I bought one at a sporting goods store in Salem Oregon 35 years ago. I paid 5 dollars for it and used it for many years. I passed it on to my son and as far is I know he still uses it. They are great pieces of gear! Thanks Neil!
I'm a huge fan of all things Victorinox. I usually have one of the more common versions on me every day. The humble Swiss Army type knife is so often dismissed as worthless but some so called experts. I find them absolutely indispensable. Great review Neil. You raise some very good points.
I've wanted one for years, and just now found one at a resale shop in Branson, MO, USA. It's Victorinox, pre-nail-file, but still had the protective sleeve over the saw. The blade tip is broken, but someone did an excellent job of reshaping it. $15!
Really enjoyed the video. Some twelve years ago I picked up one of these at a car boot sale. It was mixed in with a bunch of other tools, I paid £3 for it. It was in very good condition and had a removable metal sleeve on the saw blade. It is one of my favorite knives.
Great job of showing you don't have to have the latest & greatest, overpriced piece of equipment. My version of this knife is older than many of the people visiting Neil's channel. As a teenager in the 1980s one of my first knife purchases was a Robert Klaas GmbH & Co. ("Kissing Cranes") West German Army Pocketknife and it's still getting the job done long after the wall came down. As Neil pointed out it has many useful tools, but my favorite has to be the blade that combines an amazing double-cut wood saw, a can/bottle opener, and the tip of the blade ground to work as both a flat and Phillips's screwdriver -- Talk about 'German ingenuity'. The only weak point on the pocketknife was the plastic handle scales which eventually cracked and broke away, so I replaced them with two pieces of hardwood, and it marches on into the future.
Have the Victorinox version. Was lucky when I bought mine, the blade was totally dull but rather than that it was in good condition. Its one of those knives that if you give it some time and use it's handier than it looks. The textured scales are probably my favourite on a Victorinox and everything else just works and I like knives with a bit of history behind them, gives them a bit of character.
Bought one of these about two or 3 months ago, for about 12 pounds, ok condition, was locked up, blade had been filed and the saw end had broken. Still very great
Great video! Remember that if you ever regret what you did to that knife blade, you can have Victorinox replace the blade (for a small fee). This year they replaced the metal saw from one of my knives. It was really cheap and the knife is perfect again. That said, I understand that there are legal restrictions in the UK (which suck by the way!), but it's something to bear in mind.
Great review. Mine is the second one I've owned. Both were bought in the 1970's and were made by Victorinox (no German crest and no nail file). I broke the blade on the first one in half (using it as a crow-bar, a purpose for which it was NOT intended!) and I gave it away. I also broke the tip of the blade on the second one, but this time I kept it and re-shaped the tip, which by sheer chance, made it less than 3" and so a 'legal carry' in the UK. It is one of my favourite possessions and have stood the test of time, being I think 40 years old this year. Enjoyed your video :)
Mike DeMan thanks Mike, my first one was bought around 1980. They are a brilliant item and I often don't understand why I don't see more people with them.
I have something similar knocking around somewhere, might try and find it tomorrow, mine differs to yours as it has a semicircular notch at the base of the blade similar to the Spanish Army Pocket Knife
Thanks for commenting Spike. I think there may have been a few variants, as I have seen one with a "shroud-cutter" type blade, that I assume would be for airborne forces.
Found it in the box of junk, looking at it and comparing with photos on the internet, i think mine is the cheapo Mil-Tech knock off version, no marks etc to denote manufacturer, although it does have the crest moulded into the scale, will post a piccie up on the forum later.
Greencraft interesting video but the knife I had not sure where it went but mine was made by victorinox greetings from UK England Essex near London but how much yours cost I want one 💕💪🐾🐺
I have had this knife myself for many years, go to agree it is a great EDC very handy. I measured the knife when I bought it ,the actual cutting edge is under 3" ,from the tip of the blade to the bottom of the steel is a bit over 3" but I was under the impression that it was just the cutting edge that had to be under 3", am I wrong.?
You are correct Dave. Mine was heavily chipped when I got it, so while sorting that, I reshaped and shortened it ( so even the most uneducated constable couldn't argue this one!!)
Cheers thanks for the fast response, I understand your reasoning and like your MODs, look's good. Glad I didn't get that wrong thanks for the reassurance.👍😁👍
Nice review don't think you can go wrong with a pocket knife made by Victorinox. When a government regulates pocket knives it is time to get rid of the government not the knife!
I had an original many years ago and managed to loose it sad to say a bullet proof little pocket tool but brought a new one (miltec) and I am sad to say I have had it less than a year and it is pretty much useless and starting to fail , not from abuse either as I have victorinox knives that are over 25 years old and still going strong so be careful what you buy as I don't think the build quality is quite as good as it use to be on some models. Not trying to be negative but I don't want people waisting their hard earned.
I had the civilian version, I think it was called the Safari, I lost it years ago, and have always been gutted, until.......I saw these and realised they are exactly the same, except mine didn’t have the file on the saw blade, I’m going to get one, just being careful because I believe the Chinese have done a copy that is very substandard!
From surching the internet I learned that the original ones are sold in an olive drab nylon pouch with BW (Bundeswehr) stamped on the blade. Copies are sold in a small black pouch with mil-tec on the blade. Beware because some sellers advertise with "original" when it is the Chinese version. Good luck and ATB! Marc - Belgium
Marc De Wilde Thanks Marc, I was looking at one Military Mart is selling, but it shows it with a black case, glad I didn’t buy it now-looks as though it is a Mil Tec. It’s a funny coincidence that you are from Belgium, my parents bought me the Safari Victorinox knife that I lost, on a weekend break in Brussels!🙂
@@Mat-kr1nf I just received the knife I ordered and I am thoroughly disappointed. Although it came in the olive drab pouch it was not at all the same knife as the one shown on the Amazon photo. The knife I received was a bulky German copy expanded with pliers so nothing like the real stuff . So be careful.
Marc De Wilde That’s a drag😔. If you got it through Amazon, just request a refund, you can for anything bought online, as long as you do it through a certain time frame. Take a screen print of the page you got it from, so you have a picture of the knife you should have got. Don’t know what country you are from, in the UK, you’re not allowed to sell knives on eBay which is a real shame, as I’m sure it will be possible to buy an original on there. Buying from ebay.com involves large postage and many sellers won’t sell to the UK.
@@marcdewilde518 Guys you are never ever going to find a brand new Victorinox old-style Bundeswehr knife, I know because I tried as I had one in the 90s and lost it and wanted to get another. They stopped making them back in the 90s. There are some second hand ones knocking about but like the guy in this video says, they are pretty battered, and also a lot of online sellers of original used BW knives don't specify which contractor made it so it is pot luck as to whether you get a Victorinox or other manufacture. I do check from time to time on German sites, so far no luck, I think I saw one for around £90 but it was in terrible condition. I too bought a Mil-Tec knockoff, it was dire and I chucked it away as I was embarrassed to own it. For clarity, yes Mil-Tec is a German company, but it's a Handelsgesellschaft only i.e. a trading company, and all their products are made by other manufacturers so it's hit and miss with them. Apparently their ponchos are not bad, and I have a t-shirt from them which is ok, but for knives their supplier in China is sub-standard.
It's pretty clear that this isn't a paid promotion or anything like that mate anyway since Victorinox haven't made these knives for donkey's years now, nor the other manufacturers contracted by the Germany Army.
@@greencraft4783 Definitely! I had on back in the early 90s and lost it after a few years. Actually I carried it as an EDC for a couple of years in the UK as well as in Germany and Austria, blisfully ignorant of the fact that it was technically illegal lol. After that I carried a locking Opinel, also not imagining that it was illegal. I have a few SAKs now but maybe I'll get a surplus GAK, they're not expensive.
No. Never issued to the Dutch. We had this thing going on called WWII where the Germans were not the most friendly so we did not like their stuff for a long time.
@@StevanOutdoor Yes, British Army late 80s early 90s. Did AFV (Armoured Fighting Vehicle) recognition course and instructed it. So we had to know not just to recognise enemy kit like T72s, BRDMs etc but also what our allies used, like Leopard which was used by NL, Bundeswehr and Denmark. Re. knives I've seen the new Victorinox BW/soldiers model with Dutch markings on it. But it's Swiss made so not really German kit, they just happen to use it too. KL has used a few Victorinox over the years. Have you served in the Dutch armed forces?
@@simonh6371 Yes. In fact I have. I was drafted and ended up as an Infantry 1st lieutenant. So I'm well aware of the course you mentioned and me to had to teach it. So I do know the Leopard tank is German. But when I joined (85/1) was already some 40 years after WW2. The motorcycles in use was Moto Guzzi, Italian and also an enemy of us during WW2. Back than this knowledge was essential but not any more for me and I also know the choices made had a lot to do with the supply lines of spare parts. I do however have kept my interest in knives also those issued by the Dutch military and that BW taschenmesser was not one of them. I do have a small collection of standard issued knives and even have the British model from 1944 adopted by the Dutch and the Italian army. I have other pre Victorinox models that basically look the same but a different maker. However the Victorinox model with alox scales is still in use as a tool and last resort knife when outdoors.
*3 Better versions are:* •Victorinox Hiker (slipjoint) •Victorinox Farmer (slipjoint) •Victorinox Trekker (liner lock) ***There are 2 versions of the victorinox trekker blade. You have the traditional blade and you have the one hand opening. Personally I prefer the traditional blade.
That's interesting you say that, I actually own those 3 as well as a couple of others with scissors (Classic and Climber) for exactly the reason that I wanted something like my old Victorinox German Army knife which I'd lost in the mid-90s, and didn't want to buy a Chinese knockoff. So I looked at what the current issue German Army pocketknife is - the Trekker - and bought the Hiker because it has more or less the same toolset, but non-locking and smaller blade so I can legally EDC it in the UK. Then I got the Farmer because the blade is beefier, plus the inline reamer is excellent. Finally I got the Soldier version - the one actually issued to the Swiss Army - of the Trekker, which was adopted by the German Army in 2004, for an outdoorsy knife when I take a fixed blade and don't have to worry about legislation because it's permitted in that environment.
I bought one at a sporting goods store in Salem Oregon 35 years ago. I paid 5 dollars for it and used it for many years. I passed it on to my son and as far is I know he still uses it. They are great pieces of gear!
Thanks Neil!
I'm a huge fan of all things Victorinox. I usually have one of the more common versions on me every day. The humble Swiss Army type knife is so often dismissed as worthless but some so called experts. I find them absolutely indispensable. Great review Neil. You raise some very good points.
I've wanted one for years, and just now found one at a resale shop in Branson, MO, USA. It's Victorinox, pre-nail-file, but still had the protective sleeve over the saw. The blade tip is broken, but someone did an excellent job of reshaping it. $15!
Really enjoyed the video. Some twelve years ago I picked up one of these at a car boot sale. It was mixed in with a bunch of other tools, I paid £3 for it. It was in very good condition and had a removable metal sleeve on the saw blade. It is one of my favorite knives.
Great job of showing you don't have to have the latest & greatest, overpriced piece of equipment. My version of this knife is older than many of the people visiting Neil's channel. As a teenager in the 1980s one of my first knife purchases was a Robert Klaas GmbH & Co. ("Kissing Cranes") West German Army Pocketknife and it's still getting the job done long after the wall came down. As Neil pointed out it has many useful tools, but my favorite has to be the blade that combines an amazing double-cut wood saw, a can/bottle opener, and the tip of the blade ground to work as both a flat and Phillips's screwdriver -- Talk about 'German ingenuity'. The only weak point on the pocketknife was the plastic handle scales which eventually cracked and broke away, so I replaced them with two pieces of hardwood, and it marches on into the future.
Have the Victorinox version. Was lucky when I bought mine, the blade was totally dull but rather than that it was in good condition. Its one of those knives that if you give it some time and use it's handier than it looks. The textured scales are probably my favourite on a Victorinox and everything else just works and I like knives with a bit of history behind them, gives them a bit of character.
Bought one of these about two or 3 months ago, for about 12 pounds, ok condition, was locked up, blade had been filed and the saw end had broken. Still very great
Great video! Remember that if you ever regret what you did to that knife blade, you can have Victorinox replace the blade (for a small fee). This year they replaced the metal saw from one of my knives. It was really cheap and the knife is perfect again. That said, I understand that there are legal restrictions in the UK (which suck by the way!), but it's something to bear in mind.
I think I've binge watched 20 vids yesterday and today. Great channel, awesome content and keep them coming!!!
Hi Matthew, I'm really glad you like the channel so much. There is plenty more to come buddy , so stay tuned.
I have one I bought 25 years ago and used it when I was in the Army. I broke the tip off of it, and had it re-profiled. Its in my wife's BOB.
I echo your remarks. I haven’t used so much the past 15 years but had it over 40 years. It does to blunt easily but overall it’s new.
Great review. Mine is the second one I've owned. Both were bought in the 1970's and were made by Victorinox (no German crest and no nail file). I broke the blade on the first one in half (using it as a crow-bar, a purpose for which it was NOT intended!) and I gave it away. I also broke the tip of the blade on the second one, but this time I kept it and re-shaped the tip, which by sheer chance, made it less than 3" and so a 'legal carry' in the UK. It is one of my favourite possessions and have stood the test of time, being I think 40 years old this year. Enjoyed your video :)
Mike DeMan thanks Mike, my first one was bought around 1980. They are a brilliant item and I often don't understand why I don't see more people with them.
I have something similar knocking around somewhere, might try and find it tomorrow, mine differs to yours as it has a semicircular notch at the base of the blade similar to the Spanish Army Pocket Knife
Thanks for commenting Spike. I think there may have been a few variants, as I have seen one with a "shroud-cutter" type blade, that I assume would be for airborne forces.
Found it in the box of junk, looking at it and comparing with photos on the internet, i think mine is the cheapo Mil-Tech knock off version, no marks etc to denote manufacturer, although it does have the crest moulded into the scale, will post a piccie up on the forum later.
Thanks Neil, Just popped into Endyz to support Kevin by buying one !
Thanks Steve. That very knife gets an outing in the next video.
i picked one up at a surplus store new in a box for 5 bucks about 20 or so years ago. It's around here somewhere.
Fantastic video as always!
Thanks my friend.
Greencraft interesting video but the knife I had not sure where it went but mine was made by victorinox greetings from UK England Essex near London but how much yours cost I want one 💕💪🐾🐺
My Dad had one years ago. A Mauser. He LOVED it. I might have to pick a few up from Endicotts. PS- love the Sheepsfoot mod
I have had this knife myself for many years, go to agree it is a great EDC very handy. I measured the knife when I bought it ,the actual cutting edge is under 3" ,from the tip of the blade to the bottom of the steel is a bit over 3" but I was under the impression that it was just the cutting edge that had to be under 3", am I wrong.?
You are correct Dave. Mine was heavily chipped when I got it, so while sorting that, I reshaped and shortened it ( so even the most uneducated constable couldn't argue this one!!)
Cheers thanks for the fast response, I understand your reasoning and like your MODs, look's good. Glad I didn't get that wrong thanks for the reassurance.👍😁👍
Yes , the Cork screw can be used for other things than opening wine , although that is not a bad feature 🙂
Some examples have tool crash blemish stamped in next to German crest.
Great video once again.. Great channel. I feel bad for you guys with the ridiculous knife laws.
Nice review don't think you can go wrong with a pocket knife made by Victorinox.
When a government regulates pocket knives it is time to get rid of the government not the knife!
I had an original many years ago and managed to loose it sad to say a bullet proof little pocket tool but brought a new one (miltec) and I am sad to say I have had it less than a year and it is pretty much useless and starting to fail , not from abuse either as I have victorinox knives that are over 25 years old and still going strong so be careful what you buy as I don't think the build quality is quite as good as it use to be on some models.
Not trying to be negative but I don't want people waisting their hard earned.
there must be different Versions - somehow i have one of those - does not have a "SheepFoot"
I have the officers version which has 2 blades , a great piece of kit
Хороший ножичек...но GAK - 111 поудобнее будет!
I had the civilian version, I think it was called the Safari, I lost it years ago, and have always been gutted, until.......I saw these and realised they are exactly the same, except mine didn’t have the file on the saw blade, I’m going to get one, just being careful because I believe the Chinese have done a copy that is very substandard!
From surching the internet I learned that the original ones are sold in an olive drab nylon pouch with BW (Bundeswehr) stamped on the blade. Copies are sold in a small black pouch with mil-tec on the blade. Beware because some sellers advertise with "original" when it is the Chinese version. Good luck and ATB! Marc - Belgium
Marc De Wilde Thanks Marc, I was looking at one Military Mart is selling, but it shows it with a black case, glad I didn’t buy it now-looks as though it is a Mil Tec. It’s a funny coincidence that you are from Belgium, my parents bought me the Safari Victorinox knife that I lost, on a weekend break in Brussels!🙂
@@Mat-kr1nf I just received the knife I ordered and I am thoroughly disappointed. Although it came in the olive drab pouch it was not at all the same knife as the one shown on the Amazon photo. The knife I received was a bulky German copy expanded with pliers so nothing like the real stuff . So be careful.
Marc De Wilde That’s a drag😔. If you got it through Amazon, just request a refund, you can for anything bought online, as long as you do it through a certain time frame. Take a screen print of the page you got it from, so you have a picture of the knife you should have got. Don’t know what country you are from, in the UK, you’re not allowed to sell knives on eBay which is a real shame, as I’m sure it will be possible to buy an original on there. Buying from ebay.com involves large postage and many sellers won’t sell to the UK.
@@marcdewilde518 Guys you are never ever going to find a brand new Victorinox old-style Bundeswehr knife, I know because I tried as I had one in the 90s and lost it and wanted to get another. They stopped making them back in the 90s. There are some second hand ones knocking about but like the guy in this video says, they are pretty battered, and also a lot of online sellers of original used BW knives don't specify which contractor made it so it is pot luck as to whether you get a Victorinox or other manufacture. I do check from time to time on German sites, so far no luck, I think I saw one for around £90 but it was in terrible condition.
I too bought a Mil-Tec knockoff, it was dire and I chucked it away as I was embarrassed to own it. For clarity, yes Mil-Tec is a German company, but it's a Handelsgesellschaft only i.e. a trading company, and all their products are made by other manufacturers so it's hit and miss with them. Apparently their ponchos are not bad, and I have a t-shirt from them which is ok, but for knives their supplier in China is sub-standard.
Not the best folder or multi-tool,I have one.But cheap and I look at it as more of a back up.. Saw part of the design is the weakest part
It's pretty clear that this isn't a paid promotion or anything like that mate anyway since Victorinox haven't made these knives for donkey's years now, nor the other manufacturers contracted by the Germany Army.
But you can still get them on the surplus market and they are a good, inexpensive item, worth telling folks about.
@@greencraft4783 Definitely! I had on back in the early 90s and lost it after a few years. Actually I carried it as an EDC for a couple of years in the UK as well as in Germany and Austria, blisfully ignorant of the fact that it was technically illegal lol. After that I carried a locking Opinel, also not imagining that it was illegal.
I have a few SAKs now but maybe I'll get a surplus GAK, they're not expensive.
No. Never issued to the Dutch. We had this thing going on called WWII where the Germans were not the most friendly so we did not like their stuff for a long time.
Erm you do know where the Leopard tanks in use in the KL for decades now originate from?
@@simonh6371 Have you been in the military?
@@StevanOutdoor Yes, British Army late 80s early 90s. Did AFV (Armoured Fighting Vehicle) recognition course and instructed it. So we had to know not just to recognise enemy kit like T72s, BRDMs etc but also what our allies used, like Leopard which was used by NL, Bundeswehr and Denmark. Re. knives I've seen the new Victorinox BW/soldiers model with Dutch markings on it. But it's Swiss made so not really German kit, they just happen to use it too. KL has used a few Victorinox over the years.
Have you served in the Dutch armed forces?
@@simonh6371 Yes. In fact I have. I was drafted and ended up as an Infantry 1st lieutenant.
So I'm well aware of the course you mentioned and me to had to teach it. So I do know the Leopard tank is German. But when I joined (85/1) was already some 40 years after WW2. The motorcycles in use was Moto Guzzi, Italian and also an enemy of us during WW2. Back than this knowledge was essential but not any more for me and I also know the choices made had a lot to do with the supply lines of spare parts.
I do however have kept my interest in knives also those issued by the Dutch military and that BW taschenmesser was not one of them. I do have a small collection of standard issued knives and even have the British model from 1944 adopted by the Dutch and the Italian army.
I have other pre Victorinox models that basically look the same but a different maker. However the Victorinox model with alox scales is still in use as a tool and last resort knife when outdoors.
*3 Better versions are:*
•Victorinox Hiker (slipjoint)
•Victorinox Farmer (slipjoint)
•Victorinox Trekker (liner lock)
***There are 2 versions of the victorinox trekker blade. You have the traditional blade and you have the one hand opening. Personally I prefer the traditional blade.
That's interesting you say that, I actually own those 3 as well as a couple of others with scissors (Classic and Climber) for exactly the reason that I wanted something like my old Victorinox German Army knife which I'd lost in the mid-90s, and didn't want to buy a Chinese knockoff. So I looked at what the current issue German Army pocketknife is - the Trekker - and bought the Hiker because it has more or less the same toolset, but non-locking and smaller blade so I can legally EDC it in the UK. Then I got the Farmer because the blade is beefier, plus the inline reamer is excellent. Finally I got the Soldier version - the one actually issued to the Swiss Army - of the Trekker, which was adopted by the German Army in 2004, for an outdoorsy knife when I take a fixed blade and don't have to worry about legislation because it's permitted in that environment.