Victorinox: Spartan vs. Tourist

T

the european

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
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I know the Spartan is a regular 3 1/2 inch - 91mm SAK and I've read on the internet that the Tourist is basically a smaller Spartan (84 mm - 3 1/4 inch). What I don't get from the pictures I see is if the tools (blades, can opener, corckscrew...) are smaller and thinner as well. Does anybody have pictures of the two models side by side to compare them?

On a Spartan, the main blade is 6cm long (which should be something like 2.6 inches, according to a conversion chart I've found on the internet). Does anybody know how long it is on the Tourist?

Thanks. ;)
 
I copied this from the smartknives.com site. I post it here for convenience sake:

3" (74 mm) knives-- blade is 2" (51 mm) long
3 1/4" (84 mm) knives-- blade is 2 1/2" (63 mm) long
3 1/2" (91 mm) knives-- blade is 2 5/8" (68 mm) long

This refers to Vic SAKs. Wenger's "small" size is 85mm. Although I don't have any side by side for comparison, I have never witnessed a decreased strength or toughness in the 84mm blades or tools. Just scaled down in length slightly.
 
One thing I noticed is that on the 91mm Spartan, the cap lifter/screwdriver has a half stop at 90 degrees. The 84mm Tourist (and Sportsman) does not have the half stop. This helps if you need to apply a little more torque as you can hold the knife handle at 90 degrees to the screw you are turning. I still like the 84mm's a little better for edc.
 
Eyegor said:
I copied this from the smartknives.com site. I post it here for convenience sake:

3" (74 mm) knives-- blade is 2" (51 mm) long
3 1/4" (84 mm) knives-- blade is 2 1/2" (63 mm) long
3 1/2" (91 mm) knives-- blade is 2 5/8" (68 mm) long

This refers to Vic SAKs. Wenger's "small" size is 85mm. Although I don't have any side by side for comparison, I have never witnessed a decreased strength or toughness in the 84mm blades or tools. Just scaled down in length slightly.
Click to expand...

I guess I'll buy a Tourist then. I need something lighter than my Handyman and a little smaller than a Spartan (but not too small, that's why I asked). Thanks.

newadventure said:
One thing I noticed is that on the 91mm Spartan, the cap lifter/screwdriver has a half stop at 90 degrees. The 84mm Tourist (and Sportsman) does not have the half stop. This helps if you need to apply a little more torque as you can hold the knife handle at 90 degrees to the screw you are turning. I still like the 84mm's a little better for edc.
Click to expand...

I agree, the cap lifter's half stop at 90 degrees can be really useful but I guess I can live without it. At least, 84mm models are perfect for edc, you're right. Thanks.
 
I've had a Tourist for years ..... in fact, I replaced a Spartan because I wanted something a little smaller. I've beaten the hell out of the Tourist (having grown up in South Florida, I've always wanted to beat the hell out of tourists) and the knife has never ever let me down. Highly recommended EDC.
 
I managed to get the Recruit model on sale, but it would seem that the Tourist is better due to the added corkscrew and awl, without giving away the advantage in dimensions. Could any of you Tourist owners confirm this? Many thanks:)
 
Hi guys, I've just got home and my new Vic is here with me. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a Tourist, but I've found a Sportsman (which has a file instead of a small blade) and it is now my new EDC. I like it, I've even taken some [awful] pictures of it (just to compare it to my Handyman). ;)

sportsman1tt4.jpg


sportsman2zt5.jpg


sportsman3uo3.jpg
 
The Tourist is a little fatter than the Recruit because the corkscrew extends out past the scales. Not huge, but definently bigger. I can try to get a scan for you tonight late.
 
I think you'll be glad you got the sportsman instead. I carried one for a few years and it's probably my all-round favorite SAK model. In my experience, the nailfile is more useful for a number of tasks than the small blade. However thats a popular debate among SAK enthusiasts...
 
Revolvergeek said:
The Tourist is a little fatter than the Recruit because the corkscrew extends out past the scales. Not huge, but definently bigger. I can try to get a scan for you tonight late.
Click to expand...

That would be gravy, Revolvergeek (hope it's no trouble to you). Thanks again!

:D :D
 
newadventure said:
One thing I noticed is that on the 91mm Spartan, the cap lifter/screwdriver has a half stop at 90 degrees. The 84mm Tourist (and Sportsman) does not have the half stop. This helps if you need to apply a little more torque as you can hold the knife handle at 90 degrees to the screw you are turning. I still like the 84mm's a little better for edc.
Click to expand...


Yeah my Tinker has that half-lock deal going on too. The thing is, if I need that extra torque, I'm pretty sure the knife will be giving way before the screw does!
 
suedeface said:
I think you'll be glad you got the sportsman instead. I carried one for a few years and it's probably my all-round favorite SAK model. In my experience, the nailfile is more useful for a number of tasks than the small blade. However thats a popular debate among SAK enthusiasts...
Click to expand...

It sure is. ;) Even if I like the small blade (for fine cutting tasks), I, too, think the nailfile will prove to be more useful.
 
the european said:
It sure is. ;) Even if I like the small blade (for fine cutting tasks), I, too, think the nailfile will prove to be more useful.
Click to expand...

After EDCing a Vic Executive for decades, and a SwissChamp along with the Executive for the past four or five months, I recently discovered the Sportsman and now it's been my sole EDC SAK for four or six weeks. I like it a lot. The nail file is, for me, much more useful than the second blade.

I like the 84mm format a lot. I may try a Wenger Traveller some day. It's an 85mm SAK with the same tools as the Vic Sportsman plus scissors. That might be pretty nice.

Now, if I could just get a Vic magnifier on a Vic Sportsman or vintage Vic Golfer, that would be VERY cool. :D :thumbup:

- Tim
 
Here you go; Recruit vs Sportsman:


I've actually been carrying a Wegner Highlander a lot lately to get the 85mm size with blade, openers, nailfile and phillips screwdriver. It compliments my custom GAK very well I think.
 
I love the 84mm frame. My recruit was my first and only SAK for about 6 years until my next SAK a 94mm huntsman. I'm a SAK-aholic currently i have close to 30 SAK's!
I wish they made a 84mm huntsman! You could even reduce it to three layers by discarding the Canopener and Bottle opener layer and replacing the small blade with the Vic Combo Canopener/Bottleopener. Has does anybody here own or have they actually seen a 84mm with scissors? I want to do a 84mm pseudo huntsman mod but i really want scissors too. I've only ever seen a pic of a 84mm with scissors never seen one in real life.
 
There are plenty of vintage 84mm Victos with scissors, but they are no longer made. You could easily have what you want built out of an 84mm Climber or Super Tinker and one of the current production My First Victorinox Plus. Check out FelineVet Shop for a good affordable source of used SAKs.

Here's my batch of 84mm Victos with scissors:
 
Revolvergeek said:
Here you go; Recruit vs Sportsman:


I've actually been carrying a Wegner Highlander a lot lately to get the 85mm size with blade, openers, nailfile and phillips screwdriver. It compliments my custom GAK very well I think.
Click to expand...

Revolvergeek:
Apologies if I've posted the message before, but thanks again for the visual proof, this was very helpful
 
Glad that the pictures helped! You really can't go wrong with any of these little knives. The best thing to do is just buy one of all of them used from Felinevet and play with them to see which ones work best for you. I bought all of the ones in my scans from him for $5-10 each (except the Golfer / Compact; I got that one in a bag of used Victos on eBay).
 
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