 |
| Royal Netherlands Military Issue Victorinox Knife |
Victorinox has made folding knives for militaries around the globe since its inception as the Swiss Army Knife. That tradition continues today because of Victorinox's unchallenged superior quality of material and craftsmanship. Beginning around 2010, the Royal Netherlands Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines began issuing a Victorinox knife, seen above, that bears the combined emblems of the Dutch military. It is issued with its own velcro-secured camo or black pouch that can be had with either ALICE gear clips or MOLLE attachment. These knives are only available as surplus items from the Dutch military and have been rather expensive for American buyers when shipping from Europe is added to the price. The knife shown in this article was purchased as used, in excellent condition. That was not a lie, it is in like new condition with a razor sharp factory edge. With the issued pouch, also like new, the total cost of this piece of Army surplus was over $90.00 US. I consider that pretty steep, but the features on this knife captivated me.
 |
| All Tools Displayed. |
This knife has the one-hand opening, locking main blade like the Trekker model. The Dutch Army Knife features a serrated main blade and it has the one-hand opening, serrated belt/clothing cutter. This feature also appears on the folding Hunter model where it serves as a gut hook/zipper. As a military First Aid tool it is ideal for cutting gear and clothing off of wounded soldiers. It also has the locking flat blade screw driver/bottle opener/wire stripper tool, the small flat blade screw driver/can opener tool, Philips head screw driver and the awl/punch without the sewing eyelet. This combination has earned the knife its place in my combat lifesaver bag.
 |
| Standard issue pouch. |
Now, if you are saying to yourself, "Gee I like that knife but I am not going to spend that much money on it," you are in luck. The Dutch military adopted an already existing Victorinox model for its uses. The model is the Dual Pro X. The only difference between the DAK and the Dual Pro X is the military scales made for the Netherlands. The Dual Pro X has red scales with black rubber, non-skid pads like many of the 111mm models. These scales do not have the tweezers and toothpicks like the standard Trekkers. The particular Dual Pro X that I have has a non-serrated main blade, which is a feature many Victorinox aficionados like because it is easier to resharpen in the field than the serrated blade.
 |
| The Dual Pro X with a non-serrated main blade. |
I bought my Dual Pro X used, through the standard on-line auction, and paid less less than $50.00 US for it. It too was in as-new condition.
 |
| Many consider the non-serrated blade preferable to the serrated blade because it is easier to resharpen. |
The Dual Pro X model was preceded by the Dual Pro (no "X"). It seems the X stands for the Philips head screw driver, which makes perfect sense, because the Dual Pro has the cork screw where the X model has the Philips screw driver. My Dual Pro also has the serrated main blade.
 |
| The Dual Pro model. |
 |
| The Corkscrew. |
 |
| Serrated main blade. |
I find the corkscrew to be a traditional Swiss Army Knife feature that I have never used or needed. European armies have issued wine with their rations for centuries and so the idea of a corkscrew being a handy tool is understandable. I remember participating in a NATO military competition in the mid 1980s and witnessing the use of a German Army Victorinox knife to open a wine bottle. We were pretty jealous. The US Army does not issue wine with MREs. All the same, I have no real use for a corkscrew, nor have I managed to invent one. I did see an article, however, wherein a person was assaulted during a walk in the woods and managed to get his Swiss Army Knife corkscrew unfolded and placed between his ring and middle fingers, with his fingers wrapped around the body of the knife. Wielded in this manner as a weapon, the corkscrew caused significant damage to his two assailants when he punched them with it. So much damage that he was able to get away and call police.
Neither of my Dual Pro knives came with a pouch but they will fit any standard 111mm sized pouch as well as the surplus Dutch Army pouches that are available through on-line auctions.
