Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with the key-ring that comes on most Victorinox knives?

Fred Sanford

Fred Sanford

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Sep 3, 2006
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Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with the key-ring that comes on most Victorinox knives?

I'll put a lanyard on one, and it won't last but a day or two and then I yank that thing back off. On a few of my Vic's I've even used a Dremel to remove the thing that the key-ring goes through. I have a black Pioneer that I'm carrying today that I did this to. I love the fact that the Electrician doesn't have one. I wish I could get a Cadet that doesn't have one too, but those weren't made for very long.

I go back and forth, but more often than not, I leave the key-ring on the knife and never use it for anything. Sometimes it gets in the way when closing the corkscrew or the awl/reamer.

IMO, the only knives that are worthy of having one are the 58mm knives and whatever the next one up is (I think 74mm, or something like that). I would even give the Cadet a pass as it could end up on a key-chain.

What say ye fine gentleman?
 
Initially, yes. I ground the nubbin off at least one of my SAKs, and I too love that the Electrician doesn't have one -- but all my other SAKs have fobs on them.

For the Rambler, it makes it much easier to grip. For all of them, it makes them easier to retrieve from my pocket. That's doubly true if I'm dropping them in the watch pocket of my jeans (the Cadet and Rambler are great for this; the Cybertool is a bit thick), as the fob protrudes or dangles from the top of the pocket.

I also enjoy the added bit of personality: paracord choice, knot style, bead, etc.
 
Don't like on small SAKs that go in pocket - grind it off. OK on larger (fatter) SAKs, makes it easier to get out of belt pouch.
 
I like an attachment point on my pocket knife. I spend a good amount of time on small boats, and years ago I lost a knife overboard for lack of a lanyard. Even on the small keychain size like the 58's and 74's, a lanyard makes it easier to retrieve from the pocket.

BUT!...I hate the keyring tab on the 93mm alox, like the pioneer tries. It sticks up more than the cellidor scaled SAK's and I don't know why Victorinox would do that. Dumb. Why not angle the alox key tabs like the other SAK's and make it a lot easier on the hand with certain grips?. Or, just go with the hollow rivet like on my Wenger SI.
 
I do hate the fact that the key ring gets in the way of opening the parcel hook on a couple models. The parcel hook can be one of those fingernail destroying tools, right along with the backside awl. The key ring being in the way makes it even worse. It's also really easy to damage the edge of the awl if you try to close it without remembering to move the key ring out of the way first. :mad:

I do love the fact that the key ring makes it so easy to pocket carry any SAK. You only need a piece of cordage tied in a loop, then cow hitched to the key ring and cow hitched again to a belt loop. It's so simple and so perfect.
 
I had split rings break before, so I remove them and snip and dremel the tabs off of my Alox Cadets and Pioneers, because I carry them in the bottom of my pocket or in a leather pocket organizer.

I also remove the split rings from all the cellidor SAKs and use microcord instead, which I trust more.

20220418_192346.jpg
 
kobold said:
I had split rings break before, so I remove them and snip and dremel the tabs off of my Alox Cadets and Pioneers, because I carry them in the bottom of my pocket or in a leather pocket organizer.

I also remove the split rings from all the cellidor SAKs and use microcord instead, which I trust more.

View attachment 1795973
Click to expand...
off topic, but what are those pocket pliers you have there?
 
I like them. I have fobs/lanyards on almost all of my SAKs, and that is where I attach them.

I also use the rings to hang SAKs on my neck lanyard when I am carrying them.
 
jackknife said:
I like an attachment point on my pocket knife. I spend a good amount of time on small boats, and years ago I lost a knife overboard for lack of a lanyard. Even on the small keychain size like the 58's and 74's, a lanyard makes it easier to retrieve from the pocket.

BUT!...I hate the keyring tab on the 93mm alox, like the pioneer tries. It sticks up more than the cellidor scaled SAK's and I don't know why Victorinox would do that. Dumb. Why not angle the alox key tabs like the other SAK's and make it a lot easier on the hand with certain grips?. Or, just go with the hollow rivet like on my Wenger SI.
Click to expand...

This, this right here. That's one of the main things that turns me away from the alox models. That keyring tab always ends up digging into my palm.

Otherwise, I like having a keyring to use as attachment point. It does bug me that they can get in the way of the tools on that end though.
 
Me Too! Most of my Vic's have a fob . On the Classics, it does make them easier to grasp in pocket.
 
I have never given a second thought to the key fobs, used them if needed, or ignored them. Same with lanyard attachments on other knives.
I only use them for some 58mm SAKs
 
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Most of the times I dislike them. I often grind them off on alox knives. On smaller keyring sized ones I change the ring to super small one so that it stays away as much as possible but want to have the keyring attachment option. I tried to like lanyards but most of the times they just annoy me.
 
A.L. said:
Most of the times I dislike them. I often grind them off on alox knives. On smaller keyring sized ones I change the ring to super small one so that it stays away as much as possible but want to have the keyring attachment option. I tried to like lanyards but most of the times they just annoy me.
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I do the same.

I ordered a bunch of the smaller snap rings for 58mm knives and I put them on anything that I have. Nothing that I do will ever require the larger snap ring that comes on the 91mm knives.
 
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