One of the best of the knife's features is that Wenger gives owners two 3.9-inch knife blades -- one serrated and one plain-edged. No matter how common the combination edge becomes, there's still no substitute for a full-length plain cutting edge when doing ordinary camp chores. Wenger refers to the serrated blade on the Adventurer as an emergency blade, more useful for cutting straps and rope when you need to work fast.

Another unusual feature of the Adventurer is the socket driven screwdriver set. There's no awkward combination bottle cap screwdriver blade -- Wenger found a different option for the Phillips bit as well. The interchangeable hex bits fit a socket at the base of the knife's body, turning the Adventurer into a high torque tool.

Everything on this knife makes good sense in expedition terms, and you won't get tool bits that just add weight without ever seeing use. Dual purpose blades include reamer with sewing eye, combination metal file and saw, and wire-cutting long nosed pliers. Wenger didn't forget the can opener, but in this knife, it's strictly for opening cans.

The 5.1-inch-long Adventurer weighs 8.8 ounces and carries best on the belt in the durable snap-closure pouch, also included.

Wenger's sister company Victorinox makes a knife of similar size but with very different blade options -- the Victorinox Ranger 75.

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NEW WENGER SWISS ARMY KNIFE Mike Horn Evo 17 Brown 16327 US $53.71   Auction Ends: 19d 4h 50m

Wenger 16327 Evolution 17 Mike Horn Edition Swiss Army Knife US $65.00   Auction Ends: 28d 19h 26m

The non-slip grip of the Rangergrip 178 stays in the hand by shape as well as by texture. That becomes more important on cold days when fingers numb and handle materials harden. The large thumb loop built into the 3.9-inch-long main blade allows one-handed operation with simple thumb pressure. Oil the pivots lightly on occasion to keep the action smooth. The knife blade locks into open position and may be safely used for piercing work as well as for carving and slicing. Half the edge is plain for fine cutting, and the other half is a smoothly cutting serrated edge designed for quick parting of cords and straps.

The toolkit may be limited compared to bulkier multi-tools, but the several good stainless steel blades offered by the Ranger are well designed and very practical. Teeth on the high carbon stainless steel saw blade -- 4.2 inches long -- set slightly to either side of the blade and cut a kerf wider than the steel. Unlike some blades with saw teeth but no set, this one won't bind. The flat screwdriver blade also locks in place, and the knife carries the important standard options of bottle and can opener, Phillips screwdriver, awl, and reamer. With fewer blades, the knife shows better balance and less weight. At 5.1 inches long, the Rangergrip only weighs 5.6 ounces.

This large knife carries better on the belt than in the pocket. A nylon belt pouch is available separately.

See the Victorinox Forester for Victorinox's version of the Swiss Army outdoorsman's multi-tool.

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Wenger 16311 Ranger 78 Swiss Army Knife US $50.00   Auction Ends: 29d 5h 26m

Wenger 16503 1077092027 Official Wold Scout Ranger 55 Swiss Army Knife US $67.00   Auction Ends: 28d 23h 15m

Three of the knife's blades, including the 2.5-inch high carbon stainless steel drop point blade, lock in open position. Both the flat tip and Phillips-head screwdrivers also lock open, eliminating any accidentally folding under pressure. Other blades offer refinements you'll find helpful and practical. The mini-serrations of the small pair of foldout shears self-sharpens as it's used, for example, and the teeth of the 2.75-inch wood saw are properly set for clean cutting without binding.

The fingernail file blade works on softer metals as well as fingernails, and the flathead screwdriver blade also strips insulation from wire and opens bottle caps. If needed to open a can for a meal on the trail, there's an efficient can opener blade for that still common chore. The stainless steel awl also reams out the holes it punches, and the knife includes the very useful Swiss Army plastic toothpick and steel tweezers, housed securely in internal slots. Hook the tip with a fingernail to remove them from the handle and put them to use.

The 3.25-inch-long Evolution Lock S18 also carries a wide selection of tools appropriate for the modern outdoorsman. At 3.1 ounces, the Wenger Evolution is perfect for pocket carry, but an optional belt sheath makes it even more convenient.

Try the Victorinox Hercules for a more robust model of the Swiss Army outdoorsman's knife.

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WENGER Swiss Army Knife Evolution 17 Black Soft Touch US $61.49   Auction Ends: 23d 1h 16m

1 WENGER EVOLUTION 81 YELLOW EVO 81 Swiss Army Knife NO RESERVE BREITLING LOGO US $6.50   3 Bids Auction Ends: 1d 4h 9m

If you collect unusual knives, you'll certainly be interested in this one. The 3.5-inch-long pocket folder holds twelve different tools with 19 possible applications. Nine of the tools are sized for micro-tech functions. Only a few of the multi-function blades are included in other Wenger Swiss Army multi-tools.

You'll recognize items like the corkscrew, bottle opener, awl, and knife blade, but beyond the familiar basics it's a new tool set completely. There's a blade for opening the back of a watch's case, a mineral crystal magnifying lens for focusing on tiny problems, a spring lifter and wire bender, and a set of miniature pin punches. The basic high carbon stainless steel knife blade's 2.5-inch plain edge solves all sorts of ordinary problems, and the large combination bottle opener and flat blade screwdriver locks in place for tougher jobs. You'll also find the indispensable tweezers and plastic toothpick in this technician's knife, and you're certain to need them.

Wenger's ergonomic handle design prevents slips and sits comfortable in the hand, but one of the main advantages is that the streamlined grip simply looks good. The micro tool chest from Wenger fits the pocket neatly, and the stainless steel key ring allows users to rig a wrist loop for extra security.

For a more rugged multi-tool designed for the average user, see the Wenger Evo-Grip.

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Wenger 16109 98831 Micro Tool Chest Swiss Army Knife Bergeon Complement Set US $140.00   Auction Ends: 28d 19h

Wenger Tool Chest Plus Genuine Swiss Army Knife US $99.99   Auction Ends: 10d 19h 51m

Wenger designed the Alinghi for use on yachts, but any outdoorsman would find this knife handy. The mechanics tools include large and small locking flat-blade screwdrivers, a pair of needle-nose pliers, and a Phillips screwdriver blade. That's enough to solve many common gear problems. Unless you work with rope, you may be mystified by the shape of the English and metric ruler, which doubles as a marlinspike for loosening stubborn knots. The unusual spike design looks fragile, but the tempered stainless steel handles most jobs well.

The pliers on the Wenger Alinghi qualify as light duty, and unless you're wearing gloves, you'll find the grip pressure limited by your own pain threshold. The slim steel handle of these pliers isn't something you'll find comfortable over the long term, but it certainly will come in handy for small jobs. The body of the knife provides a much better grip with a tacky nonslip surface you'll find easy to hold in wet weather and a shape that prevents slipping even when hands are cold and clumsy.

The Alinghi's 3.9-inch high carbon stainless steel main blade features a generous serrated cutting edge with the front half plain edged for fine work. The knife is designed for one-handed operation in either hand. Swing the main blade out with thumb pressure on the blade's steel loop. The blade locks automatically in the working position, and unlocks with thumb pressure on the button lock. Closing the knife one-handed is also safe and simple, and the 5.1-inch knife stores easily in its nylon belt pouch.

For a simpler rigging knife, see the Myerchin B300.

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NEW WENGER SWISS ARMY KNIFE Ranger Alinghi SUI1 Gray Black 16326 US $157.89   Auction Ends: 21d 4h 7m

Wenger Sui1 Alinghi Sailing Tool Knife US $317.37   Auction Ends: 17d 9h 47m

Some of the massive knife's blades are actually detachable tools with multiple bits suitable for an appropriately wide range of tasks. Those usable tools include a removable screwdriver bit holder with three Phillips and three flat bits, an Allen wrench with Phillips head tip, a removable bicycle spoke adjuster, and of course the familiar permanent toothpick and tiny tweezers. If you're looking for practical reasons to buy this beast, regrettably you won't find them -- but if you're a collector of knives, you can be fairly sure you own the only one on your block even if you live in Manhattan.

Everything in this knife is made with the same care as the knives Wenger produces in a practical size, using the same high carbon stainless steel for tools and cutting blades and the same durable steel liners. Some of the blades even include lockbacks. You'll find very unusual tools in the crowd as well -- among them a fine watch spring bar fork and a self-centering gun-sight screwdriver, as well as laser pointer, shortix laboratory key, and compass. The most practical accessory may actually be the black plush-lined gift box which comes with the knife. The box looks good enough to grace any desk or display shelf and has enough space to hold the knife with all blades open.

At two pounds and eleven ounces, the Wenger Giant Knife is too big and too heavy for anyone's pocket. Fortunately, one of the blades is a carabiner clip, so you can still hang this baby on your belt. Now, where's that toothpick...

See the Swiss Army Champ for Victorinox's entry in the race for the Most Multifunctional Penknife World Record.

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Wenger 16999 98831 Giant Swiss Army Knife with Bergeon Minathor Complement Set US $1,500.00   Auction Ends: 28d 19h 1m

Wenger Giant with Show Box Red US $1,546.91   Auction Ends: 27d 3h 49m

What's the difference between the two? Both make quality knives (and watches) with precision Swiss craftsmanship backed by a lifetime manufacturer warranty, but Wenger has, in recent years, taken the simplicity of the Swiss Army knife and begun to tweak with the design. I think the major improvements they've been working with involve a new, sleek yet ergonomic handle, improving both comfort and grip. This fresh handle is a major design element in the Nail Clip 580.

The Wenger Nail Clip 580 is first and foremost a set of nail clippers that slide in and out of the handle. These are sharp and very functional for either fingers or toes. Also included in the stainless steel implements are a small pen blade, nail file/cleaner, and serrated-edge scissors. The serrated scissors have a self-sharpening design, so each snip will keep the edges maintained. Tweezers and toothpick are tucked into small slots on the handle.

I guess, now that Wenger is owned by Victorinox, there is no real difference between the two brands. They both make very similar looking and working pocket knives. This may add a funk to your Swiss Army knife decision making process, but, when it comes to nail clippers, consider that Victorinox doesn't have a set on the market, so this Wenger Nail Clip is probably the best you can find.

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NEW WENGER SWISS ARMY KNIFE Nail Clipper EvoGrip Red Black 16804 US $30.63   Auction Ends: 19d 6h 22m

NEW WENGER SWISS ARMY KNIFE Nail Clipper Watermelon Pink Translucent 16959 US $27.56   Auction Ends: 19d 5h 52m

Wenger, in addition to Victorinox, is one of only two officially-licensed producers of Swiss Army Knives. Vic gets all the attention, but Wenger keeps plugging along.

This is actually the Wenger EvoGrip 18, not EvoGrip 16 as stated in some product descriptions. The difference is all in the number of included tools. The 16 only has ten tools, while the 18 has eleven tools.

We feel the EvoGrip 18's biggest assets are threefold: its ergonomic, rubber handle (of course), its patented locking screwdriver, and its 2.4-inch serrated scissors that are designed to sharpen themselves.

Other handy accessories on the 18 include: a 2.5-inch plain edge knife, 2.75-inch double-cut saw, cap lifter, bottle/can opener, nail file/cleaner, awl, reamer, Phillips screwdriver, toothpick, tweezers, and a key ring on the end of the handle.

When closed, the tool measures 3.5 inches. Plus it also comes with a limited lifetime warranty. That means it'll be comfortable to use, convenient to carry, and equally secure to keep.

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Wenger EvoGrip18 Swiss Army pocket knife multitool New black and red rubber US $37.99   Auction Ends: 15d 6h 56m

Wenger 16801 EvoGrip S18 WPER Swiss Army Knife US $52.00   Auction Ends: 28d 23h 16m