Swiss Army Champ Knife

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

I've had my SwissChamp for about 2 decades now. It has traveled the world with me and saved my butt countless times, literally and figuratively. I have had ample experience with this knife and Swiss Army knives in general, have reviewed them many times, and can frankly tell you the pros and cons of every brand, every model, ever individual tool on them. I own a dozen different models (some with even more bells, whistles and gadgets), but I think that the Swiss Champ is probably the best balance between size, price and function of all of them.

The Victorinox Swiss Champ simply has all of the useful tools with minimal redundancy, in a relatively compact package. There are a few "bigger" models, but IMO, the size of the Swiss Champ is about the largest practical size a person can handle and still effectively use the tools. Honestly, some tools work better than others (naturally because some compromises had to be made for the compact sizing) and I will gladly critique what's good and what's just ok.

In general, the Victorinox Swiss Champ (one of only two "official" Swiss Army knife makers) is a very high quality piece of Swiss engineering, all stainless steel tools with plastic scales. Don't confuse it with the cheaper, shoddily made copies made in China, or the bulky inelegant models made in the US (I'm talking about pocket knives NOT multi-tools which are a different "class").

The knife blades (main and small) are really, really sharp from the factory. I'm not kidding. These blades are like scalpel sharp. You can literally shave with them. As a functional knife I would give them my top marks if only 1) they had a locking mechanism and 2) could be deployed more easily, like with one hand. If I could go to the factory and have a custom Swiss Champ made, I would replace the main blade with the tri-tooth serrated blade (and add the locking mechanism that Wenger employs). As it is, the blades are adequate (and sharp, very sharp).

The little mini-saw, surprisingly, is one of the best tools on the Swiss Champ! It has a very aggressive tooth pattern that just chews through wood like nobody's business on both the upstroke and downstroke. I've used it side by side with other full-size manual saws and it compares favourably.

The so-called "metal saw"/file is less efficient. It does work. I have eventually hacked through metal with lots of effort, but it's not great. The files, one on each side, adequately do their function (which include manicuring), but I don't use them much.

The scissors are great. With sharp blades and a clever leaf spring tension system, the tiny scissors zip through paper with great dexterity. They also trim fabric, thread, cord, hair, and fingernails effectively. This is one of the most useful tools, I find. There is a slight tendency however for the little leaf spring to slip "aside" during function, requiring a manual reset of the scissors to the "open" position. It's a very minor design problem. They are very good precise scissors, and I admit, I have even done minor surgery with them in the field.

The micro-mini pliers... LOL... I at first dismissed them as too small to be practical and a waste of valuable space. But, upon further review and actual use in the field, I'd have to say they are a decent addition to the toolbox. They will work adequately on nuts, but I have actually found them more useful in holding smaller objects with leverage. They are built to very precise tolerances and are actually great tweezers. I have them used them as Kelly forceps when suturing, or I've bent a metal paperclip into a handy fish hook (with eye). The inner apex also has a wire cutter, which works ok.

The little 5X magnifier lens is a nice bonus addition. It is a practical field lens for scientific observation, and in a survival situation, I have used it to start a fire also.

The fish scaler/fish hook disgorger tool thingy is interesting in it's practicality. It has a metric and SAE scale ruler on it, which I often whip out both to measure and to give scale to some of my photos. I've honestly never scaled a fish with it, but I often use the two-pronged fish hook disgorger as a "fork" for eating! (believe me it's safer than that razor sharp knife)

Then, there are the usual assortment of various screwdrivers of different sizes and different heads, usually in combo with another practical tool like a can opener, bottle opener, etc. There is only one Phillips head, which is ok. There are about 6 different sizes of flathead, ranging from 1/2" all the way down to micro (useful for glasses or watch repair). Though I've used all of them at one time or another, I'm not a big fan of all the redundancy, AND, none of them "lock", so it sometimes makes tightening a screw treacherous if you apply pressure. Also be careful if you use a screwdriver for prying as there is a tendency to slip and shift closed when you don't want it to. The can opener BTW works well, and I use it often.

The very basic wine corkscrew works well and has actually been the basis for meeting many new friends while skiing, camping or hiking... LOL. Just being the only guy on the mountain with a corkscrew at the right place and time! The micro screwdriver that I mentioned stores in the whorls of the corkscrew BTW.

The leather awl/leather needle is priceless. It is a very useful tool for repairs in the field. Like a hand held drill bit, it effectively punches neat holes through wood, plastic, heavy cloth, leather, and yes, even metal. I can't describe the thousand ways I've used this, but I can aver that it is a fantastic addition to the Swiss Champ.

There is a small chisel that I have not had much use for.

The one "useless" implement that I have not been able to fathom a purpose for is the little metal hook. I once heard (from a European) that store bought goods are wrapped in paper and tied with string. The hook is for carrying packages tied with string (like a handle), but I'm a little incredulous still.

Finally, the Swiss Champ comes with a variety of little detachable and replaceable knickknack items that I like. The tiny ballpoint pen is really handy to have around. The mini-tweezers work really well. The re-usable toothpick is... well... gross when you think about it too much. The small straight pin (hidden behind the corkscrew) is actually useful for picking out splinters, and in an emergency to use as a compass needle or a fish hook.

Overall, the Swiss Champ is a great way to efficiently carry a whole tool chest full of handy tools with you, in a 1" X 3" package. I have mine with me almost constantly and I find myself using it at least a couple times per day. To me the Swiss Champ is worth it's weight in gold in a survival situation, and I'm surprised that many outdoors people don't even bother to carry even a basic pocket knife sometimes.

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

I fall between 'casual/recreational' and 'avid', I think it's who is describing me, what I'm doing and what they are thinking about it. I've been camping since before I was born, and have lived in the out-doors a full year doing a masters project: early Summer through late Spring on a Western Sierra river, and late Spring through Early Summer on a Great Basins ‘river’. I bicycled cross country on a 3 month trip and lived for several years in a walk-in cabin without power or running water. Over time I have come to know my 'gear'. I know that brand-name gear can and does save peoples lives every single year. Looking tough and BEING tough are not the same concept. Confusing them does kill people. This knife tops the list of every pocket knife I’ve owned or seen. I bet my life on it every time I go into the Great Basins and Ranges. It’s a sure bet I’ll not die from lack of a good knife.

I own 3 of these for personal use and carry one 24/7. I have been carrying pocket knives since fifth grade. I got my first KampKing as a birthday present and teachers saw pocket knives as tools and not weapons (I’ve generally lived on the edge of 'rural' and 'wild' which made the difference I think). That was about 50 years ago. This is above and beyond all, the finest pocket knife I have ever owned. EVER. I have one in every vehicle I own, plus one in each emergency back pack I have in my truck (the ones everyone should carry ALL the time -- one for fall-winter and one for spring-summer, not the one you carry to 'go camping' with -- the one you carry ‘just in case’ which in California is everywhere all the time). I reach for my knife so many times a day I never realize how dependent I’ve become on it until I accidentally leave home without one (and have to go to my car to get one -- living a day without it is impossible). From the hallowed sanctified halls of Academia to the middle of the Great Basins and Ranges, this knife easily has thousands of uses without any exaggerations at all.

Like I said above, the only fault it has is in completely finish cutting up a large animal like a deer. Rabbits, birds, fish will cause it no trouble at all. But a deer or larger is where the trouble begins.

It will field dress without any trouble at all – but the final cutting that most folks pay a butcher do, take home to do, or reach for the real tools that are far larger, bulkier and heavy duty to do the job, will bend the frame of this knife. It will saw through small trees and brush with no problem, but when cutting the femur or other large bone, or when prying out some of the joints to get to the tendons, the entire frame will bend. If they used a stronger metal for the frame, you'd never be able to afford it.

This leads to things like the blades not fitting properly and needing a second knife with it’s pair of pliers to get them to pull open. It’s my fault for not using common sense, or perhaps wanting to use the entire deer including the legs for hat or coat racks around the house, but I’ve never completely field dressed and done the fine finish cut-up of a deer without needing a new knife.

If I was in survival mode, the type of cutting I do would not be a problem because I would not do it. The concepts are entirely different.

I’ve since taken to carrying a far larger knife and a real bone saw in my vehicle all the time. But the trouble to go and find them and come back is often more trouble than just thinking that THIS time I will be more careful.

I THINK they have a life-time warranty on them, but I’ve never tried returning a knife. Maybe they require a receipt or something that I just can’t ever keep. But for the price and the use I get out of a knife, it's money more than well spent. This is a knife that is really a tool and not a pretty looking toy.

The other problem is you do have to be able to hand-sharpen the knife. Because it is so wide only the tip of the small blade will fit into my electric knife sharpener, and only about half of the large blade will fit – so you’ll need to learn to sharpen a knife on a stone. It’s an easy skill, it just takes a bit of time to learn, and everyone who is an outdoors enthusiast should know how to sharpen a blade.

Because it does hold an edge very well, it will take a bit to get sharp again, the harder the metal, the longer the blade life, but the longer it takes to sharpen. The blade life is more than reasonable considering that I often cut copper wire with it and use the blade to scrape rust of of metal objects or patina off rock. Two sharp blades take about 15 minutes from dead-dull to just right. And don’t over-sharpen, a knife that’s too sharp will bend the edge of the blade over to one side or the other making it dull much faster than a non-razor edge.

And the knife will take abuse as I’ve been known to hammer nails and fencing staples with it, crack open rocks, and fix little this and thats on my truck – from R&R small nuts and bolts and screws, to rewiring some wires that have snagged on brush as I move from one road to another in the Great Basins (which is generally NOT one of the best places to be stranded because of a simple short or problem that can be fixed right then and there without having to haul out the real tool boxes. See problem, pull out knife, fix problem, put knife back in pocket, drive away. Only this 'knife' can do that.

If I had to be stranded with just ONE tool – this would be it. With this knife you really CAN do anything that needs to be done – sometimes I think that you could rebuild any cultural equivalent to the early-1800’s in America with one of these puppies!

Just for fun and out of one of those bets borne of boredom when you are stuck until the road dries out just one more day -- I built a fire in the snow using this Swiss Army knife to build a bow starter and getting down to dry wood and using the file and saw to make wonderful piles of sawdust and groves in the starting peg and hole in the plank. In just over 20 minutes I had a fire going. Where before was about a foot of snow and some dampish and cold buck and bitterbrush and the ever present sage, a fire cracked and was heating water for coffee. The bet was an expensive dinner and a 30 minute time limit. I wasn't even worried I’d lose.

And the small screw driver is fine enough to fix the screw on the hinge of your glasses and tough enough to be used in the complete disassembling and cleaning of a quality firearm - in the field.

A book could be written on what this knife can, and has, done. I am certain that in the hands of a true craftsman, even a bear or elk could be cut into one-meal packets without the bent frame I get from deer. If you live in a cubicle you need one of these, and if you are one of the insane ultra-light speedsters, you need one of these. From true (I just learned the term the other day for one way I camp) “Primitive” camping to repairing a computer or a pick-up truck this is the knife you need.

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT ONE! (or two or . . . )

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

The knife has been a companion tool for me almost anywhere I go.Ive brought it to 3 continents, and use it almost daily. The feature least understood is the hook. I read the other reviews and it was mentioned that the hook is useless! Its a great tool. Heres what it does:It carries packages, groceries etc. Ever been vacationing and had to carry packages at stores and shops? Hook the first bag from the shoes your wife had to buy, then when she finds that italian dress... Pass the knife handle through the bag and clasp the knife handle and you got 2 gifts in 1 hand, continue with the bottle of wine, cheesy wood carved tourist nick-nacks, etc, and you can carry all of those gifts comfortably in 1 hand!!! The tool is also great for popping a soda top, pulling string or laces very tight, etc. I even used it to pull a wire that was on tention back into its clasp. Its not as importaint as the knife blade but I use it as much as any other tool.

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

I lead full-moon snow shoe outtings in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. On the full moon just before Christmas, we came across a pine tree that had fallen across the trail, about 6-8 inches in diameter. Everyone had, of course, to climb over it, just a tad awkward. I decided that it should be removed for everyone's easy access on the trail. I pulled out the saw blade on this knife, and proceeded to saw away. People thought I was kidding at first, but when I continued to saw they then thought I was nuts. 10 minutes later, the tree was cut, and removed from the trail.

What a FANTASTIC tool this knife is!! Well worth every penny!!

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

This is a must have!!! I purchased this knife about a year ago and carry it with me everywhere I go. You can use it for almost anything. I use it every single day of my life and I wouldn't trade it for the world. This is a real must have!!I recommend this to anyone wanting a really good, top quality, very sturdy knife, and with a lifetime gurantee, how can you beat it?

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

This is a great knife. It seems a little too big to put in your pocket, but it is fine in a sheath. The tools are easily accessed, and they are the perfect size. The hook is somewhat useless, but all other tools are efficient and high quality. I carry this knife almost everyday and use it very frequently. The large knife is very sharp and holds the edge well.

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

This is a great knife. I've owned one for about 10 years, and while camping, it has EVERYTHING you need. All the tools are, at worst, are good. The steel stays sharp, the nick-nacks are easy to use, and it is small and handy. Its only short coming, as I see it, are the plyers. They aren't the most useful pliers in the world, but are great for small things. They make great tweezers, as someone else pointed out, but it'd be bit difficult to bend around a coat hanger into intricate shapes, and are deffinately no replacement for "real" pliers. Although I wouldn't recomend the Swiss Champ for an everyday or around the house tool, in an emergency or in the camp, they are EXCELENT, and I wouldn't want to need them and not have them.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, we'll find out soon enough), I've lost my pair. I'm going to take this opurtunity to buy a Juice Xe6, which is comparable (but more expensive). If it doesn't far excede my expectations, I'm going straight back to the Swiss Champ because I loved it so much.

In the end, this knife is wonderful. I've used all the tools at some time or another, and if you end up going with them, I promise you won't regret it!

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

This is the first serious knife I had as a youngster. I believe back then it was the Champion and was a little different (no pliers). And after many years of collecting every sort of knife/ camp tool, for some reason, whenever I travel or go into the outdoors, this is the knife I reach for. It is certainly a little bulky for a pocket knife, but compared to the average camp tool, and this is a camp tool not a knife, it is rather svelte. The main reason I would choose this over a lesser swiss army version, is mainly for the choice of accessories - and this is the only version that has the pliers. I have had other types of small camp tools like the Leatherman Juice, but this is built better - although the pliers on the juice are more robust. Everything about this knife is compact, so things like the pliers and the saw are designed for the small-scale task, not for major use. But if I were stuck somewhere, from a hotel room where I need a reliable corkscrew, to the trail where I amy need everything else, this is the tool I would want; and it will last forever!

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

My wife bought me my champ about 9 years ago. It's been a faithful companion ever since. I always have a tool for the job. I've only sharpened the blades 5 or 6 times the entire time I've had it and they stay razor sharp. I had upgraded from a Swiss army tinker which I also still have, but the champ is a champ. i love everything about it.

Comments about Swiss Army Champ Knife:

It's the best knife ever! A little larger than my female hands are used to, but it has every tool imaginable. You couldn't ask for anything more.