Imagine creating a product so iconic, so instantly recognizable as a symbol of utility, that its name becomes synonymous not just with other products of its type, but with anything, or anyone, who is resourceful, multi-talented, and dependable. That, my friends, is the enviable position Victorinox has earned.
Since the 1880's, the Swiss brand has been cranking out pocket knives that pack a good bit more functionality into them than simply a quality blade. Their shield logo and red Cellidor bodies on which you'll find it have become so iconic I find it hard to believe there is anyone on earth who doesn't immediately recognize them, and I feel equally certain everyone has probably handled one of these lovely knives at some point in their life.
The original "multi-tool," the Swiss Army Knife (or "SAK" as it is sometimes known) is famous for incorporating a range of functional and durable tools into a remarkably compact and affordable package. Blades, sure, but also screwdrivers, can openers, corkscrews, saws, punches, chisels, magnifying lenses, wire strippers, bottle openers, and much, MUCH more. Available in a wide range of sizes and variations, with evocative names such as "Ranger" and "Climber" and "Spartan," from tiny and lightweight keychain models with just a couple of tools to larger, heavier models with more than a hundred individual functions, there is a SAK for everyone, it seems.
All this said, it is now 2026, and Victorinox has had direct competitors for quite a while already. In a world of "EDC" madness, multi-tools and knives are everywhere, and established brands like Leatherman and Gerber have their own well-earned reputations for quality. Companies like Boker and Spyderco (as well as dozens of others) produce a wide range of knives promising high build quality and excellent all-around functionality. So it must be asked, is the traditional Swiss Army Knife still relevant? Does it still stack up, gram for gram and euro for euro, with some of these young and hungry challengers?
In our opinion here at Autology Motors, yes. For three main reasons:
REASON ONE: QUALITY
Old companies are great. They seem historic and somehow more trustworthy. But not all companies get better as they age. Some become complacent. Some sell out to investment companies who keep the name and publicly boast about heritage while cutting costs behind the scenes, eroding quality in the interests of ever-greater shareholder profits.
Happily that is not the Victorinox way. Still family owned, and still fastidious about standards, you might be surprised to realize how the build quality of a Victorinox knife stacks up to some high falutin' speciality knife makers who sell at double, triple, or quadruple the price. Even a 25€ Victorinox model will arrive with tight tolerances, exceptional fit and finish, and with razor sharp blades made to extremely high standards. The tools are universally durable and never there for show. Each and every one can be used again and again, for at least its intended purpose, and usually many more purposes besides.
There is a "fineness" to SAKs that make owning one (or ten!) extraordinarily pleasing. Everything works the way it should, right out of the box, every time. The blades arrive terrifyingly sharp and stay that way longer than you'd think. When they dull, they can be resharpened easily. The tools are both fine (the scissors, for example, are among the most precise and pleasing I have ever used) and tough as nails (the flathead screwdriver will happily pry up the stuck lids of old paint tins without complaining) and will endure borderline abuse for a long, long time. If anything gets damaged or worn out? Just send the knife back to Victorinox and for a nominal fee they will refurbish it and get it back to you.
I daily two different SAKs. One when I'm working in the shop and a slimmer model at home and on the weekends. Both get oceans of use. Both are as tight and pleasing to use as the day I bought them. I have never found the same kind of quality anywhere else. Not even in brands costing considerably more.
REASON TWO: VERSATILITY
When it comes to multi-tools, I still prefer mine to be knife-based. Plier-based tools (like the Leatherman) are great, but they are significantly bulkier, more complicated to deploy, and vastly more expensive. And although they often incorporate a blade, it usually feels like a distant afterthought.
I still do a heap of cutting. From packages of parts to apples at lunch time, I'm reaching for the blade in my pocket more than any other tool, by far. But the tools on the SAK are so well made, even in the shop it's often more convenient for me to use the integrated tools on my Victorinox than it is for me to walk over to my box and grab the equivalent dedicated Hazet or USAG. Don't get me wrong, a Swiss Army Knife is no substitute for proper tools, but for quick jobs the functionality of these knives is no joke.
Everyone has their own tastes, and everyone has their own set of needs, and the sheer breadth of offerings from Victorinox means there is a choice that suits just about everyone. When I'm in the shop I swear by my "Mountaineer," which has two different blades, the excellent Victorinox precision scissors, a combination file and metal saw, two different flathead screwdrivers (one of which is designed to work on Phillips head screws as well), a bottle opener/prybar, a can opener, a punch, a parcel hook, and a corkscrew. Plus the well-known tweezers and toothpick. (Think the corkscrew is superfluous? Wait until you need to get a tightly wound knot out of a length of cord...)
At home and on the weekends, I want something a lot slimmer in my pocket, so I leave the four-layer Mountaineer in the shop and carry my beloved "Compact" instead. The Compact is a well-documented EDC champion, which packs a blade, combo bottle opener/can opener/flathead screwdriver, scissors, corkscrew, parcel hook, tweezers and toothpick into just two lightweight layers. It also has what are known as "plus" scales, which incorporate a pin (perfect for ejecting SIM cards) and a pressurized ballpoint pen! Too cool.
And in the car? Every car I own has a Victorinox "Rescue Tool." A glow-in-the-dark beast with a glass breaker, seat belt cutter, laminated glass saw (to cut through safety windscreens), a big locking blade, and more. Happily, I have yet to come upon a serious accident where rescuing someone is needed, but if I do I know I will have the necessary gear to potentially save a life.
You will have your own needs, and your own favorite knives to address them, but that's one of the beauties of the Victorinox line. There is something for everyone.
REASON THREE: THE COMMUNITY
It's hard to express how wide and varied the Victorinox user community is, but it's impossible to express how varied the customization options are, or how many YouTube videos and blogs have been dedicated to choosing, maintaining, modifying, or "hacking" Swiss Army knives. It makes owning them incredibly fun.
I'm a bit of an old-school purist, so most of my knives have the traditional red Cellidor scales. Those are my personal favorites. But I do have models with black scales, yellow scales, dark green scales, and some "Alox" models with the knurled aluminum grips. I don't tend to disassemble my knives and "hack" them, and I keep everything classic, vintage-appropriate, and original. But you may be different. And if you are? Wow, well... then get ready. Aftermarket scales are available in everything from textured titanium to copper, and from glow-in-the-dark ABS to mango wood. You can go down a million different rabbit holes hacking, customizing and modding your SAKs to suit your precise needs and personal style, and there is a world of content and fan groups that are as inclusive and welcoming as any I have found.
The price of entry is low, with the bulk of their popular offerings selling for between 25 and 65 euros, and that is a ton of enjoyment for the money.
Is Victorinox perfect? Of course not. Those lovely Cellidor scales can scratch easily, and the obsession with quality and process has traditionally meant the company is a little slow to innovate. But the past couple years have shown a real effort to shake things up, with a raft of new models and even a few new tools, all of which feels like a breath of fresh, Swiss mountain air through the industry. And rumor has it more is on the way.
So when it comes to everyday utility, everyone should carry what suits them best. Here at Autology Motors, where tradition, quality, utility, and retro aesthetics all go hand-in-hand, we tend to carry Victorinox. And if you have dismissed the Swiss Army Knife as a quaint, outdated relic of a bygone era, you might want to give one another go. I think you'll be surprised to find what they deliver for the money.
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NOTE: ThIs blog post, like every other, is unsponsored content. Autology Motors has no financial interest in promoting Victorinox products, and the Swiss Army Knives we carry have been purchased with our own money.
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