[Smaug]

I'm sure others have seen this too. The one I saw had a fluorescent green handle with the red shield. The main blade has an oblong thumb-opening hole and has those small serrations that Victorinox likes. (which I like because they're regular) The blade is a decent size, but not shaped for stabbing.

It also has some useful tools.

As such, it would be a useful daily tool, but could be pressed into service as a weapon if need be.

I'm not big on carrying a big folding knife just for the idea that I might need to defend myself with it one day.

Edit: Here's the one I'm talking about:
http://www.victorinox.com/index.cfm?site=victorinox.ch&page=491&lang=E

Edit 2: They've come out with a new soldier's knife, which would probably be even better:
http://www.victorinox.com/index.cfm?site=victorinox.ch&page=581&lang=E

http://www.victorinox.com/images/content/page581/head.jpg

[plumberroy]

http://knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/831235/tp/1/
There are some fake/counterfit ones on Ebay so watch out buying one from there

[CWL]

Another version is called the One Handed Trekker (OHT) knife. You can get them from amazon for a decent price because it includes shipping.

It is a decent knife, I bought 2 from a guy at knifeforums that customizes them.

The one-hand opening, locking blade plus length of blade makes it very useful for chores beyond slicing salami at the campsite.

[MikeJackmin]

Looks just like the new German Army Knife they adopted a couple years ago. I wonder if there are any differences besides the shield?

[22-rimfire]

I think it is a great knife. I would buy it in a minute if the main blade was not serrated.

[Run&Shoot]

It would certainly be more handy, but the SAK blades are rather thin and brittle for any kind of self defense.

I like how my Leatherman WAVE has the same one-hand opening of the plain and serrated blades, and it would be great on a SAK as well. And I like my SAK blades because they are thin and perfect for cutting through a variety of lightweight material (cheese, cardboard, cordage, trimming, etc.).

But as self defense you have to assume the blade is likely to break off. Just presenting it may scare off a potential threat, but if an attack is made I would not plan on it surviving the first thrust. That's why I carry a sheath knife in the woods or a sturdy folder in town.

[CWL]

I would buy it in a minute if the main blade was not serrated.

Yup. The 2 customs I bought had regular blades (and glow in the dark screaming yellow scales).

[MikeJackmin]

It's fairly easy to just grind the serrations off on a stone and resharpen it. I recall reading that German soldiers were explicitly prohibited from doing this, I guess they don't like the serrations either.

[Smaug]

I noticed the serrations too. I'm sure the reason was to try to make sure the knife would be sharp when it was needed. Serrations take longer to dull.

I also noticed that about 1/4 of the blade nearest to the handle is straight.

I think that got that backwards. Most other makers of a combo edge put the serrations back toward the hinge, right?

[Smaug]

On the other hand, since the designers may have had last-ditch fighting in mind, a serrated edge is better for slashing, right? Since it is more likely to be sharp at the tip, and since it is rather grabby, it is more likely to rip through clothes & flesh.

[CWL]

The designers did not envision this knife as a "last ditch" fighter. It is meant to be a utility knife that simple grunts can open their rats with. Serrated teeth are for cutting all the webbing that modern soldiers are wrapped with.

Too many people think knives get used for combat. The reality is that they don't.

[Smaug]

I wrote Victorinox an email a day or two about this.

Here's my email to them:
When will the new soldier's knife be available to the public? How much will it cost? (range) Does it have a belt/pocket clip? or a pouch of some sort? Are those liner locks for the screwdriver and main blade?


Here's their reply:
Dear Sir

Thank you for your e-mail and interest in our Swiss Army knives. For more information please see www.victorinox.com.

The new knife will be available in retail from middle of 2009 onwards. The price is not yet defined. There will be a pouch available for the knife. The liner locks are for the main blade and the screwdriver.

I am sure that you will be very pleased with the quality and functionality of this new soldier knife.

Many thanks and best regards

Michael Tschümperlin

[TimboKhan]

I am most interested in this knife, as I am also interested in the Trekker version. However, the thing that kept me from buying the Trekker (which is also available from walmart.com) is that it doesn't have a pocket clip.

Honestly, the pocket clip is a feature I find so overwhelmingly delightful that I just am not interested in any knife that doesn't have one. It's nice that there is a pouch for it, but I don't want a pouch anymore than I want it rolling around in my pocket all day. If they made that addition to it, I could guarantee a sale!

Also, and I don't mean to poo-poo your opinion, who cares if a SAK is good for self-defense? I have posted before that knife-fighting is very, very low on my list of things to do, and I honestly would get many thousands of times more use out of the average SAK as I would your average "combat folder". Your point is still perfectly valid, and I don't mean to make it sound pointless. If that's what you are concerned about, carry a second knife or don't carry this one as you go forth into the world.

[CWL]

When will the new soldier's knife be available to the public? How much will it cost? (range) Does it have a belt/pocket clip? or a pouch of some sort? Are those liner locks for the screwdriver and main blade?

???

The black OHT version has already been available for at least one year. You can get it delivered from Amazon for $28.72.
http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-One-Hand-Trekker-Lockblade-Pocket/dp/B000687B44/ref=pd_sim_sg_1

The German Army version can be had for $30.50 (plus shipping).
http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-One-Hand-Trekker-German-Multi-Tool/dp/B001B197RE/ref=pd_sbs_sg_6

It is quite a large folder and SAK philosophy typically favors belt pouch over clip. For me, I attach a short lanyard to it and let that part hang outside of my pocket for ease of access.

Both the knife and screwdriver/bottle opener are locking and use a 'internal' liner lock that releases when pressed with the left hand -probably a safety feature.

[weaponhead]

Is it just me? Am I the only one impressed by its "glow in the dark" handles that can illuminate half the room? :D (seriously!)