Victorinox RangerWood 55 Review | Big Blade, Bigger Saw, Built for the Outdoors

A Swiss Army knife built for the woods, not the office

I own a lot of Swiss Army knives, and most of them live in that sweet spot of urban practicality—small slip joints with scissors, screwdrivers, and just enough blade for daily life. The Victorinox Rangerwood 55 is different. It feels like Victorinox designed this one with a campsite in mind. Bigger, burlier, and outfitted with the kind of tools you actually need in the outdoors, it’s less “pocket SAK” and more “lightweight companion to your fixed blade.”

And with those walnut scales, it’s also one of the best-looking knives Victorinox has ever put out. It doesn’t just feel useful it feels special.

Victorinox’s Ranger line has roots in their outdoor and field-use era. The Ranger series launched as a bridge between their classic everyday knives and full-on outdoor tools. Early Ranger models combined locking blades and saws with the compact multi-tool design Victorinox is known for, aiming to serve hikers, hunters, and campers who wanted more cutting capability in a single tool. The Rangerwood 55 is the modern continuation of that lineage: refined, efficient, and built to work in the field.

First Impressions

When closed, the Rangerwood measures about 5 inches long and just over half an inch thick. Open it up and you’ve got a 9-inch tool with a blade that rivals plenty of standalone folders. In hand, it feels substantial without being heavy, and the flat walnut scales give it an earthy, old-school charm you don’t usually associate with Swiss Army knives. This is not the little red Classic you forget on your keychain.

The Blade

The blade is the reason I bought this knife. At four inches with a flat grind, it’s easily one of the largest Victorinox has ever put in a folding multi-tool. The steel is Victorinox’s standard stainless formula—not exotic, but incredibly well heat treated. It takes a screaming edge with minimal effort and holds it longer than you’d expect for something that sharpens so easily.

I’ve used mine for camp cooking—slicing squash, onions, green chile, tomatoes, even prepping trout and it performs like a dedicated kitchen slicer. It’s also thin enough for feather sticking or light whittling. Because it locks, I don’t hesitate to lean into harder cuts the way I would with a slip-joint SAK.

The lock itself is a liner lock actuated by a button near the handle spine. It’s not flashy, but it’s secure, and it turns this into a real knife instead of just a bigger pocket blade.

The Saw

If the blade makes you smile, the saw will blow you away. It’s the largest I’ve seen on a Victorinox, running nearly the same length as the main blade. I’ve used it to cut wrist-thick branches for firewood and notch poles for camp setups, and it chews through wood faster than many dedicated multitools. Compared to the smaller saws on a Farmer or Huntsman, this one feels like the difference between a hatchet and a machete.

No, it won’t replace a dedicated Bahco folding saw, but as a backup it’s incredibly effective. If your main saw is with a buddy or stashed in a pack, the Rangerwood can absolutely get the job done.

The Rest of the Tools

Victorinox kept the loadout simple, which I appreciate. You get a corkscrew, a reamer for poking holes in leather or wood, a can opener with a small flathead, and a bottle opener with a larger flathead. They’re classic Victorinox designs simple, functional, and dependable. I’ve used the can opener for cooking in camp and the bottle opener more than a few times when the day winds down.

One small hack: if you file the edge of the bottle opener spine square, it becomes an excellent ferro rod striker. It’s a modification I make to almost every SAK I use outdoors.

Ergonomics and Carry

Because of the size, this isn’t a jeans-pocket knife. It’s closer to a folding belt knife than a keychain SAK. But that’s exactly why it works so well for camping. Toss it in a pack, or slide it into a jacket pocket, and you’ve got a slim, lightweight multi-tool with two full-sized outdoor workhorses plus the essentials.

The walnut scales aren’t just pretty. They give the knife a warm, organic feel and a bit of extra traction. Unlike plastic, they don’t look beat up after a week in the woods—they develop character.

Comparisons

Versus the Huntsman or Farmer: Those are great general-purpose SAKs, but their blades are half the size and lack a lock. For actual camp chores, the Rangerwood is simply more capable.

Versus the One-Handed Trekker: The Trekker is still my favorite “urban SAK,” but for food prep, woodcraft, or hunting camp tasks, the Rangerwood’s blade geometry and saw length win out.

Versus a Leatherman: If you need pliers, take the Leatherman. If you’re cooking, carving, or camping, the Rangerwood is lighter, slicier, and more enjoyable to use.

Verdict

The Victorinox Rangerwood 55 isn’t meant to replace your EDC pocket knife or your dedicated fixed blade. Instead, it fills the middle ground: a slim, handsome multi-tool that excels in camp and outdoor environments. The big locking blade handles food and wood prep with ease, the saw is a beast, and the few extra tools round it out without overcomplicating things.

Why I Picked It: I own this knife, I use it, and I love it. For me, it’s the perfect blend of Victorinox tradition and outdoor practicality. When I head into the woods, this is the SAK I pack alongside my fixed blade. It’s rugged, functional, and has just enough rustic elegance with those walnut scales to make it feel like something special.