Victorinox knives whose tools pivot on steel pins and whose spare parts are still sold.
Victorinox has built the Swiss Army knife since 1897 and still sells the spare parts to mend one. The tools pivot on steel pins, so a worn blade or a lost tweezer is a small part rather than a reason to replace the knife. Small enough to forget in a pocket, and a sensible first knife to keep for life.
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At a glance: Swiss Army Knives picks compared, with buy links
Fifteen functions including the scissors, which are the tool most people actually reach for and the one most multi-tools get wrong. Victorinox has made the Officer's knife since 1897 and still sells the springs, scales and tweezers as spare parts, so a knife that loses a toothpick is a repair rather than a write-off.
One layer, five functions, and Alox scales instead of plastic, which is ribbed aluminium that scuffs into a patina rather than cracking. Victorinox has guaranteed its knives against defects for as long as you own them since 1884 and still services them.
The Farmer is the Alox knife with the wood saw, and the saw is the reason people who own one stop carrying anything else: it cuts green wood faster than tools three times its size. Nine functions, two layers, no plastic anywhere.
The Tinker trades the Huntsman's scissors for a proper Phillips driver, which makes it the one to carry if your pocket knife spends more time on screws than on parcels. Same Swiss steel, same repairable construction, same 1897 lineage, at two thirds the price.
Fifteen functions in two layers, which Victorinox manages by putting a combination tool on the back of the scales instead of adding a third layer. The scissors are the part worth having: sprung, sharp, and replaceable by Victorinox when they finally dull.
The Climber is the Spartan with scissors and a multipurpose hook added, and it is the knife most people actually want when they think they want a Swiss Army knife. Red cellidor scales, two layers, nothing in it that Victorinox will not repair.
A key-ring Swiss Army knife with a small blade, scissors, nail file, tweezers and toothpick. Victorinox covers it against defects for life, and the tweezers and toothpick are sold as spares when they go missing.
The original twelve function Officer's knife, and the one to buy if you want the corkscrew rather than the screwdriver. There is no meaningful durability difference between this, the Tinker and the Huntsman: pick by which tools you will actually use, because all three outlive the person deciding.
Fifteen functions including the scissors, which are the tool most people actually reach for and the one most multi-tools get wrong. Victorinox has made the Officer's knife since 1897 and still sells the springs, scales and tweezers as spare parts, so a knife that loses a toothpick is a repair rather than a write-off.
One layer, five functions, and Alox scales instead of plastic, which is ribbed aluminium that scuffs into a patina rather than cracking. Victorinox has guaranteed its knives against defects for as long as you own them since 1884 and still services them.
The Farmer is the Alox knife with the wood saw, and the saw is the reason people who own one stop carrying anything else: it cuts green wood faster than tools three times its size. Nine functions, two layers, no plastic anywhere.
The Tinker trades the Huntsman's scissors for a proper Phillips driver, which makes it the one to carry if your pocket knife spends more time on screws than on parcels. Same Swiss steel, same repairable construction, same 1897 lineage, at two thirds the price.
Fifteen functions in two layers, which Victorinox manages by putting a combination tool on the back of the scales instead of adding a third layer. The scissors are the part worth having: sprung, sharp, and replaceable by Victorinox when they finally dull.
The Climber is the Spartan with scissors and a multipurpose hook added, and it is the knife most people actually want when they think they want a Swiss Army knife. Red cellidor scales, two layers, nothing in it that Victorinox will not repair.
A key-ring Swiss Army knife with a small blade, scissors, nail file, tweezers and toothpick. Victorinox covers it against defects for life, and the tweezers and toothpick are sold as spares when they go missing.
The original twelve function Officer's knife, and the one to buy if you want the corkscrew rather than the screwdriver. There is no meaningful durability difference between this, the Tinker and the Huntsman: pick by which tools you will actually use, because all three outlive the person deciding.
12 functions including corkscrew
Spare parts still sold by the maker
Swiss made, lifetime guarantee against defects
Design in continuous production since 1897
91mm, pocketable
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