Customer Reviews

Victorinox Swiss Army Deluxe Tinker, Red

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of all the SAK's out there, the Deluxe Tinker is my favorite. It's small enough to comfortably stay in your pocket (instead of those side pouches many of the larger models require), and every single tool in the collection is useable. While I own eight different Swiss Army Knives, this is the one I constantly grab when it's time to go. The only problem I had with it is the scissors. The small metal piece that pushes the blades apart got twisted once when I let someone borrow my knife (never again) and I could never get it to work right after that. I recently purchased my second to let my first retire after several long years of rugged use. If not for the scissors getting messed up, I'd still be using it today. After years of daily use, it's still good. The blades have had to be sharpened and there are a few chips out of the red cover, but I have no complaints with the quality. It holds up to hard usage.

If you're looking for a knife that is durable and useful, Swiss Army is the way to go. Any of their knives are good.

I bought this knife to replace the one I lost when I left in rental car. The model I had before was the Tinker's little brother (the Swiss Army Climber II. I loved that knife and used it daily. I thought it would be hand to have the pliers included with the Tinker model. They are handy, but honestly I wished I had replace the Climber with a Climber. The Tinker is a very nice knife, but it's bulky and I really don't like to carry it in my pocket. If you don't mind the bulk, it's good buy. However it that is an issue, you may want to consider another model such as the Climber. Hope that helps.

I recently ordered the Deluxe Tinker. This knife will be a replacement for the Victorinox Swiss Army Tinker and Classic Knife Combo I bought 32 years ago! Even if you're not into camping, Swiss Army knives are indispensable for everyday use. I have carried mine with me everywhere (except airports). The knife has come in handy more times that I could possibly recall. Before cell phones were introduced, my Swiss Army knife helped me to make simple car repairs on the road (and I'm NO mechanic, trust me). I used it from everything from removing splinters to stripping wires. It's great to have one of these yourself. However, they make EXCELLENT GIFTS! (How many gifts have you received that you've used for 32 years and consider indispensable?). Don't leave home without it!

I've owned and used this knife for around 10 years, and it has served me very well. Like others say, this knife is the sweet spot among Swiss knives. It has just the right number and type of tools to serve as a pocket tool box. It is also not humongous and unwieldy, like the Swiss Champ. The pliers and Phillips head screwdriver are especially useful, though the pliers will not handle any serious work---it's more for grabbing or twisting fairly pliable things rather than wrenching on nuts and bolts or bending a big ol piece of sheet metal. The pliers on a Leatherman-style tool allow much more torque and overall usability, so take a hard look at that type of tool if you think you'll be using the pliers a lot. I personally prefer this classic knife style of tool over the pliers-based ones.

Now and then, it would have been nice to have a corkscrew, but the Phillips is much more useful to me---it all depends on what kinds of situations you find yourself in from day to day---drinking wine or torquing screws?

The one tool I've never used is the little hook thing that I think you're supposed to use for lacing your boots or something. I've never needed help lacing my boots, so I guess I could do without that tool---maybe they could replace it with another type of screwdriver or a mini blowtorch. :)

Not much more to say than you get what you pay for. There are many cheaper versions of this knife that I have accumulated over the years from bank give aways etc. All of them have fatal flaws. The tinker has none of that. It is a solid perfomer for everything. I've used it camping and the can opener and knife are really useful. I've used it in the office where the knife and screwdfivers are useful. I still have yet to use the hook, but I am sure that is coming.

The only flaw I see to these knives are the toothpick and tweezers. The toothpick I will never use on my teeth though it is great for resetting electronics. The tweezers in past swiss army models I've owned has become stuck, but this one still works well.

Overall, you can't beat a classic and I own three versions of the swiss army knifes and alternate them with my leatherman wave to use for miscellaneous tasks.

MM

Love this knife, but I am partial to the Swiss Army ones. Love the pliers, scissors, screwdrivers, blades, and especially the fact that it doesn't have a useless and annoying cork screw on it. The Phillips head is not as handy, the hook is useless, the awl is nice if you need it. The addition of the pliers makes the knife thicker, but it still feels comfortable in my hand, and isn't so thick that it is s burden in my pocket.

I don't know how many things I have fixed, tinkered with, or how many splinters I have removed with these tools. Why would anyone want to carry a "regular" pocket knife when these exist and are so well made.

The deluxe tinker has several components that I find remarkably useful. The pliers are great for little fiddly tasks that come up almost daily. I use the scissors frequently also for little snips on paper, tape, etc. I find the Phillips-head screwdriver much more useful than a corkscrew.

I have been pleased with the overall quality of the Victorinox "Swiss Army" brand. I have never had any of the blades rust and the plastic on the casing has often lasted me a decade or so of hard use before cracking.

On the whole, these are great products and very useful.

This is the smallest Victorinox knife of which I am aware will fit in my pants pocket and contains pliers. The pliers are extremely handy on many occasions. The only faults I find with the knife are the Philip's Head Screwdriver which is almost useless (protruding, as it does, at right angles to the bolster) and a the absence of a corkscrew. I would like to see the knife reconfigured with a useable Philip's Head Screwdriver extending out along the bolster axis like an ordinary blade and a corkscrew replacement for the existing Philip's Head Screwdriver. Other than that it is a fine knife.

I have owned several SAK, but this is by far the best. All of the tools on the deluxe tinker are useful, and although a little heavy, it can very easily be carried as an everyday pocket knife. The first deluxe tinker was a gift from my wife. I had ask for a super tinker, but at the urging of our 6 year old son she bought the deluxe. My first thought was I will never use the pliers...there're to small to be of any use and just make the knife bigger and heavier. Now I know, the pliers are what makes this knife a cut above the others. They can be used to turn the smallest screw or change a tire. Best pocket knife made.

I have been using this knife for ten solid years now and my only regret is when I forget to bring it with me. I often refer to the Victorinox S.A. Deluxe Tinker as my third hand(as do other reviewers) and it is treated as such. I have used every tool on this knife and they all have withstood quite a bit of abuse, -and still work perfectly. I do not need to remind owners of this knife about often you hear the phrase, "hey can I borrow your knife?" and they are soon envious that they do not own one.
The medium size of this knife is very satisfying and its has a little weight to it so you won't forget it is in your pocket. For me every tool is an asset, even the boot lace puller -especially for a snowboarder who towards the end of the day has cold fingers and loose boots!!!
The only thing it lacks now is, the toothpick it came with, but that is replaceable. Also, I have filed down the mini screwdriver on the can opener blade to right angles and a slimmer profile to make it more useful for tiny screws like on eyeglass frames.

This knife is well worth every penny.