Hunter Pro orange

It is nothing new that Victorinox make professional tools. From 1884 until today this Company made and makes professional knives. In a way all SAKs and Multi-tools are such made. In a way the Services Range and 111mm liner-locking category is the main knives for Services. This means made to be as professional as possible for a specific work. Extra solid made with larger functions like I have explained on SAKhome.com and Pura Victorinox.  

"The advantage with many SAKs is the ability to have several functions to fulfill, relieve and be used in combination in turn"

Victorinox developed a 130mm called Hunter Pro and that is a knife for Professional use and hunting. It can be used for dressing animals, on fish and for other chores. The blade design is very solid and that is a signal for a knife that can be used for larger animals and for a bit harder tasks.  The design of the edge and blade is interesting.

A folding knife that can be used by professional Hunters and a bit harder tasks must have my “reduction process philosophy” in the design. It must have an ergonomic handle, one hand opening and a solid locking mechanism. The mechanism in this case is a lock-back type with a solid design and spring. This blade is a serious design and everything follows it. The orange model got an easy to see color and the handle also got a bit traction and extra slip resistant feature. It comes with a pouch and that is the safest carry.  If I use my reduction process philosophy further the only part that could be there is a lanyard hole. Well it is not negative anyway because dressing animals are done on the ground on a safe place and it is very ergonomic and extra slip resistant. It got that easy to see color that would be easy to find in snow or other environments. To make a folding knife that can compete with a fixed blade knife then it all depends on the construction and design to be able to be on the same level. Victorinox designed this and it is probably on the same level as a fixed blade knife in many ways. Used correctly and this will do the job. My reduction process philosophy is a method of understanding the design and rule out safety risks. Hunters need tools that are safe so they can focus on the dressing professionally. It is important to use any knife correct anyhow.

The comfort with or without gloves is also present with this design.

The surface on the blade and spring is also less polished and it looks like surface that’s been blasted in a way that is different from the regular surface on SAKs. The surface is less shiny in other words on the Hunter pro.

The edge can in my opinion be adjusted to different angles depending on preferences.  

The design and construction on the Hunter Pro is complete. It is very easy to open with one hand and it is easy to release the lock back for folding it again. It is a heavy duty knife for sure.

Victorinox use an interesting stop design inside the construction to stop the blade in closed position that I like.

This knife is going in my collection.

The Hunter Pro can be found in wood and Polyamide handle scales, also black. 161 grams alone and 196 grams with pouch.

I read someplace that it got an HRC of 56-57 and the steel can be found here

I have used many different knives on fish so I know some about what is important and not. Gimping is in many ways a continuation of the handle vs. the blade. The active thumb can be used for control and knowing the position of the blade. Gimping can be used with or without gloves. The handle on the Hunter Pro is close to hand-bliss and comfort and functionality are high. The gimping is not sharp or uncomfortable. In many ways today on knives from the world these are more sharp and distinct. I believe on this knife that it is a continuation of the handle design and to be used with the active thumb for control. It gives a signal for the thumb in other words. The advantage with the blade design and the one hand opening together with the gimping gives a continuation of the safety. The upwards curve together with this act as a stop function for the thumb and hand. The handle design is in other words completely slip resistant. The handle design is the main ergonomic slip resistant design for the safety, next is the gimping and the upwards curve for blade design that fulfills everything.

Swiss Made is a "quality" signal that is one of the Company Values. The Hunter pro got stainless steel liners and some serious rivets with bushings for the press fit handle scales. When Victorinox introduced the 111mm Services Range they introduced a tank construction with thicker rivets.

The construction of the 130mm Hunter Pro is probably the most solid I have ever seen from Victorinox. Two side plates with stainless steel and very thick rivets + spring system for the opening and closing you get a tank construction.

Lock back:

The durability on such a locking mechanism depends on the construction. It must have a spring design that follows the purpose of the blade and can take the force. I know that Victorinox designers are very good. When you use a folding blade with such a mechanism it is important that you use the blade correct and not put unnecessary pressure against the lock.  It should be used with the mindset that pressure should be against the edge. On lock back mechanisms it is important that under extreme pressure against the edge the back-spring rivets must be able to take strain.

Lock-back mechanisms are full-contact mechanisms that means the design of the spring vs. the blade/tang is tight.  It is a precision made lock on this knife and it is tight.  The blade with rivet and the design vs the back-spring with rivets must be in symbiosis. Such mechanisms must be tight for the durability and safety.

When Victorinox first introduced the 111mm services range they made it with nylon handle material. In 2008 the New Soldier came with two component handle material and a design with parts not only around the rim but at locations on the sides. The Dual Pro with dual density handle material is another example. Today these handle scales can be found on some models and it is a continuation of ergonomics and safety.

On the Hunter Pro we see a material called Polyamide that seems to have a full surface with traction. This I have seen used on handles for fish-knives as well.  The handle itself is ergonomic for the hand and fingers. It is impossible for the hand to slip forwards or backwards. It cannot twist in the hand either. It can be used in reverse for fish work too. It also got parts on the sides that got the same feel as the whole handle. Such parts can have different purposes when wet for example for the moist and water. They can add for the complete handle design safety as well. It is the most complete handle that I have ever seen on Victorinox knives.

Victorinox blades and functions are usually with a shinier surface from the tumbling with stones. The surface on the Hunter Pro is very different like I mentioned. It looks "blasted" it got some traction too and it is less shiny. The springs also like the blade. This is interesting, hmm....

Sometimes the surface on blades are pure design preference and from the production methods. In some cases it is made to prevent disturbance when working so you do not get blinded in the sun.

Gimping or Jimping, i use both for the same meaning. Jimping is maybe most correct

I can add some more about Victorinox surface and rounded edges. I know that Victorinox use vibro polishing if I remember correct that the functions tumble with stones that are made of a ceramic material or beads. Some call it stone washing.  I will look on the videos on youtube to see if I have overlooked any new information. Anyhow i am not completely sure what method is used on the Hunter Pro blade yet so it could be a different method than blasting with some kind of material because there are several methods there too. It is interesting….

Typically the edges on the Victorinox functions are rounded for the comfort and quality. Polished springs and functions increase the corrosion resistance and it is easier to clean. On this knife it is no problem that the surface is different. Actually it is probably the best and all the edges are rounded on this blade as well.

The abilities with stainless steel actually got some advantages over carbon steel when using it on meat. Not only because of the hygiene, it is also sometimes better in the durability on meat.

A single foldable blade is easier to clean than on a construction with more functions.

The curve and belly of this blade + the special tip design means it can be used for gutting without puncturing organs.

14:53

The biggest difference in this new i 130mm category and design is that it does not have the traditional slip-joint spring we know from this company. For a single blade then I agree that the lock-back spring and mechanism is the best for such a designation of knife. Luckily for me I have been interested in lock-backs for many years and I have seen most types and designs. It is absolutely a good system. It is important that they are tight and when you apply much force against the edge you will continue to feel this tight feel with the blade vs the spring. Against the lock it is also tight and that is very important for this design and safety. In some cases people have put extreme pressure against the edge and causing damage to the rivet that goes through the spring(other Brands). In some cases people prefer steel rivets on that part or using thicker dimensions on the brass. Riveting is something with Victorinox so everything good there. The Hunter Pro got very thick brass rivets and that is very good in deed. There is no side play either in this construction.

15:22

The Hunter Pro got a massive potential for other applications. With a combination edge with waves on the front and plain inner section of the edge then it could just as well be a very good rescue blade. In one sense it is already a great blade for safety and rescue because of the nice tip section, OH and locking mechanism. The ergonomic handle is perfect for safety. With a glass breaker on the backside of the handle then you will take it up to a top level if you include the combination edge.  

 22:33

I must pay attention that i write correct and the traditional surface on the Swiss Army Knives are polished in a bath of ceramic stones for the surface and to get the rounded edges. Next is the hardening and then comes the grinding for precision and tolerances. This must for sure influence the surface. After this is the sharpening. All this must influence the final result of the surface on traditional knives.

The surface on the Hunter Pro I could not find any information about yet but I will….

To finish up today i can mention again about using a pocket microscope. It is very helpful and with this I can see the surface and I can actually see the steps in the production with the processes. I use the pocket microscope when I sharpen my knives to see what is going on. I used it on the Hunter Pro earlier today and it looks what I mentioned earlier that it could be blasted with a material. Let me know …..