Victorinox Swiss Army Swiss Champ

This multi-tool is in my EDC bag and goes with me everywhere. No matter what activity you are doing outdoors this little guy can assist you with all your tasks at hand. I give this only 4.5 stars as the 5-star version is the Victorinox SwissChamp XLT 4inch ~priced $250.

The Victorinox Swiss Army Swiss-Champ multi-tool is the go-to EDC companion.

I have had both the USA version and the Switzerland model (merely larger in size) that I bought during my travel to their country, with me  for the past 20+ years.

As a child I used to watch the TV show MacGyver and due to production costs they used a cheaper version of this knife (lifetime family friend dated Henry Winkler, so got the inside info on this) but seeing all the amazing things that this gadget could be used for I had to get one for myself.

Let me first start by saying the greatest tool that a person can have for the great outdoors/ survival is Knowledge. Just owning this multi-tool knife will not save your life nor will it allow you to repair anything just by owning it.

But with knowledge this little guy in the right hands can conduct orchestras.

I have used the Swiss Champ to start fires (cutting small dead branches, making tinder, igniting the wood with the magnifying glass ), to repair camping equipment, to cut rope and paracord, to fix tents, unhook fish that I caught, open wine bottles and pop off glass beer and soda bottles, personal grooming/ hygiene (cutting hair, trimming beard, trimming and filing nails, using toothpick, while camping for long periods of time), removing ticks and splinters, food prep, Whittling (making wood figurines and whistles), repairing sunglasses, and even to write a letter with the included  pen.

I can honestly say that the knives are the sharpest of any knives that I own on the Swiss Champ. The saw is amazing, I use the scissors often, bottle cap, can opener and corkscrew too.

Height:  1.3 in
Length:  3.6 in
Weight:  6.5 oz

 List If Tool in the Swiss Army SwissChamp

1. large blade
2. small blade
3. reamer, punch and sewing awl
4. can opener
5. screwdriver 3 mm
6. bottle opener
7. screwdriver 6 mm
8. wire stripper
9. scissors
10. pliers
11. wire cutter
12. wire crimping tool
13. fish scaler
14. hook disgorger
15. ruler (cm)
16. ruler (inches)
17. wood saw
18. nail file
19. nail cleaner
20. metal saw
21. metal file
22. magnifying glass
23. Phillips screwdriver 1/2
24. screwdriver 2.5 mm
25. chisel 4 mm
26. multipurpose hook
27. toothpick
28. tweezers
29. pressurized ballpoint pen
30. pin, stainless steel
31. key ring
32. mini screwdriver
33. corkscrew

Background

Unlike knockoffs of this product (any other multi knife tool that you ever see is a knockoff of this gadget, think of Qtips i.e. cotton swabs on tiny plastic rods to clean your ears, Qtips is a brand name, yet we refer to cotton swabs by that name Qtips) this is the real deal, the amazing knife multitool that the world has made knockoffs from.

Owning this product for over 20 years and its larger version from Switzerland, and owning dozens of knockoffs over the years I can tell you that only these two knives / multitools are still with me and fully functional as if I just bought them yesterday.

I have used these in Yosemite, Adirondacks, Hunter MT, Bear MT, while camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, cycling, and even for ER field medical situations.

Realize this is the outdoorsman model and the company has other models for other activities and professions, i.e. golfing, computer repair, garden, combat, and gentleman's pocket knife, etc.

Nice blades and has everything, but too heavy and cumbersome.

I've had one of these for over 30 years. Went for the "ultimate" pocket knife. 

While it does have everything, most tools just really aren't necessary and make the knife overly thick and heavy. It is nice, but it never ends up going on trips with me.

The standard Victorinox Swiss Army Knife has everything one would usually need and is lighter, more compact, and 1/4 the price.

Background

30 years ago I moved to Switzerland and I got the Champ as a gift two years later (it's engraved Xmas 1993). I have a few different Victorinox SA knives, my favorite being one with a larger handle and larger locking blade. The steel is decent, and the workings hold up well with a little maintenance

A great EDC.
It's not a multitool.

A great little thing.

Beware! It's not a multitool, it's an EDC! This means it's not made for work, so don't expect it to help you assemble furniture, fix your dishwasher, or build a garden shed, it's designed to help you manage everyday tasks, solve small random complications, and do these easy jobs comfortably.