Here's the fifth in my reviews of Victorinox' wares, the Recruit, model number 53241. As with all the others, I'll give you a rundown of the tools one by one.
Handle: The handle is standard Victorinox red plastic (cellidor), and is 3.25" long. There's no movement in the handle-to-frame at all, even after owning this knife for what must be 11 years. The small Victorinox logo is still bright and visible. There's minimal scratching, but this knife has also been used for everything, so it's acceptable.
Main Blade: The main blade on this knife is stainless steel. It's 2.75" long with a 2.5" cutting edge, and ends in a drop point. There's a nail nick on the side facing the shield on the handle. The blade snaps open pretty solidly, even after all these years. It came out of the box razor sharp, and has needed touch-ups over the last 11 years, but never a total resharpening. This is my everyday blade when I want to carry a minimalist SAK.
Small Blade: The Recruit also comes with a smaller blade, which is 1.75" long with a 1.5" cutting edge. It's a drop point, just like the larger one. The nail nick is on the non-shield side. This blade also snaps open, and has no blade play. It came shaving sharp as well. After all this time, it still snaps open with no play, and is still razor sharp, needing only minor touch-ups. I like to keep these small blades razor sharp, and use the larger blade for general use.
Bottle Opener: The standard bottle opener with wire stripper and large flathead screwriver. It's nail nick faces the shield. It's 1.4" long, and snaps open with no play. It doesn't snap into the halfway open position, like some models. I abused the hell out of the screwdriver on this knife, and haven't had any problems. I thought I cracked the handle once from applying too much pressure, but I stripped the screw instead.
Can Opener: The standard can opener with small flathead screwdriver. It's 1.3" long. The nail nick faces the shield. It snaps open and stays open with no play. Like the screwdriver above, I've used the can opener a lot. It even opens the large, thicker beef stew cans you find sometimes.
Tweezers and Toothpick: The standard tools in the end of almost every Swiss Army knife. The toothpick is 2" long and made of plastic. It comes in handy when cleaning my fingernails, and the knife itself, more than anything else. The tweezers are 1.75" long, and get used quite frequently. Both the toothpick and tweezers snap into the butt end of the knife, and don't dislodge loose.
This is a great Swiaa Army knife for the minimalist. It has two blades, a bottle opener, a can opener, a toothpick, a pair of tweezers, and a keyring. That's it. Enough to get you out of any everyday rut, except if you're the type who bushwhacks every day. I keep this knife in my pocket at home, and switch it out for something like a Tinker or Spartan when I go out outside.
Price for the Recruit? It's about $12 to $14.
Handle: The handle is standard Victorinox red plastic (cellidor), and is 3.25" long. There's no movement in the handle-to-frame at all, even after owning this knife for what must be 11 years. The small Victorinox logo is still bright and visible. There's minimal scratching, but this knife has also been used for everything, so it's acceptable.
Main Blade: The main blade on this knife is stainless steel. It's 2.75" long with a 2.5" cutting edge, and ends in a drop point. There's a nail nick on the side facing the shield on the handle. The blade snaps open pretty solidly, even after all these years. It came out of the box razor sharp, and has needed touch-ups over the last 11 years, but never a total resharpening. This is my everyday blade when I want to carry a minimalist SAK.
Small Blade: The Recruit also comes with a smaller blade, which is 1.75" long with a 1.5" cutting edge. It's a drop point, just like the larger one. The nail nick is on the non-shield side. This blade also snaps open, and has no blade play. It came shaving sharp as well. After all this time, it still snaps open with no play, and is still razor sharp, needing only minor touch-ups. I like to keep these small blades razor sharp, and use the larger blade for general use.
Bottle Opener: The standard bottle opener with wire stripper and large flathead screwriver. It's nail nick faces the shield. It's 1.4" long, and snaps open with no play. It doesn't snap into the halfway open position, like some models. I abused the hell out of the screwdriver on this knife, and haven't had any problems. I thought I cracked the handle once from applying too much pressure, but I stripped the screw instead.
Can Opener: The standard can opener with small flathead screwdriver. It's 1.3" long. The nail nick faces the shield. It snaps open and stays open with no play. Like the screwdriver above, I've used the can opener a lot. It even opens the large, thicker beef stew cans you find sometimes.
Tweezers and Toothpick: The standard tools in the end of almost every Swiss Army knife. The toothpick is 2" long and made of plastic. It comes in handy when cleaning my fingernails, and the knife itself, more than anything else. The tweezers are 1.75" long, and get used quite frequently. Both the toothpick and tweezers snap into the butt end of the knife, and don't dislodge loose.
This is a great Swiaa Army knife for the minimalist. It has two blades, a bottle opener, a can opener, a toothpick, a pair of tweezers, and a keyring. That's it. Enough to get you out of any everyday rut, except if you're the type who bushwhacks every day. I keep this knife in my pocket at home, and switch it out for something like a Tinker or Spartan when I go out outside.
Price for the Recruit? It's about $12 to $14.
), but the knife is still working. I got some custom scales and it's now my dressier Recruit.