Swiss Army Knife vs Pocket Knife: Which One Should I Buy?

Different kinds of knives are available on the market these days, providing a range of options for you to choose from.

Unfortunately, the more options you have, the more likely you are to get confused. Luckily, we are here to sort this out for you.

Both the Swiss Army and Pocket Knives are famous worldwide. Daily, thousands of people carry them for various reasons, from self-defense to simple cutting tasks. Still, what’s the difference between the two knives?

A pocket knife is simple and handy. However, the Swiss Army knife is more than just a simple knife. This multi-functional tool is helpful in many ways.

Different sorts of blades, knives, can openers, nail filers, and a pair of scissors are usually part of it, and that’s why it is often considered superior to a pocket knife.

If you have to choose between the two options, we recommend that you buy a Swiss Army knife instead of a pocket knife.

However, a pocket knife is better than nothing in an hour of need. Following are the details of why you should consider a Swiss Army knife instead of a pocket knife.

Table of Contents

Swiss Army Knife vs Pocket Knife: Differences

1. History

In World War II, Swiss army knives became popular among soldiers for their versatility. Some people also refer to this multi-purpose tool as the ‘Officer’s knife.’

Based on the mechanism of the pivot point, various blades, knives, scissors, filer, can opener, a little saw blade, etc. are attached to it. Different variations were introduced afterwards. Now, some Swiss Army knives also have USB drives in them.

On the contrary, it wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate to say that people have carried pocket knives from the age of iron as an essential part of their survival kit. The traces of ancient pocket knives have been found at various sites by archaeologists.

This isn’t surprising because a pocket knife is a handy knife consisting of one or two sharp blades that can fold, making it possible to carry it anywhere, anytime.

Typically, pocket knife blades are around two to six inches. People also refer to them as jack knives or folding knives.

2. Variations and Components

The original manufacturer of the Swiss Army Knife is Victorinox. However, many other brands in the market also have introduced their version of the Swiss Army knife.

Different types of tools are installed in the Swiss Army knives of different companies. These tools are classified into three categories: primary tools, small tools, and scale tools.

Primary tools include large and small blades, metal and wood saw, nail cleaner, ruler, scissors, pruning blade, pharmaceutical blade, wire cutter, hoof cleaner, screwdriver, etc.

Small tools include key chains, reamer, hook, driver, etc. Finally, scale tools often include tweezers, safety pins, toothpicks, etc. Some variations have lighters and small LED lights too.

Although the pocket knife is small, the blade is often very sharp, making it easy to cut, carve, trim, hew, or peel anything quickly. Much like the Swiss Army knife, there are different variations of pocket knives.

The gardener’s pocket knife, for example, has a different blade shape, making it easy to cut herbs and mushrooms etc.

Pocket knives are legally accepted worldwide. However, in some countries, there are still legal debates over categorizing a pocket knife as a weapon.

3. Functions

When it comes to functions, you already know the answer; the Swiss Army knife has the lead. However, the blade of the pocket knife also serves many functions.

Cutting, scraping, scaling, making holes, trimming, and peeling are incredibly easy with a pocket knife, depending on the quality of the one you have. It is especially great when you’re engaging in any outdoor activity.

With that said, a swiss army knife offers a lot more than just cutting and scraping. Its tweezers help to peel something, its hooks help you to catch small things, and wire cutters help you to cut copper or electronic wires whenever you need to. So, Swiss Army knives make your outdoor life a lot easier.

Both tools are helpful for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, etc. But, a Swiss Army knife is much more versatile, easy to carry, multi-functional, and perfect to have on the road or away from home. Its multi-tool combination allows you to help yourself in different situations.

4. Self Defense

For self-defense, Swiss Army Knives and pocket knives have sharp blades that could help you when needed. Their durability, compactness, portability, small size, and sharpness make them similar.

Some experts say that the pocket knife is an ancestor of the Swiss Army knife. It means the Swiss Army knife is just a variation of the old traditional pocket knife. So we can say that both have the same roots.

Both are useful for self-defense. However, when it comes to warding off an attacker, a pocket knife is the best option.

You might see it as an odd choice. But here is how. In an emergency, where you have to defend yourself against a criminal, a pocket knife is easy to open.

With a Swiss Army knife, you must first pick where the blade is, then attack. So for a sudden, reflexive response, a pocket knife is a good option.

5. Price

Pocket knives are cheaper than Swiss Army knives. Good quality, durable and sharp pocket knives come at an affordable price. However, Swiss Army Knives are relatively more expensive.

What’s more, their price is directly proportional to the number of tools they have. That is, the more tools in a Swiss Army knife, the more expensive it is likely to be.

6. Versatility

A pocket knife has only one tool – a blade. And while its portability is nice, the simplicity of its design limits its usefulness significantly when compared to a Swiss Army knife.

A Swiss Army knife, on the other hand, consists of several different tools such as a pair of scissors, tweezers, cutter, saw, clipper, hooks, etc.

Consequently, apart from self-defense, in any emergency where you need a tool other than a blade, the Swiss Army knife has your back. Its variation of tools puts it a step ahead of pocket knives.

Similarities Between a Swiss Army Knife and a Pocket Knife

Highly Portable: The multi-purpose tools of the Swiss Army knife and the sharp blade of the pocket knife both are foldable and easy to carry. Thus, you can keep them in just about any jacket or trouser pocket while out and about.

Various Mediums: Both come in a variation of metal and wood designs. So, you have a wide range of options to choose from depending on your style and goals.

Versatile and Easy to Acquire: Swiss Army Knives and pocket knives are helpful in cutting numerous things. Moreover, it is easy to maintain both of them and you can get them easily locally as well as online.

Cleaning both of the tools is also an easy task as their design is almost similar. However, the versatile tools of the Swiss Pocket Knife take more time to clean.

Conclusion

All in all, if you are looking for a relatively cheaper option, a pocket knife is the best. However, the multifunctionality of the Swiss Army knife makes it more versatile.

So, it all comes down to what you plan using the knife for. If possible, it’s best to have both at your disposal as they will make your life much easier.