The Evolutionary Swiss Army Ranger

The Victorinox Swiss Army Ranger Pocket Knife is one of the more well-known models, but is more evolutionary than one might think. The current model is a good example of how well Victorinox responds to their customers' needs over the years, and the model that currently sits in my glove box is the same one that is here on these pages.

But this isn't my first Swiss Army Ranger; that was received as a gift from a Swiss photographic equipment company that I worked for in the 1980s, and it had the company logo on the handle. It was received during a trip to that country, and it differed from the current model in that it lacked the small wood chisel and the multi-purpose hook. The corkscrew was grooved, and the scissors had a small screw, which had to be replaced by getting the part from Victorinox in the '90s when it fell out.

Was advised by a Victorinox employee to put this older model away, as it had a collectible value of sorts (especially with the photo company's logo on the handle) so I did. Another interesting note about this model is that there was a special Space Shuttle version made of the Ranger, that had an inlaid image of the NASA's Space Shuttle on its handle. It differed from the Ranger here in that it had a Phillips screwdriver instead of the corkscrew, and it was retired in the early 1990s and is now a fairly scarce collector's item.

The Ranger is a standard sized Swiss Army knife (3-1/2"), and it's almost an inch thick. Some find that a bit large for carrying in a pocket, so you may wish to consider getting a Victorinox Belt Pouch to carry it. The Ranger has five rows of tools, and I won't list them all here as they're well covered in the Product Description, and most are self-explanatory... except for the hook.

The multipurpose hook tool was first introduced in the early '90s, and many wonder what it's used for. It's quite handy for carrying heavy plastic grocery bags (twist and loop them), keeping them from cutting into your fingers. It works fine with clothes on a hanger as well, and I've even used it as a plumb bob when attached to a string.

Pros:

- Excellent assortment of tools, all in one small package
- Made from high quality Swiss stainless steel
- Excellent value for the money
- Has a lifetime Warranty

Cons:

- Blades don't lock, so use with caution!


Tip: if you get one of these, spend about fifteen minutes familiarizing yourself with it, opening and closing all of the tools, and "exercising" them. Gently spray some WD-40 with the red nozzle tip into each of the joints so that they'll move freely in the field when you need them. Doing this will make it pay off with years of service for you.

If you're looking for a model that offers a few more features, you might wish to consider the Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus Pocket Knife, which is one that sits in my camera bag, ready to go at all times. Some might prefer the larger Victorinox Swiss Army Swiss Champ Pocket Knife because it has pliers, but I prefer the larger needle nose pliers in a regular multi-tool such as the lightweight Leatherman Kick Pocket Multi-Tool or the Gerber Suspension Butterfly Opening Multi-Plier for really getting the job done. If either of those seem too large, there's always the super compact Gerber Clutch Mini Pliers Tool, which can be carried in a pocket at all times.

Summary:

It should be noted again that all of the blades and tools are crafted from stainless steel, and it's still made entirely in Switzerland. It has a lifetime warranty from a company that know how to back it up.

This Victorinox Swiss Army Ranger is a great knife, with more than twenty stainless steel tools. It's an excellent value, and a splendid gift for just about anyone.

[Sunday, November 30, 2008]

Yah, camping!

Other than a Zippo lighter, I would not go in the woods without my Swiss Army Knife. Survivor, bring it on. My daughter needed her knife replaced (lost) so, I was happy to oblige. Thanks.

[Wednesday, November 26, 2008]

Don't leave home without it

Well made, priced right, has all the blades
I need .. get more than one. Use different
Swiss Army knives for different passtimes.
That is what I do .. never had one yet that
was not about perfect.

[Sunday, November 16, 2008]

Customers who bought this item also bought: