slip joint

Victorinox Alox Pioneer and Electrician Review

There are few companies which possess the brand recognition that Victorinox does. At one time, they were one of the co-producers of the Swiss Army Knife. In 2005, they purchased their ailing rival, Wenger, and have since consolidated the two brands under one label. For many, the word “pocketknife” is synonymous with the little red handle and silver cross of the Swiss Army Knife (or SAK).

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Much like traditional folders, these multitools possess a certain charm that declassifies them as weapons in the mind of the general public. Most people are familiar with the plastic handled models: they are cheaper, and more widely available in “big box” stores such as Walmart and Target. Although offerings such as the Classic and the Spartan are ubiquitous, they aren’t the best that Victorinox has to offer. In my opinion, that title is reserved for the Alox line of multitools.

“Alox” SAK’s were first introduced in 1957 and represented a fundamental shift away from the original design of the Swiss Army Knife. This variant – the Pioneer – featured aluminum handles, a cigar shaped handle, and a bottle opener in addition to the main blade, awl, and can opener. It was originally intended for civilian markets, but a reputation for sturdiness prompted the Swiss armed forces to adopt it. The Soldier (a cosmetically modified Pioneer) was issued to Swiss troops from 1962 until 2008, when it was replaced by the Soldier 08. Fortunately, Victorinox still produces the Alox line, though it hasn’t been updated in quite some time. Today I’ll be looking at two very similar models in the 93mm family of tools: the Pioneer and the Electrician.

General Dimensions and Tools

Each model features four identical tools: a main blade, a combination flathead screwdriver/bottle opener, and an awl. The Pioneer has a can opener (with a smaller flathead driver on the tip), whereas the Electrician has a 1.6” long sheepsfoot blade. Both have a closed length of 3.7”, a blade length of 2.8”, and an overall length that’s just under 6.5”. Finally, each of them weighs around 2.5 oz. All of these numbers are pretty comparable to similarly sized traditional knives. That’s quite an impressive feat, considering the number of tools Victorinox managed to fit onto these things.

I’ll be the first to admit that 99% of the time I’m just using the main blade or the bottle opener, but the other tools are well designed and occasionally save the day. Ironically, I’ve found that having the odd tool like a can opener, a corkscrew, or an awl only becomes more important as companies move towards “tear along the dotted line” style packaging. Society is becoming used to not needing these small, handy tools. As a result, that can opener might not be in the kitchen drawer when you need it to be. Sure, you might look insufferably handy whipping out your Swiss Army Knife, but you’ll save someone a trip to the nearest store by doing so.

The materials here are fine, even in comparison to modern “tactical” folders. While the edge does need to be regularly maintained, it can be done just about anywhere. I’ve used the bottom of a coffee cup as a stone and a bit of cardboard (no compound) as a strop on more than one occasion, and the results aren’t much worse than what I get from my stones and strop at home.

This steel’s corrosion resistance is quite impressive—so much so that I’ve put my Cadet away wet without consequence. Chipping has never been an issue. All the tools fit neatly inside the aluminum frame without rubbing against each other or the scales, and crisply snap open and closed. It should be noted that Alox models do not have rear mounted tools; as a result of this, the backspring runs the entire length of the spine. As a result, the pull is much stronger.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

Of course, the real differentiating mark between the Alox and the normal models are the ribbed aluminum handle scales. They’re slimmer, more durable, offer a better grip, and in my opinion are much more attractive. The anodization on every model I’ve handled has been quite good, though fairly prone to wear. On the silver models the wear is barely discernable, but with other colors you’ll see fading occur within hours of exposure to your keys.

None of this impacts the stellar grip. With a classic cigar shaped handle, gentle texturing, and slight chamfering, both the Pioneer and the Electrician are very comfortable in the hand. The keyring on the Pioneer is occasionally pokey, but less so than a pocket clip would be.

On paper, the 93mm knives should be great pocket companions. About a month of experience has poked some holes in that assumption. By no means are they awful, but carrying either of these knives is occasionally awkward. Both the Pioneer and the Electrician are just a bit too tall for the front and watch pockets of most jeans (though they’ll fit into the extra-large watch pocket of my work jeans). Additionally, while the handles are great in terms of grip and aesthetics, they’re pretty slick in the pocket. My first Alox Cadet disappeared on me, and I can only assume that it slid out of my pocket one day as I was lying down.

Both models will fit inside a KnivesShipFree Main Street slipcase, which is a great way to distribute the odd dimensions in a bit more comfortable fashion. If that’s not up your alley, the Pioneer has a keyring that you can attach a lanyard to.

Victorinox Pioneer Review – Final Thoughts

Personally, it’s hard to find something new to say about a pair of tools that are fairly well-known among gear aficionados. Neither is as svelte as the Cadet, but they offer longer blades, a more outdoor oriented set of tools, and a better grip. They’re a bit too large to play the role of a back-up knife, but make for a fine primary tool (especially around folks who get fidgety around modern knives). The handles are so classy that either of these could serve as a dress knife, yet the tools are rugged enough for just about any “prepper” scenario.

If I had to pick one of them, I’d pick the Electrician. I rarely use the keyring on the Pioneer, and the funky secondary blade on the Electrician is great for opening packages without worrying about damaging the contents. Both are tools that I’d recommend to anyone, especially at the $30 price point you can find them at.

Sale

Victorinox Swiss Army Pioneer Pocket Knife, 91mm

Sport type: Camping & Hiking

Victorinox Electrician Swiss Army Knife, 8 Function Swiss Made Pocket Knife with Electricians Blade and Wire Scraper - Silver

A CUT ABOVE THE REST: Compact, agile and ready to face any adventure head-on. Our range of Swiss Army Knives have been established since 1897 and continue to be an icon of utility and smart design.
DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Swiss made stainless steel construction encased in our popular scales offers a slimmer profile and is extremely resistant.
COMPACT CARRY: Bring this knife with you on your daily adventures without sacrificing space. It makes a great gift for any occasion or stocking stuffer for Christmas.
FIT FOR ALL TASKS: At their heart, all our pocket knives are a survival tool; multitaskers that deliver in any situation. At their most evolved they have surpassed basic function to pioneer space travel and restart engines.
TRUSTED QUALITY: Made in Switzerland; Victorinox provides a lifetime guarantee against defects in material and workmanship. Making a lifetime commitment has never been so easy. No assembly required, money back guarantee.

If you would like to buy a Pioneer or Electrician, I recommend purchasing them at Amazon. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Great Eastern Cutlery #73 “Cody Scout” Review

by Grayson Parker 8 Comments

Last Update: August 11, 2019
Just a few years ago, it seemed that fans of traditional pocket knives and modern “tactical” folders didn’t intersect. Enthusiasts of modern designs (myself included) were often leery of the carbon steel, clipless carry, and two-handed opening. Before the days of Instagram, the most popular way for people to show off their everyday carry was via forum posts; and while it wasn’t uncommon to see something akin to a Case Peanut pictured alongside a Paramilitary 2, traditional knives were largely relegated to a back-up role. It didn’t help that more than a few of the companies producing traditional knives were bought out and had their labor outsourced to China, which meant that (at the time) quality of materials and manufacture plummeted.

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However, over the last few years, companies like Great Eastern Cutlery and Queen have been taking up a larger share of the market for pocket knives. One of the first patterns produced by Great Eastern was the #73, which is based on the two-bladed trapper pattern, one of the classic American traditional knives. I went with a single blade pattern in green micarta. The blade pattern sacrifices some traditional flare in favor of greater utility, while the scales avoid some of the wear problems associated with the natural materials more often used with this type of knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The “Cody Scout” has a single clip point blade, measuring at 3 1/8 inches of 1095 high carbon steel, with a closed length of 3 ¾ inches, an open length of 6 15/16 inches, and weighs in at 2.25 ounces. Oftentimes, clip points come with an exaggerated top swedge, but fortunately Great Eastern chose a sleek, useful blade profile. The already thin stock is taken down to a very fine edge, though yours may need some reprofiling. Evidently Tom Krein is offering regrinds of several GEC knives. Personally, the stock is thin enough that I can’t see the value in having the blade reprofiled, but if anyone can do it right it’s Tom Krein.

Once I had the edge established on mine, it performed with aplomb at slicing tasks, though the 1095 needs regular touch ups. I’ve had better luck with my Sharpmaker than I have with my strop but your mileage may vary. 1095 is frequently seen on traditional folders, and all knives produced by Great Eastern under the Tidioute Cutlery brand make use of it. This steel tends to deform rather than chip out, so those of you who are tired of dealing with S30V’s chipping problems may be intrigued.

As for rust resistance, the steel on my #73 has performed admirably. If needed, I wipe down the blade after use. A dark patina has developed, which helps prevent the iron-like taste high carbon steels can leave during food preparation, and also protects the knife from the more serious red rust. It may sound odd, but I’ve had more problems with rust on 440c and Aus8a blades (both of which are technically stainless). This iteration of the #73 lacks most of the branding typically seen on knives produced by Great Eastern Cutlery. Apart from a tang stamp on each side of the blade, there are no markings, even on the shield inlay.

Handle, Ergonomics and Carry

Many traditional knives feature natural materials such as bone, stag, or wood as the covers (for you modern knife guys, scales). These materials are beautiful, warm to the touch, and offer an additional element of refinement over the usual selection of G10 and carbon fiber. However, as natural materials, they are more subject to warping and deformation, which may or may not be a concern to you. I live in what is essentially a desert, complete with triple digits, extreme aridity, and the occasional dust storm (a la The Mummy), and felt more comfortable with micarta. It is a material I never tire of, as it has an organic appearance (similar to bone or wood) but with most of the rigidity and resilience of synthetic materials.

Here, the green linen micarta has been sanded down to a smooth polish. The chamfering on the handles combined with the simple trapper frame makes the knife a pleasure in the hand. I’ve never had hot spots develop in use, and the blade is finished so well that it makes a fantastic worry stone (though I can’t advise that in public). Apart from a hairline gap between the back spring and the brass liner (which is only detectable by holding it up to the light), the quality of manufacturing is immaculate. The #73 is a popular pattern in the GEC line-up, so you will likely be able to select the cover material that suits you best.

I purchased a leather slip case along with the #73. Prior experience with traditionals and large Swiss Army Knives has shown me that clipless knives (barring exceptionally odd dimensions) tend to roll around in the pocket in the course of a day, and quickly become a hassle. The leather pouch is made by KnivesShipFree and distributes the weight of the knife in pocket. While it does add a step to accessing the blade, it makes a knife that I would normally consider unpocketable quite pleasant. Besides, if you are interested in quick access, a traditional is likely not the correct call to begin with. The quality of the slip case is excellent, but one of the nylon stitches (melted together) came loose. Quick application of Fabri-Tac solved the issue, though it’s something to be aware of. I opted for the weatherproof finish for this pouch, but that costs extra.

Walk and Talk

The pull on the Cody Scout is smooth, snappy, and very stout. Many reported that the #73 (not the Cody Scout in particular) was a “nail-breaker,” though mine isn’t nearly as tough. It’s worth noting that many of my friends have a hard time opening this knife. If you are acclimated to slip joints, you should be fine, but keep in mind this knife has a reputation for being a bear to open. I prefer to get the pull started with my thumbnail and pinch the blade from that point, as I find the extra purchase helps me open the knife in a more secure fashion. The half-stop doesn’t jerk the blade away from your fingers, which is a concern for some. I prefer slip joints with a strong pull, but that doesn’t mean this knife is safer because of it. As always, use knife sense and exercise caution.

GEC #73 Cody Scout – Final Thoughts

Traditional folders also exist in a space that many knife companies are leaving behind. As framelock flippers have taken over the market, we’ve seen a massive spike of options in the $200 plus range, while the options at less than $100 have stagnated. The average knife from Great Eastern Cutlery will cost you between $70 and $100, which undercuts many of the new offerings from Spyderco, Benchmade, and Zero Tolerance. Although the materials are not bleeding edge, they are from an era when knives were used much more frequently.

One of the reasons folks tossed a small traditional in their pockets on top of the modern knife they were carrying was that traditional knives have a very nonthreatening appearance. Modern folders can attract funny looks in the wrong environment, but traditional folders and multitools don’t seem to suffer from the same problem.

Whether due to clever marketing, an oversaturation of titanium framelock flippers, or a good value proposition, traditional knives are making a comeback. The tight manufacturing tolerances of companies such as Great Eastern and Queen lead me to believe that the resurgence of traditional knives will last.

I’ve been more than satisfied with the #73 in the month or so that I’ve owned it. The 1095 requires regular maintenance, but apart from that, this is close to my ideal everyday carry knife. If you’re the type to fuss over natural materials but want to give traditional knives a try, consider this blade. Personally, the “Cody Scout” seem more timeless than many traditional knives in production, which appear to be thoroughly grounded in the early twentieth century. Even if you’re only looking at traditionals as back-ups to more modern pocketknives, I’d point you to the #73. It possesses enough charm to put all but the most fervent of anti-knife folk at ease, but also wouldn’t be out of place next to a Sebenza.

GEC #73 Cody Scout – From $82.53
From: KnivesShipFree

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Cody Scout (and any of its derivatives) at KniveShipFree. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Pingo Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
I have spoken about the revival of interest in traditional slip joint knives a few times now. Today we have another slip joint review, but rather than featuring a traditional knife today’s blade could not be a more progressive collaboration. Acclaimed Scandinavian custom knife makers Jens Anso and Jesper Voxnaes have joined forces with Spyderco to bring us the Pingo, a completely modern slip joint folder.

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The idea with the Pingo was to make a folding knife that is legal to carry in Denmark, which doesn’t allow for locking folders or folders you can open with one hand. Both Jesper and Jens are from Denmark. Although that hasn’t stopped them from making all manner of bad ass folding knives, they apparently wanted to provide something even their countrymen could enjoy.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Pingo has an overall length of 5.80″, a 2.35″ blade, and weighs 1.9 ounces. This is a lightweight and slim every day carry (EDC) knife that disappears into the pocket. I can’t help but compare this to the Dragonfly 2, a knife I refer to as the Pingo’s distant cousin. It is also small, features a linerless FRN handle, and has a wire pocket clip. The Pingo is a great size for daily carry and should be legal to use pretty much anywhere knives are allowed.

The sheepsfoot blade of the Pingo is funky and functional. The high flat grind makes it a capable slicer, while the absence of a serious tip make the Pingo great for delicate tasks. Case in point, I used the Pingo to cut away a bandage from my dog’s foot the other week. It worked great – both animal and handler walked away without any problems. Denmark’s law for folders restricts blade lengths to 2.756″. The Pingo easily meets the standard with its 2.35″ blade. While 2.35″ isn’t a ton of blade to work with, I got a lot done with the knife. It easily broke down boxes, opened mail, and performed mild food prep. The knife is also fine for harder chores like cutting rope and whittling wood. The absence of a serious tip doesn’t make this ideal for stabbing things or cutting out coupons, but for most tasks the Pingo was fine.

The Pingo is made in Maniago Italy and features a blade of Böhler-Uddeholm’s N690 stainless steel. N690 is great stuff and I would compare it to something like 154CM or CTS-XHP in that it holds a nice edge but it is still easy to sharpen. It gets screaming sharp with very little effort. It is also very resistant to rust and corrosion. I have really come to enjoy N690 and was pleased to see it on the Pingo.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Pingo has a simple FRN handle with a stainless steel backspacer / spring. The FRN has a very fine waffle iron texture to it. It provides good grip but I find that it holds dirt and the little pores get clogged. Not a problem really until you decide to photograph the knife for the world to see. I’m not a huge fan of the oversize Spyderco bug logo in the center of the handle. I have never been a fan of over the top branding, and would have preferred something a little more restrained.

With all of that said, the overall handle construction is great. The button head hardware is nice and simple, and each edge of the handle has been rounded for comfort. The absence of any kind of liners make the knife extremely lightweight. While I wouldn’t pry with this knife, I am not concerned about the strength of the handle under normal use.

The overall shape of the handle is kind of elf-like, and the whole knife has a sort of otherworldly vibe to it. I will say that it feels great in hand. The simple elongated handle has plenty of room for all 4 fingers. A small run of jimping on the choil area of the blade holds your index finger in place. The absence of jimping on the spine makes the knife comfortable to use. This is a great little knife for lighter tasks.

Spyderco included the wire clip on the Pingo, which happens to also be on the Sage 1 and Dragonfly 2, a couple of my favorite Spydies. So I might be a bit biased when I say that I really like the clip on the Pingo. It’s simple, discrete, and highly functional.

In pocket the Pingo carries beautifully. It’s a wider knife, but slim and lightweight. Perfect for urban daily carry.

Deployment and Lockup

The whole point of the Spyderco Pingo is that you are not supposed to be able to open the knife with one hand. The knife is hard to open one handed, but with some finger gymnastics I can still get it done. The back spring or (“pull”) isn’t super strong, but feels appropriate and I’m not afraid of the blade falling out of the handle or anything like that. The pivot is smooth, and the action is crisp as the blade slides into its half stop, and then opens completely with a satisfying snap. All said this is a well implemented slip joint. Spyderco did include their trademarked round hole here, and when the knife is closed the hole sort of winks out at you over the FRN scales.

Here is the Pingo next to my Dragonfly 2:

Of course being a slip joint there is no lock on the knife. Personally this doesn’t turn me off and I think it is fine for an EDC knife (at least for my purposes). People have been using slip joints as work knives for hundreds of years. You just need to be careful with it and treat the tool with respect.

There is no blade play to speak of, and blade centering is perfect.

Spyderco Pingo Review – Final Thoughts

The Pingo strikes me as an excellent convergence of traditional sensibility, forward design, and modern materials. It appears simple enough, but this is a deceptively refined knife from the benches of two of the hottest custom makers on the market. The choice of materials is great and the fit and finish is good (not amazing, there are some tooling marks on the inside of the spring and the spring bows out ever so slightly from the handle at one point). Although it’s not a locking folder, it’s still a practical choice for EDC, even if you can carry a locking folder in your jurisdiction.

The Pingo is also priced attractively at under $50. I have been critical of Spyderco for mostly introducing expensive knives these days, so I have to give credit where it’s due. The Pingo is accessible, and it doesn’t feel cheap either.

If you are torn between this and the Dragonfly 2 (and your local laws allow you to carry both) I would probably recommend the Dragonfly because you can open it with one hand and it locks. But the Pingo is still a fun and functional knife and worth your consideration. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong either way. Recommended.

Spyderco PINGO Slip It Plain Edge Knife, Black

Made using the highest quality materials
Tested for quality and durability
The most trusted name in you cutlery needs
Two-hand opening Slip It
Reversible wire clip

I recommend purchasing the Pingo at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Case Sod Buster Jr Review

by Dan Jackson 27 Comments

Last Updated: July 20, 2019

I recently reviewed the Victorinox Cadet. This is a time honored knife, but frankly I was unsure whether many people would be interested in reading a review on it. The feedback was actually really good. So much so that it has encouraged me to write a review on another classic slip joint in my collection, the Case Sod Buster Jr.

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I got into the Sod Buster Jr after realizing how much I enjoyed carrying the Cadet, and wanted to venture further into the world of traditional slip joint knives. I’ve been into modern EDC and Tactical knives for 5 years now, but really know very little about traditional slip joints. So when I knew that I wanted to try another slip joint out it wasn’t long before I stumbled across the Sod Buster Jr. Three things really drew me to this knife: 1. It’s made in the USA 2. It’s under $25 and 3. it features a nice carbon steel blade (although you can get the knife in stainless steel if you want). Throw in the fact that it’s made by Case, a company that I know has a serious pedigree in the world of traditional American knives, and I figured it was a great starting point.

I have to say though, I’m not much of a historian. If you are looking for a definitive history of the sod buster pattern then this won’t be the place for it. My understanding is that the pattern or style of knife is anywhere from 100-130 years old, and emerged from Germany as a kind of a folding butcher’s knife or a clasp knife. It can be loosely classified as a type of peasant or farmer’s knife. Case apparently associated the name “sodbuster” with their knife design in the 1960s. If any historians want to correct me or drop some knowledge in the comments section, by all means be my guest. I’ll be approaching the knife purely from a utilitarian/general knife enthusiast’s standpoint.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Sod Buster Jr has an overall length of 6.45″, sports a 2.8″ blade, and weighs 2.19 ounces. For a mild mannered suburbanite these are great numbers. Much like my trusty Cadet, I can easily slip this knife into a pair of slacks and not miss a beat. Of course if you are looking for something a little larger, Case does offer the full size Sod Buster, and it could easily be carried as well.

The blade is a classic drop point design with a short belly and tough tip. The knife was designed to be used as a utility blade, and it certainly functions that way in the 21st century. The grind is a full flat grind, or something close to it, and it gets nice and thin behind the edge. It is a tool knife and it cuts quite well.

Case actually offers the knife with 2 distinct steel choices. You have their “TrueSharp Surgical Stainless Steel” and their Chrome Vandium (CV) high carbon steel. I opted for the high carbon steel version as the thought of a pocket knife with a carbon steel blade was intriguing (and, believe it or not, is actually a first for this website), and what little preliminary research I did do before buying the knife suggested that the CV steel superior to the TrueSharp stainles steel in the arenas of sharpening and edge retention. Whether that is true in practice is impossible for me to say at this point, but I did notice a good deal of info floating about the web comparing CV to TrueSharp, if that sort of question tickles your fancy.

In practice the CV steel exhibited a lot of the qualities I like about carbon steel. It was easy to sharpen and it held a decent edge. It’s not a super steel in the edge retention department, but for my purposes it got the job done.

I will say that the CV steel does patina (and will rust if you aren’t careful). The knife arrives from Case with something of a mirror polish to it. My blade started to get some color after cutting up an apple, and I actually noticed a couple little spots of rust forming on my knife when I left it in a drawer for a few weeks (without oiling it first). At that point it wasn’t the nicest knife to photograph so I tried my hand at forcing a patina with some mustard. My results were interesting. The knife definitely darkened and I think it looks pretty cool. It would be even nicer to “earn” that patina over decades of use, but I guess there is still plenty of time for that.

At the end of the day for a $20 slip joint the performance of the blade and steel definitely surpassed my expectations. This is a nice little cutter and you will have a hard time finding much else that will exceed it’s performance given the price tag.

Handle and Ergonomics

My Sod Buster Jr came with yellow synthetic handles. They offer the knife with black plastic handles, but there is a bunch of writing on the blade, and that didn’t appeal to me. The synthetic yellow material is actually quite dense and has a quality feel to it. The yellow has some old school charm to it, almost as if it were made of bone or ivory, and I enjoy that aspect of it. The handle is of pinned construction with brass pins and pivot and brass liners. The backspacer / spring is stainless steel.

Ergonomically, the chunky yellow scales fill the hand nicely and there is just enough room for a 4 finger grip (with large hands). There is no jimping or texturing anywhere on the knife. I wouldn’t call the handle slick, but it’s not a traction machine either. I was able to comfortably accomplish normal EDC tasks including opening my mail, cutting up fruit, and breaking down boxes. If I had a rocking chair I could easily spend an afternoon whittling on the porch with a corn cob pipe and a fat slug of whiskey.

While we are discussing the handle, it’s worth noting that the handle is pretty thick. For example, it is way thicker than my Alox Cadet:

This also isn’t a bad time to point out that the blade centering on this $25 knife is dead nuts center.

Deployment and Lock Up

For your “deployment” you have a nail nick, and the knife doesn’t have a lock, so this section once again proves to be a little off point. The action or, “walk and talk” as slip joint aficionados call it, seems pretty good. I don’t have enough slip joints to form a frame of comparison, so I won’t attempt to rank it on a 10 point scale (slip joint enthusiasts sometimes rank the pull or strength of the spring on a 1-10 scale). I will say that this knife sure as heck isn’t opening up by accident, and the blade makes a satisfying snap when it pops open. There is no half stop on this knife.

The lock up is pretty good considering that there is no lock. I didn’t have any issues with the knife closing on my hand, but I was careful in using it. If you mind your p’s and q’s and use the right tool for the job then you should be able to get a fair amount of work done with this knife.

Case Sod Buster Jr. Review – Final Thoughts

I am frankly very impressed that they can still make these in the US and sell them for under $25. Little details like a centered blade a sharp even edge bevel are present at a price point where these kinds of details often cant be found. Case in point, I bought a little plastic handled Buck lockback knife a couple years ago, and the thing was such a piece of junk that I didn’t even bother reviewing it. The Sod Buster Jr is legitimately a nice knife. Much like the Cadet, this would also make a great gift knife.

What else can I say? The Case Sod Buster Jr is an absolute classic. There are folks who have dedicated their collections to traditional slip joint knives, and could lend far keener insights than I have. So I hope I didn’t do it too grave of an injustice with this review. I still wanted to take an opportunity to talk about it, because I can appreciate the knife even as a relative outsider to the world of traditional folders. It’s a nice gateway knife, and a safe starting point for a traditional collection. I like and recommend it.

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Case Sod Buster Pocket Knives, Yellow, Small

Chrome vanadium (CV) steel blade
Skinner blade; smooth yellow synthetic handle
Great everyday pocket knife for projects around the house, the outdoors, and hunting
Length: 3.63 inches closed and 2.1 ounces
Limited Lifetime Warranty

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Case Sodbuster Jr. at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Victorinox Alox Cadet Review

by Dan Jackson 18 Comments

Think back to your first experiences with a pocket knife. If you are anything like me, it probably came in the course of exploring your father or grandfather’s desk drawers or perhaps rifling through that treasure box of items many men keep. Invariably, you would come across at least one well-worn red handled Swiss army knife (SAK). For many that would be their first encounter with a pocket knife.

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And for many more, their first practical experiences with a pocket knife may very well have have been at boy scouts. I vaguely recall my first pocket knife while camping as part of my tenure at scouts. I am unsure on the exact model number, but it was some sort of a classic SAK. I would use it to prepare tinder for a fire, get ingredients ready for the dutch oven, and even used it to try my hand at carving one of those wood handkerchief slides. These were some of my first experiences with pocket knives. When I pause to reflect on those moments I am instantly transported back in to a much more simple and wholesome time of my life, with much of it centering around the ubiquitous Swiss army knife.

Fast forward to me starting to seriously get into the hobby of knives. My first “real” knife was a Benchmade Griptilian. From there I then ran fast and hard down the rabbit hole. I have handled many many pocket knives. Hell I have reviewed over a hundred here on this website alone. In my search for a perfect pocket knife I have spent thousands of dollars. At this point I don’t think twice about spending several hundred dollars on a single knife if it catches my eye. I’ve traveled to Blade show, joined a knife collecting club, appeared on podcasts, videos, and guest blog posts all to advance my interests in the latest and greatest portable cutlery.

But my knife collecting came full circle when a little over a year ago I was given the gift of a Victorinox Cadet. Mine was the very same unassuming blade that I would find in my father’s dresser drawer. Red plastic handles. Unassuming blade complete with the usual cap lifter and can opener. Instinctively, upon unboxing this new blade and admiring the snappy action of all the little tools I put the Victorinox into my pocket. It has been over a year later, and I haven’t left the house without some sort of a SAK since.

For many I am surely preaching to the choir. This is after all, the quintessential pocket knife. An unwavering staple in the every day carry of men the world over. I still want to pay my respects, write this review, and share with you a tool that I hold quite near and dear; the humble Victorinox Alox Cadet.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Alox Cadet has an overall length of 5.75″, a 2.5″ blade, and weighs 1.6 ounces. Victorinox makes the Cadet in a number of variations, I happen to like the one with the silver aluminum “alox” handles because it keeps the knife nice and thin and seems to wear a little better than its plastic-scaled counter parts. It’s also worth noting that Victorinox makes larger and smaller knives with the Alox handles as well. Ones that quickly come to mind include the Pioneer (larger) and Classic (smaller).

The Cadet is the perfect size for daily carry. Mine rolls around loose in the bottom of my pocket every day. At a sub $25 price point, I could care less if it gets beat up by my flashlight and car keys. Even if by some freak accident the knife it were to fall out my pocket some day I would have no problem plunking down the coin for another one.

When I am at work this is the only knife I carry. I spend most of my day behind a desk banging away at a keyboard or talking on the phone, so this little slip joint is plenty of knife for the things I do, which is mostly opening letters and packages. At home the Cadet can often be found cutting up apples, smearing cheese onto crackers, or handling whatever other minor task I may have at hand.

The thinly ground blade of the Cadet slices as good or better than anything else I have handled. Seriously, it’s a little laser and it cuts really well. Whatever stainless steel Victorinox uses sharpens very easily and doesn’t stain. This is a softer steel so it doesn’t earn a blue ribbon for edge retention, but it holds a decent edge and a couple licks on a strop will restore it to hair shaving performance at the end of the day. I’d say it’s on part with 8Cr13MoV and other lower end steels. The only other maintenance I perform is regularly washing the knife out with hot soapy water.

When I’m not at work I may clip a larger folder to my pocket, but the Cadet still comes in handy as a secondary blade. It’s perfect for situations where you don’t want to bust out a large knife, and the extra tools are real handy too. Victorinox includes a nail file / phillips driver, a can opener, and a bottle opener/flat head driver. Next to the blade my bottle opener sees the greatest amount of use, but the drivers can come in handy and the file can maintain your fingernails in a pinch. In a sub 2-ounce package you won’t find much else that packs as much utility as the Cadet.

Handle, Ergonomics

Handle construction of the Cadet is simple, but everything is clean and nicely finished. The knife is pinned together. The tools and backspacer are given a high satin finish while the aluminum handles are given a matte finish. After a year of daily carry and use my Cadet does show some signs of wear, but it is still a handsome knife. The action for all the tools is still springy and satisfying and there is no play with any of the parts.

A discussion of the “ergonomics” of the Cadet is almost laughable, as I have never used the knife for tasks harder than breaking down a cardboard box, but the handle is big enough to get 4 fingers around and is plenty comfortable for my needs. The handle texture is pleasing to touch and visually interesting. It provides some traction without being obnoxious. The red Victorinox shield provides a splash of color and that extra touch of class.

There is no pocket clip on the Cadet, which is just the way I like this knife. Unlike my $300 Strider PT, I have absolutely no reservations to pocket carrying the Cadet. It doesn’t need a little leather slip-sheath or anything like that, although Victorinox does include a split ring if you want to put a lanyard on it or attach it to your keys. It’s a beater knife and gets beaten up quite a bit in my pocket, but the slim design and durable aluminum scales allows the knife to age gracefully.

Victorinox Cadet Review – Final Thoughts

What is left there to say about the Cadet? Buy one. Seriously, this is an absolute must have knife. Buy a couple and give them as gifts to family and friends. You won’t find a nicer knife for $20 and you won’t find anything as functional and disarming either. That said, despite the small price tag this is still a very classy knife and it comes with an unexpected level of pride of ownership. And it performs too. This thinly ground edge can’t be beat for managing your mail and cutting up food. And all the extra tools are gravy… delicious, delicious gravy ladled on top of one of the finest little EDC knives money can buy.

If I had a gripe about the knife, it would be that I really like the little tweezers and toothpick included with the thicker plastic handled version of the knife, and sometimes miss that with the Alox Cadet. But there is a price to pay for style and durability, and the trade off is that Victorinox cant squeeze in those tools.

At this point I have waxed poetic about EDC knives for the better part of 5 years. This is the gold standard for EDC. Whether it’s your primary knife or a secondary blade paired with a larger folder or fixed blade, the Cadet is sure to get lots of use and will be appreciated by seasoned knife collectors and laypeople alike. I don’t say this often, but the Cadet is a must have knife.

Sale

Zero Tolerance (0450); With 3.25” DLC-Coated S35VN Stainless Steel Blade, All-Black Carbon Fiber and Titanium Handle Scales, KVT Ball-Bearing Opening, Frame Lock Reversible Pocketclip; 2.45 OZ., Silver, Small

Titanium frame lock houses hardened steel lockbar; frame lock secures blade in position so it does not close accidentally
Flipper works for left- and right-handed users; assists blade’s manual release with one-handed convenience
Finger guard, jimping and choil protect fingers during rigorous use while slicing, cutting, chopping, scaling, slashing, piercing or digging in any environment, in any conditions
Drop-point tip provides extra strength and chip resistance and eliminates pitch momentum
Overall length: 7.4 inches; closed length: 4.1 inches; blade thickness: 0.121 inches; weight: 2.9 ounces

$189.95
Buy on Amazon

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