Talk me into / out of buying a Victorinox Fieldmaster

[Johnnythefox]

In the mid 90’s I moved to a job in an office like setting where I was introduced to computers. I dove right in. They’d need the occasional upgrades or repairs so I’d take on the task.

My only pocket knife at the time was an Alox Wenger SI. The can opener phillips tip fit the screws that held the older PC cases together and the card slot screws as if it was made for it.

I still have that Wenger and it bares the proof. The tip of the can opener has a slight twist to it where I leaned into one screw a bit too much.

You can probably send it in to Victorinox and get it repaired still.
I have two SI with bales love em.

 

[Rupestris]

Thanks to everybody who contributed to this thread.

Sorry to disappoint you all, but I wound up spending the money (and more) on some art materials for my daughter, and I will need to rein in the discretionary spending for a few weeks at least before things get out of hand.

If the urge to buy one hasn’t faded by this time next month, I will probably go ahead and get it and post pictures here.

Again, thanks!

No worries. Not disappointed at all.

The seed is planted .

Your kids art will be worth more than any knife or even a Picasso.

 

[Rupestris]

You can probably send it in to Victorinox and get it repaired still.
I have two SI with bales love em.

I’m sure they would but it still works.

My Farmer has a bit of a tweak to the can opener/screwdriver too.

My SI was found by my dad while fishing in Canada. It’s a 1990 and it was probably ‘92 or ‘93 when he found it and gave it to me.

The tip of the blade has a little bend to it and the bail was missing. The original owner didn’t handle it with kid gloves.

 

[sitflyer]

 

[Prester John]

There's only one way to find out if you're a Swiss Army Knife guy.

Felix Immler has a lot of fun videos around the SAK.

I went with the Huntsman which is the Fieldmaster with the corkscrew as opposed to the Philips screwdriver.

If I think a saw will be helpful, I'll take that or a Farmer.

As for the best combination for my everyday needs and more comfortable pocket carry, the Climber is my choice.

Immler's got the best knife videos.
Only acquired one knife in 2021: a fieldmaster. Gift from my boss. Great knife. A little thick for everyday carry, especially in dress slacks, but I have been carrying a Tinker every day. Has the same blades as the Fieldmaster except for scissors, hook, and saw.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Immler's got the best knife videos.
Only acquired one knife in 2021: a fieldmaster. Gift from my boss. Great knife. A little thick for everyday carry, especially in dress slacks, but I have been carrying a Tinker every day. Has the same blades as the Fieldmaster except for scissors, hook, and saw.

So not the same then

 

[AgentSteel]

Also if you don't need scissors & hook, but want the philips screwdriver & the saw : the Hiker

 

[Murphy Slaw]

I bought a Fieldmaster just because of this thread...

 

[CelloDan]

Hey Tom, I just realized that this thread is almost 2 years old after giving it several likes
I see that you did indeed get it

Here’s my best Johnnythefox impression:

I always take my Pioneer X with me ( or the Farmer if camping on land as opposed to boating)
Thinking of getting the Farmer X to cover both

 

[afishhunter]

Get the Huntsman for the multi-purpose corkscrew. Same top side, and side tool set. The Huntsman also retains the same punch/awl/reamer (with sewing eye) and multi purpose package hook.
My Huntsman does not have "Plus" scales, so no ink pen (a 58mm Mini Champ or Signature on the keyring or in the "watch pocket" (note quotes) takes care of that), but it does have the hole for a (multi purpose) straight sewing pin behind the multi purpose corkscrew.
(pin can be used to remove slivers or thorns, or hold material for sewing ... tho to be honest, for the latter, you'll probably need more than one pin.) A repacement pin is $8 to $10 from VIC ... or you can get 250 to 1000 sewing straight pins for $6.99 or less.
The less expesive standard sewing pins are (aside from price) identical to what VIC sells.
OH!!! the sewing pins with a ball top fit, and do not obstruct the use of the corkcrew. A ball end makes it ever so much easier to remove than a flathead pin, as well. The ball top pins also come in different colors, including red, blue, and for the December Holiday carry, green.

The flat blade screwdriver of the caplifter and small flat blade on the tip of the can opener, as you know works great on philips screws.

In addition to removing bottle corks, the corkscrew also unties over-tight knots with a twist, can scrape out slivers and thorns; when used in conjunction with the splitring, locks a T shank jigsaw blade or file in place; Holds a Fire Ant kindling and ferro rod (or fire fly kindling if you replace the toothpick with a fire fly fero rod. (Personally, I'd rather replace the weak grip tweezers) or one of the three Victorinox eyeglasses/electronics mini screwdrivers. (Sadly the fire ant/fire fly is expensive, and it can't hold the kindling and fire ant ferro rod AND a Vic mini screwdriver at the same time. )

All the single purpose #2/3 philips on the Fieldmaster does is turn those screws.

I've carried a Huntsman every day for over 20 consecutive years (until it was misplaced or lost during my last move.I'm on my second Huntsman, now.) I never had any issues with the knife ... or the Cellidor scales.
I highly recommend te Huntsman.

 

[Just Tom.]

I bought a Fieldmaster just because of this thread...

Hey Tom, I just realized that this thread is almost 2 years old after giving it several likes
I see that you did indeed get it

I have to admit I never carry it, but it does accompany me on my bike trips (in the tool bag), and it sees fairly regular use around the house. Most of my tools are out back in the shed, so for small simple tasks it’s much easier to just grab the Fieldmaster off my desk. I’m definitely glad I got it.

I did buy a cheap leather belt sheath for it - maybe I should start carrying it, but it seems silly to me to carry more than one knife at a time, and I do like my bigger single-blade knives in my right front pocket.

 

[Murphy Slaw]

it seems silly to me to carry more than one knife at a time,

It seems normal for me.

I'd be in a panic with only 1 knife....

 

[meako]

OK...time for a Meako Build Your Own Story.
You are hiking through a remote forest/canyon/desert region.Maybe you're jogging or orienteering...
Rounding a curve in the track you come across a beautiful hiker...who for whatever reason plucks at your heartstrings as he/she/ngs...attempts to cut a snare wire to free a trapped/injured/ half dead baby lynx/wombat/komodo dragon...Sawing hopelessly at the wire with a nail file/ paddlepop stick/ mobile phone stylus...before the grizzled backwoods trapper/ mother Polar bear/crocodile/ Cape hunting dogs... return.
You rummage in your pack and retrieve a native guide/ white hunter /official forest ranger ...club patch..You stick it on your shoulder patch and say... howdy/gday/ helloo there...need a hand?
Then with a flourish..produce your Vic Fieldmaster and say...let me introducce my little friend/ buddy/ mate/ compadre..Vic Fieldmaster....you both fall about laughing at the wittiness and with one cut free the animal and continue down the track admiring the virtues and versatility of the Vic Fieldmaster.

 

[Just Tom.]

OK...time for a Meako Build Your Own Story.
You are hiking through a remote forest/canyon/desert region.Maybe you're jogging or orienteering...
Rounding a curve in the track you come across a beautiful hiker...who for whatever reason plucks at your heartstrings as he/she/ngs...attempts to cut a snare wire to free a trapped/injured/ half dead baby lynx/wombat/komodo dragon...Sawing hopelessly at the wire with a nail file/ paddlepop stick/ mobile phone stylus...before the grizzled backwoods trapper/ mother Polar bear/crocodile/ Cape hunting dogs... return.
You rummage in your pack and retrieve a native guide/ white hunter /official forest ranger ...club patch..You stick it on your shoulder patch and say... howdy/gday/ helloo there...need a hand?
Then with a flourish..produce your Vic Fieldmaster and say...let me introducce my little friend/ buddy/ mate/ compadre..Vic Fieldmaster....you both fall about laughing at the wittiness and with one cut free the animal and continue down the track admiring the virtues and versatility of the Vic Fieldmaster.

Of course the real life scenario for most of us is our wives wordlessly handing us something that needs to be cut, then rolling their eyes when we produce ANOTHER knife they haven’t seen yet…

Also, your story reminds me of Mad Libs. Anyone else remember those?

 

[EngrSorenson]

I'm pleased to see this thread ultimately had the desired effec... affec... impact.
looks like it snagged a couple more along the way.
A Victorinox SAK is a trusty tool you'll be glad you have at some point.
Might take 20 years, but eventually you'll have that day.

 

[Modoc ED]

Fieldmaster


Huntsman


Pretty much six of one half dozen of the other.

 

[meako]

Of course the real life scenario for most of us is our wives wordlessly handing us something that needs to be cut, then rolling their eyes when we produce ANOTHER knife they haven’t seen yet…

Also, your story reminds me of Mad Libs. Anyone else remember those?

I do now...I remember one with 4 scenarios...it may not have 'mad libs' but there was
Down and out
Just getting by
Making it
Top of the heap.

 

[meako]

The Explorer has a magnifying glass for torturing ants....or lighting campfires* if like me you forgot to bring a lighter or matches.
*only works in daylight.

 

[Just Tom.]

I do now...I remember one with 4 scenarios...it may not have 'mad libs' but there was
Down and out
Just getting by
Making it
Top of the heap.

Mad Libs were the best ever things you could purchase at elementary school book fairs. They were stories with random words removed, and the type of word needed indicated under the blank space. You would ask your friend “give me a verb” or whatever until the blanks were filled in, then you would read the story back. Hilarity ensued…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Libs

 

[afishhunter]

Fieldmaster
View attachment 2373849

Huntsman
View attachment 2373851

Pretty much six of one half dozen of the other.

Multi-purpous corkscrew vs single purpose #2/#3 phillips.
Both are good tools.
I like the corkscrew better ... even tho I've never used one to decork anything.
It has removed slivers, untied tight knots in shoe laces and other small to medium cord, even dug busted sandburr thorns out of my bicycle tyres ... and it carries a SAK eyeglasses mini screwdriver.
(I don't have any Fire Ant or Fire Fly tinder to carry in it. )

(Besides, I always have a 40 peice 1/4 inch bit set and ratcheting T handle with me, so I don't need the back side philips screwdiver )