Customer Reviews

Victorinox Swiss Army MiniChamp II Pocket Knife

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I originally received this knife as a gift, and I gave one of those fake "gee, thanks, this is swell" reactions because I didn't really think it was something I'd ever use. After all, I'd never had a pocket knife, and I never felt the need to carry one.

Man, what a dope I was! I use this little beauty almost every day. It's well-built and the steel keeps its edge for a long time. It's so compact, it's no trouble to carry in my pocket. Scissors are an attachment that usually doesn't work very well in pocket knives, but these have worked well for over 3 years and counting.

I knocked one star off the review because the nail file and cuticle pusher attachments are silly. I would have rather had other items like screw drivers, or just leave them off and make it narrower.

The ball point pen is a clever touch, and has proven surprisingly useful.

Thus is a solid knife, and a great personal accessory. However, that said, if I was making the purchase today, I would skip this and get the Midnite MiniChamp or Midnite MiniChamp II instead. I think the addition of the minilight is a must-have, and if I ever need to replace my little MiniChamp, I'll do it with one of the Midnite models.

I have had this knife for four years and it has yet to fail me. When I first got the knife, I was VERY careful with it so as to prevent it from being scratched - since then I realized something - IT'S A POCKET KNIFE! USE IT LIKE ONE! I can and have used it for almost anything. The features I use most often in order are: the scissor, screwdriver (with a magnetic tip), pen, tweezers and knife. I have at one time or another used EVERY feature for its intended use or otherwise and LOVE this little knife. Its size also makes it really easy to keep around - in a pocket, on a belt (with the little leather case - not included), etc.... I take it everywhere I go and am always saddened when I have to leave it at home when flying. This knife is of the smaller of the two sizes Victorinox makes but includes the most and best features within this category. This is one of the best investments one can make.

I had this knife until I donated it to security at the airport. When went to replace it I found the Rambler. Very similar knife but without some of the tools I rarely used. It has the blad, nail file, phillips/bottle cap operner, scissors, and toothpick and tweezers. Ends up being a little thinner too. Also was a bit cheaper. I recomend the victorinox knives in general, very well made and last a long time. I've got my rambler on my keychain with a maglite solitaire as well and find that very convenient.

First, this has everything but a manicurist, BUT THIS DOES NOT HAVE A TOOTHPICK! It says that that's one of the tools, but it ain't. And toothpicks can be used for things other than picking teeth.

***

I have five Swiss Army Knives, from the next to smallest to one that is about 4" long and has 12 blades. All have a scissors and, of course, one primary knife blade, but there are two that I carry with me most often. This is the second handiest because it is still small and unobtrusive, and has the basic tools that I use most often: small blade, emergency blade, cut and picker blade, scissors, nail file with cleaner, ruler with screwdriver, cuticle pusher, tweezers, and retractable pen,

To be honest, I got this because of the retractable pen which I wanted for "emergencies" such as writing down a phone number while on a walk or trek. However, although years ago I never would have thought of using the toothpick, I really miss it and it was replaced by the pen. Hey, I'm older. Food gets stuck, and the toothpick is there. Can't get it out with the pen. I wish they had left out the cuticle pusher. Pushing cuticles can wait till I get home. In fact, I don't remember ever pushing a cuticle...

I suppose I should have complained about the loss of the toothpick - especially after Amazon lists it in the "tools" - but I have used the pen once. Wrote the number on my palm for the owner of a lost cat that I happened to find. (Funny thing was that I had my Sony MP3 player with me, but forgot that it also records so the pen is actually superfluous.) The cat and owner were appreciative, and I turned down the reward although I could have bout the smaller knife.

I carry the smaller knife (don't know which one, but it has two blades - no pen - and is about 2/3rds the size of this one, lies flatter in my pocket, and has the one blade I use daily: it's either what they're calling the cut and picker blade or the emergency blade, and I use it as a letter opener. The "larger" "normal" blade I use for opening cartons and heavier envelopes. This knife, which I bought 15 years ago at the Mall of America (well, I had to come home with SOME souvenir) is perfect. Sorry, folks, I can't find the name of it.

I'll apologize for this review, but if you can find this knife in a store, then look for one without the pen, with a toothpick, about an eighth of an inch thinner, and you have my 5 star favorite. And while you're at it, but a pocket knife sharpener. (It looks like a pen, but it's a baby sharpener life you'd use at Thanksgiving.) It's similar to the "Executive." Maybe it's a small Executive, but what kind of executive is peeling oranges in his or her office (the executive's "extra" blade that somebody in Switzerland must have thought was essential for army execs).

All I can tell you is that they packed a whole lot of tools into this knife - some that I'll never use but you never know. After all, I use the scissors once or twice a week, and the tweezers have gotten thistle and splinters and lord-knows-what-else out of my fingers over the years.

I lost my Swiss Army Knife after about ten years of use. I missed not having it for small jobs that I looked for another. The Swiss Army MiniChamp II had more usefull blades that I could use. When It arrived I was surprised to find that it was much more usefull than my old one. The service and the knife were so great that if I lose this one I will come back and order another. Can't do without it.

My wife bought me this knife for Christmas back in 1999. We were traveling in India and she found it there at a small street side knife shop. I've had this thing 10 years. Miraculously it has never been lost, confiscated at the airport, or damaged by the countless times we've dropped it. This knife has traveled with me through India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Nepal, Bangladesh, and countless US states. I've needed to buy 2 of the placement ink pen inserts throughout the years. Luckily, I could always find them - even in Asia!

I'm only leaving this review 'cause I was on Amazon buying the pen insert and wanted to see if they were still making this knife. They are! Highly recommended. Very durable. Never had a problem.

I'm not sure what else you can say about Victorinox Swiss Army Knives other than they're excellent. Pick your size, pick your desired accessories - you can't go wrong. Like for many other people, my life's different when this handy gadget is attached to my key chain - you're ready to tackle an array of situations.
The quality of the product is exceptional.

With this knife, you're never without a pen, you're ready to open an assortment of difficult packaging, you're ready to drive or remove a screw, and...of course, most important...you're ready to open that brew. (I get a kick out of reviews complaining that the knives have TOO many accessories - 'unclear on the concept' comes to mind.)

Guess all I'd recommend is carefully going over what each knife includes, so you're getting what you want. I failed to order the flashlight version of this knife and I miss that.

Otherwise, you simply can't go wrong.

The Swiss have done it again with their versatile, well built, MiniChamp II. This little gem is great for traveling, camping, fishing, work, or anywhere for that matter. At 2.28 inches it fits snugly in your pocket, laptop bag, or purse. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a small high quality folding knife.

This is the finest, most versatile pocket knife you will ever own. Here's why:

-It is legal to carry this on your person in all countries of the world (not airports though). Knives with locking blades cannot be legally carried in UK, Australia and some European countries or cities.

- You will not get strange looks if you use it in public.

- It has all the most useful tools you are likely to need in an urban environment. I've used it to dis-assemble and re-assemble a Sony and a Dell laptop using no other tool.

- The scissors are very sharp and used more than any other tool.

- If you prefer the toothpick to the tweezers simply purchase one from any Victorinox retailer in any mall and store it in tweezer compartment.

- A light as in the Midnite Minichamp would be nice but the pen is far more useful. Your cell phone's light from its display is brighter anyway.

- It is very sharp but not razor sharp so it holds a keen edge a long time. If you want to shave, buy a razor. The second blade is sharper perhaps and works well as a letter or clamshell package opener.

- The orange peeler works well but it has other uses too. The front edge is useful as a scrapper for removing rust etc. And it can break the protective tabs on the tamper proof rings found on some medicine bottles. It can also punch through tin cans.

- The Phillips screwdriver is magnetic and provides excellent bite.

- The pen will be used more than you expect but refills are easily available.

This is the best minitool. It has two knife blades, so you can use one frequently, and keep the other super sharp for when you need super sharp. The scissors are easy to work, and are strong enough to cut small wire. They do get dull. The fingernail cleaner is just the right shape, and the file on it is useful for smoothing metal as well. The cuticle-pusher makes a decent multipurpose lever. The flat screwdriver is too small and thick and rounded and needs to have a lock. The inch-metric scale is useless. The pen is a lifesaver, but can be hard to get out. The tweezers often aren't strong enough to pull out a splinter, but they sometimes are. The cap lifter works, though it takes two or three bites and wrecks the cap. The phillips screwdriver is a marvel, driving anything from drywall to eyeglasses screws, but it should have a lock. The wire stripper notch in it sometimes works. The orange peeler is great for peeling oranges or cutting yourself if you open it by mistake.