Pioneer X Damascus

I am lost for words that i managed to buy one of the two designated Victorinox Pioneer X Damascus Swiss Army Knives. Only two pieces was designated for the Norwegian market. This is also the very first Damascus pattern Victorinox knives that I now have in my collection. The Pioneer Range knives I know very well and many knives from 1957 until today has been I my hands or studied from pictures and various sources. This is the best I have ever seen and it is a work of art that is like a spark explosion for the knife-bug brain.

Everything from the box to the details with anodizing and the over-all functionality of the functions are outstanding. These knives are made for collectors and enthusiasts. The limited number was scary reading when the information was released. That I should get so lucky i never expected and a big thank you goes to Victorinox and my Norway source for helping me receiving this superb 93mm Alox knife. From before i bought the Pioneer X in silver anodized Alox scales in a another webshop here, it is very interesting with the scissors that finally are available for this sturdy line of Victorinox knives. I can compare the two knives and both are excellent. The beauty of the Damascus limited edition is beyond my expectations and the pictures can speak for my lack of words. Each blade is unique and the shared pattern of a 60 HRC cutting edge is on the high side of what usually is not the case on a Swiss Army Knife. Each blade is individual in design even if a pattern got a name. it is made of Stainless steel that is a must on SAKs. it is the greatest invention made for versatile knives. Swiss Army Knives have a very good reputation for using a good selection of quality Stainless Steel. From before i know about the process of making the Damasteel from Sweden. This one is called Thor! I welcome it.

My advice to collectors is to make sure to keep every possible part of the box, paper-work. It contains very important information about the history and the special limited knife. We have seen this time and time again just how important the original box and information is for the collectability and the search for information. It is a valuable help for all aspects to keep everything regarding this knife. Each knife is numbered as well.

The 93mm Alox line was constructed correct from the moment it entered the world in 1957. The awl changed in 1961. From then on this knife has taken every tests of time and it is considered more than sturdy. Even the 93mm line got an evolution after 1957/61 that you can study for time windows. It follows the technological development of the factory or factory-complex buildings in Ibach Switzerland. Today technology can enhance the quality of anodizing and the perfected precision today is scary good. Just look on the polished parts and functions. For me this line of knives for my interest will always be the red anodized Alox knives. This Damascus knife represents the highest possible performance of a knife factory. It is a work of art that demands respect from any makers today and it receive 10 out of ten points without a doubt!

Pioneer X 0.8231.J16

High precision!

"There is a big history with steel from Sweden used on Victorinox knives. Today steel is used from France, Germany and Sweden. The most modern history with Swedish steel was low compared to the decades Victorinox used Drop forged Swedish Stainless steel on the blades for SAKs"

I have never ever seen or encountered a Victorinox knife with a wrong tempering, hardening or annealing.  There are different steel grades used on the designations and categories. Even if the HRC on the normal range of knives are not on the high side they are made of a very high quality stainless steel. Many times the knife blades used on SAKs from Victorinox is around 56 HRC. In some cases today they are actually 57 or 56-57 HRC that is actually a good hardness for a medium durability blade and this is what is needed in most cases anyway. That traditional blades are not on the high side does not affect functionality or quality at all, actually it is completely different in real life. That the blades are not too hard secures the quality. That a blade needs to be sharpened often is only a good thing. The treating of the steel done in the Victorinox factory is world class like everyone today knows. A blade with 60 HRC is on the high side on a SAK, the thickness of the blade and the edge geometry with this angle gives a high end performance. This knife I will never use because it is in my collection only. I have no doubt it will perform well. The Damasteel is made with a scientific super quality that gives it the ability to be hardened to 60 HRC for the designation and the bevel, blade thickness and the over-all functionality. That HRC is probably 100% perfect for this blade and you get the extra wear resistance for the edge. Another fact about Victorinox is the incredible precision they have in the production and the quality control used in every step from the start to end.

There is a touch of green in the gray hard anodized aluminum ribbed scales. Hard anodizing secures a better protection against oxidation. This is usually never any problem on the Alox knives anyway. Hard anodizing secures the wear resistance for the color as well.

I have been into aluminum before and this of you that follow my page have already read it. here is my words about anodizing.

It comes in this nice Box!

It is an interesting color on the Pioneer X Damast. It got a touch of green and in sunlight it is more gray. Gray is the dominant color on it.

In history one can read about different liquids or chemicals used in an acidic way to bring out the pattern in Damascus blades. I had to use the camera in a different angle to bring out the only area where the pattern is a bit less visible. This means absolutely nothing in my world. This may be because of the edge being polished or other factors influencing in the production. One can actually feel the pattern with the finger all over the blade. This blade got a perfect edge!

Here is the Pioneer X in silver Alox, this is much for the money. The spring for the scissors on the 93mm Range is stronger than the regular 91mm line. There are a few modifications to the scissors itself that said it is mainly the same as the type used on the mentioned 91mm SAKs. The functionality is a bit different when opening the scissors in the open position, the back spring for the slip joint mechanism is stronger and hence it can be a different experience opening the scissors. It is not problem for me. The Pioneer Range was introduced in 1957 like you know and it is sturdy. The X represents the scissors designation. The Pioneer Range can be used for selective crafts work and there is no doubt for me that the scissors on the 93mm line = a professional tool. The scissors itself opens up the selective crafts work much further.

Looking on the Pioneer X Damast, I am amazed on it. The use functionality on the regular Alox X is probably just as high.

For those of you that do not know this about the 93mm Alox line there is an evolution on them. This included the main blade with the blade geometry, design, thickness and stampings. There are variations on the polish and surface on the steel. Another more or less talked about evolution and modification is the grinding and designs of the blade Vs the precision. Today the precision on the 93mm line is very high and every part included. You can see it on knives from 1957 until today how the grind and design of the blade changes to increase the precision so the main blade does not conflict the pruner blade or wood saw for example. The other functions included as well. I suspect some modifications to the main blade are because of the obvious production improvements and the mentioned precision Vs the main blade. There are also variations on the thickness of the tip part that are into precision factors. This is also probably because of the more modern steel productions with the quality. The back-spring pressure for the slip joint mechanism was sometimes harder before. Even more spring tension. On some single blade 93mm Alox knives the blade seems a bit sturdier in design in history.

“Corrosion resistance requires every function and part of the stainless steel to be polished. This secures a better corrosion resistance and it is easier to clean. In some cases it may be necessary with polished edges for the precision; a good selection of stainless steel that is polished will enhance the corrosion resistance very much. Thus more functions on a SAK the greater the precision must be and the advanced slip-joint mechanism for proper mechanical functionality increases with a polished surface. In other words precision require a polished surface”