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Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer Plus Pocket Tool | 
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| Brand: Victorinox
Category: Apparel
Buy New: $44.99 - $74.98
Where applicable you'll select size, color, etc. after you click the buy button.
Rating:  reviews
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 4.6 x 1.9 x 1.1
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| Features:
| • | Large blade, Small blade, Can opener with small screwdriver, Straight pin | | • | Bottle opener with large screwdriver & wire stripper, Pressurized ball point pen, Patented mini-screwdriver | | • | Scissors, Magnifying glass, Reamer with sewing eye, Key ring | | • | Phillips screwdriver, Corkscrew, Hook, Toothpick, Tweezers | | • | Length: 91mm |
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| Customer Reviews:
Very few products rate a 5-Star in my book- this is one of them! July 17, 2010
Little Joey (Burlington, VT United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just lost my Explorer Plus and here I am buying another one.
I'm 50 and have carried a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife in my pocket since I was 18. The models keep changing but this knife, with minor variations, in previous incarnations, has been the Tinker, Super Tinker, etc. Whatever it's called, it's one of the few out of their entire lineup that has the philips-head screwdriver that comes out the end. (instead of out the side- I don't even know how it's possible to use a philips head with a side grip- it seems nuts- yet that's how most of them are)
The magnifying glass is really useful especially as my eyes get older.
The large blade is for everyday, the small blade stays razor sharp for when I REALLY need it. The tweezers are used constantly. The scissors are very usable. I use the can opener constantly in the kitchen; I like it better than most kitchen-style openers. It's very fast when you're used to it. Regular screwdriver with the bottle opener and the corkscrew...speak for themselves.
As a sidebar: I think it was the Super Tinker in the 1980's that allowed the tweezers to be tucked into the end of the corkscrew (when the corkscrew was in regular closed position) and slid in-and-out, thus holding the tweezer in place in the "pinched" position. This came in useful for, ahem...holding certain products which are composed of paper and "green leafy" material and ignited with a sulfur preparation.
The overall build quality is great. My one complaint is that they went and made the plastic magnifying glass really cheap! I had the older style with the heavy-duty gray plastic edge. Now they make them like a kid's toy from a bubble gum machine. Disappointing when you're paying around 50 bucks for a tool, that the bean-counters would try and save a penny on this item! But that's a fairly minor gripe. This is just about the perfect knife with the perfect balance of usability and pocket-abilty (and affordability, when you consider this can last you 20 years easy if you don't lose it).
I don't leave home without it. Seriously, I'll turn around and go get it. I feel unarmed without it.
Nuff said.
My favorite Swiss Army knife June 2, 2010
chuanha1
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the only reasonably sized Swiss Army knife that has a Phillips screwdriver as well as corkscrew and scissors. The pen is a nice bonus. The size is substantial but not ridiculous like the "Champ" series. This is a wonderful all round travel and camping knife, throw it in your suitcase or backpack and it can handle pretty much any task.
A masterpiece in terms of style and function! January 30, 2010
RockLobster (Clear Lake/Bay Area, TX)
To the eye and as other reviewers have said, it is a fine piece of art, not to mention it's usefulness. It has everything one would need in a pocket knife be it at home, traveling or out in an outdoor activity. Out of all the SA knives, I believe this best overall. The implements are of high quality in fit, form and finish. It's siscors is judged as the best, the can opener has enough clearance to work the can, its cutting end durable. Both large and small blades are very sharp. It is built to last a lifetime.
Practically Perfct In Every Way November 30, 2009
Mary Ellison (USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have carried a Swiss Army Knife in my pocket, purse, or bookbag/backpack for about 50 years. My usual carry has been the tinker because it's smaller and lighter in weight. I got this explorer because I needed the magnifier, and I confess that the hidden pen was also attractive, since I often find myself without something to write with, as was the end mounted phillips screwdriver. The small jewlers screwdriver may have some value for me too.
For everyday carry at home, in the office, at school, or camping Swiss Army Knives are simply the best. They are solid and made of a high quality steel that lasts and lasts. The small cutting blade is simply the best in the business.
If I had one wish for a SA knife, it is that I had some way to have one custom made with only the tools that want. Does anyone know if such a service is available and from whom?
 Magnifier Concern November 13, 2009
W. Crews Giles (Texas)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I had an Explorer for 35 years, and it was in mint condition despite heavy and rough use. Alas! it fell through a hole in the my pocket.
THE NEGATIVE
This was my replacement, and while a few additions have been made, I am disappointed with the new style magnifier. I could be wrong, but I had believed the original (the one which is still pictured-- with the gray plastic frame) was an acrylic lens. The new one is one molded piece and seems to be of styrene. I am suspicious it will not fare as well: that it will be more susceptible to scratches, and almost certainly will simply break off from the knife as it is no longer held by the thicker and less brittle PVC frame.
I had used my original Explorer to light camp fires on sunny afternoons-- I fear this one may not have that ability.
Also, see the note on the Phillips Head Screwdriver, below.
WHAT IS NEW:
Tiny Blade Screwdriver: The addition of the tiny (bladed) screwdriver held by the corkscrew is perfect for eyeglass repair and is a nice feature.
Hook: I have no idea what I would use this for; but if I ever have to hold a thin rope or cable taught, the knife itself would serve as a comfortable handle from which to provide good control of the centered hook.
Ink Pen: Concealed just like the tweezers and toothpick, the pen is handy-- just right to fill in when you realize you misplaced a full sized pen.
Straight Pen: It took me a while to find this addition (open the corkscrew and look for the head of the straight pen sticking out between the red scale and the metal frame. I cannot recall ever thinking, "if I only had a straight pen..." in my life-- I have no idea why this is here.
FAMILIAR FEATURES:
Long and Short Pocket Knife Blades: Edges are durable and quite sharp out of the box. The steel, however, is so hard that sharpening is a very big chore.
Scissors: Just right for paper or thread, and always handy.
Phillips Screwdriver: Because the steel is so very hard, I have often gone to retrieve my Swiss Army Knife when a full size screwdriver could not win a battle against a steel screw. The Phillips Head is not milled to as sharp a point as my original. That is a shame as my old one was very useful for very small screws.
Can Opener / Small Blade Screw Driver : This is the best and smallest can opener I have ever owned. I have "saved" countless cans after they were mangled by automatic or common manual kitchen openers. Besides removing an entire lid, it also is sharp enough to make two triangular cuts and then fold the triangle down for pouring contents.
Bottle Opener / Large Blade Screwdriver: Until beer bottlers all use screw caps, this feature will be indispensable.
Cork Screw: Often handy, and of excellent design-- never failed me.
Awl: I have found this one useful for boring, cleaning fingernails, and splinter removal.
Tweezers: Perfect for the last stage of removing splinters, or holding an eyeglass screw.
Plastic Toothpick: rarely used, but kind of handy when you are camping.
Key Chain Ring : Great. I keep mine on a carabiner so that I can attach it to whatever is handiest at the time.
Scales (the red plastic exterior). Very hard and durable. To personalize my original Explorer, I carefully pried the scales off, and used them as the guide for making new ones out of a hard wood (channels for tweezers, toothpick and now the straight pen and ink pen). About an hour or careful carving and test fits, and I epoxied them on. I haven't done this for this replacement, yet. The original was apparently seated by both epoxy and the plastic attached while still pliable to melt and then harden around the rivet-like blade hinges. I assume I will find this one to be the same.
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