The Essential Camping Tool: The Victorinox Swiss Army Knife
Victorinox SwissTool Spirit Multi-ToolWith its durability and the multi-function system, the original Swiss army knife has been one of the most used pieces of camping and survival equipment since its creation in 1897 by Swiss cutler Karl Elsener, the creator of Victorinox. With the capability of becoming a pair of scissors, a can opener, a wood saw, screw drivers, or even a magnifying glass, Swiss army knives can be so much more than the average pocket knife.

Over the years the Victorinox Swiss army knife has evolved with many improvements and has been manufactured in many different models, and copied by many manufacturers. Many of the knives are multi-purposed, all are multi-functional, while others were created for specific needs such as the Farmers knife, the Explorers knife or the Hikers knife. There is no doubt that they have been designed to be the absolute essential camping and survival equipment.

The knives that we will be looking at are multi-tooled camping and survival knives. Listed in this article we will discuss three of the more popular Swiss army knife models, "The Victorinox Swiss Spirit Multi-Tool", (my personal favorite), the "Swiss Champ Pocket Knife" and the "Swiss Army Camper" pocket knife. These are the most popular models of the Swiss army knife being used today among campers as part of their survival gear.

The first most versatile (and my favorite) is the Victorinox Swiss Spirit Multi-Tool This 53800 Swiss Tool Spirit, user-friendly multi-tool measures a mere 3-1/4 inches in length yet offers approximately 25 clever and convenient functions.

With all the different tools available with the Multi-Tool it still carries the same quality and durability that Swiss army knives were founded on. This tool is not only a must for camping survival, but is a fantastic tool to have around for small jobs away from the camp grounds. I like it because it is lighter in weight than the "Swiss Champ Pocket Knife", but it doesn't have as many of the tools that the Champ does.

The multi-tool measures just 4-1/4 inches in length and is very light-weight, weighing only 5-3/4 ounces yet offers 27 tools. Among it's tools for campers are bottle and can openers; Wood saw and knife blades; and scissors. Other tools include 2- , 3- , and 6-mm screwdrivers; Phillips screwdriver; needle-nose pliers; wire cutter; reamer; chisel/scraper; wire bender; wire scraper/round cutter; metal file; combi-edge blade; isolation length cutter; multi-purpose hook, coupling for corkscrew and crate opener.