I recently bought a new Swiss Army Knife – the Victorinox Cadet with red Alox textured aluminum handle scales.
It’s around 3.3″ long, 0.75″ wide, 0.25″ thick. The Cadet features a 2.5″ knife blade, a nail file, can opener, bottle opener, large and slotted screwdrivers, wire stripper notch, and a key or lanyard ring.
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I don’t see anyone using that wire stripper notch, but maybe it’ll come in handy in a pinch.
I was also surprised to find that the larger slotted screwdriver can lock in at 90° or the usual 180°. I’m guessing the right angle position is for higher torque applications?
My new Victorinox Cadet only just arrived from Amazon, and I can’t wait to start putting it to use. The knife blade looks to be a useful size, and the other tools might see some use too.
I chose the red color, and it’s more vibrant than I anticipated. Silver and black handles are also available. If you’re willing to spend a little more, you can find the 2016 special edition, with purple (“Orchid Violet”) handles.
This was my first Victorinox purchase in a few years. I’ve used the mini “classic” keychain Swiss Army Knives plenty of times, but I really prefer Leatherman’s Style CS better. Anyways… the Cadet is quite a bit larger.
I don’t see myself adding the Cadet to my keychain, but it’ll serve nicely as a compact pocket knife, in rotation with the Moki Ezo Red Fox that I reviewed some time ago.
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One of the best parts is that the Cadet weighs almost nothing.
Its textured handle gives a good grip, the knife and tools are well-made and useful, and it’s highly pocketable.
Made in Switzerland.
Price: $30
Buy Now(via Amazon)
I have 2 regrets. The major regret is that I didn’t buy one sooner! But ask me again after I’ve used it some more. Right now the only use has been the typical “ooh, I’ve got a new knife/tool” checkout, and I’m still in the honeymoon phase.
Second – I kind of wish I went with the silver or black color. I didn’t go silver because I have too many bare metal-colored pocket knives. I debated about black or red, and went red because that’s the traditional Victorinox Swiss Army Knife color.
P.S. Happy New Year!
William
I love Swiss Army Knives, I have a mild obsession with them. Particularly the Alox, but all of them are just fantastic. My most used is the Rambler, it’s basically a classic with a proper Philips driver and cap lifter.
William
I have the regular Rambler and a few Alox versions that I picked up from SwissBianco
Stuart
Thanks! I’ll add that one to my wishlist!
I don’t think I ever realized there was a Classic with Phillips driver.
William
I think it will become a permanent addition to your keychain, paired with an EDC folder I’m covered.
Cr8ondt
Notch wire stripers are extremely handy in a pinch, I’m surprised how often I us it on my Leatherman.
Enjoy your new toys and Happy New Year!
Toolfreak
Cadet looks like a good slim profile pocket knife. Red is a good choice for SAKs since it’s easy to recognize as a tool and not a weapon, which can be a benefit in situations where someone would otherwise be dramatic that you have an actual knife, no matter what you’re actually using it to do.
I like the Tinker since it has the small blade and the Philips driver, plus tweezers and toothpick, plus the slot for a pin. Seems better for keeping handy as an actual multi-tool, though the slimmer Cadet and Recruit fit even better in the pocket when that’s a consideration.
Stuart
The Leatherman Juice is another tame-looking multi-tool. I own an S2 in orange with scissors and no corkscrew.
Robert Roberts
Looking to purchase a orange cadet SAK, do you have or know where I can locate one for sale?
GMA15R
I have been using a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife as my EDC for more than forty years. Can’t remember the first models, but now I go between the Sportsman and the Tourist. I have found the little scissors pretty much useless so I avoid models with them. I also find the corkscrew indispensable because I drink wine. Over the years the knifes have proven reliable and economical, easy to sharpen and hold a good edge. They get replaced only when the main blade gets too small from too much sharpening, when they get lost or confiscated by some over zealous security person. My friends who have fancier or more expensive knifes tease me about my choice, but then ask to borrow it when they need a screwdriver.
Jerrick
Why do you wish you got a different color? What is the downside to the red version?
Stuart
I think I would have liked maybe the black color better. There’s no downside, just personal taste.
Ideally I’d have one in blue or orange, or maybe yellow, but they’re not currently available, at least at reasonable prices.
Silver, Red, and Black are the “common” colors.
Paul in Leyden Mass.
I never leave home (after seeing the movie 127 Hours) without the Super Tinker in my pocket. What I really like about this version is the scissor which I use very very often, and the phillips screwdriver. The only negative of the phillips is that it is only opens 90 degrees to the body of the knife so it can’t be spun easily and sometimes can’t get into tight spaces. I’d also advise caution in using the regular screwdriver blade in the 90 degree position as it can fold easily plus too much applied torque can cause the body to want to separate. One last cool mod– I purchased new handles that have a third opening for a small pen (besides the typical two holes for tweezers and pick). This has come in handy on many occasions. Also, happily, there is no corkscrew.
schill
My EDC is the Deluxe Tinker. I find the small pliers are incredibly useful – much more than I expected. They are narrow enough to reach into areas that nothing else will – they came in extremely handy the other day when I had to clear a jammed paper shredder.
I gave up my original Deluxe Tinker to TSA (forgot it was in my bag) and ordered a replacement while I was waiting at the gate for my flight.
Robert
I use this knife as my everyday carry. The screwdriver can be used as a very capable scraper or pry bar. The low price allow me to “use and abuse” this knife like I would never would do with a $125.00 knife.
A W
Happy New Year Stuart!
When do we find out the giveaway winners?
Stuart
I need some time to sort our invalid or duplicate entries.
A W
Gotcha. Thanks again for the generous giveaways this season!!
Wayne Ruffner
The oldest knife I have is a Victorinox Pioneer Alox (in red). The red’s only in the scaling of the sides now, but there’s zero risk of not knowing what it is.
I’ve found its awl/reamer/punch far more handy than I ever expected.
I have to go through TSA too often to risk carrying any of these, but…someday…
These are terrific tools.
Koko the Talking Ape
I like Alox much better than the usual plastic, because it wears better and probably makes the knife itself stronger.
But with enough knocking around, it is possible to gouge the metal enough to raise a tiny but sharp burr. It is easy to burnish or file it down, but it is something to be aware of.
Jay
Man! I used to carry a SAK all the time. Got a drawer full of them. My favs were the cadet, tinker, recruit and pioneer red or red transparent. Have one silver alox 2001 Victorinox Swiss Army Soldier pocket knife new in box with original paperwork.
Moved away from them for edc in favor of lock blades out of safety concerns.
I do have one folder I keep in the center console of my truck at all times. A MIL-K 818 Demo knife made by Camillus in 1966. Don’t leave home without it.
Brien
“I don’t see anyone using that wire stripper notch…”
Never watched Macgyver? That show was the reason I had a Swiss Army knife when I was a kid.
Yadda
Be very careful my friend. The Vic Alox can be addictive.
Tomas
I love all swiss army knives and have over a dozen. But the MIDNIGHT MANAGER II has been my EDC for over 15 years. I’m a city guy with a desk job and this thing has literally everthing you could ever want
1) Small penlight – now with smartphones maybe not as nessisary but a hell of a lot better than nothing, especially when crawling under a desk looking for Ethernet port numbers (I work in IT)
2) A Pen – I can’t begin to tell you how many times this has saved my butt at the post office where they never seem to have working pens
3) Scissors & Knife – sure it’s small but enough for opening office packages, cutting thru stuff in cellophane, etc.
4) Bottle Opener – Handy a half dozen times a year. Last time was just new years at a BYOB event. A buddy of mine brought a six pack of beer but it wasn’t twist top…”Uh does anyone have a bottle opener” – “Yeah I got you bro”
5) Small philips screwdriver – As I work with laptops a lot they use 0 size philips screws quite a bit. Not what I’d prefer to use but if I’m at a guys desk and the option is to take the elevator back to my desk and then back up again for a screwdriver or break this thing out I break this out all the time.
6) Nail file / small flat screwdriver – The least used but I have had to use it once in a while, especially the flathead. Mostly for un-tighening monitor cables
I swear this thing is the most useful tool EVER for what I do
John
I have that one too, you’re forgetting the unsung hero tool:
Orange peeler with scraper
While it seems ridiculous for “orange peeling” alone, that hook-like blade is incredibly good and safer at opening those clear clam shell packages and boxes without cutting yourself or the product inside.
A “Victorinox Signature Lite Pocket Knife” lives on my keychain as its quite a bit less fatter than the Midnight Manager. That light, built in retractable pen, and scissors have really gotten me out of some binds and earned a permanent place on my keychain.
Tomas
You’re thinking of the Mini-Champ, that’s the one with the orange peeler. and yeah the Mini-Champ is a little heavier than I’d like on my keychain. I like the Signature lite pocket knife you have as well, but once the Midnight Manager got a redesign with a bottle opener that was a must have for me 🙂
If I could customize mine a little I would add either tweezers or a toothpick built into the scales and maybe add that orange peeler at the expense of the nail file.
Robert
I’ve always appreciated all Victorinox knives in their different forms, but this is a particular favorite of mine. I have the classic silver alox version and couldn’t be happier. While the models with more whistles and bells can be fun and convenient, this one represents the classic Victorinox in my book. Adding anything to these alox versions would only take away in my opinion.
A large part of the appeal is in their straightforward simplicity in my view. I love the ones with additional toys, but these will always be the classics to me. I also have an alox Farmer that is one of my all time favorites.
Chris Fyfe
Alox SAK’s are very cool ! The Cadet is a nice EDC , tho I prefer the Pioneer , or Farmer . Can’t go wrong with one !
Chris
Pat
I carry a green Vic, forget the model. I like the models with the awl, always using to make a hole in something. Also, they make a tiny screwdriver that threads into the corkscrew. Super handy! There is usually a tiny hole in the corkscrew area where a straight pin will go. Again, cool to have. Hate Wengers, love Vic’s.
Gábor
The 90 degree stop is for the wire stripper not for the screwdriver: you set the tool to 90 degree, insert the wire in the notch then close the large blade on the wire lightly. Then you can rotate the knife around the wire to cut through the insulation.