Zoom Image
This also applies, but not only, to apples: a good knife is often irreplaceable on the go
Photo: Gerd Blank
I got my first knife from my father, I was probably about seven years old at the time. In this day and age, the behavioral police would probably knock on our door, back then it was no problem to put a pocket knife in the hands of children as well. Of course, it was a Swiss army knife, the small version of the one my father always carried in his pocket. He used it to carve small flutes from the branches of a willow, cut an apple or a piece of salami during a hike.
For as long as I can remember, knives have been sharp members of the family and are always with me. EDC is probably what we call it today, i.e. "Everyday Carry". Again and again new folding knives are added, sometimes from friends as a gift and sometimes because I have found a new one for my growing collection.
However, I am not allowed to put every knife in my pocket and take it with me everywhere. This is because the Weapons Act also sets tight limits on knives. As a general rule, the purchase of folding knives is permitted. However, if a knife can be opened with one hand and it can be fixed by a lock, it may not be carried in public.
This also applies to multitools where the knife blade can be operated with one hand. Of course, there are exceptions that can be seen, for example, on taschenmesser.de. But in general, knives are not toys. Nevertheless, they can still be fun.
I tested these knives and multitools:
Victorinox Spartan Onyx Black: Retro charm with a new coat of paint (RRP 95 euros)Victorinox Classic Alox: Mini tool for nail care (RRP 35 euros)Victorinox Hunter Pro: For hunters and gatherers (RRP from 95 euros)Leatherman Skeletool CX: Toolbox for your pocket (RRP 130 euros)Leatherman Style CS: The futuristic nail care (RRP 35 euros)Puma IP Birch III: Carved from good wood (RRP 52 euros)
WESN Allman: Thick blade, narrow hips (RRP 160 euros)Boker Plus Urban Trapper: A slim minimalist (UPV 113 euros)Boker Plus Tech Tool Copper 1 (RRP 56 euros)CRKT CEO (RRP 55 euros)
This is how I tested the knives
Processing: Are there any protruding burrs or other workmanship defects? Is the mechanics smooth and stable?
Handling: How well can you use the knife?
Legal: Can the knife be carried?
Value for money: Is it worth buying?
Victorinox Spartan Onyx Black
It may be a bit sentimental, but whenever I pick up a Swiss army knife, I rejoice like a little boy. It brings back memories of hikes and first carving attempts.
Victorinox serves this nostalgia in the best way by offering this knife unchanged for decades. In the classic models, details are rarely changed. For example, the color of the handle and blades, as in the Spartan Onyx Black.
As the name suggests, the blades are blackened, the handle is made of Cellidor, a plastic on which a layer of protective varnish has been applied. The result looks classy - but can hardly be distinguished from the classic PS variant.
Instead of a single blade, a total of 13 tools are installed – although I would not have identified the small ring and cord with the manufacturer's logo as tools. The rest is retro with a new coat of paint: the blade is short and narrow, a tad too small to be fun when peeling apples. The corkscrew usually stays closed for me, the bottle opener is very practical. Recently, I also had to use the can opener because the opening ring from the dog food had broken off. That worked extremely well.
All in all, the Spartan Onyx is a nice knife for your pocket - and black looks very good on it. But I would choose the PS variant. It's just as chic, but costs only half as much.
Victorinox Classic Alox
In addition to the typical design, such as the Spartan Onyx, Victorinox offers, for example, the miniature knife Classic. Despite the small dimensions, a nail file and scissors are installed next to the blade. The tools are sufficient for the care of the fingernails, and a package can also be opened with them, but otherwise the gem will usually get stuck in the jeans when folded.
Victorinox Hunter Pro
The Swiss not only have multitools in their range, but also pocket knives that have only one blade, nothing else. On the Hunter Pro, this blade is quite large. The tested version is a knife with one-handed operation and lock, which is why it may not be carried ready for access - unless you use the knife for professional reasons.
For professional use, there is also a practical belt bag, which is secured with a Velcro fastener. The knife fits perfectly in the hand, the sturdy blade does a good job even with heavy carvings. However, the blade is too large for fine work.
Leatherman Skeletool CX
German case law prohibits carrying multitools ready for access, where the blade can be opened and locked with one hand. Luckily, I have a permanent place in my camper for my skeletool from Leatherman.
The blade is quite short at 6.6 centimeters, but there is still room for a small saw. The replaceable screwdrivers are really practical. For example, I used it to cut off a piece of water hose and tightened a gas connection with the pliers.
The futuristic look is so martial that at most the artificial heart of the "Terminator" would beat a little faster at the sight of this knife. Nevertheless, I don't want to do without this tool – even if it has no place in my pocket. Rules are rules.
Leatherman Style CS
On the other hand, the tiny Leatherman Style CS does not cause any problems. Similar to the Victorinox Classic, it is mainly used for nail care, but of course it can also open bottles. The scissors are quite large and can therefore be operated well. On the other hand, the blade is small and the file is even smaller. Tweezers are also included here and are often used by me, because when collecting wood, a splinter sometimes ends up in my finger.
Puma IP Birch III
You can't buy one of my favorite knives. My friend Gianni had it made for me by a knife maker. The handle comes from the horn of a Sardinian mouflon, which gives the shape of the blade. In the past, such knives were used to literally pull the fur over the ears of animals. I use it to cut my cheese.
Another knife was also a gift: My friend Martin gave me the Puma IP Birch III for his birthday. The stainless steel blade comes from Solingen, the handle scales made of violet and birch wood were made by hand in Spain. The blade is 76 millimeters long, cannot be locked and can only be set up with two hands. The Birch can therefore be carried without any problems.
The grip is great, it feels wonderful to work with. However, the cut is not very well done, here you should lend a hand yourself. But as a sturdy knife for opening packages and packages or preparing snacks, it is extremely practical. The short, wide blade is easy to guide, even finer work can be done quite well with it.
WESN Allman
The U.S. company WESN manufactures its knives by hand. New models are pre-financed via Kickstarter before they are mass-produced. At first glance, the Allman seems a bit clunky – but this impression is deceptive. The wide blade has a reasonable length of 72 millimeters. The rather narrow handle of my copy is made of a mixture of fiberglass and epoxy resin. Titanium is used for other variants.
The knife can be opened with one hand, while the blade is secured. Therefore, you are not allowed to carry the Allman publicly. It fits excellently in the hand, the wide blade is extremely convenient for coarse sections, for example, of cheese. When peeling an apple, the handling is not optimal.
The blade is quite sharpened, needs some love and attention every now and then after a while. It's worth it, because this knife is a great everyday tool that also fits on a desk.
Boker Plus Urban Trapper
The knife manufacturer Boker builds pocket knives with a focus on design for its own Plus line. I particularly like the straightforward Urban Trapper. In the »Linear Micarta« variant, the blade has been given a dark look. The handle scales made of hardened fibers and synthetic resins fit excellently in the hand.
The blade is very sharp, the knife can be used well even for fine work due to the straight shape. With a so-called flipper, the knife is opened with one hand, and the blade also locks in the housing. Therefore, it may not be carried in Germany, but at most lie on the desk to open letters and parcels.
The Urban Trapper is available in different versions. In the classic version, the handle is made of a fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
Boker Plus Tech Tool Copper 1
With the Tech Tool, both hands have to be used to open it. So you can take this chic pocket knife with you wherever you go. The more often it is used and picked up, the faster the copper handle changes. In Hamburg, the effect is known from the copper roof of the Michel, which has acquired a greenish patina due to weather influences. It will take a while for oxidation to set in with the Tech Tool Copper. Nevertheless, this effect makes the knife a very special piece of jewelry.
CRKT CEO
A long and slender knife at the end: The CEO is – as the name suggests – a fine knife for high demands. Coarse carvings are not his thing, I would use it mainly as a letter opener. And indeed, it looks quite magnificent on the desk.
With its clip, I could also attach it to the inside pocket of my jackets – if I wore a jacket. But carrying it with you is not an option anyway, because with a thumb pin, the 8.5 centimeter long blade can also be opened with one hand.
Note: An earlier version of the article stated that the WESN model had a blade 720 millimeters long. In fact, it is 72 millimeters. We have corrected the information.