u/FargoGeek

I am going to try to be as objective as possible but, if I am honest, I am not a fan of the Classic line. My 58mm of choice is the Midnite Manager - but that is a future review.

The Classic SD is ubiquitous and to my knowledge, Victorinox's most sold model. It makes sense. The 58mm line is intended to be clipped onto keys and forgotten about until it is needed. While their tool sets are limited, just having them can make all the difference.

The knife photographed originally had advertising scales for a crewing boat manufacturer - the long rowing boats you see at the Olympics. I swapped them out for these standard black ones and added red scale tools. I think the red makes the black pop. It was thrown in for free on an ebay listing with a Nail Clip 580 - that is also a future review.

It currently lives on my backup keys while my second Midnite Manager is at Victorinox Service. Hopefully getting new scales.

The Specification:

• 58-mm, 2 layer SAK that comes in Cellidor, Alox, “Precious” Alox Scales and Walnut
• Colors: Every color of the rainbow and then some. More custom and limited edition graphics then I can count.  
• Liner Tools:
  • Scissors
  • 1.5” Drop Point Main Bade
  • Textured Nail File/2.5mm Flat Head Screwdriver
  • Keyring
• Scale Tools (Cellidore only):
  • Toothpick
  • Twizers

The Great:

The sheer collectability of the thing. There are an uncountable number of variations of the Classic SD. Victorinox (US) website alone, I counted 68 versions and every distributor has their own exclusive scales. I often complain that Victorinox does not offer enough color options. I cannot say that about the Classic SD.

The Size. Its compactness makes it disappear on your keys or in your pocket. I think the Classic SD shines as a secondary tool or emergency backup. It is something you can forget about - until it saves you a$$.

Emergency keychain tweezers for the win!

The Really Good:

I do have complaints about the Classic SD tool set. Especially the odd choice of having the knife on the same side as the keyring. Writing up this review, I realized something. The blade is not this model’s primary tool. It's the scissors. Victorinox’s scissors are excellent, even the 58mm ones. You have a blade, but you use the scissors. That realization actually improved Classics in my eyes. It really makes the bladeless Jetsetter/Companion S Alox more compelling.

The Mid:

The blade is super thin and not suitable for anything but the lightest work; but that is about all I would want to do with this size of SAK. That said, because it is so thin you can get it scary, razor sharp. The last photo compares the blade to a 65mm and 74mm models.

The textured nail file and small screwdriver are perfectly usable. Not substantial, but great to have if needed. The nail file might be my most used tool here.

The Bad:

The Size. I know, I said the size made it great. Objectively that is true. Subjectively, I hate it. I have bigger hands so the thinness makes it fiddly [for me]. I feel like I can never get a good grip and just do not enjoy using it. This is probably why I prefer the Midnite Manager. Its added thickness just feels better in my hands.

The Bottom Line:

I am still not a fan but I totally get why so many people are. It is a remarkable bit of industrial design. I can totally see how fun collecting all the different designs and limited editions would be. I have seriously been temped to buy a Classic SD with cool cutom scales, even though I know I will probably never use it.

I would have a hard time using a Classic SD as my only SAK but just having it on your keys for when you need it could be a life saver. I will stick with my Midnite Managers but maybe I do not hate it as much as I did before starting this review.

To be clear, I do not hate any SAK. If you love and collect Classics, then all the power to you.

Next Review: The Cadet

I just picked up this Cadet in a regional online auction site. I have not received it yet so the pictures are from the auction listing. It appears to be a [almost] NOS cadet with the original ribbed alox scales. It has the nail file that was introduced in 1986, so I know it is newer then that. The auction was all silver, gold and collectible coins...and one SAK.

What I do not know is when the current checkered scales replaced the originial ribbed scales. Anyone know? Also can anyone tell me when Victorinox used this box design?

As I said, I have not received it yet, so I cannot get a better picture of the tang stamps. It is only shipping about 150-miles so I should have it soon. I will post tang stamp pictures when I can.

Thanks!

My next review is for the knife with three names. It was officially introduced as the Trailmaster (which is what I am going to call it in this review). In the US it was sold as the Trekker due to a trademark dispute. As of 2026, it is now the Trailfinder worldwide. There are both one hand opening and standard bladed models. Victorinox is now calling the OHO model the Trailfinder MW - I have no idea what MW stands for. This review is specifically covering my one-hand opening model.

This is one of Victorinox’s larger 111-mm knives and inspiration for the m2008 Soldier and the current German Army Knife (GAK). The only real difference between them - that I know of - are the scales, scale tools and the lack of a dated tang stamp.

I picked up this used SAK for $42 on ebay earlier this year. My only modifications were to swap out the scale tools for red ones and tying a red paracord lanyard.

Specifications:

• 111-mm, 3 layer SAK with nylon scales with a printed logo
• Colors (available from Victorinox in the US): 
  • One hand opening: Black or Woodland Camouflage.
  • Standard blade: Red only
• Liner Tools:
  • 3.4” main blade with a liner lock and a “Spyderco" like one-hand opening. The front ¾ of the blade (tip side) is serrated or “wavy" . The back ¼ of the blade (tang side) is a straight blade with a chisel grind.
  • Wood Saw
  • Can opener/3mm Screwdriver
  • Cap Lifter/7mm Screwdriver/Wire Stripper notch. 90° half stop and liner lock on full stop.
• Back Tools:
  • Awl (without a sewing eye)
  • Phillips Screwdriver
• Scale Tools:
  • Toothpick
  • Twizers
  • Key Ring

The Great:

This might be a little controversial, but I think the serrated knife is great. Typically when you have a semi-serrated blade the tip side is ¾ straight and the tang side is ¼ serrated. Victrorinox flips it with the serrations on the tip. For cutting things like rope, nylon strapping, zip ties and for food prep the serrated blade is superior. Having the straight blade on the tang side gives better control bushcraft. For the knife’s intended use I would argue this is my preferred arrangement.

I am a big fan of the Spyderco like opener, even though I have never owned a Spyderco. Honestly it is the coolest fidget toy I own. It can be opened easily in either hand and the liner lock holds it very securely. 

The cap lifter is much larger than the standard one fitted on the 93, 91 or 84-mm models. The thing is huge and I feel more comfortable using this as a prybar than I do some of the smaller models. It still has a brass axle so don't go too hard on it. The best part is the cap lifter’s liner lock. This makes it a much more robust screwdriver and prybar than any of the smaller models. It also has the standard 90° half stop.

The Really Good:

The knife liner lock has to be pushed to the right to release. Most liner locks push to the left and that messes with some people’s muscle memory. I am only knocking it down because I have seen complaints. I personally got used to it in about a day. Too many complaints compare it to “tactical” knives, which is not fair. This is a utility knife, not a fighting knife. I would also argue it is more beneficial to be able to utilize it with you left hand so you can hold onto your rifle or shotgun in your right.

The Phillips screwdriver is great to have but I would always prefer an inline screwdriver.

I bought the Trailmaster with the intent to replace the scales with some grippy ones similar to the Soldier’s scales. The matte nylon scales are grippier than I expected so I never felt the need to. I am honestly surprised how much I liked them.

The Mid:

While I highly rate the blade, sharpening the serrated edge can be a pain. I would recommend checking out Felix Immler’s video on sharpening Victorinox’s serrated blades. It really helped me out.

The saw by itself would be great. The ergonomics of actually using the saw fail it. This complaint only applied to the OHO model. You have to wrap your hand around the knife opening bump to use the saw. Not the end of the world, but not the most comfortable thing either. Unfortunately, it is unavoidable with this opening style. The saw also does not have a lock. A lock would have bumped it up to good.

I am not really faulting the standard scale tools. The tweezer and toothpick are always great to have. On the Soldier you don’t get any scale tools. I just find it strange on a knife this big, that they do not offer more. There is not even a pin slot.

This last item was a toss up between Mid or Bad. I have a problem with the Victorinox logo choice. It is just printed on and I do not think it will last under hard use. You can see a scratch right through the logo in the picture above. I would have preferred an inlaid logo like the cellidore models or a logo molded into the grip like the Soldier.

The Bad:

There is not a lot of bad here. I wish the logo wasn’t printed and that the saw had a liner lock. I do not really find any serious fault in the tool set for what I intend to use it for.

While not really a complaint, 111mm models are damn big. At 132g it is not something I would want to carry everyday but I think it works as a dedicated outdoor SAK. One of the pictures shows it next to a 91mm Spartan and 84mm Sportsman.

The Bottom Line:

It is a good, solidly built knife, but I do not carry the Trailmaster much. I consider it my dedicated outdoor SAK. It is a little big to carry into the office (I still do on occasion). If you have a use for it, I can recommend it but I would not buy it as your everyday knife. 

You can see in the review, there is a lot in the good to mid categories. No bad really, but not a lot of great either. I am probably in the like it, not love it category.

In some parts of the world there will be issues caused by the liner lock and blade length. Where I live in the US, they are completely legal. In some countries it is not legal to carry a knife with a locking blade at all. I believe in the UK, it is not legal to carry a knife with a locking blade or one over 3”. That would doubly restrict the entire 111-mm range in the UK. It is still a good knife but make sure it is legal where you live.

I decided to make a series of reviews on my SAK collection. Enjoy.

I think the Compact is a great choice for an urban carry pocket tool. Overall I am very happy with it but I feel it has one glaring oversight in its tool set.

Specifications:

o 91-mm, 2-layer SAK that ships with plus scales, a mini-tool screwdriver and pin

o Available Colors: Red only

Liner Tools:

o 2.7” Drop Point Main Blade

o Cap lifter/Can Opener/5mm Screw Driver/Wire stripper notch combo tool with 90⁰ half stop.

o Scissors

Back Tools:

o Cork Screw

o Parcel Hook with Nail File

o Eyeglass screwdriver

O Keyring

Scale Tools:

o Pressurized Ballpoint pen

o Pin

o Tweezer

o Toothpick

The Great:

The best thing about the Compact is the size to function ratio. With only two layers, the 16mm thick knife slips into my fifth pocket and I barely know it is there. It packs a significant amount of functionality for a SAK this thin.

The scissors are really what make this knife compelling. Everyone here knows how good the Vic scissors are and this is the only 2-layer 91-mm model that has them. The only other way to get scissors is to upsize to a thicker and heavier model or inversely downsize to a much smaller set on a 58mm Rambler or Classic.

As with all Victorinox SAKs, the fit and finish is flawless.

The Really Good:

I like this combo tool. I actually believe it is easier to open cans with this than it is Victorinox’s standard can opener. The difference is the standard can opener goes forward around the can and I almost always overshoot and leave 1-2 spots where the metal is still connected. This combo tool pulls back toward you. I find that an easier motion. It is a little harder to initially puncture the can, but not that hard.

The combo tool is much thinner than the standard opening layer, so I would not recommend using it as a pry bar except for the lightest of uses. I have a picture comparing the combo too to the standard cap lifter.

I really like the diamond dust nail file inclusion into the parcel hook. It is not the best nail file in the world but the inclusion is appreciated. I wish Victorinox would use this on more models but I expect it is a major reason for the models higher price.

The addition of the pen, pin and mini-tool is a really nice benefit as well. The pin is an indicator that this is a hand built knife. Most Victorinox’s are built by machine but some tool sets require human intervention. Pins are always hand inserted so you typically only get a pin on models that already needed to be hand built.

The Mid:

The parcel hook. While I have found some good uses for it, I totally understand people's complaints that it is kind of meaningless. I live 2-block from a grocery store and will often use it to carry bags. It works great on plastic or paper bags with handles. I could definitely make the argument that an awl would be more useful though.

I think the Victorinox knife is great for 95% of what I need a knife for. It is not the best blade steel but I am not a knife guy…I am a swiss army knife guy. I just don’t really care. With regular stropping I can get this really sharp. It does the job.

The wire stripper/bender notch is OK, but honestly, why bother.

The Bad:

For a tool marketed as an essential urban carry it is a complete miss to not have a phillips driver or at least a small flat head that can be used on a phillips (i.e the regular can opener). I am more likely to come across Phillips in my day to day than I am a flat head. I know a lot of YouTube reviewers say that you can use the corner of the combo tool in a pinch, but have any of them actually tried too?!?! It is not good.

I normally prefer the corkscrew for the ability to hold a mini-tool. I have even used SAK corkscrews for its intended purpose a time or two. I think the model is screaming for the Phillips screwdriver. It would really complete the urban tool set.

The lack of color selection is frustrating. This is a complaint I have for most of Victorinox's offerings. If you like classic red, you are in luck because that is the only option.

I replaced my red scales with yellow ones pictured. I had to import them from an Ukranian ebay seller. The seller name is nataliyrylsk_0 by the way, who I highly recommend. Good pricing and reasonable shipping. Just expect to wait a month if you are in the US. I think the yellow scales really make this knife pop. I also swapped in black scale tools and added a black lanyard.

My final negative is the price. At an MSRP of $59 USD, the Compact is expensive for what it is. If you don’t mind a little more bulk, you could save quite a bit by going with a Climber ($45), Super Tinker ($45) or Companion ($48). As I said above, the Compact is likely hand built, where the others are not. Swiss labor has significant cost impacts.

The Bottom Line:

I really like it! Especially in yellow. I probably like it more because I did not have to pay full price. I had Amazon credits to use so only ended up paying an additional $15 out of pocket. I would not have bought it for the full $59. If you can find a good deal, it is a great knife - even without a Phillips driver.

It is an easy carry - thin and relatively light. I bought it as a replacement for my 20-year old Spartan. I typically carry one of my nine medium SAKs (84-93 mm) everyday. The Compact is currently getting the most pocket time. Although I just got the Spartan back from Victorinox service and it is practically brand new so the Compact is not as much of a replacement as I intended it to be.

In order of the closed picture

1. 111mm Trekker/Trailmaster

2. 93mm Pioneer X LE 2026

3. 93mm Victorinox m1961 Soldier with 1984 tang stamp and a copper wire bail I just made. Actual Swiss Army issued knife with WK+ hallmark. $19 at Goodwill!

4. 91mm Compact with after market yellow scales

5. My 20-year old 91mm Spartan freshly back from Victorinox service. Brand new blades, can opener and scales. My first and only SAK for 10 years.

6. 84mm Sportsmen

7. 84mm Cadet Alox. This is actually my 5th Cadet. I keep getting them confiscated because I forget I have it on me. Buying this replacement started my 2026 buying frenzy.

8. 85mm Wenger Trailblazer (or possibly Highlander). $8 at Goodwill!

9. 65mm Nail Clip 580 Wood.

10. 58mm Midnite Manager (red LED)

11. 58mm Midnite Manager (new white LED) - modded from a Rambler and Signature Lite Silvertech scales.

12. An advertising 58mm Classic SD that I got for free with the Nail Clip.

Missing from this photo is #13. A 93mm Wenger Standard Issue Alox (civilian m1961 Soldier) tang date 2004. I sent it to Victorinox to get serviced. They declined the service but I have not gotten it back yet.

All SAKs where bought this year except for Spartan (20 yo), and Sportsman (4 yo). I bought my first Cadet 10 years ago, but this is a replacement. All SAKa bought this year where used except for the Pioneer X and Compact. While I definitely caught the bug. Fortunately, there are not really any more models I want. I think I'm good for a while.

Surprisingly my favorites are probably the Midnite Managers. They permanently live on my 2 sets of keys.

How have I never realized that Victorinox will let you personalize scale colors on some models, even if they are listed as red only?!?!?!?! At the same price as the standard model!

I always assumed that the "Personalize" button was just for engraving. They will even let you pick differect front and back scale colors. It appears to be not avalible on the 84mm or any plus scale models.

There choices avalibility is a little weird though. On the 91mm models I can order yellow or green front scales, but they are out of stock on those color back scales.

One last thing. The spartan with silvertech scales is $40. Personalize a spartan to have silvertech scales and it is $34.

I recently sent two SAKs into Victorinox. I sent my 20-year old Spartan - my first SAK - to be cleaned and sharpened. I also sent in a 2004 dated Wenger Standard Issue (civilian m1961 Soldier) that I recently picked up. It was in rough shape and had a weak back spring on the opener layer.

I was ready to pay for the service on the Spartan. I had the blade "professionally" [over] sharpened a few times over the last two decades. The blades were not in the best shape anymore. The invoice listed the service cost $14 + $5 shipping...except they comped the entire service under warranty. I never requested warranty, but they called it a warranty repair anyway. I only had to pay $5 for shipping.

Victorinox replaced my Spartan's aftermarket plus scales, both blades and the can opener.

I requested a warranty repair on the Standard Issue but alas, it could not be fixed. Victorinox called me today to give me the bad news - not emailed, an actual phone call. Likely due to parts availability for a knife that went out of production 18 years ago. I knew that was a possibility. They are returning the Wenger to me at no cost and gave me a 30% discount code that can be used on anything on Victorinox's website, in lieu of a repair.

While I would have liked to get the Wenger repaired, I cannot fault their customer service. I sent them in at the end of July. I received the Spartan back today, after a month. I assume I will have the Wenger back next week.

OK. It is not a real Midnite Manager. I picked up a Rambler with junk scales [for parts] and combined it with the scales from a Signature Lite. Unfortunately, the battery had corroded and when I removed the LED module from the scales for cleaning, some of the silver paint pulled off. I also cracked the scale near the battery door. I don't know if that happened when I removed the scale or reinstalled it. I could not find any factory Midnite Managers with Silvertech scales.

All in, I am happy with it. Some Gorilla glue to stabilize the crack and some silver model paint (on the back) should fix it up nicely. I have it next to my genuine Midnight Manager with the older red LED. This way I can have one on both of my sets of keys.

On a side note, I had no idea Silvertech scales are just transparent scales with silver paint on the back.

The new (post 2008) white LED is significantly brighter than the older red LED.

I picked up a used Midnite Manager last month. Not the point of this post, but I love this knife.

It has the old, rather useless, red LED module. I tracked down a junk formally modded knife for $9 that had a white LED module. I had planned on swapping them out but no luck. You see there are three different 58mm LED modules the original red 2mm LED, a similar white 2mm LED and an updated 3.5mm LED that was introduced in 2008.

The 3.5mm LED is not copatible with the scales made for the 2mm LED! I do beleive you could fit the older module in new scales, but not the other way around. The problem is the battery compartment on the old scales is too small to fit the battery needed for the new, much brighter module. The 2mm LED scales have a smaller push out battery door. The new scales have a larger hinged door. That is the easiest way to tell them apart.

I could always swap out my scales, but I don't want to. I do not know if this was a special color blue or if this is just what transparent blue looks like after 20-year but mine is not the same sapphire blue as new scales. It is almost a sky blue/teal. I guess I will have to rock the red LED.

Actually I have already dropped $25 on a Silvertech Signature Lite to put the scales on the Rambler core from that junk knife. That way I can keep a Midnite Manager on both of my sets of keys.

I picked these for $20 as a lot on eBay from an estate sale. I got them on a whim. Both are in pretty good shape. I just oiled them and added S-clips.

I just bought a mystery knife off eBay for parts. Specifically it has a white LED and I want to replace the almost useless red LED in my Midnight Manager.

The knife I picked up has Rambler tools and an LED scale but the back scale has a standard tweezer. No pen so it's not a Midnight Manager. It is a Marlboro branded model. I cannot find a LED only Rambler model on SAKwiki.

I'm going to use it as a donor, so it does not really matter. Just curious. I might just throw some standard scales on it and turn it into a honest Rambler.

My second knife this week. I really have to allow down. This is a 2007-2008 (I think) Midnight Manager in transparency blue. The scales need some buffing, but overall in good shape. This is my first 58mm and my first SAK work transparent scales. $31 on ebay!

It has a brass rivit on the scissors so that dates it after 2007; it also has a red LED, which dates it before 2008. This is assuming SAKwiki's info is accurate.

This is a fan made sight to keep track of your SAK collection. I am not affiliated with them. The developer is super responsive and site is clean and very well organized. It's also free.

It looks like there are only a few dozen users at the moment.

Here's my collection https://www.sakhub.com/share/collection/6a31dafd6e8fd2e8fbad0ee7

Goodwill find. The pivots were so crunchy it felt like it was found in a sand box. It took 6 rounds through my cheap ultra sonic cleaner and some elbow grease to get the grinding to stop.

Not in bad shape, now that it is cleaned, oiled and sharpened. Basically a Sportsman with a Phillips. This is basically my first civilian Wegner. The only other Wenger I own is a 1961 pattern Soldier.

My take away: Surprisingly thin. I think the can opener will make a great box opener. The awl does not have a sharpened edge - what's the point of that? The tweezers and toothpicks are chintzy AF.

Does anyone have any idea how old this is?

I just stopped this on Amazon. https://a.co/d/0idrDX3e

Two weeks ago I picked up a Companion. A great knife but not really what I wanted. It was thicker and heavier than I really like. The box cutter is nice but is not enough to justify its spot in my small collection. I decided to return it to Amazon and exchanged it for this Compact. Already I can tell this will be a better fit [for me].

I recently picked up two 1961 Soldiers. A 1984 Victorinox Soldier with the WK stamp and a 2004 Wenger "Standard Issue" - which is the civilian market version of their Soldier (Soldat) 1961.

I noticed the Victorinox tools were much thicker then the Wenger. The Wenger tools are equal to the tools on my modern Pioneer X - so no slouch - but the Victorinox soldier tools are so much thicker. Overall the Victorinox is about 0.6-mm thicker then the Wegner. The Wenger tools also have the typical semi-polished finish of a commercial SAK. My cheap calipers measure the tools of my Wenger and Pioneer X at 2.5-mm thick. The Soldier is 2.8-mm thick. That is a 10% difference!

Out of curiosity does anyone know if the civilian market knives used a thinner tool stock or was this a change that happened when the Soldier dropped the old wire stripper in favor of the modern wire bender notch?

The 1984 knife is in much better shape then its 20-year younger cousin. While it was an issued knife I doubt is say much of any use. The scales are banged up (probably from rolling around a toolbox or junk drawer), but the tools look practically new. Hell the knife passed the paper test. The edges of the tools are still sharp from when they were stamped 42-years ago!

This is perfect because the Victorinox is in bad enough shape that I do not mind using it, but the tools are in great shape so it will be good to use. The Victorinox Soldier might be my new daily. I just need to fabricate a bail for it so I can put it on a lanyard.

My knives were just sitting loose in a catch all box on my dresser. I own 8 watches and a 12 slot watch box. I think this is a better use of the water space.