Vicotrinox Pocket Pal or Wenger Patriot?

[Ultraman]

Hi everyone,
I have been looking at the lightweight, blade-only SAKs, and the Victorinox Pocket Pal and Wenger Patriot have caught my eye.

Victorinox Pocket Pal - Blue cellidor Cub scout model:

Wenger Patriot Aluminum scales Black:

Wenger (as it always seem to do in my estimation), trumps the pocket pal in terms of design. Two blade shapes (clip and spearpoint), a key ring, sturdier aluminum (although Vic has the secretary model), and a cool color (I like the black).

However, I find Victorinox to have the better steel (easily sharpened) afaik, better materials and quality. All this (steel, QC) may have changed when Wenger became part of Victorinox. I like the blue color, but find the cub scout logo incongruos, although I really don't care.

Which of the two would you get if given the choice? Anybody have both and has a preferred model? Thanks in advance!

 

[shecky]

I have both.

Both are kind of unique models in that they use blades that are not common to other SAKs. AFAIK, the Pocket Pal's large blade is shared only with the single bladed version (can't remember the name).

The Pocket Pal's girthier cross section is easier to handle, I think.

The Wenger is very thin, which works well for pockets and wallets.

I've never noticed a difference in steel. Wenger quality seems fine to me, on par with Victorinox. The Wenger is more handsome of the two, available in different anodized colors. The Pocket Pal is available in traditional red cellidor, too.

I think I'd prefer the small Wenger clip point blade in the pocket Pal's handle. But as things are, I don't have strong bias of one over the other. Maybe only slightly preferring the Pocket Pal, because the more comfortable handle. Also because my Pocket Pal was picked up used while my Wenger is so pretty I'm a bit hesitant to use it hard.

Perhaps another option would be a single layer Alox Vic. I think the Bantam II has the same two blade layout, with slightly larger blades, and textured alox scales. Similar thinness as the Wenger, with a little more sure grip.

 

[Ultraman]

Many thanks shecky!

 

[Harayasu]

For your interest: There is a retired model, the Victorinox Excelsior, which is almost the same as the Pocket Pal, but the Excelsior has a keyring. There is also an alox version of the Victorinox Excelsior.

Here's some more info:
http://www.smartknives.com/Victorinox-Knives/Victorinox-Excelsior.htm
http://www.smartknives.com/Victorinox-Knives/Victorinox-Excelsior-Alox.htm

 

[Ultraman]

For your interest: There is a retired model, the Victorinox Excelsior, which is almost the same as the Pocket Pal, but the Excelsior has a keyring. There is also an alox version of the Victorinox Excelsior.

Here's some more info:
http://www.smartknives.com/Victorinox-Knives/Victorinox-Excelsior.htm
http://www.smartknives.com/Victorinox-Knives/Victorinox-Excelsior-Alox.htm

Thanks Harayasu - they look very interesting...too bad they're retired!


I'm thinking pocket pal (cellidor) based on the slightly larger girth, weight, handle shape and ease of sharpening based on my limited experience.

 

[LUW]

Between those two I would go with the Patriot just because of the different blade styles.

 

[Bill_H]

I'd worry about the keyring digging into my hand on a knife that small. For that reason, I think I'd go for the Pocket Pal first, but I'd really rather have an Excelsior (Alox, no keyring) or Secretary. I've had my eye out for the Excelsior but they're not real common.

 

[gundude73]

i think the VIC secretary has only blades. and it looks nice.

 

[Ultraman]

Thank you everyone - I think I'll go with a blue cellidor Pocket Pal. The Patriot and Secretary are good too, but I think I'll enjoy the color and handle of a pocket pal better

 

[Harayasu]

My experience with the Pocket Pal and the alox Excelsior is that the handle of the Pocket Pal is a little bit thicker and provides a bit more grip. The alox Excelsior is really thin, it fits very well in a wallet. Both are great little knives.

Here is a picture of my Pocket Pal.

Here is a picture of the Pocket Pal, alox Excelsior and Spartan.

And a picture of the alox Excelsior with a 1 euro coin.

 

[Ultraman]

Harayasu: Great pictures! It was good to get a sense of their dimensions, especially the blade as it looks bigger than the waiter model but slightly smaller than the spartan officer's model balde. The rivets and the silver scales on the Excelsior make it look very classy. Really nifty looking model.