While most would look at the French Felin program and consider it primarily a digitization effort, it has fielded several more traditional soldier systems items including the SwissTool by Victorinox.
Issued NSN 5110-14-564-6737, the black SwissTool incorporates multiple features:
-large blade
-serrated blade
-screwdriver 5 mm
-crate opener
-metal file
-metal saw
-lock release
-Phillips screwdriver
-hard wire cutter
-ruler (metric and English)
-screwdriver 7.5 mm
-cap lifter with screwdriver and wire stripper
-screwdriver 2mm
-wire cutters (for wire up to a hardness of 40 hrc)
-reamer
-can opener with small screwdriver
-easy kickback springs
-wire scraper
-wire crimper
-wood saw
-chisel/scraper
-wire bender
-screwdriver 3mm
-wire stripper
-pliers
Tags: FELIN, Victorinox
I was given one of these as a groomsman gift; on my deployment to Afg. last year, I decided I liked it better than the Gerber multitool I was issued (and better than a Leatherman I’ve had for years), so I put this one in my kit. Its well made and has the tools I need, both for home handyman and for deployment.
After the $600 bayonet, the $100 multitool… By the way, the Felin program has ended for the most needed item: a rifle which can fire SS109.
This is a pretty good tool, one I carry more than my leatherman or gerber, though it is solid, it is maybe twice as heavy too. I’ve used it for light hammering. The only thing I’d change is to have a way to take it apart for cleaning, if I’m going somewhere sandy or muddy, I’d leave it at home.
I’ve had one of these on my hip for the past 15 years, i’d never use anything else. Only reason i had to get a new one was because the case broke and i lost the tool in a river.
I think this is great! IMHO these have stronger pliers than leathermans and surely gerbers too and the serated blades glide through material bettrrvthan any other serrated blade I’ve come across (including through fingers). I’ve seen too many gerber multitools break to trust them.
I only thing I do not like about the Swisstool is the weight and lack of a pocket clip. After buying one years ago, I never bothered to buy another MT aside from a Gerber Dime. It’s simply awesome.