Hi All,
Most of us have and use some sort of multi-tool to repair our bicycles while on-tour, but there is often need for a knife when cycle-touring/camping. Nothing quite matches a knife when it comes to spreading butter or peanut butter, slicing a log of sausage, or chopping some wild chives to mix with cream cheese. Its hard to whittle with a hex key, and you can't slice cheese with a chain tool.
For those occasions, we often turn to the Original Multi-tool...the Swiss Army Knife. Victorinox (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorinox ) has long billed itself as "The Original Swiss Army Knife" and Wenger (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenger ) calls itself "The Genuine Swiss Army Knife"; both have been contract suppliers to the Swiss Army at various times, and both are now essentially the same company, thanks to Victorinox's acquisiton of financially troubled Wenger in 2005. Victorinox vowed to keep both brands intact, and it has done so, preserving the differences between the knives and diversifying their respective marketing and sub-brands (Victorinox bills itself as a "premium" or "halo" brand with finer finishing, while Wenger lauds its innovation and workmanlike ruggedness). Still, at the end of the day, we have these basic differences:
Victorinox:
- Mirror polish to all blades, tools, and scissors.
- Non-serrated, precision overlapping scissors with a user-replaceable spring that can break (with surprising frequency).
- Combo fine slotted screwdriver and advancing can opener.
- Blades are generally not locking, though locking blades are more common on recent vintages.
- Traditional cellidor scales (side-plates) in a largely flat design.
Wenger:
- High polish on blades and many tools; brushed finish on other tools.
- Serrated non-overlapping scissors that use the knife's liner spring for actuation; serrations require followup with nail file.
- Dedicated retreating can opener borrowed from an older Victorinox scythe-style design popular in the 1950s.
- Main blades often available in a variety of locking designs including liner locks and an independent lever release.
- Available in a variety of scale (side-plate) materials and designs, including various woods and the Evo-Grip with ergonomically shaped rubber inserts.
After years with a variety of Victorinox knives from Classic SD to Signature Lite (pen and LED + scissors, tweezers, and blade) on my keychains and tucked in my gear to various Tinkers (original, Deluxe, and Super), and even a Swiss Champ, I have now settled on...
A bright yellow/black Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race (WPER) S18 commemorative edition with locking main blade (see pic) for my touring knife for a variety of reasons:
= I needed a sharper, heavier-duty can opener for some of the more rugged canned goods I've purchased recently.
= I like the commemorative design (it sounds exotic and is a really neat race that includes bicycling in at least one leg, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonian_Expedition_Race ).
= The heavier-duty serrated scissors are unmatched for cutting things that would otherwise scoot out of the jaws of Victorinox's version...things like gauze plasters, tire boots, loose threads, and such.
= I like the unbreakable spring design, and have resigned myself to cleaning up my trimmed fingernails with the included file (otherwise the scissors leave my nails with saw-tooth edges).
= The wood saw is pretty nice for cutting small sticks to whittle while in camp, and the rubber grip is nice in the rain or if my hands are wet.
= The pressure-locking slotted screwdriver is perfect for cleaning mud from my Pavarin cleats.
= The yellow color is a bit easier to find in my red-and-black Ortliebs.
= It is the perfect size for me and feels good in my hand.
= Best of all is the locking blade. While I go years without cutting myself on a knife at home, it seems the blade always manages to fold in use or catches a finger when closing while on a bike trip. Nevermore! The new knife seems to have banished accidental cuts and the slightly wider, spatula-shaped blade is perfect for spreading things on bread or crackers. I added a finger lanyard (works far better for me than a wrist or neck lanyard) and I'm set.
So, what knife do you carry on tour -- Victorinox, Wenger, or...? A friend uses the nifty new minimalist Baladeo 22g folding knife when ultralight cycle-touring and won't consider another except for his Baladeo "Barrow" Eco 094 for camping (
http://www.baladeo.com/produits.php?langue=en&tri=univers&id_rubrique=2&id_sous=3&identifiant=ECO098#titre ). Others prefer a lovely little Opinel in some form or other (high-carbon or stainless blade, and a variety of beautiful woods and handle shapes and sizes, with or without a lockring). I've long promised myself an Okapi (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi_%28knife%29 ), but have yet to find one at a reasonable price. Here in the Land O' Camo 'n' Ammo (Oregon, USA), we can carry pretty much anything so long as it meets local blade-length restrictions or if larger is displayed openly in a belt sheath rather than concealed, but I understand knives with locking blades are restricted to genuine camping use outside cities in the UK. Is that correct? I wasn't sure after reading:
http://www.goxplore.net/guides/Knife_law_%28UK%29 (The WPER S18 is available in a version with non-locking blade as well).
So, what brand and model knife do you prefer taking on-tour, for use on the bike, while picnicking and riding, or while cycle-touring and camping? Or can you? Let's hear it, and don't forget to cast a vote in the poll.
Stay sharp!
Dan.