Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus Pocket Knife Reviews

• Be careful about this purchase.

  
  By AAIFPD6NESX2C on 2005-09-02
  Swiss Army Champion Plus which is not as good as the plain Swiss Army Swiss Champ Pocket Knife but is priced at $17 less. I had previously purchased the Swiss Army Champion Pocket Knife which has a pair of minipliers that work as well as the usual hemostats for fishing. That is the only difference that I can see between the two models. Given that gold handled hemostats are available for under $5 at most fishing stores that would make this the better buy but this is not the top of the line that the name implies. So 4 stars for this Swiss Army Swiss Champ Plus and 5 stars for the Swiss Army Swiss Champ Pocket Knife.
  I always wondered what the hook thing is for on the other side of the knife from most of the other blades. After a little research I found it is for carrying stringed packages or grocery bags and really converts the knife into a comfortable carrying handle instead of having it feel like you're losing a finger at a knuckle.
  
  

• If you've longed for a SwissChamp but hated the price.......

  
  By AKZ2QUTZMD548 on 2005-09-02
  Get this Knife! The Only difference is the lack of pliers. What good are pliers that size anyway?
  
  

• Awesome Knife/Tool

  
  By A3C1LFNPI06AI on 2005-06-22
  I really like all the features of this Swiss Army Knife. It was affordable and really has a lot of useful tools. Some tools not mentioned above packed into this knife include:
  
  Needle (near the corkscrew)
  Micro Small Screwdriver within the corkscrew
  metal saw
  wood saw
  
  These things come in really handy in the tackle box or glove compartment in the car. They also really work well hiking/backpacking/camping or unpacking or whenever a quicktool is needed.
  
  A great knife at a great value with a great warranty.
  
  
  

• Too heavy and too hard to open

  
  By AIQW5AK5SF7BC on 2005-08-12
  This item is very heavy = no one would want to carry it around in pants pocket or any where else. Items so hard to get out that I can't get all of them opened as I have problems with my aging hands.
  
  

• Great for the botanist/biologist as well as the handyperson

  
  By ASBP0Y6V2DL8X on 2005-12-08
  I like this particular Swiss army knife because it has a bit more than the standard knife. As a botanist and biology teacher, the hand lens has been used many a time to examine detail on a moss or beetle. The saw is great for camping, as well as collecting specimens. Additionally, you have all the basic handy gadgets you need on a knife: screwdrivers, scissors, nail file, tweezers, etc, as well as your basic, essential knife blade. I've had one of these for over 25 years, and have used it on five continents and for a hundred picnics. My only complaint is that as a lefty, food/muck can get lodged in the grooves of the handle when you use the blade (e.g. cheese, bread crumbs, etc). I use the toothpick to clean it up, but a hassle nonetheless.
  
  
• Great knife! Just watch out for Amazon's Customer Service...
  By A2482GTDUKC8OA on 2006-01-16
  I'd had a Swiss Army knife for years that stupid me forgot to remove from my baggage, and was confiscated at the airport a year ago. So, in shopping for a new one, I found this beauty on Amazon.com.
  
  But what an ordeal it was to finally get it from them!
  
  Buyer beware: Amazon.com has great prices and shipping rates, but you may want to plan to purchase your items at any time but the height of gift-buying or gift-giving season. Between this item and the other two that I ordered simultaneously, I've ended up having to send Amazon ten emails, and place eighteen calls. So I've had to contact Amazon TWENTY EIGHT TIMES to get everything processed properly! This included one call in which I spent, literally, fifteen minutes calmly trying to convince an agent in India that I needed to speak to a supervisor for further assistance (and the supervisor DID turn out to give me the help I'd needed), and another call where, in the midst of calmly explaining everything that had happened so far with my order, another supervisor in India simply hung up on me. I know the difference between calmly, and angrily, explaining something. I've found that normally, "calmly" is the way to go, but I guess some times nothing will help, if the customer service department simply doesn't have it together...
  
  When I finally received the knife, I noticed that it must've come to me as a return, since one of the plastic casing sides had a few abraded areas, which wouldn't be the case with a brand new item...
  
  Either way, it's a GREAT knife, and worth every penny that you might spend on it! If you're thinking about a fully loaded Swiss Army knife, and really have no use for those pliers (as I don't), don't think twice! Just buy it!
  
  
• Very nice
  By ADQ6DTQHH6VA on 2005-09-06
  What a great item. I wanted to get my groomsmen something different than just an engraved mug or a money clip and decided on multi-funtion tools. They just loved them. This knife is very handy to keep in a car, tackle box, whatever. It has everything you could need for hundreds of odd jobs for camping or fishing to around the house or garage. Wenger products are always high quality too.
  
  
• A Retired Classic!
  By A1C36SXRM7GH1 on 2007-08-13
  This is a classic Swiss Army knife that was retired and has been out-of-production for 20+ years. In my opinion, this is the best of the larger Swiss Army knives ever produced.
  
  The Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus was at one time the largest, combining the classic Champion with the hook, chisel, pen, straight pin and mini screwdriver. It is very large, but not absurdly so like the now-reigning SwissChamp. Don't be confused by other reviewers--the Champion Plus does not have the pliers like the SwissChamp. I feel this makes it the perfect size and weight for a large Swiss Army knife.
  
  The only difference between this and the one I had as a kid is the plastic around the magnifying glass is now clear instead of gray as pictured.
  
  I'm very pleased to have found a Champion Plus to replace the one I lost years ago. Highly recommended if you are looking for a large Swiss Army Knife!
  
  
• Swiss Army Champion Plus
  By A3LVHU3WNR5XF3 on 2005-08-27
  Very heavy. Hard to open and figure out. But it's got everything you would ever need. They need to get rid of them cork screws!! Who ever uses them anyways!
  
  
• It's a 'tool-in-pocket'
  By A38D9LN7KZ8N7O on 2005-08-09
  Very nice and handful tool set. I use it a lot to handle simple repairings. I believe one day I will save my life by it if I meet an accident...
  
  
• More useful then you may imagine
  By AHW31R6KBJWUZ on 2007-12-27
  The Victorinox Swiss Champ Plus is a very well designed multi-tool. The more you carry it, the more it will endear itself to you by proving it's worth in the field as well as in the workplace or at home. At first glance some of the tools may seem superfluous, but in the long run you may very well use some of these tools even though you originally never imagined yourself being in a position that requires them. Fit and finish are first rate, as is always the case with Victorinox products. It amazes me that Victorinox is able to offer this tool at such a fantastic price while still manufacturing in Switzerland.
  
  This tool is basically the same as the Victorinox Swiss Champ, minus the pliers. Losing the pliers gives you a tool with a considerably smaller profile which is therefore more pocketable, and as such I consider this more of a trade-off then a negative. If you plan to carry in a toolbox or glove compartment, you might very well choose the regular 'Victorinox Champ', while the 'Champ Plus' will be better suited to people who prefer to carry a tool on their person at all times.
  
  Speaking of weight and size, this is at the very limit of what I would consider pocketable. It *will* fit on a keychain, but only if you have a bare bones keyring with maybe your car key and house keys on it and not much else. If you are the type of person that carries around a hefty keyring, then you will need to choose a more compact model for your keychain (I recommend the Victorinox Farmer or Compact, if that is the case) or choose some other method of carry (such as belt sheath). The size and weight is still smaller then a Leatherman Wave or other similar plier based multi-tools, so it is definitely small enough to carry on you if you are so inclined.
  
  
  Recommended Highly:
  Every guy should have one of these on his person or close by, and you *will* be the hero and 'save the day' numerous times in your life as the months and years roll by. Take it with you to work, take it with you on dates, take it camping, take it everywhere you go (except the airport, unfortunately). Ounce for ounce, the Victorinox Champ Plus packs a huge punch. The Victorinox Champ Plus may very well become your best friend. Just give it a chance and carry it on you for 30 days, and you might wonder how you ever got along without one.
  
  *Alternately I recommend the Leatherman Wave or Leatherman Charge TTi if you specifically want a multi-tool with a one hand opening blade, or a pliers based multi-tool.
  
  
  Pros:
  -Value for the money
  -Fit and Finish
  -Encourages ingenuity and problem solving
  -Useful and numerous assortment of tools in a small package
  -Workplace/people friendly (not as likely anyone will accuse you of carrying a weapon versus a dedicated knife)
  -Lifetime Warranty
  
  Cons
  -Size and weight are at the upper limit of what I consider comfortable 'pocket size'
  -No one hand opening or locking blades
  -No included belt sheath for those who prefer that over keychain or pocket carry
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• If you want a Swiss Army Knife, this is the one to buy.
  By A1KL1DO76ZOECJ on 2007-11-10
  My teenager has been asking for one of these knives since watching my Macgyver DVDs. He thinks he will be able to escape any situation with this knife and I think he just might be right.
  
  It is the highest quality knife of this type on the market, I have a knockoff I bought on EBay where the screwdriver bent on first use. This one will not.
  
  I got this for under $30.00 on Amazon's deal of the day a while back and consider it my buy of the year.
  
  You will not be disappointed even if you pay full price.
  
  
• Indispensible classic!
  By A52IW46OHY37J on 2007-12-15
  This is the second Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus that I have owned over a period of some 40 years. The only negative thing I can say about it is that it has "legs", it will "walk away' unless guarded jealously, which is what happened to my previous purchase. There are so many special purpose tools included in this tiny but high-quality package, I never thought that I would find a use for some of them. But living with it in my pocket, I thought of it whenever an unusual task presented itself, and by this time I have tested all of its features "on the job". Every tool performs as advertised! Well worth the price!
  
  
• The Swiss Army Champion Plus lives up to its name
  By AEJAGHLC675A7 on 2008-10-24
  I have a thing for the real Swiss army knives and decent multi-tools, and this Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus Pocket Knife is the one that sits in my camera bag, ready to go at all times. It's perhaps one of the best all-around tools that a pro or amateur photographer could look for as far as versatility goes.
  
  There have been many times that this well-designed tool has come in handy in the field, and on a number of occasions it's been the one single item that has made the difference in a good day when shooting photos in the woods or wilderness. This knife isn't overly large, and even though it has a number of tools, it's quite manageable. The design has been proven over the years, and it's quite well thought out. Every single tool here has proven to be usable and easy to access once it has been used for awhile.
  
  I'm not going to go through all of the tools that this handy Champion Plus Pocket Knife has, but read the specs and use your imagination. The large and small blades do just what is expected. The ruler is marked in inches & centimeters, and is located on the fish scaler/hook disgorger tool. There's a small multipurpose hook tool on the reverse of the knife that's quite handy for carrying heavy plastic grocery bags (twist and loop them), keeping them from cutting into your fingers. Works fine with clothes on a hanger as well.
  
  [Note: see the photo with notes that I've posted here for a graphic breakdown of these tools and blades.]
  
  Not well noted is the fact that it comes with a handy small micro screwdriver that's stowed within the corkscrew, so don't lose it. The tweezers are quite handy (for removing splinters or holding small parts) and these, along with the toothpick and ball point pen refill, can be picked up as spare parts from Victorinox if and when needed.
  
  Some might prefer the Victorinox Swiss Army Swiss Champ Pocket Knife because it has pliers, but I prefer the larger needlenose 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.
  
  Pros:
  
  - Excellent value for the money
  - Made from high quality Swiss stainless steel
  - Excellent assortment of tools, all in one small package
  - Has a lifetime Warranty
  
  Cons:
  
  - Blades don't lock, so be careful!
  
  
  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... and it has a lifetime warranty from a company that know how to back it up.
  
  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.
  
  This Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus lives up to its name. It's a great tool, an excellent value, and a splendid gift for just about anyone.
  
  
• pix showed different product
  By A1XE8J1IIOVTRG on 2008-01-21
  I returned the item because the web pix showed a built in pliers and the item received did not have it. The pix above is not the one that you had posted when I ordered.
  
  In any case I was happy with the return treatment and it gies me confidence in future purchases.
  
  
• Fantastic
  By A3CNZTWHNCRCGR on 2007-09-11
  In the days of ubiquitous backpacks, purses, and computer bags, it's super easy to carry around one of these "larger" Swiss Army knives. The Champion Plus is my favorite model, and I've had 3 of them before this one. Interesting observation about this one: the screwdriver and phillips head seem to be designed to more stay more securely in the perpendicular position.
  
  
• High quality knives.
  By A2VGCZ37J3BBO7 on 2007-10-05
  Definitely a fun knife to carry. The Victorinox brand has stayed true to its quality with this knife. Whether working around the garage or out on the trail, this knife can be your best friend. The tool that pushed me to purchase a couple of these knives is the magnifying glass. As I get older, it seems that to come in handy. It also brings back thoughts of starting campfires as a scout.
  
  
• Mine's 30+ Years Old and Still Going Strong
  By A1IH6S2K43LJ6R on 2008-07-06
  I bought a Swiss Army Champion approximately 32 years ago for about $35. I still have it and just got it out to take a look at its condition. It still looks practically new with shiny steel and very sharp blades (aided once in a while with a diamond whetstone). I have used my knife to do all sorts of things including sawing down a Christmas tree, butt hinging and hanging a door, drilling holes for screws, opening the occasional bottle of wine/beer, etc. As I like to say, never mind your American Express Card, never leave home without your Swiss Army Knife. The thing is invaluable and worth twice the price.
  
  
• Great value
  By A1G8DZI2RDB6I9 on 2007-12-01
  I recently purchased this knife here to replace a Victorinox Super Tinker which I had lost. Interestingly I found the other knife right after ordering this one.
  
  For the price this knife is an incredible value. It is about $17 less than the Champ and the only thing it lacks that the Champ has is the pliers which you are better off using a Leatherman pliers for.
  
  For a knife that has just about everything but is still small enough to carry it has all you need. And it has the Victorinox quality. If there is any downside at all it is a bit large to carry in the pocket. If you need more than this knife has buy a toolbox. My last Swiss Army knife I had I have owned for over 12 years. I wonder how long I will be able to keep this one. If I take care of it I can pass it on to my grandchildren. If you were looking for a Christmas present with value for someone who likes this stuff this is an incredible buy. Why women don't carry these in their purse more often I don't know. I guess it's just not ladylike to carry a knife. The women I know who do use them all the time.
  
  
• Perfectly designed and built
  By A1KPZBP7DFPTG3 on 2008-01-13
  This is the best multi-tool I have ever had. It is perfectly designed, with all the tools easily accessible. The quality of this Swiss Army knife is better than I ever thought it would be.
  
  I've owned two Swiss Army knives in the past (little junk ones), and the quality of those were not really that great, but this Champion Plus model is incredible. You can feel the quality when you use the tools, and you know it's designed to last a lifetime. And if it doesn't you know you've got a lifetime warranty to back you up.
  
  My only complaint is not with the knife, but with the pictures provided on [...] of it. They do not show the thinkness in any of the pictures. It's thicker than it appears in the pictures, which for some people may be important. It feels fine carrying it around though.
  
  If you're looking for a great multi-tool, I definitely recommend this one.
  
  
• Very good knife.
  By A3RKQE2EXRI903 on 2008-02-13
  My wife lost the Swiss Army knife my dad gave me 20-some years ago for First Communion. I bought this knife as a replacement in hopes that I will eventually give it to a son or nephew of mine, when they're age-appropriate.
  
  It's a very nice knife, all red and shiny and new. Also, very well stocked. And by stocked, I mean there's just about everything tucked in there somewhere. Seriously, I find new stuff every day.
  
  I rated this knife a four out of five because the book that came with it is pretty useless. I have friends who are technical writers and I know a lousy instruction manual when I see one, if you know what I mean.
  
  
• Awesome knife
  By on 2008-06-03
  This is my first swiss army knife and I have used it almost everyday and I must say it has made whatever i've been doing easier I mean this knife Has everything you need without going overboard and spending hundreds of dollers and spending money on things you don't even need I don't usually where my glasses so if I need to read a map or something the magnifying glass is a really useful feature. Over all this is a very useful tool and if your dougting on getting this Knife don't it has made my life so easy.
  
  
• Excellent Product
  By A3UOUM82Y7C6D4 on 2007-09-02
  I am swiss army knife user for more than 10 years. To me, Swiss Army Knife has a 2nd meaning: Top Quality in the World. I never use other brand knife now.
  This Champion Plus is excellent, powerful enough for regular daily use.
  Highly recoomended: You Will Like It!
  
  
• Great Knife
  By A1CBNUBPZPWH5D on 2007-12-28
  I bought 3 of these for Christmas presents when they were on special for $19.99. One was for me and the other 2 were gifts. The giftees were very impressed. It is a great knife and the only difference between this plus and the more expensive non-plus is the lack of pliers. I can live without them for the difference in price.
  
  
• I couldn't ask for better
  By A2BGZWLG538NJN on 2007-12-31
  This about the largest a pocket knife can be without being uncomfortable and has all the basic tools you could imagine. It's about the size of two cigarette lighters stuck together, and fits pretty comfortably in your average jeans pocket, even if you've got a wallet and some keys.
  
  Some of the special points about this product: the thing actually comes with a handy little pen, which has saved me a few times when I'm out somewhere and need to jot something down. It's also got a variety of sizes of screwdriver, which proved surprisingly useful--I can use this as the multitool when I'm tinkering with my computer, for instance. It offers three different serrated edges (fine, rough, and smooth). In addition, the ruler measures both metric and U.S., offering an easy conversion.
  
  Some of the cons: the smallest screwdriver is wound into the corkscrew, so that can be a slight hassle. It takes several pulling in-and-outs of the tools to loosen them once you first get it, as most of them are quite tightly held in the case, but it's no trouble after a few days of decent use.
  
  Overall, a great product, I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get a solid multitool that isn't too big.
  
  
• Handy compact knife
  By A2F3HD17KAPTB3 on 2008-01-07
  This knife was purchased for my "outdoors son" who has a multitude of knives for a variety of purposes. I was hesitant to buy this as I was concerned that it may have many features bu not do any well. I was wrong. The features are study. The knife is understandably on the heavier side. I would not recommend this as the only knife to be taken on a serious outdoor trip but for a weekend-type trip or as a supplement, it's great. It also gives something to talk about around the fire...
  
  
• Amazing Deal
  By A377SITZR4H2A9 on 2008-01-18
  This knife is an amazing deal (at around $30). The price varies somewhat, but as others have mentioned this is basically the same as the Swiss Champ model, but without the pliers. This is a great knife and a great gift for a person who likes to tinker with things or explore. Victorinox Swiss Army knives are of high quality, and this one is an exceptional value right now. I found the knife is not too big or heavy to carry, although I'm not the type of person to carry it in my pants pocket unless I was wearing Cargo pants or other outdoor gear. I'm going to get a case to protect it, this one is a keeper. Highly Recommended at value price.
  
  
• You can't beat this Swiss Army Knife!!
  By A3IV1MYW40LGQ6 on 2008-03-27
  This was a X-mas gift to my husband. He loved it!!! It has everything...even a little screw driver for glasses. We live on a farm, and he doesn't leave home without it!!
  
  
• Great for camping and around the house
  By A1QFFRX44YPXX8 on 2008-11-18
  Let me start by admitting that I purchased this one on a whim. I found it as a Gold Box deal for under $20. I couldn't pass it up and thought I would use it as a gift for one of my elder sons. After it arrived and I took some time to look it over, it found its way to my pocket where you can find it most days.
  
  Others have written comparisons to other models, and have highlighted specific tools. I'll try to add a few things that helped make this one of my favorite knives.
  
  - Right off the bat, there's no beating the style of can-opener that you'll find on this and every other Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. I've used both types (on Wegner and Victorinox models) and this one wins, hands down.
  
  - I wear eyeglasses, and the mini screwdriver that is nested in the corkscrew is perfect for tightening up the screws on my glasses. You can either use it separately, in your fingers, or you can flip it over and thread the blunt (handle) end back into the corkscrew, allowing you to use the full knife as a handle. That simply makes it easier to use.
  
  - I don't use the hook for carrying tied packages, but find it invaluable for removing hot pots from over a fire. No more burnt fingers from the water pot for me!
  
  - I like having both the larger and smaller cutting blades, especially for whittling.
  
  - The scissors are larger than those on the Classic (I have one on my key ring), so I find them easier to use, especially for cutting fabric or larger sections of paper (like coupons from the in-store flier).
  
  - The number of screwdriver tips makes this knife a wonderful tool to have on-hand for quick tinkering. The phillips head is suprisingly versatile. I was able to use it on extremely small wood screws, and it works very well on computer case and mounting screws (I'm a techie by trade, and love having this one with me at the office).
  
  - The one feature I thought I would never use, the ballpoint pen, actually came in quite useful a few days after pocketing this knife. I was at a product launch meeting and I didn't have a pen (I had counted on the vendor giving away logo pens, but they ran out). The pen nests into the same groove as the hook (albeit at the opposite end), making for a suprisingly comfortable and easy-to-use writing instrument.
  
  - Finally, since I've been wilderness camping for more than 25 years, I like having the magnifying glass as a good weather fire-starter.
  
  This is the knife that sits in my pocket most days of the week. I also take it on all of my weekend camping trips and hikes. I do like some other knives for other occasions (I prefer, for example, my Centurian {also by Victorinox} when I'm canoeing in the BWCA since I can use the longer {4"} blade to fillet fish and since I like the thinner profile stuffed into my pocket while sitting in the canoe). This is a fantastic, all-around knife. You can't go wrong for the price (even if $60). It's well-worth it and bound to become a favorite.
  
  
• Nifty Gifty
  By A3O6PXMBVDDPOA on 2007-09-02
  Ignore the part of the title that says, "Gifty." I didn't use it as a gift. It was simply too "Nifty" so I just kept it.
  
  This is a sweet multitool! Swiss really packed some great tools into this set (which I'm not going to reiterate, you can read them from the description). Whichever service you intend for this product, the Champion Plus has a tool that will work. However I misunderstand why the Plus version is minus pliers from the regular Champion.
  
  But overall a very versatile gadget.
  
  

• Victorinox Swiss Army Climber Pocket Knife (Red)
• Victorinox SwissTool Spirit Multi-Tool with Pouch
• Victorinox Swiss Army Hunter Camo Knife
• Victorinox SwissMemory 512 MB Flight (Translucent Ruby)

• Victorinox Swiss Army Climber II Pocket Knife
• Victorinox Cross & Shield Full Function LED Microlight
• Victorinox Swiss Army Tinker with Free Classic Knife
• Victorinox Swiss Army Classic Pocket Knife
• Victorinox Swiss Army Ranger Pocket Knife