Photo courtesy of Victorinox
TEST SERIES BY ANDREW PREECE
INITIAL REPORT January 29TH, 2009 |
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Contents |
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Initial Report
Description
Functions
First try |
Field
Report
One-handed blade
Phillips screwdriver
Window breaker
Screwdriver,
Cap lifter-wire stripper
Punch and reamer
Belt cutter
Key ring
Tweezers
Toothpick
Disc saw
Luminescent grip shells
Nylon cord
Nylon case
Impression thus far |
Long Term Report |
Personal Details
Name: Andrew Preece
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight: 188 lb (85 kg)
Waist: 39 in (100 cm)
Sleeve Length: 20 in(53 cm)
Chest: 42.5 in (108 cm)
Neck: 16 in (40 cm)
Email: andrew_at_teamgunnparker_dot_com
Website:
www.teamgunnparker.com
City: Perth.
Western Australia.
Australia. |
Backpacking Background
I have done a lot of hiking over the years but now carry a hammock and
gear for over night stays of one to two nights. I normally carry
approximately 35 lb (16 kg) which includes food and water. My trips are
usually between one to two days duration mainly over weekends. I hike
all seasons with winter temperatures ranging from 39 F (4 C) to 64 F (18
C) including periods of heavy rain at times to summer conditions with
the temperature ranging from 68 F (20 C) to 95 F (35 C) and very dry. |
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Initial Report
January 20th 2008 |
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PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Victorinox
Year of Manufacture: 2008
Manufacturer's Website:
http://www.victorinox.ch/
MSRP USD: $97.00
RescueTool 0.8623.MWN
Comprises following parts and functions:
1. One-handed blade
2. Phillips screwdriver
3. window breaker
4. strong 6mm screwdriver with
5. - cap lifter
6. - wire stripper
7. punch and reamer
8. belt cutter
9. key ring
10. tweezers
11. toothpick
12. disc saw
13. luminescent grip shells
14. nylon cord
15. nylon case
Weight without case: 6.35 oz (180 gm)
Weight with case: 7.73 oz (219 gm)
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Description
The Victorinox rescue tool is a folding
knife sized tool designed to be used in an emergency medical and rescue
situation. Everything from the bright yellow slab sides of the tool to
every one of the twelve tools that nest into the handle have been
designed to be tough. The main functions of the tool are designed to be
opened while wearing gloves and this tool is suitable for left or right
handed people.
The one-handed blade and strong screwdriver (crate opener) are fixed in
position when opened thanks to the liner lock mechanism. The window
breaker and disc saw tools are replaceable should they become worn with
use.
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Functions |
1. One-handed blade
The one handed blade has a hole near the base of the blade so that it
may be opened with a thumb while holding it in one hand. The blade has a
small section of plain blade while the balance is serrated.
Dimensions
3.15 in x 1 in (80 mm x 25 mm) |
2. Phillips screwdriver
Standard small Phillips screwdriver.
Dimensions
1.30 in x 0.22 in (33 mm x 5.6 mm diameter) |
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3. Window breaker
A small pointed replaceable section at the
end of the tool.
Dimensions
1 in x 0.28 in (25 mm x 7 mm) |
4. Strong 6mm screwdriver with, cap
lifter-wire stripper
Flat screwdriver with a small bottle cap
opener and wire stripper.
Dimensions
1.38 in x 0.75 in (35 mm x 19 mm) |
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5. Punch and reamer
A small but very pointy tool for making
holes and reaming holes in various items.
Dimensions
1.18 in x 1.18 in (30 mm x 6 mm) |
6. - Belt cutter
A curved, serrated blade to cut seat belts
without harming the occupant.
Dimensions
3.35 in x 0.47 in (85 mm x 12 mm) |
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7. Key ring
Dimensions
11 mm in diameter |
Can be seen in picture four. |
8. Tweezers
Small metal tweezers with plastic piece on the end.
Dimensions
1.77 in x 0.12 in (45 mm x 3 mm)
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9. Toothpick
Small plastic tooth pick.
Dimensions
1.97 in x 0.12 in (50 mm x 3 mm) |
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10. Disc
saw
A long serrated blade designed to cut
windscreens.
Dimensions
3.35 in x 0.35 in (85 mm x 9 mm) |
11. Luminescent grip shells
The bright yellow plastic slabs on each side of the
tool. They have a slightly rough feel to them. |
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12. Nylon cord,
Can be seen
in picture four.
Helps with removing tool from the case.
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13. Nylon case
The case that holds the tool. In pocket, glove box
or on belt.
Weight
1.38 oz (39 gm)
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First try |
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All of the tools open and close
very smoothly. The main blade and the flat screwdriver lock in place and
lock very firmly. Opening this blade with the hole in the blade is
easily done. Some of the tools when closed are a little hard to open,
needing a strong finger nail to open them. The tooth pick and tweezers
are both very small.
The pouch looks to be made of black vinyl with a red nylon covering. It
stays closed with a small square of hook and loop under the metal logo.
Under the lid is what appears to be a serial number. |
Back to top |
Field Report
15 April 2009
During the two months of this testing period I have
use the tool while on two camping trips, while on two day hikes and
around my house. Most of the real testing has been done at my place of
work.
The reason for this testing at work is for two reasons, first of all the
tool is designed to break and cut through car windows. Side windows and
front and rear windscreens can be broken through and then cut with the
tool. For this reason I did not want broken glass at my home. The second
reason was that I work next to a car panel repair shop and the owner
kindly gave me a complete car door plus two windscreens to test the tool
on.
1. One-handed blade
The blade is very sharp right out of the box and has needed no
sharpening. I have used it to cut smaller branches in the bush and
packaging at work and home. I used it once to cut and fashion a tent
stake from a small branch. I have used it to cut through cardboard boxes
at work that are .5 in (12 mm) thick.
The blade is very strong and has stayed sharp. The blade does not move
side to side in the frame of the tool. The blade is held in place when
open by a spring steel liner lock that is apart of the frame. To close
the blade I press the liner lock in with my thumb and then close blade.
I am very happy with this blade but find the lock seems back to front
somehow. When I want to close the blade after I have been using it with
the sharp edge facing down, I have to turn the tool over so that the
sharp edge is now facing up toward my fingers then I am able to open the
lock with my thumb and shut the blade toward my hand. I have had to be
very carful when closing this blade.
I have noticed that now I have used it to cut glass a few times, tiny
fragments of glass have worked their way into the frame of the tool.
These fragments are causing a slight grinding noise and a slight rough
feel to the tool when I open some of the items.
The window showing the hole I cut through it.
2. Phillips
screwdriver
The Phillips screw driver works well as I would expect. But it is fairly
large in size and is not suitable for smaller screws for example at the
back of my GPS or my tripod. The screwdriver once opened springs into
place and is held in place at a ninety degree angle to the frame of the
tool. If I push on the screwdriver it will open past this ninety degree
a little.
I like this screwdriver but would prefer it locked into place better.
3. Window breaker
The window breaker works very well indeed, my first attempt at breaking
the quarter window on the car door I was given went very well. So well
in fact, that I had to make a mental note to hit the window with a lot
less force next time.
The tool when used as a window breaker is held in the hand as I would a
tennis racket. The breaker is facing down from my palm by my little
finger and is swung down onto the glass window. I wrapped my thumb over
the top of the tool to hold it tightly in place.
I found that I swung with a lot of force on my first try and the tool
went right through the window and my wrist hit upon the frame of the car
door. The next time I hit the window a lot softer and was still able to
break the glass. The window breaker will break through side window glass
very easy indeed.
Next was one of the windscreens I was given. I propped the windscreen up
in a large cardboard box to catch the glass that would break away from
the windscreen and after donning a pair of gloves and a pair of safety
glasses I took aim at the windscreen, at first I stuck it a little
softly after my experience with the side window but quickly found that a
lot, a very lot more force was need to break through the windscreen. So
much so that I found after about ten blows I need to stop to catch my
breath and that it took about sixty blows to penetrate right through the
glass.
Windscreens here in Australia are generally made of two sections of
glass with a film of some rubbery substance sandwiched between. This is
that that the windscreen does not just shatter when hit by a flying
rock. But this does make it hard to cut through.
So far I like this part of the tool and look forward to using it
more.
In this photo below damage of the shells is shown as is tiny glass
fragments in the blades.
4. Strong 6mm
screwdriver with, cap lifter-wire stripper
The flat screwdriver which is also a bottle cap lifter, a wire stripper
and can be used as a small pry bar. As a screwdriver it does a good job
as I would expect and as a bottle opener it works just as well. I had to
buy a few bottles of beer with the right cap to test this item out on.
I used it as a pry bar a couple of times, once to pry off a part of the
door handle of the door I had to test on and a few times on some of the
packing at work. The wire stripper left me wanting a little though. To
be able to test the stripper I had to search to find the right size of
wire because if it is too large it will not fit into the groove of the
stripper and if it is too small it just pulls right through.
This screwdriver when opened looks into place with a liner lock, a part
of the inside of the frame that is spring steel flicks out and holds the
screwdriver in place. To close the screwdriver I press this lock back
away from the screwdriver and then close it. This system works very well
and the screwdriver is held very firmly in place.
Back to top
5. Punch and reamer
This part of the tool is very sharp as well. It has a sharp point and a
sharp edge perhaps three quarters of the length of it. When opened it
stays in place opened ninety degrees to the body of the tool. I used
this tool to punch some holes into the bottom of a coffee can and it did
a good job of it, a bit of twisting around and I was able to ream out
the hole and make it larger. The only thing that put me off about this
tool was the fact that when I pressed down hard to punch through the can
the reamer opened out more than ninety degrees, simular to the Phillips
screwdriver. It first I thought I was going to cut my fingers but I did
not and now that I am aware of it I am make sure I am carful.
The car door showing my first attempt at a quarter window.
6. Belt cutter
The seatbelt cutter was tested on a car in the panel shop next to my
work. They had an older car there and told me I was able to cut the belt
if I wanted. I jumped in the car put on the seatbelt belt and started to
cut the belt. First thing I noticed was the belt would pull out more
when I tried to cut it and go back in when I stoped cutting. I found
that I had to grasp the seatbelt near my neck with my left hand and hold
the belt tight while cutting the belt with my right. This means my view
is blocked slightly by my left arm. I found the belt cutter cut through
the belt quick enough but no where near as quick as the normal straight
blade.
7. Key ring
The key ring is quite small and is ok for holding the nylon cord in
place.
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8. Tweezers
The tweezers are quite small to use. I found when trying to remove a
splinter I picked up in camp that I had to put my glasses on as they are
so small. I think they would be handy enough in a hiking tool but wonder
what place they have in a rescue tool?
9. Toothpick
The tooth pick has been handy enough and I have used it quite a few
times now.
The size of the tweezers and toothpick next to a box of matches in my
hand.
10. Disc saw
This saw is a good piece of gear. When I was punching a hole through the
windscreen with the window breaker and once I had made a hole through it
the glass saw cut through it fairly easily. It was not very easy and
still took quite a bit of work to complete a hole in the windscreen as
is shown in the photo but if I had to; I could cut all around the
windscreen with out to much sweat.
11.
Luminescent grip shells
The side grips on the tool feel nice to grasp with my bare hand but I
found that with a pair of gloves on and with the force needed to break
through a windscreen the tool would slip through my glove.
One thing I did notice with the shells was that one day I had the tool
out in camp and was making a tent stake. I was getting ready to cook my
evening meal and I saw that the tool was glowing in the dark. The sides
of the tool are made from some very bright glow in the dark material and
I was very surprised by it. I have noticed that the end of the shells
have started to sustain some damage. This will have been caused by the
breaking of the windscreen. I hope it does not get any worse.
They are very good indeed.
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The windscreen showing the two areas where I
punched through and cut a hole in it.
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12. Nylon cord
The cord is good for helping me pull the tool from its pouch but not
much more. I will replace it with a longer lanyard when the test period
is over.
13. Nylon case
The case is quite good and feels very sturdy although I would have been
happier to have had a press stud on the top closing flap rather than
hook and loop. The belt loop is very good and allows me to easily pass
it over the hip belt of my pack.
14. Impression thus far
This tool is typical of the Victorinox knives I have seen and is
constructed very well. All of the parts close very well and there is no
movement in the parts other that the Phillips screwdriver and the
reamer.
I like very much that the window breaker and disc saw parts are
replaceable. So if these parts become blunt or wear out in some way they
can be pulled out from the frame and new parts pushed in place. But in
my quick look online in Australia following links from the Victorinox
site I was unable to source these parts. Over the next two months I will
try again to source these parts.
I have noticed that some parts have become a little stiffer to
close now. Very small pieces of glass have worked their way into the
tool when I have been cutting glass and this is causing some friction
with the moving parts.
As far as hiking goes it does feel a little heavy for me but this is
subjective and others may not find it as heavy. I was able to use only a
few of the tools in a hiking situation and think that the tool is made
for and better suited to a paramedic or fire fighter type situation.
I think that this tool will have a place in my four wheel drive for
emergencies but not in my back pack. |
Back
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Long Term Report
June 17th 2009
I have been using the rescue tool off and on over
the last couple of months now. And in that time I have completed a three
day hiking trip, a one night, two day hike, plus a couple of smaller day
hikes up in the hills and to the South of Perth.
I have used the tool mostly in camp for various camp chores and cooking
chores while preparing my meals. I have been using the knife most of the
time to slice food with.
In my field report above I tested the tool out as it is meant to be used
e.g. breaking and cutting glass and so on, so there is no need to go
over that ground again. I have found the tool to be a little heavy to
carry in my pack at 7.73 oz (219 gm). I did wear the tool in the pouch
on the hip belt of my pack where the weight is less noticeable, but I was
concerned that the hook and loop at the lid of the pouch may open while
hiking and I’d lose the tool. Because of this I took it off the belt and
put it back into my pack. I think that now that the testing is over I
will leave it in my car for emergencies only.
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The rescue tool and some of my
gear at Ball creek hut.
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I tried to saw a small piece of
branch I found on the ground, about the size of a pencil. I used the
disc saw to attempt to cut it but found other than making a small groove
in the branch it did not cut at all. The teeth on the saw are more like
the teeth on a file and not like on a wood saw, so this would explain
why it did not work.
The tooth pick has had a little use as so has the tweezers, but there is
little else on the tool that I found I could use in the bush.
I wanted to find out if the replacement blades for the tool were
available in Australia so I sent an email to Victorinox in Europe asking
if they new where I could get them. They did not respond. I sent another
off to a website I found through the Victorinox website and they did not
respond. I finally sent another to another site listed at Victorinox and
over night I did get a very nice reply.
I was told that they did not carry the blades but would be happy to
check and see if they were able to source them from Europe for me and
which ones did I want, very good I thought.
So to sum up I feel this is a very nice, well made piece of gear that
would have a place in the right industry but for me it will stay in my
four wheel drive hoping that I never have to use it as it is intended
for an emergency. I would hate to come across a car accident while out
in the bush.
The tool is in good condition even though I have used it to break
through and cut three windows, one being a windscreen. The base of the
handle does show some wear as is shown in the photo above. But over all
it is quite like new.
Thank you Victorinox for allowing me to test this tool. And
Backpackgeartest.com for arranging the test.
Andrew Preece
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