- Contains 12 stainless steel tools
- Measures 3-1/4 inches long
- Includes large knife blade, nail file, nail cleaner, corkscrew, can opener, and small screwdriver
- Features a bottle opener, large screwdriver, wire stripper, reamer, toothpick, and tweezers
- Lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship
By T. Fritts
This is one of my favorite knives of all time. For someone who spends a lot of time outside in the woods, it's an ideal hiking/camping companion. The wood saw alone is well worth the price listed, as it comes out of the box sharper than most quality handsaws, which makes it ideal for cutting small firewood. Steel quality is good, meaning it's going to hold a good edge for long time and be easy to sharpen (Very little work made mine wood carving sharp. Out of the box it's plenty sharp for 99% of applications, woodcarving just calls for another level.) The knife is slightly bulky, but considering the features, it's actually thinner than I expected. It's a four layer SAK style knife; it's going to be thick enough for four 3/32" slots!
One of the ideal design pros is that the grips are not slick like older style SAK grips. This grip is textured, meaning the knife will still be serviceable even when the weather craps out. The textured grips however aren't so grippy that they shred your hands while using.
Pros; Many functions, well thought-out design, scissors big enough to actually use, and all made of materials that are good quality. Blades are hard to open, a sign that when most knives would be worn out, this one will just be getting loosened up. Easy to hold on to thanks to the grip texture. No part of the knife feels like a design/manufacturing compromise to make it cheaper. Also, quite a bit lighter than I expected, seeing the size of it. It's 3/4" wide, 3-1/8" long.
Cons; Blades are hard to open, not so much because the knife is stiff, but just because the blades don't protrude enough to get my thumbnail under the slot. I keep my nails short and this makes it much more troublesome. The keyring mount makes extensive use of the smaller drop point blade uncomfortable (this could be removed, as this knife is a little bit large to carry with your keys). The primary cutting blades aren't centered in the body, meaning that the knife will tend to rotate in the hand slightly. This is getting very nit-picky about it, looking for flaws. There's really not much to hate about this piece!
Admittedly, this isn't the top of the line knife. There's no ballpoint pen, USB flash drive, magnifying glass, ninja star, makeup kit, or bullwhip in it, but for those looking for a solid camping pal, this is a whole lot of knife for not too much money. It's worth every dime I paid, and for a cheapskate like me, that's a seal of approval!
One of the ideal design pros is that the grips are not slick like older style SAK grips. This grip is textured, meaning the knife will still be serviceable even when the weather craps out. The textured grips however aren't so grippy that they shred your hands while using.
Pros; Many functions, well thought-out design, scissors big enough to actually use, and all made of materials that are good quality. Blades are hard to open, a sign that when most knives would be worn out, this one will just be getting loosened up. Easy to hold on to thanks to the grip texture. No part of the knife feels like a design/manufacturing compromise to make it cheaper. Also, quite a bit lighter than I expected, seeing the size of it. It's 3/4" wide, 3-1/8" long.
Cons; Blades are hard to open, not so much because the knife is stiff, but just because the blades don't protrude enough to get my thumbnail under the slot. I keep my nails short and this makes it much more troublesome. The keyring mount makes extensive use of the smaller drop point blade uncomfortable (this could be removed, as this knife is a little bit large to carry with your keys). The primary cutting blades aren't centered in the body, meaning that the knife will tend to rotate in the hand slightly. This is getting very nit-picky about it, looking for flaws. There's really not much to hate about this piece!
Admittedly, this isn't the top of the line knife. There's no ballpoint pen, USB flash drive, magnifying glass, ninja star, makeup kit, or bullwhip in it, but for those looking for a solid camping pal, this is a whole lot of knife for not too much money. It's worth every dime I paid, and for a cheapskate like me, that's a seal of approval!
By Winter
I had to order this to replace the identical knife that I have owned for 7 years: airport security had to confiscate and destroy it when I accidentally left it in my laptop bag.
The Climber II knife is the knife I carry with me every day: even in the office, it always comes in handy. The can opener has a knack for staying sharp, the scissors often trim stray threads, and the long blade is just the thing for peeling a piece of fruit at lunch. I've also used the leather punch to add holes to my belt (thank you, regular exercise!), the corkscrew easily opens a wine bottle, and the bottle opener and screwdrivers get regular use. What's impressed me the most is the durability of the Victorinox steel: I've put all sorts of stress and leverage on the parts and have yet to break one, even prying loose the lid of an old stuck paint can.
Some quick tips for you:
1) Periodically clean out your knife: carefully open all parts, blow dust out, clean pocket lint, etc. Check the screw holding the scissors and tighen it.
2) Oil the knife: if it starts to get hard to pull out the parts, a drop of oil at each end and in the middle (for the leather punch/hook handle) works wonders. Let the oil soak in, wipe up the excess, and don't put it back into your pocket until you've had a chance to work the parts back and forth a few times (to get the oil into the hinges) and then let it sit out on a cloth to pick up leftover leakage. In the comments below, people recommend WD-40, 3-in-1, or neither of those. Amazon customer 'Acmewelding' states below that Victorinox also sells its own Swiss Army Knife lubricant, if you want to go that route. Amazon even sells it here--just search 'Victorinox Oil' and you'll get it.
3) Sharpen with care: you should seldom have to sharpen the can opener, but the rest will need periodic sharpening. Think carefully about which angle you apply the whetstone to the scissors: you don't want to have the scissor blades abraded further apart from each other.
Do these things a couple of times a year and this knife will last you forever.
The Climber II knife is the knife I carry with me every day: even in the office, it always comes in handy. The can opener has a knack for staying sharp, the scissors often trim stray threads, and the long blade is just the thing for peeling a piece of fruit at lunch. I've also used the leather punch to add holes to my belt (thank you, regular exercise!), the corkscrew easily opens a wine bottle, and the bottle opener and screwdrivers get regular use. What's impressed me the most is the durability of the Victorinox steel: I've put all sorts of stress and leverage on the parts and have yet to break one, even prying loose the lid of an old stuck paint can.
Some quick tips for you:
1) Periodically clean out your knife: carefully open all parts, blow dust out, clean pocket lint, etc. Check the screw holding the scissors and tighen it.
2) Oil the knife: if it starts to get hard to pull out the parts, a drop of oil at each end and in the middle (for the leather punch/hook handle) works wonders. Let the oil soak in, wipe up the excess, and don't put it back into your pocket until you've had a chance to work the parts back and forth a few times (to get the oil into the hinges) and then let it sit out on a cloth to pick up leftover leakage. In the comments below, people recommend WD-40, 3-in-1, or neither of those. Amazon customer 'Acmewelding' states below that Victorinox also sells its own Swiss Army Knife lubricant, if you want to go that route. Amazon even sells it here--just search 'Victorinox Oil' and you'll get it.
3) Sharpen with care: you should seldom have to sharpen the can opener, but the rest will need periodic sharpening. Think carefully about which angle you apply the whetstone to the scissors: you don't want to have the scissor blades abraded further apart from each other.
Do these things a couple of times a year and this knife will last you forever.
By Mike
I OWNED this knife. Then, after decades of not flying on an airline, I parked my car in economy parking at McCarren Airport, took the shuttle to the terminal, went through security, and realized I hadn't given a thought to the Victorinox Swiss Army Spartan II Folding Camping Knife I carried in my pants 365 days a year.
I was asked "Do you want me to dispose of this for you, sir?" Now, for the uninitiated, that means this guy took it home for himself, or it went into the big bucket of confiscated items airport security posts and sells on eBay. I have family members who have worked at the airport. Trust me, this is exactly what happens, NOTHING is "disposed of."
Anyway...it is SLIM enough to go in your pocket but has what I find to be the only portable tool set I need. For another 5 bucks you can get the "Camper II" model and the ONLY difference is that it includes a saw. In the entire time I had my Spartan, I never felt the urge to saw anything. And in response to what other have posted about the Philips screwdriver issue, YES, that SMALL screwdriver...the one at the right edge of the knife in the photo...has worked as a Phillips EVERY time I've needed one.
I am a few days away from a client check showing up in my mailbox and when it does I am ordering this knife. Five stars all the way.
I was asked "Do you want me to dispose of this for you, sir?" Now, for the uninitiated, that means this guy took it home for himself, or it went into the big bucket of confiscated items airport security posts and sells on eBay. I have family members who have worked at the airport. Trust me, this is exactly what happens, NOTHING is "disposed of."
Anyway...it is SLIM enough to go in your pocket but has what I find to be the only portable tool set I need. For another 5 bucks you can get the "Camper II" model and the ONLY difference is that it includes a saw. In the entire time I had my Spartan, I never felt the urge to saw anything. And in response to what other have posted about the Philips screwdriver issue, YES, that SMALL screwdriver...the one at the right edge of the knife in the photo...has worked as a Phillips EVERY time I've needed one.
I am a few days away from a client check showing up in my mailbox and when it does I am ordering this knife. Five stars all the way.
By Tinkerbell
Anything "Victorinox" & made in Switzerland, is 5 STARS. Excellent quality. Excellent blades. I buy 10 (on sale) at a time, wrap them and give them out to friends/family, throughout the year. It's a really handy gift, and even the girls response is "excitement."
By Eric Payne
I just ordered this knife for my son. He is 9 and will love this knife. I am 39 and he may not get this one because I love it too. I really like the feel of this knife with the new ( to me anyway) handle material. I lie the texture and the feel of quality in my hand. I got this knife for 20.00 here on Amazon and will most likely be getting one for myself. I purchased a Bantam for myself, but I may have to have one of these as well. I'm inpressed.
By Steve Belczyk
I can't imagine living without this thing. I use it one hundred times every day. To clean my nails, to build my plastic models, to open a wine bottle, to screw a screw, to drill a hole, to slice an enemy (okay just kidding on that last one). Should be required equipment for every human being.
By Amazon Customer
This is a very solid and well made knife. The blades are very sharp and everything works perfectly. It is a little on the stiff side and takes a bit of effort to open but I'm sure with a bit of use (or some powdered teflon) it will hit the sweet spot in no time.
By Jason
This is the third pocket knife of this type that I have purchased, because it's just too darned handy not to have on me at all times. Unfortunately, I lose it every few years, so I keep having to buy a new one. Even with an unlimited budget for a replacement, I keep coming back to this knife. Two blades are great - I use the big blade for utility work like cutting ropes, boxes, or packing tape, and I use the smaller one for more delicate work. The smaller flathead screwdriver sometimes fits right inside a phillips screw, and both flatheads are sturdy enough to use as a small prying tool when disassembling electronic devices. I've used the can opener on camping trips, the bottle opener is always handy, and being the guy with a corkscrew at parties lets me save the day when someone brings out a bottle of wine. I don't use the punch awl much, but I have used it to punch holes in leather belts and plastic motorcycle body panels (so I could zip tie broken panels together). I will keep buying this knife as long as I keep losing it and as long as they keep making it.
By kenny_kisaki
Before I got this, I've always thought it looked too bulky. But once I've held it in my hand, this tool felt extremely comfortable. One thing to note is that the red scales have a matt finish, instead of the smooth polished scales offered on other Vic/SAK models.
My glove size is large and it fills my hand perfectly. All the tools have a nice slick opening feel and each snap into place crisply. The bottle opener/large flathead is the only tool that has a 90° stop on the "full size tool" side, although it's not really necessary for me. Other than that, I'm having a hard time opening the hook tool, it's right under the split ring and don't have a nail-nick. Exactly the quality I expect from Victorinox, nothing less.
My glove size is large and it fills my hand perfectly. All the tools have a nice slick opening feel and each snap into place crisply. The bottle opener/large flathead is the only tool that has a 90° stop on the "full size tool" side, although it's not really necessary for me. Other than that, I'm having a hard time opening the hook tool, it's right under the split ring and don't have a nail-nick. Exactly the quality I expect from Victorinox, nothing less.
By Britain R
This knife has never failed me in the 5 years I've owned it. The blade has stayed decently sharp even after carving wood or cutting open numerous packages. The handle is a bit scratched up from heavy wear while camping, but that is to be expected with such often outdoor use. I find all the tools very useful, but if you find one or two tools on this knife you don't think will be used, I would suggest looking at other models. Victorinox has a large variety of knives with different tool combinations.
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