Close up of red Swiss Army knife on distressed wood table.

Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Knife Review

April 22, 2016

Well, this review has some age on it at this point, and we’ve looked at some fantastic tools since then. For a more up-to-date take, check out Best Survival Multitools | Tested & Reviewed.

The Victorinox Swiss Army Knife is a classic multitool, and the Classic SD still performs well as a multi-use keychain pocket knife. It weighs less than an ounce, works great for light-duty EDC tasks, and is a recognizable symbol of preparedness.

I’ve owned my latest Swiss Army Knife for close to 10 years now, which demonstrates how durable they can be when you take care of them and don’t lose them. The parts are easily replaceable, which is nice since I tend to lose the toothpicks frequently.

Contents (Jump to a Section)

When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Disclosure»

Swiss Army Classic Pocket Knife Technical Info

Tool Material: Stainless Steels of differing hardness
Housing: Thermoplastic
Construction: Stainless housing pressed with tools held by brass rivets
Length: 2.3″ (closed)
Weight: 0.75 oz
Functionality: small flat head, small knife, small scissors, small file, toothpick, tweezers, and keychain loop
Warranty: Lifetime

What they got right on the Swiss Army Knife Keychain

The Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife is extremely versatile in its size and weight. It attaches to your keychain and provides six tools easily in reach. You can tell this knife is engineered well and has stood the test of time with the reputation that comes along with its name.

While some components of the knife may not be the strongest, they were designed that way to provide improved functionality and lighter weight, plus they tack a lifetime warranty on it. All of the tools are easy to maintain, and there are replacement tools widely available if you happen to lose the toothpick (everyone does it at least once!).

What they got wrong on the Swiss Army Knife Keychain

There are several springs and wearable parts on the Swiss Army Knife keychain. While not necessarily an engineering problem, these are the failure points of the knife under normal use. Expect the toothpick catch that holds the toothpick in place in the case to wear down eventually, likely causing the toothpick to fall out and become lost.

The tweezers are held in place by being compressed into the housing, so the tweezers will eventually lose grip in their storage spot, too, after plenty of use. The scissor spring can pop out from under the top arm of the scissors, allowing the fragile spring to get caught on something. The brass pins seem to hold up very well during use. Victorinox actually sells Multi Tool Oil, but mineral oil works well too. The blade does not need to be oiled since it is stainless steel and not carbon steel.

Swiss Army Knife Keychain open on wood table. — Open Swiss Army Knife Keychain with tweezers and toothpick pulled out. *(Credit: Sean Gold)*

My Experience with the Swiss Army Knife Keychain

I did not add the Swiss army knife keychain to my EDC kit until my wife bought me one for Christmas in 2015. I was surprised by the gift, as I had not asked for it or hinted that I wanted it. To tell the truth, I found it a little small and disappointing. I put it on my keychain as a gesture of goodwill to my wife- you have to use a gift, especially if it is from your wife! Since then, I have used the Swiss army knife daily for a long stretch.

The toothpick, which seems whimsical, actually comes in handy often. I pulled a splinter out of my finger just the other day with the tweezers, and I use the scissors pretty often at my workplace. The least used tools on the Swiss army knife are the file, screwdriver, and the actual knife. I carry a Gerber Shard also, which will take more torque on the screwdriver tip, and a SOG Twitch as a folding knife to complete my EDC. I don’t ever bother filing my nails- even at home, so that would not get used regardless.

Overall, I am pretty pleased with it, and it is pretty neat that it has a lifetime warranty- not many things do these days. I guess my wife knew what she was doing when she got me a Swiss Army knife keychain for Christmas!

Where to Buy a Swiss Army Keychain Knife

The classic Swiss Army Knife is available at most hardware stores, but it’s easiest to buy online at Amazon:

Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife

Accessories for the Swiss Army Keychain Knife:

Finding replacement parts is easy for Swiss Army knives, and they don’t cost nearly as much as Leatherman parts due to their smaller size and wider availability.

The Final Word

The Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife would be a great starter tool or addition to your Everyday Carry Kit. It is very versatile and well worth its price tag in usefulness.

However, there are better choices more suited for survival applications. We’ve looked at a lot of multitools and folding knives over the years, and many of them have more versatility, durability, and better performance than the Swiss Army Knife:

All that said, it’s hard to beat the classic appeal and nostalgia of a Swiss Army Knife.

Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.

See more of our expert-written guides, resources, and reviews in your search results – add TruePrepper as a preferred source.

Prepping Your Way

No judgement and no imperatives. Prepare the way you want to with the trusted source millions of modern preppers have relied on.

Our newsletter fires out every Monday where you can expect:

Practical prepping guides and tips
Thorough survival gear reviews
Noticeably absent spam and popups
< 0.4% of people unsubscribe

Thanks for subscribing, supporting our cause, and improving your own resilience.