Customer Reviews

Victorinox Swiss Army Cybertool Pocket Knife

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After carrying my Cybertool for 15 months, I can confidently report that it is even more useful than I anticipated.

I received my first Swiss Army knife as a youngster, back when they still had a sturdy wire for a belt clip or lanyard, instead of today's wimpy key ring. As an adult, I migrated away from my beloved army knife, carrying small pen knives instead. But it was still a disappointment to lose that first knife at the tail end of a wilderness backpacking trip where I had used it to help lash together an emergency stretcher out of pack frames. Its replacement was a 3-function Victorinox perfect for travelling-I considered it a beer, wine and cheese knife.

But I was irresistibly drawn to the Cybertool when I first saw it in the Summer of 2000, realizing that it was not only way cool, but perfect for keeping my laptop from falling apart. Today's laptops have little tiny Phillips screws-many of them recessed-and if you carry your portable with you every day, you're guaranteed to always have a screw loose or two. My name brand laptop had lost several screws, and the serial port was dangling. That's where the Cybertool's best feature comes into play. It has a long arm with both 4mm and 5mm nut drivers that fit the nuts retaining DB-15 and DB-25 connectors. Fitting into the dual-position arm are a set of small but well-made tool bits with slotted and Phillips screw drivers, Torx, and a 4mm Allen key that is perfect for Ikea furniture. With a Cybertool, you can keep all your screws tight, reducing laptop failure (I set up a recurring event on my PDA to remind me to touch up all the screws & nuts on my unreliable laptop every 6 weeks).

The philosophy of this tool is to build on the foundation of a knife. This is in contrast to the multi-tool strategy of fitting a set of pliers with knives and hacksaws. While such tools are highly useful to many people, I think they are too heavy for a briefcase, and I am not going to slice cheese with the same tool that I use on my lawnmower or for fish scaling. A bottle opener is of course included, and a can opener that is only suitable for the direst of emergencies. Contrary to popular belief, you can pull a cork from a wine bottle using a Swiss Army knife, although the advice I was given to `push the cork INTO the bottle' resulted in a spectacular red shower in the Panoramawagen out of Lugano. Just screw into the cork as far as you can, and then gently inch the cork out of the bottle with a rocking motion (I have had no success with plastic `corks', though).

Perhaps the manufacturer exaggerates the number of functions provided by this tool, but I actually have used the ballpoint pen to flip a DIP switch. The mini-screwdriver stuck into the corkscrew is perfect for eyeglasses, and if you are careful, the scissors are adaptable to a wide range of personal hygiene tasks. My original knife didn't have steel pin, tweezers, or tooth pick-at least one of which has saved me from several evenings of post-gristle distress syndrome. The only totally useless implement is the all-purpose hook. Intended to facilitate in the carrying of brown paper boxes wrapped up with string, I have never observed a Swiss actually using one. Victorinox seems to have overbought this particular appendix, hanging them on snow board and bicycle knives also.

It isn't just a toy to impress your gadget-oriented co-workers-although it is good for that too. The thing really works, and after over a year in my briefcase, mine has developed quite a patina. It is well constructed and intelligently thought out, and if I ever lose mine, I'll replace it immediately. Good stuff!

You know, I hardly miss that first Swiss Army knife at all.

As owner of an all-female IT support company, I purchased this tool for all my techs for Christmas last year. We're all absolutely enchanted with it. Leatherman's tools are ok, but if you work on Compaqs you have to have the Torx bits. We've already got cell phones, pagers and pdas hanging off our belts, and there's just no room on a gal's belt to add a Leatherman and the toolbit accessory. The cybertool fits in a pocket or purse and gets the job done while maintaining our sleek appearance. One caveat, however - if you leave this thing at a client site it will NOT be there when you return for it!! So now I'm up here looking at the Cybertool 34 - we'll see how it stacks up against the original.

Okay, I'm not the geek, my husband is, but I bought this knife for him months ago and he's not been to work without it yet. He is a software developer and does a bit of work with hardware as well. He says it's a great tool for anyone doing detail work with computers, eyeglasses or musical instruments. It has come in handy with (his glasses, obviously) and my flute. We've also found uses for it with kid's toys (getting those damned battery compartments open), cell phones, aquariums, baby monitors, stereo equipment, and as a handy-dandy package and letter opener. You don't need to be a geek to apprecaite all that!

BUY THIS KNIFE NOW!

Granted, i fix computers for a living, but i use this knive for absolutely everything... breaking down cardboard boxes, writing down phone numbers, fixing eyeglasses, tooth picking, blister popping (yuck! at least i put the needle over a flame!). I swear i use this thing at least 10 times a day.

I think I have the deluxe model though (scissors, pliers and a box carrier added). I consider myself quite lost without this knife in my pocket. I've had a lot of similar products and none of them could compete for lack of one thing... a functional screwdriver. It has 10 different heads (as long as you don't lose them).

buy it. now.

I've had one of these for a little less than a year now. I'm responsible for the tech support of a huge division in a major college in the New York City area, and this is the only tool I bring with me. I've used it fro everything from fixing computers, to repairing typewriters. It has paid for itself a hundred times over. Highly recommended!!!

I bought one of these not too long ago. It's incredible. All my geeky buddies are envious (one of them is ordering one with his next paycheck, in fact). Very well-designed. One word of caution: if you're a clutz, don't bother. I made the mistake of handing mine to my dad when it arrived, and he proceeded to lose one of the bits in the cab of my truck. It took me several hours to find. If you can keep track of your stuff, this is a wondrous tool indeed.

The Swiss Army Cybertool 41 is the ultimate in key-chain pocket tools that WILL get used daily. While heavier and slightly larger than the Cybertool 29 or a "regular" Victorinox knife, the addition of the pliers and scissors alone make the Cybertool 41 worth the extra bulge in purse or pocket. For folks thinking of buying this tool: this is basically a Handyman knife with the addition of a replaceable bit screwdriver, a set of 10 common bits (hex socket, Torx, Pozidrive, Phillips, flat), a pen, a pin and a mini (eye glasses) screwdriver. The additions to the Handyman make this tool the daily workhorse it is: there is very little you can't do with this tool in daily life.

If you need more than this knife offers, I'd say go to the toolbox and get the full-size single-purpose tool. A Leatherman might be bigger on pliers, but the Cybertool beats is in size and comfort of use.

A GREAT Christmas or birthday gift for best friends, girlfriends and wives!

I'm a geek, but you probably wouldn't pick me out in a lineup (not that I've been in a lineup, but...). Anyway, I must say that the Cybertool Pocket Knife really is as great as other people say. It's easy to use, and I find myself carrying it with me far more than any other tool I have, just because it is so verstile.

Everyone should have a Swiss Army knife, as they come in so useful, especially on the move. The question usually is: which one? Well, for me it was the Cybertool, mainly because it has all the features of the standard Swiss Army knife, but incorporates some precision tools, which comes in great for me at work, I just keep it in my case with my Laptop. One of the best Swiss Army Knives on offer.

I found the Cybertool 29 while looking for a replacement for a cheap version of the same thing. The Victorinox knife is better made, lighter, thinner and fits in my pocket perfectly. The bit driver is the main selling point for the knife, even though the translucent colors are cool. The 4 included bits will fit about 90% of the screws you come across. Because the bit driver extends well past the knife, its perfect for working with recessed screws, something that most multi-function knives simply can't do. The pen is the perfect size for setting dip switches, but more frequently, unlocking bedroom doors, which is convenient for preventing the kids from letting the dogs out when company is over. The rest of the features (tweasers, toothpick, leather punch, cork screw, small glasses screwdriver, two blades, bottle opener, and can opener) are pretty standard for a Victorinox knife. They are all functional and well made. I've purchased 9 of these knives and have been giving them friends, missionaries, and recent college graduates. If you are going to carry a pocket knife, I would highly recommend the Victorinox Cybertool 29.