Got a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife, often referred to affectionately as a SAK? Well then, you have one of the most practical (and versatile) tools ever conceived and brought to production.
As great as they are, like all good things they can be made better. Serious modders know that – regardless of the industry that commands their fancy.
Speaking of which, there are some mods you can make to a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife that will not only improve ergonomics and functionality but which will enable you to customize it too.
With that said, here are some mods you can make to yours, and you don’t need to be a machinist to do so. Check out some of these.
Scale Swap
Arguably the simplest Victorinox Swiss Army Knife upgrade you can make is switching out the scales. There are some custom producers out there that make wood, brass, and titanium scales that all represent a nice upgrade to the stock cellidor (plastic) scales they come with.
The best part is you don’t necessarily need any special tools. The scales on Swiss Army Knives are secured via a friction fit, so all you need to do is pop off your current scales, press on your new ones (make sure you get scale replacements compatible with your model) and you’re good to go.
Adding scales will change the heft of the SAK, and a scale upgrade can also potentially improve handling and ergonomics, so this is not necessarily just a cosmetic upgrade.
Liner Upgrade
Once you get the scales off, you might as well consider replacing the liners. Stock SAKs usually come with aluminum liners that can be (relatively) easily replaced.
Titanium and brass are popular options, as is colored G10 which is light, strong, corrosion-proof, and color-customizable.
Customize Your Tool Set
All Swiss Army Knives come with a set of tools specific to the model – but did you know that Victorinox intended for these handy little things to be configurable? They are – and you can do it.
You should only need a screwdriver for this; remove the scales and if necessary the liners, then push out the pin that secures the affected tool in place.
Replace the old part with the new tool (make sure it’s the right size for your Victorinox Swiss Army Knife) then replace the pin that secures it and reassemble the knife in the reverse order.
Test out the functionality of the new part, and you’re good to go with a completely customized SAK.
Lanyard Loop
Last but not least, if your Victorinox Swiss Army Knife has a keyring (many do) one of the easiest, least invasive mods you can make is simply to add a small lanyard loop to it.
Paracord is great for this; braid yourself a short length of paracord and tie it onto your keyring. It will improve your grip on the knife, can help you fish it out of a pocket, can improve visibility, and perhaps most importantly, if you’re ever in a bind and need cordage, you can unbraid the lanyard and put it to use – not that’s a useful mod if ever there was one.
In the Market for a New Victorinox Swiss Army Knife?
Looking for a new Victorinox Swiss Army Knife? You can never have too many, and many of them have unique functions, too. Check out what White Mountain Knives has in stock on their website, and take a good look around. They even sell some scale upgrades for select models.
You can also get in touch with their customer service team at WhiteMountainKnives@gmail.com if you have questions or need assistance.
