I have now been able to carry the toothpick as well as the fire stick thanks to your video. I think I will pass on the bearing, but the addition of a second set of tweezers is a great idea. Thanks for posting this.
Wonderful tip and mods, that I hadn't seen anywhere else in a long history of viewing these types of videos. The Firefly storage solution (most relevant to SAKs with those two tools) was really useful, since I never wanted to lose the toothpick or the other uses it can serve.
Absolutely brilliant. I've never considered modding the scales to have functionality with firemaking like that. You're a master of the craft. Thank you.
Excellent 👍.. another quick mod for free, double wrap about a foot of cotton round the small part of the scissors sealed with candle wax, and put a needle behind the parcel hook.. sewing kit and additional fire lighting tinder. I tried to post photos but don’t have the option
One modification I made to my Champ was magnetizing the Philips screwdriver. You just stroke it against a magnet 15 times or so, in the same direction, and it's magnetized. It's not a strong magnet, it won't kill your phone, but it will pick up screws so you can move them into place. You can also open a second hole for a second pin under the first pin hole. Why not? Two is better than one.
I absolutely enjoyed listening to you. You are an excellent speaker and presenter. I live my Swiss Champ and it's never far from me. That's been the case for over 25 years.
Great video Sir! Love what you did with your swisschamp, I carry mine also everyday in my pocket and it’s incredibly useful! Thanks for sharing such good ideas! Greetings.
Thank you. The Firefly storage solution was really useful, since I have a Swiss Champ for EDC and I never wanted to lose the toothpick as it is my most used tool. Good luck lighting a fire with the tiny magnifying glass though. Even in the Australian summer on a 38 degree Celsius (100 degrees F) day at 1pm I couldn't raise a hint of smoke from paper with mine. But now I know where to store the Firefly, that's not a problem.
I'm so pleased you're finding it helpful. As to using the magnifying glass in fire lighting, I think you'll find it more effective if you are using it not on plain paper, but rather on char cloth or similar.
Thank you for this clear and informative presentation for the Swiss Champ, which is my favorite edc. I appreciate your tips. Especially, how to add a ferro rod without sacrificing the toothpick 👍
Great video, I have carried a pocket knife all my life since i was a kid about 10 or 11 years old Iam 54 now mostly sak's, Recently bought the champ and I absolutley love it.
Thank you very much for making this very informative video. I don't have the Swiss Champ, but plan on eventually purchasing one. I currently use the Huntsman. Your video is very relaxing and is enjoyable during these troubled times.
I've found that you can put a single strike-anywhere match in the slot where you put the Firefly (you can strike it with the file). It fits almost perfect, but the saw teeth do bite into the matchstick just a bit. It's not as useful in a survive situation, but it's a lot more useful in a candle lighting situation.
Great video, wonderfully articulate and two excellent modifications I’ve not seen before. The Champ is a bit bulky for my liking however I probably more individual items that collectively weigh more than the Champ haha! I modified my SOG powerpint by filing down the bottle opener to a flat head screwdriver and cut off the piercing portion of the can opener to make a marlin spike kinda thingy haha. I also ground down the end of the file to make a chisel/scraper.
Sounds like you managed some interesting mods. I must admit it's one of the things I like about the Swiss army knives, that they can be customised so straight forwardly with minimal tools is a real bonus in my eyes.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Yep, there are so many people modifying SAKs nowadays which is great. I feel with some practice anyone can do it successfully, I haven’t yet tho 😆
Good grief, what a fantastic video. You Sir have made the video I've been waiting for. The SwissChamp is ordered and on its way. Many thanks. (Subscribed)
Interesting video. It never occurred to me to modify a SAK in the same way, but you obviously have a very specific application in mind where these sort of modifications would be useful. Well done! Personally speaking, I would not have much need for a Swiss Champ as the USA has much less restrictive knife laws, so we have a far greater range of options to choose from when it comes to an EDC. All that said, your is purpose built to suit your needs and fits within confines of what your allowed to carry. I admire the thought and effort that went into to modifying your SAK. It neat to see how others use their SAK’s for EDC.
For years now, I've hardly had a day go by when I haven't made at least some use of my Swiss Champ. That it has become my EDC goes without saying, but what is worth saying is that has proven to be the most useful tool I own. I can honestly, hand on heart say that wherever I am in the world, this would always be my number one choice of EDC.
While I do have a number of EDC’s in my rotation, I primarily use a SAK Huntsman inside my left pocket with a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 on my right side. Best of both worlds for my needs. Still, I never leave home without my Swiss Army Knife.
Thank you, I appreciate your feedback. They're really not too hard to make, and you only need some basic tools. Seriously, give it a go, it feels really rewarding to be able to upgrade your own gear. One suggestion I'd make is to practice the modifications on the old scales before you try them on the new ones, a little practice goes a long way to getting a more perfect result.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents I only need two mods to keep up, Already have black scales. Great vid, Will subscribe. Thank You for the vid. God bless [edit because spell check is so very useful - (not).]
Excellent review and video! Thank you Jeffery! Love my Swiss Champ. Great mods. Keep up the great work! I would love to see you use the bearing and drill set to make a fire.
Great mods! I've seen that you can put a Quattro screwdriver from the Swisscards in the 91mm scales. Also I think the cap lifter is the perfect tool to remove scales. The small part can fit inside the toothpick holes and you can lift same as bottle caps. I use a tool like yours to put new scales on but before I had it I used a rubber hammer. Worked pretty well. I protected the scales with a cloth.
Thank you so much for your response, my father left me his SAK Spartan that knife served me a lot and I just celebrated my 64th birthday. It an encouragement to have still serving with me ❤️
Great video! Well-written and presented. Thank you. There's just one thing you may wish to verify. I was informed by a knife retailer in the Netherlands that the Swiss Champ, or any knife with a saw, is not a legal EDC in the UK or EU. The Law considers the saw on these knives as a double-edged blade, rendering it illegal.
Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it. As to the legality of having a Swiss champ as an EDC, I can't speak for the Netherlands, as I'm unfamiliar with their specific laws, however every European country including the UK, which in any event is no longer a part of the EU, have their own specific knife laws. For example, an automatic knife or switchblade is perfectly legal in France but not in Spain. I'm afraid your friend in the Netherlands is clearly unfamiliar with the UK legislation regarding the carrying of bladed articles, as the saw blade on the Swiss champ does not preclude you from carrying it in a public space. My guess is that there may be some specific legislation regarding folding knives with saws in the Netherlands, and your friend simply does not understand that each country in Europe has its own specific knife laws, and there is no across the board EU regulation.
Thank you, great tips. I am expecting my first champ after I discovered the lifetime warranty vitronix offers. I had my uncles seized one in a drawer for 5 years. I think the fire rod and the micro tweezers are definitely mods I will make.
My Swiss Champ is my every day carry and the most useful knife I've ever owned. I have zero regrets about the modifications I've made, it's made it more useful, but you should be aware that in modding it, I've voided the warranty. This isn't an issue for me, but it's something that you should be aware of.
I don’t know how old your Swiss Champ is but If it is only a few years old then you have the glass magnifying glass. The newer magnifying glass is 6x power, the 5x version was all plastic including the lens. The original magnifying lens with the gray frame was 8x. Have you used char cloth with the magnifying glass, it lights very easily even with less than ideal sun light.
It could well be 6x, and it's definitely good for igniting char cloth, but obviously not so much on a cloudy day, which of course is why I added a low friction divot to use with a bow drill.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents You did a very professional install on the bearing, The Swiss Champ is a bit big for my regular use, I prefer a discontinued model called the Woodsman it is a five layer knife. it combines the Huntsman & Explorer models. It has the old 8x magnifying glass.
Admittedly I did have a few doubts about the Champ because of it's size, but happily I find it comfortable in the hand, as well as really practical for my needs. Partly because I always have a useful tool on hand, and partly because it's a legal UK carry, because of the blade length and because the blades don't lock, which means I don't have to worry about issues that could arise with many other Multi-Tool options which fall just outside of the legal to carry wherever bladed articles are not forbidden.
@@hitchpost5822 Thank you for this comment. I didnt know about the model "woodsman". But I have a plan in my mind for a long time already. Because for more than one year I carry the model "explorer" in my pocket, but I was missing the saw always. So I bought today an old used "swiss champ" on Ebay with the plan to to remove some tools to get the "woods man" So thanks to your comment I got the best order to put the tools together.
Good video, Sir. The Swisschamp is my favorite and most carried Victorinox as well. Thanks for showing your modifications, very well done. The last thing you could probably do to pack those scales is creating a second pin slot under the original. It's another easy mod, Felix Immler has a tutorial on his channel. Do you carry any other things inside to increase functionality? I know some like to put a needle and thread or fishing line under the multipurpose hook. Have seen that small magnets can be held in the hook and can opener as well.
I keep a magnet in the hook, and a firefly ferro rod under the saw and scaler. I'm looking into adding a micro fishing kit as well, once I finish developing it, it will most likely be stored under the Philips head screwdriver, as there's a decent amount of space to be found there.
Interesting mod, but I think that bearing will break free of the scale if weight is applied. Maybe 3D print a ring for the bearing to rest against the knife frame.
Good ideas, I have the firefly/fireant and tinder for a while now and they work very well, also love the mod for the second, sharp tweezers, not so much the divot mod. If need the divot I rather have one made out of wood and keep my logo,. I am curious because not sure if the bearing will be hold in place to keep that little gap to the metal side plates in time, after using it several times.
You might enjoy my latest video which I'm editing at the moment, where I mod my Work Champ. I should be uploading it later today or tomorrow, depending on when I finish editing.
Excellent. This was just what I needed to resurrect my 30 year old Swiss Champ that has a cracked upper scale. I've been toying with the idea of sending it off to Victorinox, but now that I know the secrets I reckon I can manage it myself. Any advice on where to look for scales? Cheers
I've never seen the magnet used with the hook. Interesting but not for me. Love the new fire rod location though. I don't want to lose the toothpick. Matches are still option 1.
There are a few different options for carrying a magnet, inside the gap of the can and tin openers for example, although obviously one would need a different size magnet for those locations. I opted for the hook, as I use it less frequently, and therefore made the hook more valuable to me from my perspective.
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the video. The Chinese copy was awful, but it was so cheap it was no risk to buy, and did have the virtue of showing me that the dimensions of the Swiss Champ were genuinely nothing to be concerned about. So on that level it did me a power of good, as I find it an incredibly useful EDC, which I can both legally carry, and find used for on a more or less daily basis.
Greetings Mr. Lippman. I am a lifelong SAK collector & user with over 170 SAK's ( mostly 58mm keyring & other collectables with some 40 of my SAK's that I rotate in my EDC ) I am originally from London, England where as a schoolboy I began collecting SAK's & a long time ago I immigrated to Israel & reside in Tel Aviv. One of the SAK's I have never bought & never will is the Swiss Champ or as I call it " the pocket hernia " or unkindly " the Swiss Chump " Its simply too big, cluttered with tools that I will never use & far too unwieldy to use even as a home tool kit SAK let alone for pocket carry knife. IMO even King Kong would opt for a less monstrosity of a SAK. The largest SAK's that I own are in my home tool kit - the Deluxe Tinker, the Ranger & the CyberTool M ( I also have in the kit the Spartan Lite & the 84mm Watch opening tool ) . The largest SAK's that I regularly pocket carry as part of my EDC rotation are 3 layer Climbers & Pioneer X's and 4 layer SAK's - the 93mm Farmer X, the 91mm Huntsman, the 91mm Mountaineer & the 85mm EvoGrip S17 & occasionally the 4 layer 85mm Wenger Forester ( the original version with a lock blade & a clip point secondary blade instead of the nail file ) . I also pocket carry 2 layer 111mm SAK's such as the slide lock Picnicker & liner lock Garant & even less frequently the 3 layer 111mm slide lock Rucksack . Nowadays I carry both a rotational multi-tool SAK and a key ring 58mm which for most of the last 4 1/2 years has been the Midnight Manager , I also own the Midnite Mini-Champ, the Mini-Champ Version 1, the Mate & the Vagabond but I only occasionally carry them on my key ring as the Midnite Manager seems to be the one that has the actual tools that I am likely to use more frequently .
My goodness, what a large collection you have, very impressive indeed. I must admit that I had my doubts about the Swiss Champ before I acquired mine, however I am pleased to report that I not only find it convenient to both carry and use, but I in fact often make use of it on a daily basis. The fact of the matter is, it's not significantly different in size (and in many cases, a little bit smaller) than many popular multi tools on the market today, although with the added advantage of being a legal EDC here in the UK, which most multi tools are not. Still, to each his own, and it sounds to me like you have found what works best for you, which at the end of the day, is why so many models are manufactured in the first place.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents My commiserations to you still being in the UK with its increasingly draconian knife carry laws that apply only to the honest citizen & not to the criminals, soon enough the infamous Victorinox toothpick will be be banned as it already considered by the UK's legions of human rights lawyers with their snouts in the public purse as an illegal weapon of war under the Geneva Convention on a par with flame throwers, sarin gas & napalm ( sarcasm or maybe not ! ) Fortunately we have no such restrictions on knife blade size or locking mechanism here in Israel & nor will there be as the authorities recognize that the preferred stabbing weapon of the fanatics is a large kitchen knife or meat cleaver ( just like in the UK ) and not a Swiss Army knife . FYI I have both Liked & subscribed to your channel, I am Subscriber #278 & wishing you Mazel Tov in growing your channel !
I lost count of the number of layers your collection represents, (I only have a budget for 7 layers), & (unlike me), I doubt you carry all your layers in your pocket. God bless.
Jeffery since I saw this video I have been trying to find that Firefly rod but Ican’t any ideas where to get them or on a long shot would you have any extras that you might consider selling probably just one.Thanks for any info.
Here's a link to the manufacturer, if you have any problems with buying direct from them, let me know and I'll see what I can do for you. tortoisegear.com/product-category/all-products/firefly-fire-starters/
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Hey Jeffery I did go to the website you gave me and everything are multi packs I am 75 years old and recouping from a total left knee replacement I would only need one big one and all they had was a pack with 2 small and 2 large if need be I will order the pack and see if anyone needs one or just keep them.
I made the ring from a steel pin which I hammered flat half way up, and then bent into a figure of 8, with the magnet glued into the flattened half of the figure 8 loop.
New scales are pretty readily available and the modification I did only requires a drill, a bearing (which are readily available from Amazon) and a bit of epoxy to hold the bearing in place. The tweezers are also pretty easy to modify. Here is a link to a video I made demonstrating how to modify the tweezers... th-cam.com/video/AyqPtMKjI-Y/w-d-xo.html
Are you selling your modified Swiss Champ knife? I thought this was genius!!! The only other mod that I would add is the flashlight tool for a backup light source.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. Although I can take a commission to make one for you, I will say that it will be far less expensive for you to have a go at modifying your own. All the tools necessary are fairly ordinary DIY, household stuff.
I find the toothpick very useful, so I was looking for a way to store the feral rod without having to give up the toothpick. What's nice about this hack is that the rod is held in place by two of the blades, this is useful because you have to live them both up to release the rod, which of course means you can use either one of the blades on its own without it dropping out.
The magnet is a 3mm diameter neodymium magnet I bought on eBay, there are several sellers who carry them. The little ring I made from some wire, bent into a figure of 8, with the magnet glued into the one loop. The part of the wire forming the loop the magnet was glued into what is hammered flat before curving into a loop, so it didn't significantly impact the diameter.
It's one that I handmade from a straight pin, which I worked on with a bit of micro-blacksmithing. The trick was to flatten out a section, and then form it into a figure of eight, with the largest circle for the magnet being flat and the smaller circle to tie on to the thread being still round.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents That would be great, and is a very generous thought! The multipurpose hook gets a bad rap (if only they all had the Compact's nail file!), and I think your mod would make at least a few people re-evaluate.
By and large, all of these mods are based on the scales. Step one therefore is to remove the existing scales. Once they're off they can be directly modified, or replaced with a fresh set of scales, if you're looking to alter the colour.
The Champ never made any sense to me. Too heavy and unwieldy. If I'm carrying something this big, it better be a Leatherman (a Wave or a Skeletool). If I'm carrying a SAK it's gonna be the Farmer or the Pioneer.
Been an EDC for me for decades; size & weight are not a real issue (for me}. Far too useful to leave at home. There are several ways to carry it: pocket, belt, bag, backpack, glovebox, ... etc. {why cheat yourself out of the pleasure of owning one?} [Also, it will fit your hand well for a good grip on the tool.]
Muß sich ein Mensch mit angeklebten Bart so wichtig machen?Und das bei 10.000 gleichen (Beiträgen)!!!???.Es wird dermaßen extrems widerwärtig und langweilig, ist schon schwierig, sich an den respektvollen Umgang zu halten.
I have now been able to carry the toothpick as well as the fire stick thanks to your video. I think I will pass on the bearing, but the addition of a second set of tweezers is a great idea. Thanks for posting this.
@@ronwalsh that's the great thing about customisation, you have to have it the way you want it.
Wonderful tip and mods, that I hadn't seen anywhere else in a long history of viewing these types of videos. The Firefly storage solution (most relevant to SAKs with those two tools) was really useful, since I never wanted to lose the toothpick or the other uses it can serve.
I couldn't agree more, I use the toothpick regularly and was delighted to find a way to carry the firefly without having to sacrifice the toothpick.
Great idea!@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Does it dull up your saw at all?
Not a bit, it neatly fits in a small gap, so there's no issue.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Thanks. Great ideas!
I’m floored by this video. You sir, are quite the craftsman as well as an excellent teacher. Thank you.
You're most welcome, I appreciate the feedback and am very pleased you enjoyed the video.
Absolutely brilliant. I've never considered modding the scales to have functionality with firemaking like that. You're a master of the craft. Thank you.
Thank you
Excellent 👍.. another quick mod for free, double wrap about a foot of cotton round the small part of the scissors sealed with candle wax, and put a needle behind the parcel hook.. sewing kit and additional fire lighting tinder. I tried to post photos but don’t have the option
Sounds interesting 👍
One modification I made to my Champ was magnetizing the Philips screwdriver. You just stroke it against a magnet 15 times or so, in the same direction, and it's magnetized. It's not a strong magnet, it won't kill your phone, but it will pick up screws so you can move them into place.
You can also open a second hole for a second pin under the first pin hole. Why not? Two is better than one.
Funny enough, since making the video I have added a second pin hole in mine as well, so I certainly agree with adding that mod as well.
You can add a 3X2mm magnet also by storing it in the parcel hook
I absolutely enjoyed listening to you. You are an excellent speaker and presenter. I live my Swiss Champ and it's never far from me. That's been the case for over 25 years.
Thank you for your kind feedback, I appreciate that. It is a wonderful tool, I find myself using mine in one way or another more or less every day.
Great video Sir! Love what you did with your swisschamp, I carry mine also everyday in my pocket and it’s incredibly useful! Thanks for sharing such good ideas! Greetings.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video, I really appreciate the feedback.
My knife I will not leave the house without is my SAK Spartan. Has all I need. Great video.🦉
The Swiss Army Knife is a versatile and useful tool, and it's a real boon that there are so many models to choose from.
That's a TANK man, you seem to be a gentleman 🤔🤔
Thank you, I appreciate that.
Thank you. The Firefly storage solution was really useful, since I have a Swiss Champ for EDC and I never wanted to lose the toothpick as it is my most used tool. Good luck lighting a fire with the tiny magnifying glass though. Even in the Australian summer on a 38 degree Celsius (100 degrees F) day at 1pm I couldn't raise a hint of smoke from paper with mine. But now I know where to store the Firefly, that's not a problem.
I'm so pleased you're finding it helpful. As to using the magnifying glass in fire lighting, I think you'll find it more effective if you are using it not on plain paper, but rather on char cloth or similar.
The mod’s are fantastic. Craig.🇮🇲🇮🇲🇮🇲
Thank you
Thank you for speaking clearly, and not rushing it.
I'm so pleased that you found my explanation clear and understandable.
Thank you for this clear and informative presentation for the Swiss Champ, which is my favorite edc. I appreciate your tips. Especially, how to add a ferro rod without sacrificing the toothpick 👍
Thank you for the feedback and I'm so glad you found this useful.
Amazing customisation man 🔥🔥🔥
Thank you, I appreciate your feedback
Great video, I have carried a pocket knife all my life since i was a kid about 10 or 11 years old Iam 54 now mostly sak's, Recently bought the champ and I absolutley love it.
It's a really great tool.
Thank you very much for making this very informative video. I don't have the Swiss Champ, but plan on eventually purchasing one. I currently use the Huntsman. Your video is very relaxing and is enjoyable during these troubled times.
Thank you for that very kind feedback, I really appreciate it, and hope you will find some of my other videos equally enjoyable.
I've found that you can put a single strike-anywhere match in the slot where you put the Firefly (you can strike it with the file). It fits almost perfect, but the saw teeth do bite into the matchstick just a bit. It's not as useful in a survive situation, but it's a lot more useful in a candle lighting situation.
Interesting option.
Great video, wonderfully articulate and two excellent modifications I’ve not seen before. The Champ is a bit bulky for my liking however I probably more individual items that collectively weigh more than the Champ haha!
I modified my SOG powerpint by filing down the bottle opener to a flat head screwdriver and cut off the piercing portion of the can opener to make a marlin spike kinda thingy haha. I also ground down the end of the file to make a chisel/scraper.
Sounds like you managed some interesting mods. I must admit it's one of the things I like about the Swiss army knives, that they can be customised so straight forwardly with minimal tools is a real bonus in my eyes.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Yep, there are so many people modifying SAKs nowadays which is great. I feel with some practice anyone can do it successfully, I haven’t yet tho 😆
Pretty cool tip for the firefly storage
Thanks 👍
you saved me from ditching my toothpick for the ferro rod. thanks!!!
The toothpick is underappreciated and in truth, is likely to see more use than the ferro rod, so it's definitely a worthwhile hack.
Good grief, what a fantastic video. You Sir have made the video I've been waiting for. The SwissChamp is ordered and on its way. Many thanks. (Subscribed)
I'm so pleased that you found it helpful, it really is a great EDC, hardly a day goes by without me using mine.
Interesting video. It never occurred to me to modify a SAK in the same way, but you obviously have a very specific application in mind where these sort of modifications would be useful. Well done! Personally speaking, I would not have much need for a Swiss Champ as the USA has much less restrictive knife laws, so we have a far greater range of options to choose from when it comes to an EDC. All that said, your is purpose built to suit your needs and fits within confines of what your allowed to carry. I admire the thought and effort that went into to modifying your SAK. It neat to see how others use their SAK’s for EDC.
For years now, I've hardly had a day go by when I haven't made at least some use of my Swiss Champ. That it has become my EDC goes without saying, but what is worth saying is that has proven to be the most useful tool I own. I can honestly, hand on heart say that wherever I am in the world, this would always be my number one choice of EDC.
While I do have a number of EDC’s in my rotation, I primarily use a SAK Huntsman inside my left pocket with a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 on my right side. Best of both worlds for my needs. Still, I never leave home without my Swiss Army Knife.
Wow...incredible! I wish you made and offered these scale kits for sale. I would order 2 immediately! Bravo sir!
Thank you, I appreciate your feedback. They're really not too hard to make, and you only need some basic tools. Seriously, give it a go, it feels really rewarding to be able to upgrade your own gear. One suggestion I'd make is to practice the modifications on the old scales before you try them on the new ones, a little practice goes a long way to getting a more perfect result.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Thank you Sir, you have inspired me to give it a go. Heaven knows I own quite a few SAK's so no shortage of scales available!😊
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents
I only need two mods to keep up,
Already have black scales.
Great vid,
Will subscribe.
Thank You for the vid.
God bless
[edit because spell check is so very useful - (not).]
I really like Swiss Army Knives and I am glad I found your channel,this was a real interesting video thanks.
If you liked this video, you might find my video on the use of the can opener interesting, here's the link. th-cam.com/video/fLN8iuGzt_U/w-d-xo.html
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Jeffery I already subscribed to your channel
Excellent review and video! Thank you Jeffery! Love my Swiss Champ. Great mods. Keep up the great work! I would love to see you use the bearing and drill set to make a fire.
Thank you, I'll be doing a couple of similar videos in the near future, one for my victorinox work champ and another for my victorinox ranger grip 79.
Great mods! I've seen that you can put a Quattro screwdriver from the Swisscards in the 91mm scales.
Also I think the cap lifter is the perfect tool to remove scales. The small part can fit inside the toothpick holes and you can lift same as bottle caps.
I use a tool like yours to put new scales on but before I had it I used a rubber hammer. Worked pretty well. I protected the scales with a cloth.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video.
Thank you so much for sharing this video and the wonderful functional tips to maximize the use of the SAK Champ
It's my pleasure, and thank you for your feedback. My Swiss Champ is very much my every day carry and is one of the most useful tool I own.
Thank you so much for your response, my father left me his SAK Spartan that knife served me a lot and I just celebrated my 64th birthday. It an encouragement to have still serving with me ❤️
Great video! Well-written and presented. Thank you. There's just one thing you may wish to verify. I was informed by a knife retailer in the Netherlands that the Swiss Champ, or any knife with a saw, is not a legal EDC in the UK or EU. The Law considers the saw on these knives as a double-edged blade, rendering it illegal.
Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it. As to the legality of having a Swiss champ as an EDC, I can't speak for the Netherlands, as I'm unfamiliar with their specific laws, however every European country including the UK, which in any event is no longer a part of the EU, have their own specific knife laws. For example, an automatic knife or switchblade is perfectly legal in France but not in Spain. I'm afraid your friend in the Netherlands is clearly unfamiliar with the UK legislation regarding the carrying of bladed articles, as the saw blade on the Swiss champ does not preclude you from carrying it in a public space. My guess is that there may be some specific legislation regarding folding knives with saws in the Netherlands, and your friend simply does not understand that each country in Europe has its own specific knife laws, and there is no across the board EU regulation.
Standing ovation for the caveman fire-starter!
Thank you
Great video thanks. I like your mods. Thought you were going to mount a small button compass in the hole you put the barring into.
I do like modding my kit.
Only reason, I would not, is that the phone already has that function, [e.g. Google maps].
Thank you, great tips. I am expecting my first champ after I discovered the lifetime warranty vitronix offers. I had my uncles seized one in a drawer for 5 years. I think the fire rod and the micro tweezers are definitely mods I will make.
My Swiss Champ is my every day carry and the most useful knife I've ever owned. I have zero regrets about the modifications I've made, it's made it more useful, but you should be aware that in modding it, I've voided the warranty. This isn't an issue for me, but it's something that you should be aware of.
technically, you haven’t voided the warranty. you haven’t modified the actual knife. replace the original red handles and you’re back to stock.
Didn't know Al Pacino was into SAKs! Great mods I learned a lot
Thank you
Great descriptions.
Thank you
The storage for the firefly is ingenious
It's a really effective fire starting tool as well.
This was extremely fascinating! Thank you!
Your welcome, and thank you for the feedback, it's appreciated.
AMAZING! that is beautiful, Sir, you made me sin with envy on Holy Saturday!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video, thank you for your feedback, it's appreciated.
Sir. what a really good job, a master class!!!!! regards from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Thank you so much for your feedback, it's very much appreciated.
I don’t know how old your Swiss Champ is but If it is only a few years old
then you have the glass magnifying glass. The newer magnifying glass is
6x power, the 5x version was all plastic including the lens. The original
magnifying lens with the gray frame was 8x. Have you used char cloth
with the magnifying glass, it lights very easily even with less than ideal
sun light.
It could well be 6x, and it's definitely good for igniting char cloth, but obviously not so much on a cloudy day, which of course is why I added a low friction divot to use with a bow drill.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents You did a very professional install on
the bearing, The Swiss Champ is a bit big for my regular
use, I prefer a discontinued model called the Woodsman
it is a five layer knife. it combines the Huntsman & Explorer
models. It has the old 8x magnifying glass.
Admittedly I did have a few doubts about the Champ because of it's size, but happily I find it comfortable in the hand, as well as really practical for my needs. Partly because I always have a useful tool on hand, and partly because it's a legal UK carry, because of the blade length and because the blades don't lock, which means I don't have to worry about issues that could arise with many other Multi-Tool options which fall just outside of the legal to carry wherever bladed articles are not forbidden.
@@hitchpost5822 Thank you for this comment. I didnt know about the model "woodsman". But I have a plan in my mind for a long time already. Because for more than one year I carry the model "explorer" in my pocket, but I was missing the saw always.
So I bought today an old used "swiss champ" on Ebay with the plan to to remove some tools to get the "woods man"
So thanks to your comment I got the best order to put the tools together.
Great modifications very nicely filmed and explained !!
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback.
Great tip putting the firefly under the saw/fs
It's particularly good as I really do like the toothpick and would not like to give it up, and this way I don't have to.
Good video, Sir. The Swisschamp is my favorite and most carried Victorinox as well. Thanks for showing your modifications, very well done. The last thing you could probably do to pack those scales is creating a second pin slot under the original. It's another easy mod, Felix Immler has a tutorial on his channel.
Do you carry any other things inside to increase functionality? I know some like to put a needle and thread or fishing line under the multipurpose hook. Have seen that small magnets can be held in the hook and can opener as well.
I keep a magnet in the hook, and a firefly ferro rod under the saw and scaler. I'm looking into adding a micro fishing kit as well, once I finish developing it, it will most likely be stored under the Philips head screwdriver, as there's a decent amount of space to be found there.
The bearing is o good idea. I'd like to see it used
I'll look into doing a video about that sometime.
The fire ant storage site is awesome. Haven't come across it before!
I'm so pleased that you found this useful.
Thank you very much. Very informative.
You're welcome, I'm so glad you enjoyed the video.
@Jeff.Lippman.Presents I was undecided about getting one. Your mods really opened my eyes into getting one. Ordered one after viewing. All the best
Well done!
Thank you
Great mods. Really enjoying your content!
Thank you, I really appreciate the feedback.
This a knife Mod "The Saint" would be proud to use on his adventures.
Thank you 👍
You must watch felix immler, he is a sak genius with many of these mods like the magnet and bearing. He also has books he wrote involving the sak
I've seen some of his videos, and I certainly agree he has great knowledge and we can all learn a lot from him.
Great video, thanks a lot
You're very welcome, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.
brilliant ferro rod mod!
Thank you, I appreciate your feedback.
Lol,,,
I love it!!!
What a creative imagination!!!!!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Interesting mod, but I think that bearing will break free of the scale if weight is applied. Maybe 3D print a ring for the bearing to rest against the knife frame.
No need, the bearing already rests on the frame.
Good ideas, I have the firefly/fireant and tinder for a while now and they work very well, also love the mod for the second, sharp tweezers, not so much the divot mod. If need the divot I rather have one made out of wood and keep my logo,. I am curious because not sure if the bearing will be hold in place to keep that little gap to the metal side plates in time, after using it several times.
You might enjoy my latest video which I'm editing at the moment, where I mod my Work Champ. I should be uploading it later today or tomorrow, depending on when I finish editing.
If you cut a small notch into a plastic credit/gift card, it can be used as a tick remover 👍🏻
I'm sure I can, but I doubt it would fit inside of my Swiss Champ.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents 🤣
Wow great mods and video. 👍 Would love to see how you attached the small ring to the tiny magnet 🤔
I've got a few planned videos in the works at the moment, but I can look into that a little down the road.
Excellent. This was just what I needed to resurrect my 30 year old Swiss Champ that has a cracked upper scale. I've been toying with the idea of sending it off to Victorinox, but now that I know the secrets I reckon I can manage it myself.
Any advice on where to look for scales?
Cheers
I bought mine from eBay, they're fairly readily available.
Now you just need a place to stash some cord for your fire drill bow, and you're totally covered. I suppose you could use a bootlace.
There is a space underneath the Philips screwdriver head which could hold a small amount of thin cordage, fishing line for example.
Nicely done!
Thank you
I've never seen the magnet used with the hook. Interesting but not for me. Love the new fire rod location though. I don't want to lose the toothpick. Matches are still option 1.
There are a few different options for carrying a magnet, inside the gap of the can and tin openers for example, although obviously one would need a different size magnet for those locations. I opted for the hook, as I use it less frequently, and therefore made the hook more valuable to me from my perspective.
Phenomenal video!
Thank you so much, I appreciate that.
Brilliant. Many thanks
Thank you for the feedback, I'm so pleased you found my video enjoyable.
I was ghinking for a second that, well, now you have to find cifca 10mm diameter rod. But guess what? You have a knife to make any rod fit!
Precisely
Outstanding👍❗🙏🏆🔪
Thank you
Great mods and video👍👍 I agree whit those Chinese clones, very bad quality
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the video. The Chinese copy was awful, but it was so cheap it was no risk to buy, and did have the virtue of showing me that the dimensions of the Swiss Champ were genuinely nothing to be concerned about. So on that level it did me a power of good, as I find it an incredibly useful EDC, which I can both legally carry, and find used for on a more or less daily basis.
Greetings Mr. Lippman. I am a lifelong SAK collector & user with over 170 SAK's ( mostly 58mm keyring & other collectables with some 40 of my SAK's that I rotate in my EDC ) I am originally from London, England where as a schoolboy I began collecting SAK's & a long time ago I immigrated to Israel & reside in Tel Aviv. One of the SAK's I have never bought & never will is the Swiss Champ or as I call it " the pocket hernia " or unkindly " the Swiss Chump " Its simply too big, cluttered with tools that I will never use & far too unwieldy to use even as a home tool kit SAK let alone for pocket carry knife. IMO even King Kong would opt for a less monstrosity of a SAK. The largest SAK's that I own are in my home tool kit - the Deluxe Tinker, the Ranger & the CyberTool M ( I also have in the kit the Spartan Lite & the 84mm Watch opening tool ) . The largest SAK's that I regularly pocket carry as part of my EDC rotation are 3 layer Climbers & Pioneer X's and 4 layer SAK's - the 93mm Farmer X, the 91mm Huntsman, the 91mm Mountaineer & the 85mm EvoGrip S17 & occasionally the 4 layer 85mm Wenger Forester ( the original version with a lock blade & a clip point secondary blade instead of the nail file ) . I also pocket carry 2 layer 111mm SAK's such as the slide lock Picnicker & liner lock Garant & even less frequently the 3 layer 111mm slide lock Rucksack . Nowadays I carry both a rotational multi-tool SAK and a key ring 58mm which for most of the last 4 1/2 years has been the Midnight Manager , I also own the Midnite Mini-Champ, the Mini-Champ Version 1, the Mate & the Vagabond but I only occasionally carry them on my key ring as the Midnite Manager seems to be the one that has the actual tools that I am likely to use more frequently .
My goodness, what a large collection you have, very impressive indeed. I must admit that I had my doubts about the Swiss Champ before I acquired mine, however I am pleased to report that I not only find it convenient to both carry and use, but I in fact often make use of it on a daily basis. The fact of the matter is, it's not significantly different in size (and in many cases, a little bit smaller) than many popular multi tools on the market today, although with the added advantage of being a legal EDC here in the UK, which most multi tools are not. Still, to each his own, and it sounds to me like you have found what works best for you, which at the end of the day, is why so many models are manufactured in the first place.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents My commiserations to you still being in the UK with its increasingly draconian knife carry laws that apply only to the honest citizen & not to the criminals, soon enough the infamous Victorinox toothpick will be be banned as it already considered by the UK's legions of human rights lawyers with their snouts in the public purse as an illegal weapon of war under the Geneva Convention on a par with flame throwers, sarin gas & napalm ( sarcasm or maybe not ! ) Fortunately we have no such restrictions on knife blade size or locking mechanism here in Israel & nor will there be as the authorities recognize that the preferred stabbing weapon of the fanatics is a large kitchen knife or meat cleaver ( just like in the UK ) and not a Swiss Army knife . FYI I have both Liked & subscribed to your channel, I am Subscriber #278 & wishing you Mazel Tov in growing your channel !
I lost count of the number of layers your collection represents, (I only have a budget for 7 layers), & (unlike me), I doubt you carry all your layers in your pocket.
God bless.
I can offer another mod’ that I put in the same place as your bearing, that is a compass, great for orienteering!
An interesting idea.
Where does one find the 12mm bearing and the micro tweezers to which you referred? Tom KC3QAC
I bought mine from eBay
Jeffery since I saw this video I have been trying to find that Firefly rod but Ican’t any ideas where to get them or on a long shot would you have any extras that you might consider selling probably just one.Thanks for any info.
Here's a link to the manufacturer, if you have any problems with buying direct from them, let me know and I'll see what I can do for you. tortoisegear.com/product-category/all-products/firefly-fire-starters/
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Hey Jeffery I did go to the website you gave me and everything are multi packs I am 75 years old and recouping from a total left knee replacement I would only need one big one and all they had was a pack with 2 small and 2 large if need be I will order the pack and see if anyone needs one or just keep them.
The idea with the magnet is great. But how did you attach a ring to the magnet?
I made the ring from a steel pin which I hammered flat half way up, and then bent into a figure of 8, with the magnet glued into the flattened half of the figure 8 loop.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Thanks for your reply!
Bravissimo!
Thank you
❤
I'll take that as a compliment
I keep a small stick of fat wood, lighter wood (pine resin) inside my knife like you do the Ferro Rod.
A good idea that
I'd buy modified scales and tweezers off of you.
New scales are pretty readily available and the modification I did only requires a drill, a bearing (which are readily available from Amazon) and a bit of epoxy to hold the bearing in place. The tweezers are also pretty easy to modify. Here is a link to a video I made demonstrating how to modify the tweezers...
th-cam.com/video/AyqPtMKjI-Y/w-d-xo.html
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents I like the assurance it'll be done right heh
Can you PM me on Facebook?
i dont have fb, i never got a notification for this msg ...weird. @@Jeff.Lippman.Presents
Are you selling your modified Swiss Champ knife? I thought this was genius!!! The only other mod that I would add is the flashlight tool for a backup light source.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. Although I can take a commission to make one for you, I will say that it will be far less expensive for you to have a go at modifying your own. All the tools necessary are fairly ordinary DIY, household stuff.
I would love to know how much you would charge for making one of the knives for me. I have the Firefly & tinder, but the rest I would love to have.
Do you need the whole knife, or just the modified scales and small tweezers?
I would like the whole knife, please.
No problem, but in order to work out how much it would cost to post it to you, may I ask what country you're based in?
How the heck did you find that ferro rod hack?!?
I find the toothpick very useful, so I was looking for a way to store the feral rod without having to give up the toothpick. What's nice about this hack is that the rod is held in place by two of the blades, this is useful because you have to live them both up to release the rod, which of course means you can use either one of the blades on its own without it dropping out.
Where did you get your magnet
I bought it off of eBay
i love my swisschamp. i use the mag glass for coins
It's a remarkably useful tool and my personal every day carry. I'm always using mine, I have found it to be extremely practical.
Nice beard and hair!
Thank you
Where did you acquire the magnet and ring and what are their exact dimensions?
The magnet is a 3mm diameter neodymium magnet I bought on eBay, there are several sellers who carry them. The little ring I made from some wire, bent into a figure of 8, with the magnet glued into the one loop. The part of the wire forming the loop the magnet was glued into what is hammered flat before curving into a loop, so it didn't significantly impact the diameter.
Hey Jeff,
what type of ring connector are you using for the 3mm magnet?
It's one that I handmade from a straight pin, which I worked on with a bit of micro-blacksmithing. The trick was to flatten out a section, and then form it into a figure of eight, with the largest circle for the magnet being flat and the smaller circle to tie on to the thread being still round.
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents Great job. Thanks.
Greetings! I'm going to attempt your "pick-up tool" mod for the hook. Do you have any suggestions on where to find the attachment for the magnet?
I made mine from a pin, which I worked on the anvil. If you're interested, I could perhaps do a video explaining how I made it
@@Jeff.Lippman.Presents That would be great, and is a very generous thought! The multipurpose hook gets a bad rap (if only they all had the Compact's nail file!), and I think your mod would make at least a few people re-evaluate.
What time did you come from?
Let's just say I'm old-fashioned (but in a good way) 😉
Nice! Where did you get that bearing? It's very low profile.
I bought it from Amazon
Here is a link..
amzn.eu/d/488iwUf
How does one modify what he already has
By and large, all of these mods are based on the scales. Step one therefore is to remove the existing scales. Once they're off they can be directly modified, or replaced with a fresh set of scales, if you're looking to alter the colour.
The Champ never made any sense to me. Too heavy and unwieldy. If I'm carrying something this big, it better be a Leatherman (a Wave or a Skeletool). If I'm carrying a SAK it's gonna be the Farmer or the Pioneer.
Actually, it's remarkably convenient and I find myself using it virtually every single day, which by definition makes it the perfect every day carry.
And from that experience I can assure you it is neither too heavy nor unwieldy at all.
Been an EDC for me for decades; size & weight are not a real issue (for me}. Far too useful to leave at home. There are several ways to carry it: pocket, belt, bag, backpack, glovebox, ... etc. {why cheat yourself out of the pleasure of owning one?}
[Also, it will fit your hand well for a good grip on the tool.]
Muß sich ein Mensch mit angeklebten Bart so wichtig machen?Und das bei 10.000 gleichen (Beiträgen)!!!???.Es wird dermaßen extrems widerwärtig und langweilig, ist schon schwierig, sich an den respektvollen Umgang zu halten.
Unfortunately my translation program isn't working at the moment, would you be able to resend that in English?