Victorinox Cadet Alox Swiss Army Knife 9 Functions Swiss Made Pocket Knife with Large Blade Screwdriver Can Opener

I've always been a Swiss Army Knife (SAK) fan and have owned several, along with several other folders that I would classify as good Every-Day Carry (EDC) knives. To me, an EDC knife needs to be highly functional but lightweight and easy to carry in a pants pocket. It is not a weapon but a tool for everyday tasks that is always readily available, because it is always in your pocket. The Cadet may be the perfect embodiment of these characteristics. It is very slim and a little shorter (by 1/4 inch)than most Victorinox or Wenger alox (aluminum handled) knives (they are 3.5 inches, not talking about the little keyring SAKs). If you are familiar with the old Victorinox soldier or Wenger Standard Issue knives (the ones that they actually used to issue to the Swiss Army for over 50 years) the Cadet is approximately 1/4 inch shorter, about 1/8 inch thinner, and quite a bit lighter. This is due to thinner aluminum scales and thinner blade/tools (they are the same thickness as normal SAKs, the Soldier and Standard Issue have thicker than normal blades/tools). The light weight and slim profile, IMHO, makes it an excellent EDC knife. It is still very capable for everyday tasks. Let's face it, most of us are not using our EDC knives for hunting or self defense. We use them for opening boxes or letters or unsnaggleing a chipped or torn finger nail (the Cadet has a finger nail file , which is surprisingly useful). Also, some people just don't want to carry something that could be construed as a weapon. The Cadet's size, blade design, and overall appearance make it hard to be mistaken for a tactical (weapon-like) knife. And, the Cadet is unobtrusive in your pocket, which means you will actually carry it. I cut and ground smooth the part that holds the little key chain (which is not very useful, IMHO) with a dremel tool, which makes mine even more comfortable in my pocket. The Soldier or Standard Issue are great knives and more robust (designed for military use), but they are heavy. The more common red plastic clad SAK's are good too, but most of them are actually heavier and thicker because they have a steel liner (the alox SAKs do not have liners, the aluminum handle is rigid enough). Many other EDC knives only have a single blade. You would be surprised how often you use the can opener with the small screwdriver and the bottle opener with the large screwdriver. The only drawback, depending on the user, to this knife (and most other SAKs) is that the blade does not lock. It relies on a spring to hold it in the open position. When the knife is used correctly, this does not present a hazard. However, this knife may not be the best choice for someone who is not used to handling and using knives or a youngster who might be tempted to try to stab a piece of wood with it. Jabbing the tip of this kind of knife into anything will almost certainly overcome the spring and cause the blade to fold in. But, that is not what this knife was designed for. I personally think that this type of mechanism is fine for this type of knife's intended uses (as stated above) and it is tried and true for over a century. In all, the Cadet is a very capable little knife that does very well what it was designed to do and for a good price. Do not waste your time with those little key chain size SAKs. The blades are too small to be of any real use. The Cadet is a much more useful option. Read more

I bought the Cadet last month, and have not had even the slightest amount of buyer's remorse. Not only is it an inexpensive tool, it's also a high quality one that can get plenty of use on a daily basis. First, it's small. According to the Victorinox website, it's only about 1.7 ounces. It's also one of their thinnest tools. You can drop it in your pocket, and you wont even notice you have it on you. It has a nice tool selection. A blade, razor sharp out of the box, which is just a tiny bit smaller than the main blade you'll find on your average Swiss Army Knife (the size difference is insignificant and hardly noticeable); a bottle opener/screwdriver/wire stripper combination tool, which has probably gotten more use for me than any other tool; a can opener/small screwdriver, which works fine, but I don't really have much use for in my day to day life (the can opener I mean, the small screwdriver is pretty useful); and a nail file/cleaner, which really works great. Enough to make it great for everyday use, not so many that it becomes confusing to look at. The alox handles are thinner and more attractive than the plastic ones. You can carry the Cadet with your suit without it making any bulges in your pockets, and it looks good enough that you'll still look classy while carrying it. The only downside is that it doesn't have the tweezers or toothpick in it, but if you're getting this to carry with you at the office, I doubt you'll get too many splinters. As far as the steel Victorinox uses goes, it's great with rust resistance, but it doesn't hold a hair popping edge as long as some of the higher end steels. That isn't much of a problem, though, as it sharpens quickly and easily. Overall, the Cadet is easily the most handsome pocket knife I own. It's a perfect blend of function and fashion. I love it. Read more

Slim design fits in the pocket well Read more

The pocket multi tool that is always with. I had a black one that I carried for years, but lost it on a motorcycle trip. This one isn't as attractive as the black, but works the same. Read more

The Cadet SAK is absolutely perfect for me. I work in an office and don't really need a heavy-duty blade. The blade is perfect for light tasks like cutting tape to open packages or slicing my lunchtime apple (stainless steel blade can be cleaned easily), the can and bottle openers work great as screwdrivers, and I actually use the nail file a lot more often than I had expected. I would love if this thing had scissors, but most of the things you need to do with scissors you can actually accomplish with a small blade like the one on the Cadet. In terms of size and weight, it's about perfect. The Alox SAKs are really thin and light; in fact, I sometimes forget it's in my pocket, and a couple of times have put my pants back on the hanger with the knife still in the pocket. I used to carry a very small tactical folder (2' blade), but there are two advantages to the Cadet: 1) the Cadet has more tools; 2) most people in a "civilized" office setting will think you're some kind knife-wielding maniac if you carry even a tiny tactical folder. The Cadet is a fantastic compromise; it's not the only tool you'll ever need, but it's one that will meet a lot of your requirements. Read more

Great little pocket knife. Only thing I wish it had was a pair of scissors. Read more