Ever wondered how it feels to have 82 tools at your fingertips? That’s not an exaggeration or a figure of speech. With the Swiss Champ XAVT, you literally have 82 unique functions housed within a compact, formidable 91mm frame. Overwhelming? Maybe. Incredible? Absolutely.
The Swiss Champ XAVT is the largest Swiss Army Knife made by Victorinox. With a huge list of 82 functions, it is the only SAK model that has all the tools made by Victorinox for its 91mm series of Swiss Army Knives.
The largest Victorinox Swiss Army Knife isn’t like a regular SAK- it is the grandmaster, the ultimate symbol of Swiss precision and multitool ingenuity. I promise you, by the end of this blog post, you’ll understand the sheer brilliance and profound significance of this magnificent tool that goes well beyond its robust assembly.
Swiss Champ XAVT: A Quick Overview
As its title suggests, the Swiss Champ XAVT is the king, the omnipotent model, among the SAK collection offered by Victorinox. The model signifies the ultimate Swiss Army Knife experience and is arguably the epitome of the brand’s tool offerings.
The Swiss Champ XAVT has all the tools that Victorinox has ever made for its 91mm series of SAKs, including all the battery-operated digital tools as well as all the scale tools. This makes the XAVT a very popular SAK model for collectors.
Specifications, Tools, And Functions
The Swiss Champ XAVT is officially referred to as model 1.6795.XAVT. It is 91mm long and 26mm wide. It has 15 layers of tools, with a thickness of 65mm, making it the thickest Swiss Army Knife that Victorinox has ever designed.
The XAVT weighs around 351 grams, also making it the heaviest SAK made by Victorinox. Even the mighty Work Champ XL (341 grams) is lighter in comparison.
Not surprisingly, it is also one of the most expensive Swiss Army Knives made by Victorinox.
The scales of the XAVT are not made of cellidor or nylon, the most common material used in SAK scales.
It is made of a slightly different polymer which is translucent in nature. The texture is similar to nylon and is less slippery than cellidor.
The top scale of the XAVT holds the electronic tools. As a result, the bottom scale is specially designed to house all four scale tools, viz. toothpick, tweezers, ballpoint pen, and the stainless steel pin.
Here are some screenshots of the user manual that comes along with it. However, note that this is from the first model of the XAVT when it had 80 functions.
Tools And Functions in the Swiss Champ XAVT
- toothpick
- tweezers
- pressurized ballpoint pen
- pin, stainless steel
- digital watch (12h)
- digital watch (24h)
- countdown
- timer
- altimeter (m)
- altimeter (feet)
- barometer
- thermometer (°C)
- thermometer (°F)
- alarm
- reamer, punch, sewing awl
- can opener
- screwdriver 3 mm
- bottle opener
- screwdriver 6 mm
- wire stripper
- key ring
- universal wrench M3, M4, M5
- Phillips screwdriver 1/2
- magnifying glass
- pliers
- wire cutter
- wire crimping tool
- fish scaler
- hook disgorger
- ruler (cm)
- ruler (inches)
- nail file
- large blade with wavy edge
- reamer, punch
- wood saw
- scissors
- multipurpose hook
- screwdriver 2.5 mm
- pruning blade
- electrician’s blade
- wire scraper
- pharmaceutical spatula
- watch opener
- bottle opener
- can opener
- screwdriver 5 mm
- wire stripper
- nail file
- nail cleaner
- metal saw
- metal file
- chisel 4 mm
- large blade
- small blade
- bit slotted 3
- bit slotted 4
- bit Torx 6
- bit Torx 8
- bit Hex 1.2
- bit Hex 1.5
- bit Hex 2
- bit Hex 2,5
- bit case
- bit wrench
- female Hex drive 5 mm for D-SUB connectors
- female Hex drive 4 mm for bits
- LED
- bit slotted 4
- bit Phillips 2
- bit Phillips 0 (Pozidrive)
- bit Phillips 1 (Pozidrive)
- bit Torx 10
- bit Torx 15
- bit case
- bit wrench
- female Hex drive 5 mm for D-SUB connectors
- female Hex drive 4 mm for bits
- bit Hex 4
- bit Torx 8
- multipurpose hook
- mini screwdriver
- corkscrew
Craftsmanship and History of the Swiss Champ XAVT
The Swiss Champ XAVT isn’t just a knife, but a staple of Swiss culture and an emblematic figure of Swiss craftsmanship.
The Swiss Champ XAVT encapsulates a blend of Swiss precision, careful design, and robust endurance, inherited through years of Swiss army knife development and refinement. It exemplifies the legendary attention to detail and superior craftsmanship that Victorinox is known for.
The XAVT comprises 118 distinct pieces. It is assembled by hand by the workers in the Victorinox factory at Delemont.
The assembling of a single XAVT comprises over 500 steps. No doubt, the XAVT is one of the costliest SAKs to own.
The history of the Swiss Champ XAVT can be traced back to the SAK model ‘Champion’, a flagship model introduced in 1952. The model Swiss Champ replaced the Champion in 1985. Victorinox continued to refine and introduce newer and bigger versions of the Swiss Champ model, with the Swiss Champ XAVT being the biggest of all.
The Swiss Champ Family: Where does the XAVT stand?
Here is a historical timeline leading to the introduction of the Victorinox Swiss Champ XAVT, and its replacement, Swiss Champ XXL.
The flagship model contained all the main 91mm tools that were available at that time. It had 6 layers of tools (discontinued).
8 layers of tools, still one of the best sellers of Victorinox. Read more about it in this practical hands-on review.
11 layers of tools
11 layers of tools (discontinued)
15 layers of tools (discontinued)
15 layers of tools, the biggest with the most functions that Victorinox has ever made (discontinued).
The current flagship with 15 layers of tools, and the largest SAK that is still in production.
The current largest SAK, Swiss Champ XXL, has the same number of layers and tools as the XAVT. However, it doesn’t have the electronic scale tools viz. Clock, Altimeter, Barometer, and Thermometer. As such, the discontinued XAVT still remains the largest Victorinox SAK with the most tools and functions.
Practicality and Performance of the Swiss Champ XAVT
Is that an XAVT in your pocket? – Or are you just pleased to see me?
Most knife users will reject the XAVT as impractical. Even holding the XAVT in hand is not an easy task, especially if you have small hands. Victorinox hasn’t compromised on the sharpness of the individual tools, especially the various knife blades that the XAVT has. As such, the SAK should be handled with care.
I was going through the forums at multitool.org the other day just to check how the owners of the XAVT use it. These are some of the quotes that I found interesting.
I can never decide if the XAVT is amazing or ridiculous
It has elevated my status in many circles
I use it as a photography prop
I believe it will hold its value, so yes, worth it. I don’t have regrets
I’d never carry them though. Personally, for me, they’re collector items to be amazed by as a testament to what Victorinox can create
It’s surprisingly usable, especially if you have the sheath for it. It also makes a great conversation starter
This Swiss Army Knife is the equivalent of a bloated application. It has so many great additions that it is useless—except to collectors like me who find extreme cases of bad design charming or useful
I have seen people using the XAVT for minor household tasks (like cutting ropes and tightening Philips screws).
However, I am assuming this is very rare, and most owners prefer always keeping it in its box and taking it out just for showing off.
If you are really looking for a SAK that has all (well, almost) the tools and functions but is practical enough to be carried in your pocket, then choose from one of these 3 models.
Swiss Champ XAVT vs. Wenger Giant: A Comparative Study
The Wenger Giant, touted as the world’s largest Swiss Army Knife has been known to captivate Swiss Army Knife collectors and aficionados for years. How does the Swiss Champ XAVT stack up against this reputed adversary?
To me, the most noticeable difference lies in their purpose. The Wenger Giant was designed to shock the world and win records, and of course, to be a collectible. It is a dysfunctional collection of tools not meant for practical usage. The Swiss Champ XAVT, while undeniably substantial in its functionality, is designed with a balance of utility and portability in mind.
The Swiss Champ XAVT may look and feel impractical. But it is not as unwieldy as the Wenger Giant and even can be carried in your pocket (if you are up to it).
Smaller and lighter than the Wenger Giant
Much larger than the XAVT
Belongs to the 91mm series of Vic SAKs
Belongs to the 85mm series of Wenger SAKs
82 functions
142 functions
15 layers of tools
49 layers of tools
Has digital functions like the clock, alarm, timer, altimeter, thermometer, and barometer
No digital functions
Far more portable than the Wenger Giant. You could comfortably carry it around in your backpack for outdoor adventures
Due to its size and weight, is not designed for regular carry
Designed for practical usage, boasting features that can be utilized on a daily basis or in unexpected situations
Caters more towards novelty and collection due to its incredibly extensive toolset and its impractical size
The blades are sharp and can be used to cut or slice like any other SAK
The blades or any other tool that is supposed to be sharp have been specifically made blunt to prevent accidents during handling
A variant of the XAVT(the XXL) is available for purchase
The Giant is a retired model and is hard to find, adding to its collector’s value
Recognized as the Victorinox model with the most tools
The Wenger Giant is more recognized for holding the world record for being the largest Swiss Army knife
In this clash of the titans, the Swiss Champ XAVT positions itself not just as a mere treasure among enthusiasts and collectors, but also as a tool for practical application.
To know more about the Wenger Giant and it’s history, do not miss this article.
Availability of the XAVT
The Swiss Champ XAVT was in production in Victorinox factory till 2021. It was replaced by the model, Swiss Champ XXL. The XXL has all the tools of the XAVT, except the digital functions. The special scales of the XAVT have been replaced with normal scales in the XXL, thereby sacrificing all digital functions.
As such, it is very difficult nowadays to get hold of an XAVT. The only sources are marketplaces like eBay and Etsy where you may see one.
The XXL on the other hand is still in production and is actively promoted as the flagship Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. However, given its exclusivity, I have often seen it going out-of-stock in digital marketplaces like Amazon (check availability here).
The Swiss Champ XAVT was first introduced in 2006 and remained in production till 2021. Its successor, the XXL, doesn’t have the unique scales that house digital tools.
The reason probably is that Victorinox has stopped making those scales for Swiss Army Knives by the end of 2021. This is more evident from the fact that all other models that used those scales were also discontinued. These include models like the Traveller, Traveller Lite, and Expedition Lite.
This first became public in 2021. The source of this news originated from a list of discontinued models sent to retailers by Victorinox.
I haven’t seen any official announcement from Victorinox regarding the exact reason for this. But the following are some of the assumptions that I have seen discussed in forums:
- Victorinox is phasing out all digital tools from its SAKs. This is a probable valid reason because smartphones can do all these functions much better.
- All models with digital scales do not sell very well due to their high cost.
Final Thoughts
I manipulate it very often, still with the same eyes like a boy discovering a new toy he really was looking forward to.
As we conclude this journey through the fascinating world of Swiss Army Knives and the Swiss Champ XAVT, it’s hard not to feel a sense of admiration and deep respect for the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and timeless utility that this flagship represents.
Powerful yet portable, practical yet comprehensive, Victorinox’s Swiss Champ XAVT is a testimony to classic Swiss craftsmanship, intelligent functionality, and relentless innovation.
And hey, if you’re lucky enough to have the XAVT by your side, wear that badge of honor with full pride.
Whether you’re a collector, outdoor adventurer, or DIY lover, the Swiss Champ XAVT is more than just a tool. It’s an open pass for you to own a slice of Swiss legacy!
