I've carried a succession of Victorinox multitools every day for over 40 years and have lusted after an Alox tool for about half that. They don't have the same tool set as the 91 mm tools I've been carrying, but they're just so damn cool! I recently ordered a Pioneer X, which should be here any day now. I'm like a kid on December 22nd.
The purpose of the half-stop on the cap lifter is so that it can be used to strip wires in conjunction with the blade. Open the blade fully and open the cap lifter to the half-stop, place a wire in the notch, then close the blade on top of the wire. Rotate the SAK then pull out the wire.
Silver colour probably not going to last? What do you base that on? I have a couple of these knives from the 1980s (one may be older) and the paintwork remains intact. As for closing the knife safely - use both hands. Why moan about it being non locking? It says that in the adverts. It is illegal to carry a lock knife in the UK so it suits me very well. ..... and the cons ..... Heavy? It's rugged and strong and cannot be compared with some of your other knives so why do it? It's simple if it doesn't suit you don't buy it.
The Dutch Army adopted this knife as the issued knife for all military. (They did have similar models from different makers before.) Mine was made in 1983 and issued to me when I joined in 1985. Those models had a bail to attach a lanyard to. They also have a bit thicker blade and tools. More like the model 'Soldier' but with a bail and they later changed to that keyring attachment for the lanyard. We used a long lanyard (single rope) attached to our belt with the knife in the cargo pocket, so basically impossible to lose your knife in the field. This knife is in a box now out of sentimental value but I always carry the 1992 model (military issue) with this new keyring on a lanyard attached to my belt and in my pocket as my 'last resort' knife in the field. If you can't get your hands on this bit thinker stock military issued models a 'Pioneer' will do the same for you. I'm a bushcraft, outdoor and survival instructor so I do bring other (fixed blade) knives, sometimes even a Leatherman or similar tool and sometimes even a machete or ax but this one is always with me in the field. In urban/civil life I EDC the 'Cadet' or even the one layer 'Bantam' both in the silver alox. This half stop on the bottle opener/large screwdriver is often used when you need more leverage when screws are or have to be screwed on tight. Like somebody already mentioned this reamer is great to strike a firesteel, to get those small scrapings of the (fat)wood or debarking sticks without using your knife blade. I always open and close the knife blade two handed. I gave this review a like because you look at it from a civilian/urban point of view and it's your opinion of course. But it's a great companion both in city life, in a toolbox as in the field. If you want a saw and don't mind an extra layer get the 'Farmer' and if you are an electrician maybe get the 'Electrician', etc.
I believe the half stop on the tools and not the knife is to allow you to get more torque when wrenching on something. But yeah, I’d like a half stop on the blade as well.
Victorinox rules are like bicycle : You get one when you're a kid, you get many finger cuts, so you learn how to use it, then everytime in your life you get one, using it is natural.
agree 100% Cut myself closing Pioneer twice. Never had that issue with Cadet. Weight and size difference is not worth it, for me. Maybe for a Pioneer X, but almost rather have Cellidor SAK at that point
1. Add a suspension clip to the key ring instead of the lanyard. 2. The wear is called patina, and it looks best on literally any other color than silver. A pioneer and a streamlight micro usb are a perfect edc pair.
The Pioneer is my EDC. It takes up about as much room as a lighter in my pocket, and I do use all the tools on it (including the wire stripper)! I even use the reamer to scrape up my guitar picks for extra grip.
@@dustycups Since my last comment, I have bought a house. Recently I have been using my large cybertool sak for more of the house projects, but the 2018 pioneer is still strongly in the edc rotation (especially for going out of the house). After a lot of use and pocket carry, it only has wear to the red coating, but the tools still funtion as good as new :)
@@billystink4611 Nice one. The Cybertools are an under-discussed sak I think, they have amazing utility. I've got a red Pioneer X, great colour. I'd love to have the 2018 Pioneer. Keep us updated every now and then as to the status of your Pioneer.
This is my pocket EDC. I agree with some of what you have stated. In a zippered pocket in my wallet, I also carry the Swiss Bantam. This might be more of an EDC blade for you? Does most of what the Pioneer does at a fraction of the weight and size. Worth a look anyway.
You should definitely look into getting a hitch and timber pocket organizer. You can carry your SAK, a pen, and a flashlight all organized in one leather carrier. Makes it easy to carry all 3 items in one pocket. Don’t even know you’re carrying it.
I agree with not seeing these back in the 90's. I never saw a single ALOX model SAK or in person or in photo, or even word of mouth. I only saw these for the first time about almost 4 years ago when searching for a new SAK after missing one for years. I was shocked to see them trying something new only to find out recently that they are 30+ years (maybe even 40 years) in the making, lol. But like you said, nobody had them or talked about them and now I see them in reviews or talked about and in photos. They're becoming very common all of a sudden for them to have been around for several decades. I bet Victorinox is happy tho.
Victorinox makes some very nice pieces. The "Climber" is the best Cellidor model and the "Pioneer" or "Farmer" is the best Alox model, in my opinion. Two or three layers perfect for pocket carry. Four layers max before they just get awkward to use & bulky. Love the review ! That half stop is for the wire stripper.
kind of agree...but the best of all is the rambler on keychain..with you 100% of time and can do most things required on spare of moment. next best for me is the climber, but if you have a rambler and the cellidor scales you are probably better off with the pioneer alox which is a layer thinner than the climber...
@@runthomas Yeah buddy, I love the Rambler. It's mind boggling that the Classic Mini is so much more popular. I love the blade on the Rambler because it's opposite of the keyring. Plus that screw driver is killer. Almost damn near universal on every Philips head. I use it a lot.
@@RybosWorkbench Lol. I have the pioneer and do get some decent use out of it. I have a Hitch and Timber pocket pal with three pockets and the pioneer sits in one of them. Couldn't agree more about the keychain ring, terrible design and the non-half stop.
You are reviewing this knife and you don't even understand it's functions. The half stop on the screwdriver/bottle opener , is not to protect your fingers . It is to get extra leverage in the 90° position. For tough screws , I'd like to add that I've put some serious torque on mine it is solid .
I think that it comes more down to the fact that most of the models sold by various stores are the classic models with the standard red handle's with a few models coming with a limited choice of alternative colour And even less will a choice of alox
In my experience half stops are less common than you think. Look at a 10-20 year old alox model and you will find they age gracefully and the area on the back that you complained about blends in. It’s a slip lock not a spider or so don’t compare it with one. The Pioneer is a highly regarded knife and the steel is as good as any similarly priced knife.
Ich bin Schweizer 43 Jahre alt und trage dieses Messer seit 1993 immer in meiner Hosentasche. Es hat mir immer treue Dienste geleistet. Wenn es einmal kaputt geht kann man es bei einem Händler abgeben und wird ohne Kosten Repariert. einfach gut !!! Freundliche Grüsse aus Zürich
Hi , I got for Christmas a pioneer alox , the blade looks bent , is it normal on the pioneer? My old good hunter has a very straight thinner blade, thanks
i think there's a new market for SAK size pioneer PIONEeR size SAK that will be desired by the new crop of outdoorsy women and travel aficionados who would like to have a decent working knife on hand that was not delicate pink or with stupid description stuff on the outside.... I think that women market would also not want an ALOX covering because that looks like what a man would get. She won't have that so you got to present a whole bunch of choices beyond "new baby behind pink" and "ALOX tough guy aluminum". SAK don't miss that market. And airlines allow the lady to carry her nice SAK, there is no more dangerous than what you supply to the first class real metal utensils for eating.. remember John Wick killed two men with pencils... Ordinary lead pencils. I'll bet I can get on an airplane with one of those....l but not one of those that is still dripping from brain juice.... If you'd like a peaceful son, keep him away from the John Wick movies until he is so old his hands hurt to hold a weapon.
![[TH] 2024 PMWC x EWC Group Stage Day 2 | PUBG MOBILE WORLD CUP x ESPORTS WORLD CUP](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vwIQyCmNIBU/mqdefault.jpg)
I've carried a succession of Victorinox multitools every day for over 40 years and have lusted after an Alox tool for about half that. They don't have the same tool set as the 91 mm tools I've been carrying, but they're just so damn cool! I recently ordered a Pioneer X, which should be here any day now. I'm like a kid on December 22nd.
The purpose of the half-stop on the cap lifter is so that it can be used to strip wires in conjunction with the blade. Open the blade fully and open the cap lifter to the half-stop, place a wire in the notch, then close the blade on top of the wire. Rotate the SAK then pull out the wire.
Nice
The wire stripper works pretty well too. I’ve used it.
Danke, daß kannte ich nicht.
Silver colour probably not going to last? What do you base that on? I have a couple of these knives from the 1980s (one may be older) and the paintwork remains intact. As for closing the knife safely - use both hands. Why moan about it being non locking? It says that in the adverts. It is illegal to carry a lock knife in the UK so it suits me very well. ..... and the cons ..... Heavy? It's rugged and strong and cannot be compared with some of your other knives so why do it? It's simple if it doesn't suit you don't buy it.
I mean, the silver color can't chip away, it's the color of aluminium. You can scrape it with sanding paper and it will remain the same.
@@hackleberrym No Bro,My Victorinox Pioneer Alox Silver Coated Body Side Wither Color Dark Grey Formation.
The Dutch Army adopted this knife as the issued knife for all military. (They did have similar models from different makers before.) Mine was made in 1983 and issued to me when I joined in 1985. Those models had a bail to attach a lanyard to. They also have a bit thicker blade and tools. More like the model 'Soldier' but with a bail and they later changed to that keyring attachment for the lanyard. We used a long lanyard (single rope) attached to our belt with the knife in the cargo pocket, so basically impossible to lose your knife in the field.
This knife is in a box now out of sentimental value but I always carry the 1992 model (military issue) with this new keyring on a lanyard attached to my belt and in my pocket as my 'last resort' knife in the field. If you can't get your hands on this bit thinker stock military issued models a 'Pioneer' will do the same for you. I'm a bushcraft, outdoor and survival instructor so I do bring other (fixed blade) knives, sometimes even a Leatherman or similar tool and sometimes even a machete or ax but this one is always with me in the field.
In urban/civil life I EDC the 'Cadet' or even the one layer 'Bantam' both in the silver alox.
This half stop on the bottle opener/large screwdriver is often used when you need more leverage when screws are or have to be screwed on tight.
Like somebody already mentioned this reamer is great to strike a firesteel, to get those small scrapings of the (fat)wood or debarking sticks without using your knife blade. I always open and close the knife blade two handed.
I gave this review a like because you look at it from a civilian/urban point of view and it's your opinion of course. But it's a great companion both in city life, in a toolbox as in the field.
If you want a saw and don't mind an extra layer get the 'Farmer' and if you are an electrician maybe get the 'Electrician', etc.
The half stop on the bottle opener/screw driver is for getting more torque on screws.
I believe the half stop on the tools and not the knife is to allow you to get more torque when wrenching on something. But yeah, I’d like a half stop on the blade as well.
Victorinox rules are like bicycle : You get one when you're a kid, you get many finger cuts, so you learn how to use it, then everytime in your life you get one, using it is natural.
Wisdom
Spot on! Had a few as a Boy Scout, but I haven't been bitten by one in 45 years.
agree 100%
Cut myself closing Pioneer twice.
Never had that issue with Cadet.
Weight and size difference is not worth it, for me.
Maybe for a Pioneer X, but almost rather have Cellidor SAK at that point
Man. I’m the opposite of you with the colors. I like getting the colored ones and watching them turn silver as they age!
1. Add a suspension clip to the key ring instead of the lanyard. 2. The wear is called patina, and it looks best on literally any other color than silver. A pioneer and a streamlight micro usb are a perfect edc pair.
The Pioneer is my EDC. It takes up about as much room as a lighter in my pocket, and I do use all the tools on it (including the wire stripper)! I even use the reamer to scrape up my guitar picks for extra grip.
Mini pocket clip that hangs on the keychain will cure the pocket slip issue. That’s my preferred way to carry most SAKs now.
Love my red 2018 pioneer, I carry it everyday. One of my favorite SAKs for sure 👍
Back again, many things have changed, but I’m still carrying my red 2018 pioneer, if anyone cares lol.
@@billystink4611 How about now?
@@dustycups Since my last comment, I have bought a house. Recently I have been using my large cybertool sak for more of the house projects, but the 2018 pioneer is still strongly in the edc rotation (especially for going out of the house). After a lot of use and pocket carry, it only has wear to the red coating, but the tools still funtion as good as new :)
@@billystink4611 Nice one. The Cybertools are an under-discussed sak I think, they have amazing utility.
I've got a red Pioneer X, great colour. I'd love to have the 2018 Pioneer.
Keep us updated every now and then as to the status of your Pioneer.
This is my pocket EDC. I agree with some of what you have stated. In a zippered pocket in my wallet, I also carry the Swiss Bantam. This might be more of an EDC blade for you? Does most of what the Pioneer does at a fraction of the weight and size. Worth a look anyway.
You should definitely look into getting a hitch and timber pocket organizer. You can carry your SAK, a pen, and a flashlight all organized in one leather carrier. Makes it easy to carry all 3 items in one pocket. Don’t even know you’re carrying it.
I agree with not seeing these back in the 90's. I never saw a single ALOX model SAK or in person or in photo, or even word of mouth. I only saw these for the first time about almost 4 years ago when searching for a new SAK after missing one for years. I was shocked to see them trying something new only to find out recently that they are 30+ years (maybe even 40 years) in the making, lol. But like you said, nobody had them or talked about them and now I see them in reviews or talked about and in photos. They're becoming very common all of a sudden for them to have been around for several decades. I bet Victorinox is happy tho.
Victory nox????
Basically, this knife is a little multitool. I love it, but I would like to have a cork screw as well
Great knife I just ordered this year's limited edition.
Victorinox makes some very nice pieces. The "Climber" is the best Cellidor model and the "Pioneer" or "Farmer" is the best Alox model, in my opinion. Two or three layers perfect for pocket carry. Four layers max before they just get awkward to use & bulky. Love the review ! That half stop is for the wire stripper.
kind of agree...but the best of all is the rambler on keychain..with you 100% of time and can do most things required on spare of moment.
next best for me is the climber, but if you have a rambler and the cellidor scales you are probably better off with the pioneer alox which is a layer thinner than the climber...
@@runthomas Yeah buddy, I love the Rambler. It's mind boggling that the Classic Mini is so much more popular. I love the blade on the Rambler because it's opposite of the keyring. Plus that screw driver is killer. Almost damn near universal on every Philips head. I use it a lot.
I believe the cadet has a file instead of the awl. If you don't mind me correcting you, it's not Victory-nox. Vic-tor-in-ox.
@@RybosWorkbench Lol. I have the pioneer and do get some decent use out of it. I have a Hitch and Timber pocket pal with three pockets and the pioneer sits in one of them. Couldn't agree more about the keychain ring, terrible design and the non-half stop.
The cadet is also noticeably smaller with a smaller and slightly thinner blade.
You are reviewing this knife and you don't even understand it's functions. The half stop on the screwdriver/bottle opener , is not to protect your fingers . It is to get extra leverage in the 90° position. For tough screws , I'd like to add that I've put some serious torque on mine it is solid .
You also dont know the function. It stop at 90 for be able to use in conjunction with the blade for wire strip
Blades are thicker on alox models as well...heavier backsprings too.
I think that it comes more down to the fact that most of the models sold by various stores are the classic models with the standard red handle's with a few models coming with a limited choice of alternative colour And even less will a choice of alox
Where should you sell a swiss army knife if you don't want to carry it
The best edc pocket knife !
In my experience half stops are less common than you think. Look at a 10-20 year old alox model and you will find they age gracefully and the area on the back that you complained about blends in. It’s a slip lock not a spider or so don’t compare it with one. The Pioneer is a highly regarded knife and the steel is as good as any similarly priced knife.
Ich bin Schweizer 43 Jahre alt und trage dieses Messer seit 1993 immer in meiner Hosentasche. Es hat mir immer treue Dienste geleistet. Wenn es einmal kaputt geht kann man es bei einem Händler abgeben und wird ohne Kosten Repariert. einfach gut !!! Freundliche Grüsse aus Zürich
Hi , I got for Christmas a pioneer alox , the blade looks bent , is it normal on the pioneer? My old good hunter has a very straight thinner blade, thanks
The blade is angled in the handle so that it nests with the other tools. It should not be "bent".
Geeze that’s a dangerous way to close a knife !
Damn, nice snap!
Attach an S-7(?) clip to the key ring and carry it suspended in your pocket
Yup! A P-7 or similar clip works well!
Als ehemaliger Pionier, musste ich es mir zulegen😊
You absolutely right about all issues with Alox pioneer! I don't like my pioneer X.
i think there's a new market for SAK size pioneer PIONEeR size SAK that will be desired by the new crop of outdoorsy women and travel aficionados who would like to have a decent working knife on hand that was not delicate pink or with stupid description stuff on the outside.... I think that women market would also not want an ALOX covering because that looks like what a man would get. She won't have that so you got to present a whole bunch of choices beyond "new baby behind pink" and "ALOX tough guy aluminum". SAK don't miss that market. And airlines allow the lady to carry her nice SAK, there is no more dangerous than what you supply to the first class real metal utensils for eating..
remember John Wick killed two men with pencils... Ordinary lead pencils. I'll bet I can get on an airplane with one of those....l but not one of those that is still dripping from brain juice.... If you'd like a peaceful son, keep him away from the John Wick movies until he is so old his hands hurt to hold a weapon.
All. Alox knives are hard anodized to harden the aluminum and you would be hard pressed to wear one out in your lifetime
Victory nox????
yeah ikr? it threw me off. it's vicTORinox.