And ironically, few pocketknives in America have as much cache as the Swiss Army Knife.
Growing up, my dad always carried a knife.
What we now think of as the Swiss Army Knife was developed in 1897.
The Farmer Alox proved to be a quality working tool. All photos are courtesy of Carmen ofOutdoor Geek.
Farmer Alox Features
I wanted to see how another Victorinox knife performed in the modern world.
The knife I chose to test is the Farmer Alox.
Alox refers to the unique aluminum scales used on the knife.
Victorinox designed the Farmer with various practical tools that are good for working on the farm or enjoying the outdoors.
The embossed surface offers a good gripping surface while keeping the knife lightweight weighing in at only 3 ounces.
The tools are:
Several of the tools have multiple uses.
For example, the 3mm flathead screwdriver will also work as a driver for many Phillips head screws.
The knife blade uses a plain edge suitable for a range of cutting activities. The author found it to be sharp, and it held the edge well.
Lets take a closer look at some of the tools.
Knife Blade
The Victorinox Farmer comes with one single blade that is used for cutting.
I also found it was perfectly useable for thinning wood and food prep.
Some of the included tools are a bottle opener, wood saw, knife blade and a pair of screwdrivers.
The blade is made of stainless steel, which helps prevent corrosion.
However, stainless steel can still suffer the ill effects of exposure and misuse.
I recommend the occasional cleaning with frequent cleaning if you use the knife regularly.
The wood saw is suitable for cutting through pretty much any branch of a reasonable size. The bigger the limb, the more time it will take.
I found the body of the knife offered ample grip for employing the blade.
Keep in mind that this is a utility knife for EDC.
I would not recommend it for defensive use unless it was all you had.
Testing the knife blade consisted of normal activities such as cutting fruit and food prep. While that may seem silly for a city dweller, it is a reality for any hunter or camper.
Bottle Opener
The bottle opener is a multipurpose tool.
It serves the obvious function of popping the top off of a beverage bottle.
To me, a bottle opener is a perfect addition to an EDC knife especially one named the Farmer.
Emergency repairs to leather and straps are part of outdoor living. At some point, you will need to make repairs in the field.
On the tip of the bottle opener is a 7mm flathead screwdriver.
This might be a better fit depending on your task.
Built into the body of the bottle opener is a wire stripper.
During testing the Victorinox knife proved to be durable enough for real-world use. It cleaned easily and showed no signs of unusual wear.
While it works, it is not as convenient as a purpose-built wire stripper.
The design will work in a pinch, though.
Wood Saw
Granted, the saw is relatively small and wont lend itself to property clearing.
However, for saplings and smaller branches, its very effective with aggressive teeth.
For small things, the wood saw is effective and only limited by your endurance.
For a camping or EDC knife, this feature works well.
Why the Victorinox Farmer?
Although the name is Farmer, I find this a great knife for everyday carry.
Beyond those essential tasks, however, they lack broad usefulness.
Thats where I think the Victorinox Farmer Alox really shines.
For my EDC needs, Im unlikely to need the wood saw.
Having something in my pocket offered an immediate solution that saved me time and frustration.
I think, the addition of the can opener, wood saw and other tools gives me greater flexibility.
When in the woods, I carry the tools I expect to need.
I find that to be extremely valuable.
Pricing on the Farmer Alox is quite reasonable.
Final Thoughts
Victorinox and the Swiss Army Knife have been around for a long time.
In my experience, the company delivers quality products, and the Farmer Alox is an example of that.
My knife performed admirably in testing and continues to serve me well today.
Its sitting in my right front pocket as I jot down out this review.
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