Swiss Army...tool

[JohnKSa]

...caving in to the anti-knife wave...

I would agree if they decided to completely stop selling products with blades because some of their market doesn't allow them. But that's not what they are doing--you can still buy all of their products that have blades and they aren't saying anything about stopping production of those items or restricting their access. They're simply expanding their product line so they can sell to people who can't buy their regular products or who want to buy products they can carry and use in restricted areas. It just looks like good business to me.

If I were flying a lot, I'd probably buy one just to have on the plane & in the secure area of the airport and then swap out for a regular one when I could get to my checked luggage.

 

[Mk-211]

One of the recent stories.

https://qz.com/swiss-army-knife-victorinox-no-blade-1851461754

“We are in the early stages of developing pocket tools without blades,” a spokesperson for the company told CNN. Though it won’t be discontinuing its bladed version, the company has been trying to figure out how to serve customers in places — specifically England and some Asian countries — where knives aren’t as welcome a pocket sight than in other markets. The British government, for example, is considering new legislation on carrying blades in public.

 

[Jimfern]

If I could sell more product by removing or replacing something like a blade, I would totally do it. Although I mostly carry a mid to large folder, I often find myself going back to a SAK for the extra tools and functionality. My current favorite Victorinox is the Compact. I screwed a Kershaw pocket clip to a Vic Tinkerer and really like carrying it. I recently got gifted a Leatherman Rev which has a pocket clip. I'm going to try carrying it to see how well it carries.

 

[hso]

Wenger to follow

Ummm, Vic bought Wenger in 2005.

Wenger essentially ceased to exist in 2015 and have been integrated into Victorinox as the "Delémont collection

 

[Old Dog]

Ummm, Vic bought Wenger in 2005.

Wenger essentially ceased to exist in 2015 and have been integrated into Victorinox as the "Delémont collection

Well, cool. Didn't know that, just another demonstration of my disinterest in the SAK. I still have one or two Wenger versions...

And a pretty decent Victorinox chronograph Swiss Army Watch that was a retirement (military) gift for me back in Dec. '05...

the company has been trying to figure out how to serve customers in places — specifically England and some Asian countries — where knives aren’t as welcome a pocket sight than in other markets. The British government, for example, is considering new legislation on carrying blades in public.

As always, companies that believe that following the winds of political correctness and profits are not companies whose products I will purchase.

 

[JohnKSa]

If a company makes a pistol that holds 15 rounds and makes 10 round magazines for sale with the gun in areas where 15 round mags are prohibited, are they off your list too?

That's how I see this. I would be upset if a company decided to stop selling any hi-cap mags to anyone, even where it's legal, but I don't have a problem with a company making/selling products aimed at markets where there are legal restrictions IN ADDITION to maintaining their normal product line availability for sale in areas where there are no restrictions.

 

[hso]

following the winds of political correctness

If they were removing knife blade models you'd have an accurate assessment, but they're not.

profits

That's what businesses are supposed to do, make a profit. They do that by anticipating a demand and trying to meet it.

Victorinox isn't dropping product, they're adding products to serve customers.

We just hate that politicians are creating that customer demand with irrational laws. Like any good business, Victorinox is trying to capture a share of that demand not abandoning their traditional customers.