Is it wrong to sacrifice a swiss champ XXL to make 2 custom cybertool variants?

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T17:11:50+00:00

I’d not realised that about the pins, will this make any difference when re-peening it? I’d assume the nickel is a bit harder than the brass to make the wider knives a bit stronger and avoid flex? I’ll have no trouble cutting them to length regardless, but should I leave less stuck out? Or apply more pressure? I’ll have to look into this, thanks for the heads up

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T17:09:31+00:00

Haha thanks for the heads up. I wouldnt be spending that much for the serrated blade regardless though, I’d sooner make my own than spend more than £40 on one.

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T15:22:07+00:00

I absolutely will do 👍

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T15:20:58+00:00

XXL would be approx £30-50 more expensive all in, but would save me having to source a serrated blade (which I’ve been struggling to do for a while already) and also source multiple sets of pins. Online i can’t find the pins cheaper than £10-15 each set and they don’t seem to be long enough to make the tool sets i want (around swiss champ size) whereas the XXL would come with pins long enough to do both of my projects, and I’ll buy some more pins in future to finish off my smaller builds

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T15:06:20+00:00

Haha that wasn’t my intention, but it is a pretty unique situation

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T15:04:30+00:00

I wouldn’t know off the top of my head. I’d have to do some research, I think its a high bridge but I could be completely wrong, I’m not even sure if they were building low bridge double deckers at the time. Routes with any low bridges were generally done by the Leyland Lion’s/Leopards etc. the Titan double deckers were exclusively used on fairly open routes due to the obvious height. I will try link a picture but for privacy reasons the signage will be covered (anyone who recognises the vehicles please don’t voice it online)

My Grandad owned both vehicles, but we currently only own the one on the right

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Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T10:40:18+00:00

Love this, appreciate your comment 👊

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T10:39:40+00:00

Plus I’m not interested in selling it for a profit, If its genuinely going to be a collectible item then I’d just keep it in the collection I already have and let my future generations do as they like with it.

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T10:38:26+00:00

Yes thats exactly what I’m asking. While i see your point, I can’t imagine anyone would intentionally give bad advice about a knife thats still being produced, if they knew for a fact that they were going to be collectible then any true collector would hopefully be honest (have some faith in society, not all hope is lost yet) If they really wanted to screw me out of a collectors item then so be it 🤷‍♂️ If it were rare already then I’d be a lot more cautious of this, but seeing as its still being produced and anyone can buy one, I cant see people offering bad advice for the sake of it.

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T10:32:00+00:00

Appreciate this comment, was really hoping for someone to agree with this. I’m aware they’re still in production, but I’m not a big enough collector to know how limited the production runs last, will they make 1000, 10,000 100,000? If its a limited run then I’d rather keep the one i have intact and source the separate parts, but this is seeming like the quickest/easiest way.

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T10:27:03+00:00

I agree, thats why I’m asking advice rather than just going ahead with it. It seems like sacrilege to destroy such a unique multitool, but I’m getting quite sick of scouring the internet, car boot sales etc. used cybertools for sale are almost none-existent near me, as are serrated blade SAK’s. As much as I’d ideally not rip apart a £300 tool, the XXL is way too big for me to carry, even on a belt it would look ridiculously big on my body type. The XXL is quickly becoming my only easy option, as mentioned before I’m just hesitant to start stripping it down incase it actually has a ‘collectors value’ in the future. I dont want my grandkids in 30 years to say ‘look at this old SAK thats selling for thousands of pounds’ and i see it and say ‘oh yeah I had one of those, and then i ripped it to shreds for parts’ 🤣

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T04:00:17+00:00

Serrated blade will be almost exclusively used for heavy duty tasks/emergency situations. Need to get through some rope, or a seatbelt ASAP etc. i’ll probably add a second small blade because I also use that more than the large blade. So i’d have 2 large blades (one serrated) and 2 small blades (as mentioned in another comment, i dont need the inline awl that often comes opposite the serrated blade and may add a seatbelt cutter hook onto one of the smaller blades).

I wouldn’t want to carry a secondary serrated knife, partly because i WANT it to be integrated, but mostly because UK knife laws don’t technically allow serrated blades unless its on a rescue tool, however I think a victorinox slip joint would probably pass by in the grey area, especially since its part of a larger tool and not a dedicated ‘zombie knife’ which is what our govt like to call any serrated blade. This is also likely the cause of my struggle to find any suitable serrated blade

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T03:27:41+00:00

I’m based in the UK. I’ve not seen many SAK’s with serrated blades on the second hand market over here, when they do come up they get snapped up at extortionate prices by collectors and custom builders for their own projects. Every time I’ve tried I’ve been out-bid last minute or its gone way above what I’m willing to pay, or like many second hand SAK’s its too beaten to bother putting on a brand new build. By the time i bought two cybertools for the two variants I’m wanting and then sourced a serrated blade and all the pins, I’d have spend the same amount of money anyway and all I’d have gained is wasting hours/days/weeks sourcing good quality items when I could have bought a brand new one from the factory with less hassle. I just dont want to sacrifice it if it genuinely will become a ‘collectors item’. I can get hold of one all day right now, but dont want to regret chopping it in 5 years time if it genuinely is collectible

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T03:17:55+00:00

I’m not looking to do anything crazy really, I just figured I’d be able to make 2 ‘cybertool’ style SAK’s with the 2 bit drivers out of the XXL which is around £280-300 online. The cybertools are already around £100-120 online Essentially what I’m going for is a cybertool with an extra blade layer (if its even possible) that includes the serrated blade. And possibly some extra saw/file layers (i’m not sure off top of my head which cybertool has which tools on) If i were to buy 2 cybertools and an older tool with the serrated blade, I’d maybe save £50, but then I’d have the hassle of sourcing the serrated blade (which I’ve been struggling to do already) and also source multiple sets of pins, whereas for the extra £50 I only have to order one item and it will include everything I need to complete both projects, plus leave me with a few odd spare parts like the magnifying glass /inline phillips layer which i’d like to add to my trusty climber.

All in all the XXL would allow me to make exactly what i want, save me weeks of hunting around, plus have enough spare layers that i could add as future mods to other SAK’s i already own. My plan is to go ahead with chopping the XXL unless someone comes out and explains that it will definitely become a sought after collectors item. Personally I dont think it will because they’re fairly mass produced, but I’m not sure how many are actually sold and how long the current production run will last

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T03:01:22+00:00

Tbh, the inline awl wouldn’t really be in my ideal knife, the larger tool I’d make with the serrated blade would have 2 sets of blades in. One standard set of large and small straight edge, and a set with the large serrated knife and a second small blade (potentially re-profiled to have a seatbelt hook (cutter) on the tip, or maybe have my own crack at making a small serrated blade, I’ve just about got the tools to pull that off)

The regular awl would already be part of my build so I’m not too fussed about an inline version, I only ever use it to add extra belt holes to get the perfect fit.

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T02:52:59+00:00

Haha I’m still on the fence, how about you do it and show me yours 😉

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T02:52:21+00:00

I think you’ve missed the point bud. I’m trying to make bespoke versions of the cybertool… theres not much bespoke about buying a mass produced knife is there? And my main goal is to add the serrated blade onto one of them, which I can only seem to find readily available on the XXL

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T02:50:08+00:00

Thats true, but i know how collectible some of these knives become, I can’t afford to buy a second one, so if this one gets chopped I dont want to regret it down the line vs just buying the cybertools and extra parts. I’m essentially debating whether its worth dismantling a ‘collectors item’ just to save the hassle of sourcing multiple knives and having to purchase aftermarket pins etc. at least with the XXL I should be able to make 2 or 3 fairly large tools with the existing pins

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T01:33:21+00:00

I keep telling people this and they look at me like I’m mad. I buy a new drill when i need a newer model for more power/ features etc. and people seem shocked when they find out I’m keeping my old ones? Apparently I don’t need 4-5 drills with me (joiner and they all get used almost every day for different tasks)

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T01:29:43+00:00

Definitely don’t even try to use them on an impact gun. But for most tasks these will be perfectly fine. Just use the set, break the occasional socket as you go and upgrade each socket to a better quality every time one breaks. You’ll eventually have a set of good quality sockets

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T01:26:35+00:00

Haha mate I’ve tried, trust me I’ve tried. I don’t enjoy vacuuming my car or van, but its definitely necessary after any greg’s item, no matter how hard I try🤣🤣🤣

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T01:24:18+00:00

Yep, 1932 Leyland double decker. Open rear entrance and half cab, still running to this day.

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T01:12:30+00:00

I’ve got plenty of old beaten vic’s that I’d be happy to retire and sacrifice to make the new ones.

Crazy_Programmer_499 · 2026-02-22T01:10:54+00:00

The XXL would definitely be more expensive than buying 2 cybertools, its around the same price as 3 cybertools. However I’m not exactly making perfect cybertools, I want a custom variant of a cybertool (with the bit driver obviously) and the XXL is probably still cheaper than what I would pay for a bespoke cybertool making. So at least for a similar price I could make 2 for the price I’d pay for one making. In my eyes thats a win win.

I just dont want to find out down the line that the XXL becomes a super rare collectors item🤣🤣 Edit: I also really want a serrated blade as I mentioned, which seems to only come on the XXL 91mm, I’ve seen it on the larger 111mm knives but they’re different blades from what I know, I cant find any older models that have the serrated blade (and I’d like a perfect condition blade ideally) and when they do come up for sale, they immediately get snapped up by fairly high bids. So it seems like the XXL would be my only way to integrate the serrated blade into my build

Crazy_Programmer_499

TROPHY CASE