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◄ My review: Ravenloft - Heir of Strahd by Delilah S Dawson
And this is more than a bit late, as it's been the back half of the year so far, although there has just been additional news in October which prompted posting this.
First up, Victorinox have based a collection around scissors. Three of the four are alox and don't include a knife, and one of those is literally just a pair of scissors that folds into a handle. Only the original Companion (a Climber with the can opener adapted into a package opener, and a nail file instead of small blade like a Cadet does, first released in 2023) has scale tools or the traditional SAK style. All of the others do have red alox scales available though, not just the standard silver ones.
New alox models aren't common, and I'm not sure any previously have not included a knife. There's a clear sign there that Vic are targeting shitty countries like the UK with overreach that have lumped small pocket tool owners in with machete wielders and kids carrying kitchen knives for protection. However, it's also an easy way of getting a few tools for people who've already got a separate knife in their EDC.
The company is simultaneously going after quite a few markets with the new models. Higher end with the coloured alox, collectors, minimalist toolset covetors, etc, and keeping the number of layers down also makes the alox models a bit less premium priced. For the moment even the 2023 Companion isn't showing up on Amazon, apparently. It also remains to be seen if the package opener will take the place of any tools in their more established models... something that's not unheard of, and it was quite common in previous decades to see evolutions that kept the same names if you look at some of the history e.g. on https://sakwiki.com/
Figured I'd get a Slim Alox just because I haven't gotten any coloured alox models, don't usually buy SAKs with scissors and it has the new package opener tool, so three points of interest. It's a bit strange there's no ring for adding to a key chain or lanyard, since it's clearly aiming for office workers.
This month it became apparent Vic aren't done with all-new special editions. There's another collection of alox models, some with the package opener, but with a selling point of lockable blades, skeletonised scales and pocket clips. That's a ragtag assortment of attributes people often ask for in online discussions. Maybe they'll do a special edition collection focusing on pliers next and try to square the circle.
I'm not sure what the appeal of cut outs in scales is here, they're just going to attract fluff. Liner locks mean mostly losing markets that have become more fascistic with laws against tools, which isn't just the UK. And pocket clips have long been available from third parties, often in ways that make them removable/replaceable (if these ones snap off there's no way of fixing without a workshop and drilling and replacing pins).
Also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAr6oA-7Yrc notes that the way the liner lock is implemented may not be very safe.
But it is a sign that the company is now geared up to provide more diversity in its core business, even if they're being kept as exclusive premium products for the moment and testing the market for interest. Having all of those new parts tooled gives them the option of combining them in other ways.
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