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Victorinox One-Handed Trekker Review
Introduction
Like many of us, my first knife was a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. Mine was a Spartan model given to me when I was 12 years old. I still have two Spartans today, along with four other Victorinox knives. Of these, the One-Handed Trekker might be my favorite. It has an MSRP of $52 and typically sells for about $40 at out favorite online stores. The Victorinox Trekker takes the strengths of the typical Swiss Army Knife (good fit and finish, moderate cost, multiple useful tools) and improves on its weakness as compared to modern folders (larger size, locking blade, one-handed opening.)
Main Blade
The One-Handed Trekker features a 3.5" partially serrated main blade. Unlike most other partially serrated knives, however, the Trekker’s blade puts the serrations toward the tip of the blade and the plain edge toward the handle. This brings the plain edge closer to your hand for more control when stripping wire, whittling, creating fuzz sticks, etc. The shallow "steak-knife" style serrations cut well without snagging.
The main blade locks via a steel liner, and while secure enough for most tasks, it has more bladeplay in all directions than most modern “tactical folders.” The liner lock orientation is also reversed versus modern tacticals: it opens by pushing to the right, instead of the left. A half-moon shaped cut out makes opening the blade with one hand easy, but since there is some backspring resistance, you can’t flick it open. (It reminds me of a Sebenza.)
Secondary Tools
In addition to the main blade, the Trekker has:
It would be nice if the large saw blade on the Trekker locked in place like the main blade, but is still amazingly useful. The long double rows of offset sawteeth cut wood very, very well. The Phillips head screwdriver in the place of the usual Swiss Army corkscrew is also very useful. It’s placed perpendicular to the handle and creates strong leverage. All of the tools, blades, liners, and springs are crafted from polished stainless steel. I’ve never seen rust on any of my Victorinox knives over the years. The blade edges come sharp, their thin profiles make for great slicing, and the steel is easy to maintain and sharpen.
Handle
The Trekker’s larger 111mm handle profile provides for more grip and leverage than the standard 91mm Swiss Army Knives. Its ergonomically curved finger grooves and slightly textured scales make if grippier than the typical red cellidor. Most Trekkers come in black, but there are red versions available. The same 111mm handle platform is also available with different tools and scale colors as the Victorinox Helmsman, Fireman, Rescue, Sentinel, Soldier or WorkChamp, etc. One way that the Trekker stays traditional is that it still doesn’t come with a pocket clip, although a few Victorinox models have clips now, like the Sentinel. I don’t miss the pocket clip, though. At about 4.5 ounces, the knife is a little heavy for the pocket and I typically use a leather Victorinox belt sheath anyway.
Conclusions
Who is the Trekker for? It is one of the "must-have" knives for those of us who like knives, alongside models like the Benchmade Griptillian, Buck 100, Kershaw Leek, Spyderco Delica, etc. The Trekker is the knife I carry when I know I’m going to do some repair work. I prefer it to the Leatherman tools I’ve owned for its lighter weight and equivalent usefulness (the Leatherman’s only superiority is in its pliers.) The Trekker is also the knife I reach for when I have to do some cutting in public. Swiss Army Knives seem to create less or a reaction in non-knife people who might be startled by my Striders.
Introduction
Like many of us, my first knife was a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. Mine was a Spartan model given to me when I was 12 years old. I still have two Spartans today, along with four other Victorinox knives. Of these, the One-Handed Trekker might be my favorite. It has an MSRP of $52 and typically sells for about $40 at out favorite online stores. The Victorinox Trekker takes the strengths of the typical Swiss Army Knife (good fit and finish, moderate cost, multiple useful tools) and improves on its weakness as compared to modern folders (larger size, locking blade, one-handed opening.)
Main Blade
The One-Handed Trekker features a 3.5" partially serrated main blade. Unlike most other partially serrated knives, however, the Trekker’s blade puts the serrations toward the tip of the blade and the plain edge toward the handle. This brings the plain edge closer to your hand for more control when stripping wire, whittling, creating fuzz sticks, etc. The shallow "steak-knife" style serrations cut well without snagging.
The main blade locks via a steel liner, and while secure enough for most tasks, it has more bladeplay in all directions than most modern “tactical folders.” The liner lock orientation is also reversed versus modern tacticals: it opens by pushing to the right, instead of the left. A half-moon shaped cut out makes opening the blade with one hand easy, but since there is some backspring resistance, you can’t flick it open. (It reminds me of a Sebenza.)
Secondary Tools
In addition to the main blade, the Trekker has:
- a combination flathead screwdriver/cap lifter/wire stripper,
- can opener/small screwdriver,
- reamer/awl,
- tweezers,
- toothpick,
- key ring,
- Phillips screwdriver, and
- wood saw.
It would be nice if the large saw blade on the Trekker locked in place like the main blade, but is still amazingly useful. The long double rows of offset sawteeth cut wood very, very well. The Phillips head screwdriver in the place of the usual Swiss Army corkscrew is also very useful. It’s placed perpendicular to the handle and creates strong leverage. All of the tools, blades, liners, and springs are crafted from polished stainless steel. I’ve never seen rust on any of my Victorinox knives over the years. The blade edges come sharp, their thin profiles make for great slicing, and the steel is easy to maintain and sharpen.
Handle
The Trekker’s larger 111mm handle profile provides for more grip and leverage than the standard 91mm Swiss Army Knives. Its ergonomically curved finger grooves and slightly textured scales make if grippier than the typical red cellidor. Most Trekkers come in black, but there are red versions available. The same 111mm handle platform is also available with different tools and scale colors as the Victorinox Helmsman, Fireman, Rescue, Sentinel, Soldier or WorkChamp, etc. One way that the Trekker stays traditional is that it still doesn’t come with a pocket clip, although a few Victorinox models have clips now, like the Sentinel. I don’t miss the pocket clip, though. At about 4.5 ounces, the knife is a little heavy for the pocket and I typically use a leather Victorinox belt sheath anyway.
Conclusions
Who is the Trekker for? It is one of the "must-have" knives for those of us who like knives, alongside models like the Benchmade Griptillian, Buck 100, Kershaw Leek, Spyderco Delica, etc. The Trekker is the knife I carry when I know I’m going to do some repair work. I prefer it to the Leatherman tools I’ve owned for its lighter weight and equivalent usefulness (the Leatherman’s only superiority is in its pliers.) The Trekker is also the knife I reach for when I have to do some cutting in public. Swiss Army Knives seem to create less or a reaction in non-knife people who might be startled by my Striders.
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