscrew for writing.
Perfect Jon, many times i changed some edc gear and many times i went back to my older stuff. In Switzerland we say, you can better cook on a old pan.👍😏
Kind regards
Eugene
In the American vernacular "I love me some Felix too!" I am also quit fond of your series. Thanks for this video. I have a small collection of knives and I am currently trying to explain to my wife why I need "just one more" and I think you've just shown me the perfect knife. Help me by wishin' me good luck with the Mrs. So here I go. Thanks again!
Create job explaining why you went back, Thank you very much. I find myself using the Victorinox Midnight-Manager more and more these days. I wish the compact had a retractable pen and flashlight.
I like the integrated glasses screw driver and fire starter kit, which I don't have in my 6 layer SAK (9cm).
Enjoy your revues thanks. I have carried a Spartan for years and it is perfect for my needs HOWEVER I would love one with Alox scales.
I almost changed to the Ellis, but kept with the Compact in the end. Now I feel happy having saves £110 in the process! Thanks Jon. 👍
The Ellis is good but I couldn't cope with sacrificing so much compared with the Ellis.
Glad you’ve seen the light again Jon. Welcome back
Thanks Mike 😁
I like the changes to the editing!
I had a feeling you'll come around 😉But every tool has its role, I guess for a nicer occasion you would prefer the Ellis.
The Ellis will find a place - it's a good knife - just not my EDC 😊
I told you so ;-) I bought the Compact after your first review of it and I absolutely love it. Thanks Jon!
I have two knives that are 24/7 around me: Victorinox Camper and the bigger Forester. I added a screwdriver for my glasses into the Camper and a Fireant set into the Forester. My son much prefers a Huntsman with an extra screwdriver for glasses and an additional pin.
I went with the Victorinox based on your remommendation. The Compact replaces so many other tools that it has become my indispensable companion...if anything I'll probably buy another one just to have a back up!
Bonus for having the corkscrew over the phillips, is that you can fit in a pin with colored glass head. Easier to find and pickup if you drop the pin.
nice idea!
Glad you recommended Felix “Hello UA-cam “ Immler. He’s a legend. I don’t think I’ll ever get round to all the tricks and clever uses he has on his channel. Or even some of your tips ( ear hair pulling!). But I love all things SAK and have but a few choice models that I love. Your presentations confirm my choices are justified.
Thanks for the feedback David - he is a legend!
I carry a Buck spitfire quite often, but my Victorinox is indispensable and certainly the most versatile knife/tool I own.I have owned a Victorinox pretty much since I was old enough to own a knife. I have given them to all my family members, so I guess that says it all!
You just saved me quite a bit of money. Thanks!
It turns out it's hard to beat the original and I already have a couple of Victorinox knives that do their job very well.
Very sensible decision !! Thanks great review
I think the perfect EDC tool is going to vary greatly depending on the person. I use a SOG powerpint, which is somewhat similar to the leatherman micra. It's tiny but the tools are all quite functional. I have a full sized leatherman, but it tends to stay at home or in a larger bag. The powerpint is always on me. It's light, totally non-threatening, and does so much.
The leatherman micra is pretty nice as well (the one with the scissors in lieu of pliers). The big scissors are excellent. But the other tools are a bit flimsy. I had a gerber dime too. it's better than the micra, but the scissors were too small, pliers too thin, and the bottle opener can get in the way. And it's just slightly too small.
I love the PowerPint… very capable pliers and locking tools (impressive for the size). But I find myself missing the scissors on the compact (also the combi-tool for cleaning my nails). The PowerPint and Compact compliment each other nicely.
I was just watching your 'my new edc is the james..' video, saw your comment that you'd update in a few months, and thought "great i'd like to see the update', then realize the video was posted a few months ago, so I came to your channel (and subscribed) to see if there was an update...and here we are. You're really playing with my EDC emotions here
And mine 😵💫
I love the Compact for its size. That said, I’ve settled on the Explorer because it has an in-line Philip’s (and as a dad, using the Philip’s to open battery compartments of my kids toys is one of the most common things I use my SAK for).
Likewise, if ever there was anything less intimidating than the Victornox logo when using a knife in public, it’s the Victornox logo plus the Eagle Scout badge - which the Explorer offers but the Compact doesn’t.
Good that you went back to the light, a reminder of the old saying "If your EDC ain't broke, don't fix it"
yes!
Great video! Always fine to hear opinions based on experience. I learned a truth two years ago: it's impossible to get rid of these red things as soon as you get them, hahaha. One may say that you're being unnecessarily focused in minor details - like the scale texture and clip - but those "minor details" truly show up in everyday carry and use and may be really annoying to just ignore.
That's very true - the small things become amplified with lot's of use
Happy Friday Jon, the parable of the return of the prodigal son comes to mind. I told you that the James Brand Ellis is not an EDC knife its a Wottsisname, an undefined gizmo more suited as a door stop, paper weight or a waiters cheese knife as serrated edge blades are only suitable for cutting bread & cheese. I hope you will be donating your JBE to the Oxfam Shop. As you know I am not a fan of the Compact & mine languishes in the cupboard since like Maestro Felix Immler I prefer to carry the Huntsman ( albeit mine are fitted with plus scales, a SwissQlip for convenient pocket carry & firefly ferro rod instead of a toothpick, tinder & eyeglass screwdriver on the corkscrew ), the Climber ( decked out like the Huntsman with add ons ) & a number of other SAK's that I wont detail here as you cant legally carry them as they are lock blades & some over the 3" blade limit in the UK . I also have in my EDC rotation the Pioneer X & Farmer X and several flipper knives as I am covered for the tools they lack by my permanent key ring carry SAK, currently a hybrid SilverTech scaled 58mm Midnite Mini-Champ. Just one more observation of why I was disappointed with the Compact is that it wont take the SwissQlip like almost all the other popular SAK's & its just too long to fit in the ticket pocket of a pair of jeans unlike most of the 84/85 mm 2 & 3 layer useful SAK's I own including the various Wengers & Victorinox models that have a scissors & corkscrew enabling them to carry the fire ant & tinder set up just like the 91mm models
Hi Steve 🤣 you're options are great and I have many of them! The Keysmart Nano does a brilliant job for the Compact carry and I wouldn't change to a SwissQlip even if it did fit! I'm glad to be back 👍
@@JonGadget Its good to have you back in the Brotherhood of the SAK. We all occasionally get seduced by the sirens song of some new gadget but sooner or later we come to our senses & realize that the SAK is the king of the EDC hill when it comes to practicality, reliability, availability and often on price too!
@@JonGadget Happy Monday, I have an announcement which will no doubt please a devotee of the Compact like you. " The Victorinox Compact is BACK in my EDC rotation as from today July 4th 2022 " This morning I was doing a checking & cleaning of my SAK collection in my cupboard. By chance I found a set of unused 91mm Rubi red translucent Plus scales that I had forgotten about ( I have several brand new & reusable 58mm, 85mm, 91mm & 111mm scale sets ) and having checked & cleaned off any dust on several disused SAK's including my almost never carried 91mm Compact, I decided on the spur of the moment to take off those dull & boring Red Plus scales on my Compact & fit it with Rubi Red Plus scales! My favourite SAK scale colours are SilverTech followed by Rubi Red then Sapphire Blue & so within a few minutes I had mounted the brilliant Rubi Red Plus scales on my Compact & thought "go all the way old son! " and decked it out with a Firefly ferro rod in place of the useless toothpick & put a tinder spiral held down by the micro-screwdriver on the corkscrew, replaced the 91mm sized split ring with the small 58mm sized split ring, added a green & black nylon Victorinox lanyard & a put a straight pin in the pin shaft and after satisfying myself that this dolled up Compact was in order popped it into a skai ( artificial leather ) pocket sheath & carried it in my pocket when I went out today! ( I also had in my pockets my 58mm key ring SilverTech Midnite Mini-Champ SAK in its sheath & a 3" blade assisted opening Kershaw Leek lock back knife ). Now back at home the knife I have on the computer desk in front of me as I type this is my revitalized 91mm Rubi Red Compact & I put it down to your good ( or bad ) influence on me in reintroducing the Compact into my EDC rotation, so Jon a big thanks to you for inspiring me, like yourself, to put the Compact back into service !
Good for you! The Compact is the best EDC!
I also prefer a key smart clip to carry my SAK toma pocket clip.
Lol, didn’t plan this so that you could make a couple of videos did you Jon 😂. Still, I actually agree with both videos - the Ellis is my EDC at work (emergency services) and I carry either a victorinox (but not the compact, I like a saw for when out with the dog) or real steal Luna outside of work. Keep up the good work chap, best EDC channel on the tube 👍🏻
Half lock feature is very good on James, agree with your final choice
Your first video made me think about getting a compact. Your newer video is gonna make me get one right now.
As I mentioned in the last video, the only thing that would make the compact perfect is if they made one in Alox WITH the pen, tweezers, toothpick, and pin.
So glad to have you back among "us"!!! Best regards.
Victorinox Fundamentalist Group.
Welcome back. Quite honestly, the Compact is the bomb. Every one of your observations is spot on.
I'm happy to be back 😊
The EDC knife is an extremely personal thing, what's right for one person is totally wrong for another. For me, the Victorinox Deluxe Tinker is the best fit, I've been carrying one for at least 30 years. The way that I carry it on my belt means that I don't notice the weight but on occasion I do notice the size when I'm forced to lay on the floor to repair something and roll onto that side. I cannot count how many time these knives have bailed me out of a situation, as I'm sure all Victorinox owners can. They are wonderful little knives. Very nice video, Jon. Oh yea, I also carry a Victorinox Classic on my key chain, sometimes smaller is better. 😀
Great to hear about your experiences. Thank you for sharing 👍
Thank your for the great review. I am happy the Compact is back in your pocket, since it is my favorite knife at all. 🙂
Being a big fan of the Compact and Jon's reviews, this video was incredibly heartwarming LOL. Thank you Jon!
you can now buy replace plus scales with a built in belt clip.
Thanks!
Thank you for the thanks Stefanos and for helping to support the channel 👍
I think I just found the replacement for my SAK Classic and Case medium Stockman! Thank you very much!
My everyday carry has changed somewhat over the years. Leatherman T4, Victorinox farmer x, Victorinox Explorer. While these are all good choices, the Victorinox Compact is my number one choice. I reach for it several times a day.
You inadvertently sold me on the Ellis. My must haves are a substantial blade, scissors and a clip. In my wallet I carry a Swiss Card Lite which has anything else I want. I was turned off by the half serrated blade on the Ellis but on their website they show a full straight blade. Given the quality you have mentioned, I ordered it. I’m excited.
It is a great knife and the straight blade is a great option 👍
I’m waiting for an Ellis two, even though I’ve seen the (clearly planned, but still good) return to the SAK. But for use case (emergency services) the serrated blade is exactly what I need to cut clothing and other fibrous things.
Great video. I'm discovering the EDC capabilities of Victorinox SAK's. This started from another content creator, "Kit Badger," who reviewed Prometheus Design Werx SAK replacement scales with a built in pocket clip. The Key Smart pocket clip is a far less expensive alternative that I'll also try in the near future. I find the SAK's to be more useful than a stand alone knife for most EDC.
I wasn’t aware of the Compact... I carry the Huntsman, but see why you’re fond of the Compact.
I’m going to have to check into that pocket clip you’re using, thanks for sharing.
I agree with you about the Compact. For its size, I don’t know of anything that even comes close. I do have a Robert Jessard mod where the awl replaces the hook and the Philips replaces the corkscrew. That’s my perfect version of the Compact.
Appreciate the video. Bought a couple of the pocket clips. Makes carrying a Swiss Army knife easier, frees up pocket space, and improves access. Still trying to decide on a new Compact. Really like your channel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
I can see you feel right back at home with the Compact! Thanks for the video. Nothing beats the feel a Victorinox. :)
Love the compact I find myself using the spartan on a daily basis also have a pin and fire rod in the cork screw I like to use the awl reamer for striking cheers mate
Diggit. The Compact is arguably my own favorite. Surprise use for the hook. Backscratcher. Albeit not a large one. But definitely works to catch some of those just out of reach spots.
Brilliant. You have convinced me to replace the tooth pick and get the tinder bit.