SAK economy models?

D

[digidude]

Joined
Aug 21, 2005
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Ive been thinking about getting a budget-camper (my regular huntsman is just a little to thick) but Im not sure if its worth it. I know I'll be giving up the toothpick and tweezers, which I dont mind, but is the price significantly lower than a regular SAK? Is the quality going to suffer?

-[digidude]
 
If you are refering to the economy models that have nylon scales instead of celidor scales; these have the toothpick and tweezers.

I have heard that these models are supposedly rejects with slight flaws, but I have never found a flaw on any of mine and the quality appears to me to be exactly the same of that of a full price celidor SAK.

I actually perfer the economy nylon scales as they don't sratch as easily as the celidor ones.
 
I just can't imagine that Victorinox is going to shortcut any quality where it counts. Removing the tweezers and toothpick and saving money on the scales is okay. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the blade and tools are just as good as the regular line of saks.

Besides, if you put a classic on your keyring, you will have the tweezers and toothpick, as well as some very sharp little sissors and a very sheeple friendly blade for "public" use. Everyone should have a classic.

You'll be fine. :thumbup:
 
I posted on this a while back with respect to the ecoline models called the Eurosports. I believe the quality is the same, but they do not go through the full point quality assurance inspection process, just a spot check. I think it's a great deal if you are not particular about matte scales on your SAK. I'd go for it - if you're not happy with it you're only out for about seven or eight dollars. I honestly could not find any quality differences, if anything, the lockup on my Eurosport 13 (or was it 12? it is the equivalent to the spartan model) seemed stronger.

I'm not sure if the thickness is any different from the huntsman, though. It appears to be the same in dimensions and build except for the scales.
 
Ok thanks guys. I think I'll go with the Budget-Camper.

Ultraman- The Camper doesnt have scissors so its one layer thinner than the Huntsman.
 
You're right digidude - I was thinking of something else when I wrote it. May you use it in good health!
 
Camper to me means your using a vehicle to get there so I don't see the big Wuff here. Now if your Hiking & want to be light on the pack I do see your point! I vehicle camp mostly & everything except the kitchen sink goes in that trunk!
 
It's been my exerpience that the quality is the same however the blades and tools are made of a bit thinner stock in the economy models - That never seemed to be a problem - it is probably the difference along with the scales.
Personally I like both - but for really beating up go with the alox models!
Revvie
 
Revvie said:
however the blades and tools are made of a bit thinner stock in the economy models
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This a common misconception. As far as I am aware the economy models have exactly the same blades as the stardard models - the difference in blade thickness is between the different SAK sizes: the 84mm models have thinner blades than the 91mm models, regardless of weather they are economy or standad celidor models.
 
gatch said:
This a common misconception. As far as I am aware the economy models have exactly the same blades as the stardard models - the difference in blade thickness is between the different SAK sizes: the 84mm models have thinner blades than the 91mm models, regardless of weather they are economy or standad celidor models.
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Correct. There is no structural difference at all between economy and regular models as far as the blades and tools. The difference is in the scales and shield.
 
This is very interesting. Where can I find any more information out about these "economy model" Vic SAKs? I've never seen them before.
 
Up here in Canada, Canadian Tire carries the Economy models and I have bought a few over the years.......awhile ago I bought the driver with my Canadian Tire bucks for $12.95 and its a good little knife........the scales don't scratch but lack the shiny pizazz of the regular scales.

Kap
 
I got a Vic budget-camper for over 15 years and it’s a good knife. I didn't know the scales where different, never realized or noticed any differences. The nylon is very solid and not having the tweezers and toothpick doesn’t bother me. The metal and designed is the same as more expansive models.

The only disadvantage is that my logo is almost gone!! But this is normal for a SAK whit 15 years of good use. As you can see on the picture here http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=413152

If you want to safe some money buy it. You will like it! (If not give it to a friend and he/she will) If you might loss the SAK you can buy the same again for very little money.
 
I have a brand new 84mm Recruit (bright and shiny red) & a brand new 84mm Sportsman II (economy model) on my desk) as I write this. There is no difference in tool thickness or quality of workmanship I can detect. I have used both types before and have been perfectly happy with both, except that I keep losing them even though they are red.
 
I have an economy Sportsman II that I picked up at an economy price ($5) when Walgreens put them on clearance...if I could only know what the clerk was thinking when I bought out there invenotry of them...LOL. I did notice that there was differences in the scales when I purchased it, and I really did not think anything of it. I had a relative (with ageing eyes) look at the Sportsman II and my EDC Spartan (not[/b] an economy model), and he c ouldn't tell the obvious scale differences.

guyfalks wrote:
I have a brand new 84mm Recruit (bright and shiny red) & a brand new 84mm Sportsman II (economy model) on my desk) as I write this. There is no difference in tool thickness or quality of workmanship I can detect. I have used both types before and have been perfectly happy with both, except that I keep losing them even though they are red.
Click to expand...
I'm almost laughing as I read this- it brings back memories to when I got my first SAK, which I still have, for Christmas when I was young. It had the traditional red scales, and I managed to drop it shoveling. I managed to find it in February in some ice behind the house. Smashed it out as soon as I found it. Boy was I happy :)
 
Here is a pick of an economy model (Sportsman II) and traditional Spartan. The wear is from EDC use. The sportsman II is NIB.
sakvm5.gif
 
Several have mentioned no differences in tool thickness after I suggested this was a factor - I have an older tinker and a "budget" model of the same knife with the nylon or whatever red scales - but it does have the tweezer and toothpick - Unless my German micrometer is off- the traditional old model's main blade at the tang stamp mics thicker at the same location than the "budget" (the Alox "soldier" mics even thicker than the standard tinker - and a copper colored Alox with only one blade. file, can opener, and bottle opener has the thinner blade of the budget also)the problem could be that we are not talking about the same "ecomony" or "budget"models - I also have an economy spartan from the early 1970's which lacks tooth pick and tweezer only same red plastic handles and tool thickness but is clearly marked "ecomony" - the "budet" tinker (purchased at Ace Hardware for $8.99 last Christmas -has no different markings than the old standard tinker - so go figure :jerkit: - they are all great knives!
 
I believe that all of the 91mm Victorinox models are transitioning to the thinner blades with a stamped liner spacer. This allows Victorinox to use the same thickness of stock for the 84mm and 91mm main blades, which will make supply easier for them and cost lower for us. Over the past few years I have encountered both thicknesses in nylon and celludor. I was surprised to find the old style thicker blade on the economy camper I bought last year, which made me start comparing. My guess is that the thicker blades found on some of the nylon economy models are probably the old stock being used up. Now that I own both types, I find the difference is not significant enough to have made a difference to me in use.
 
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