The Best Swiss Army Knives For Everyday Carry

In the world of everyday carry pocket tools, there might not be anything quite as impactful and historically significant as the Swiss Army Knife. In fact, this iconic tool is so ubiquitous in popular culture that it is often used as the benchmark for other pieces of gear — e.g. something being called “the Swiss Army Knife of [insert item type here].” And while the world has changed drastically since this tool was first introduced, it remains a stalwart staple of the pocket gear and multi-tool industries.

The thing is, while SAKs are often thought of as do-anything tools, there are actually quite a number of different varieties — each built with a specific overall application in mind. So, while most of them can perform quite a few different tasks, some are more well-suited to certain circumstances than others. It’s with this in mind that we’ve put together the following list of the 15 best Swiss Army Knives you can buy. Whether you’re an office-going urbanite, bushy-bearded woodsman, salty fisherman, or something else entirely, you’ll find an SAK that suits your needs in the collection below.

While the Swiss Army Knife doesn’t technically hold the distinction of being the world’s first multi-tool — that honor belongs to tools dating back as far as the Roman Empire — it could be argued that it was the world’s first mass-produced multi-tool and even helped define what, exactly, a multi-tool is as we know it today. The first SAK was actually introduced in the late 1800s, after the Swiss Army decided they needed a new standard-issue pocket knife for its soldiers. After contracting with a German company on their first batch of orders, the Swiss Army eventually turned to a man named Karl Elsener to build these folding multi-tools on Swiss soil. While the contract nearly bankrupted Elsener and his company, they eventually persevered and became the brand we know of today as Victorinox — the sole manufacturer of Swiss Army Knives.

However, in the early days, Victorinox didn’t have exclusive manufacturing rights to the SAK. Rather, the Swiss Army — likely in a bid to save money and increase output — also contracted with another company called Wenger. For decades, the brands duked things out on the market, though there was not a clear winner until the mid-aughts — at which point Victorinox purchased Wenger and, eventually, folded the brand into their own company. This left Victorinox as the sole manufacturer of genuine Swiss Army Knives, and it remains this way to this day. Now, the brand offers over 100 different, distinct models of varying shapes, sizes, numbers of built-in tools, purposes, etc. And SAKs remain some of the most beloved pieces of everyday carry gear available — a trend that’s likely to continue into the foreseeable future.

If you’re familiar with what a Swiss Army knife is, then there’s a good chance you’re already somewhat privy to the elements that one should consider when shopping for one. With that said, there are a few finer points that are crucial to take into account. In order to ensure these aspects aren’t overlooked, we’ve compiled tis condensed guide to the key factors to think about when purchasing a Swiss Army Knife for everyday carry. 

Size: Though there are iconic SAK staples, there is no one standard size for a Swiss Army Knife. When reviewing this area, you’ll want to consider the size and shape of each SAK, coupled with the number of tools and functions offered. 

Style: While most people think of models like the Classic SD and Spartan when discussing Swiss Army knives, the reality is that Victorinox actually produces a myriad of different types of SAKs that aren’t just limited to the classic multi-tool variety. This includes everything from single-blade folding knives to Leatherman-style butterfly-opening multi-tools to utility cards. 

Number Of Tools/Functions: The number of tools and functions offered by a Swiss Army knife will directly correlate to the level of utility that it offers. When reviewing this element, you’ll not only want to consider the total number of tools and functions, but also how many of those items are removable. 

Materials: Victorinox doesn’t employ a particularly diverse selection of materials when crafting its Swiss Army Knives, though there can still be some minor variation in this area — especially when it comes to special and limited edition models. On top of different handle construction options, quite a few SAKs are also sold in numerous color options. 

Upgradability: Not unlike some of the best-selling blades from brands like Benchmade and Spyderco, Victorinox’s most popular SAKs can often be upgraded using a selection of available aftermarket parts. Though only offered for a small number of models, these aftermarket SAK upgrades can be a fantastic way of further personalizing your EDC, as well. 

Unlike most product spaces, all of the offerings in the SAK segment can be found in the catalog of just one brand, making it incredibly easy to get a sense of the different available options currently on the market. As a result, we kicked off our search for the best Swiss Army knives by first combing through Victorinox’s entire product list in order to ensure we didn’t have any crucial or noteworthy picks slip through the cracks. When making our selections, we primarily considered the pocketability of each SAK, along with how much utility it offers in relation to its size. We also looked into the materials used to craft each model, though Swiss Army knives generally vary very little in this regard — excluding special and limited edition releases. 

After using this criteria to make our selections, we then moved on to the actual field-testing portion of our process. In our typical fashion, this consisted of our in-house staffers each taking turns carrying each SAK for a brief period, utilizing each model on a daily basis before eventually reconvening to compare and contrasts our findings and conclusions — all of which were also harnessed in order to compile our final published list. Lastly, pricing and level of value offered were also taken into consideration. 

Victorinox Classic SD

Best Budget Pick: Even if all you have room for is something small enough to stash on your keychain, you can still get a useful, multipurpose Swiss Army Knife in the form of the Classic SD you see here. This timeless design first came to market in 1935 and has remained available largely unchanged ever since.

At under 3 inches in length and weighing less than an ounce, this micro-sized tool features seven built-in functions, including (but not limited to) a blade, scissors, tweezers, a nail file, and more. If this isn’t proof of Victorinox’s SAK lineup versatility, we don’t know what is.

Victorinox Swiss Card Lite

Best Wallet-Sized Pick: Even the ultra-compact keychain version of Swiss Army Knives are sometimes not formatted in a manner that allows for everyone to make room for one. But Victorinox has taken that into consideration in numerous ways, including with the release of its Swisscard Lite Pocket Tool. You see, this handy multi-tool is formatted to be roughly the same size as a credit card, albeit a touch thicker.

This allows users to potentially stash it in their wallet — meaning, whenever you have access to your credit cards and cash, you’ll also have access to its 13 built-in functions. For those keeping score, that includes things like an integrated flashlight, multiple drivers, scissors, a magnifying glass, and more. Furthermore, you can get it in Victorinox’s signature red, a vibrant blue, or an always-classic black.

Victorinox Swiss Army Signature Lite Pocket Knife

Best Statement Pick: Roughly the same overall size as the preceding SAK, the Signature Lite Swiss Army Knife differs in some fairly substantial ways — ways that might sway you into picking this one instead. For starters, this one is available in a trio of handsome transparent colorways, as well as a classic solid-red option.

More importantly, however, this pocket folding multi-tool comes equipped with seven built-in functions that range from old standards — like a blade and scissors — to some more useful modern additions — like an integrated flashlight and a pressurized ballpoint pen. For anyone that finds themselves frequently in need of a writing utensil, but not desirous of a single-purpose pen, this SAK is a stellar EDC alternative.

Victorinox Swiss Army 7 Alox

Best All-Metal Pick: A more modernized version of the Victorinox Cadet, the Swiss Army 7 Alox is a seven-function SAK that sees its tools sandwiched between a set of durable crosshatch pattern ribbed scales crafted from Alox — Victorinox’s proprietary stainless steel construction.

Tipping the scales at 3oz even, the SA7 Alox comes loaded with a reamer and punch, a bottle opener, a large non-locking blade, and a pruning blade — all of which can be opened and operated using just one hand. 

Victorinox Hunter Pro Alox

Best Knife-Only Pick: You’d think that the “Knife” portion of “Swiss Army Knife” would get a bit more focus — but it does seem, with some SAKs, that the knife is an afterthought. That’s not even remotely the case, however, with the Victorinox Hunter Pro Alox Knife. Instead, this is a single-purpose dedicated EDC folding blade that can go toe-to-toe with the best of them (within its own price point, at the very least).

It measures up at a hefty 9.125″ in length, courtesy of a sturdy textured Alox handle, a stainless steel blade, and a durable and reliable back lock. It even comes with its own paracord lanyard, lending credence to its outdoor-focused name. If you want Swiss ingenuity in a dedicated knife, this is the blade you seek.

Victorinox Ranger 55 Grip Onyx Black

Best Full-Size Multi-Tool Pick: Winner of a presitiogus Red Dot Design Award, the Victorinox Ranger 55 Grip Onyx Black is a contemporary take on a SAK with a larger more ergonomic handle that’s composed of polyamide and spans just over 5” in length. Part of the brand’s Onyx Black collection, this Swiss-made multi-tool comes adorned in a matte black monochrome finish paired with all black-finished tool steel and an accent paracord lanyard.

The Ranger 55 Grip Onyx Black comes loaded with a dozen tools and functions including a locking 5mm screwdriver, can and bottle openers, a wood saw, a large blade, tweezers, and a wire stripper, just to name but a few. Victorinox also sells numerous nylon and leather sheath options for this particular model. 

Victorinox Replica 1897 Limited Edition

Best Heritage Pick: Over the summer of 2022, Victorinox celebrated the 125th anniversary since the debut of its inaugural Swiss Army knife — an occasion the outfit celebrated via a limited edition 9,999-run of Replica 1897 SAKs. The Victorinox Replica 1897 Limited Edition is a remarkably authentic reissue of the brand’s first model, utilizing the same type of vulcanized fiber handle and nickel silver-riveted construction.

Hand assembled from 18 parts, this model has seen its original brass liner swapped out for an aluminum unit while its late 1800s era carbon steel has been jettisoned in favor of a modern stainless tool construction. Even the stamps and markings on the tools have been exactly recreated. 

The Complete Guide To Custom Swiss Army Knives

As it turns out, SAKs are actually quite friendly to modifications. That means, if you want one but you’d like to put your own personal twist on it, it’s actually quite manageable to do so. You can learn everything you need to know and more on our complete guide to custom SAKs.