The new Swiss Army Onyx Black collection is out and man alive is it pretty. What really stands out about the knives in this series is the monochromatic look from the black composition handle scales to the almost-charcoal grey blades and tools. This isn’t the first time Victorinox released knives with this process, but it is a less common release and one we heartily endorse. Honestly, who doesn’t need a clean, classic black multi-tool? It’s as chic as it is utilitarian and useful. That makes for a seriously winning combo in our books.
Victorinox tells us, “Each knife is treated with the polispectral process – where chromium oxide is applied to stainless steel – to produce a monochrome finish on all functions” which might lead one to believe they’re coated, the process is more akin to anodizing than a coating. In the Materials and Applications series, Volume 16, Euro Inox tells us that the polispectral process, also called the Inox-Spectral process – is an electrochemical coloring process initially developed in the early 1970s. Rather than painting or coating the stainless steel, this process happens by “…immersing the material in a hot chromatic-sulphuric acid solution and following this with a cathodic hardening treatment in another acid solution….The colouring process chemically thickens the passive chromium-oxide layer that gives the stainless steel its corrosion resistance. The colours are produced by the interference that occurs as light waves pass through the transparent passive layer.”
The Onyx Black series is available in three patterns: The Signature Lite, Rangergrip 55, and the Spartan. We’ll take a look at each of them.
Swiss Army Signature Lite Onyx Black
The Signature Lite is a less commonly seen SAK. At 2.3” closed, it’s the same length as a Classic SD. However, it’s just the smallest fraction thicker and 0.1 ounces heavier than the SD. It’s an eight function multitool with a small blade, a ruler with a screwdriver tip, and a key ring. It also has a pressurized ballpoint pen and an LED flashlight.
Swiss Army Signature Lite Onyx Black Details
- Stainless Steel, Polispectral Process Treated
- Small Pen Blade
- Ruler, Screwdriver Tip
- Scissors
- LED Light
- Pressurized Ballpoint Pen
- Black Cellidor Handle Scales
- Key Ring Attachment
- 0.8 Ounces
- 0.5” Height
- 2.3” Closed Length
- Made in Switzerland
Swiss Army Onyx Black Spartan
With a closed length of 3.6”, a height of 0.6”, and weighing a mere 2.1 ounces, the Onyx Black Spartan is a 12 function multitool that combines pocket friendliness with utility. It has both a large and small blade, a caplifter with a 6mm screwdriver tip and wire stripper cutout, a can opener with a 3mm screwdriver tip, a reamer/punch/awl blade, and a corkscrew.
Swiss Army Spartan Onyx Black Details
- Stainless Steel Blades and Tools, Polispectral Process Treated
- Large Blade
- Small Blade
- Can Opener, Screwdriver Tip (3mm)
- Cap Lifter, Screwdriver Tip (6mm), and Wire Stripper
- Reamer, Punch, and Sewing Awl
- Corkscrew
- Black Cellidor Handle Scales
- Key Ring Attachment
- 2.1 Ounces
- 0.6” Height
- 3.6” Closed Length
- Made in Switzerland
Swiss Army Onyx Black Rangergrip 55
The RangerGrip 55 is the biggest pattern in this series and it is arguably one of the most utilitarian. This 12 function multitool has some of the same functionality as the Spartan but it gives you more tool to work with. It has a longer blade with a touch of jimping along the spine as well as a wood saw blade. This is, of course, in addition to the cap lifter, can opener, corkscrew, and awl configuration of the Spartan. The black Cellidor handles are contoured, and the recesses textured for an improved grip.
Swiss Army Onyx Black RangerGrip 55 Details
- Stainless Steel Blades and Tools, Polispectral Process Treated
- Large Blade
- Wood Saw
- Can Opener, Screwdriver Tip (3mm)
- Cap Lifter, Screwdriver Tip (6mm), and Wire Stripper
- Reamer, Punch, and Sewing Awl
- Corkscrew
- Black Cellidor Handle Scales
- Key Ring Attachment
- 5.9 Ounces
- 0.9” Height
- 5.1” Closed Length
- Made in Switzerland
The Swiss Army Onyx Black collection combines elegance with utility. This results in a fantastic addition to anyone’s EDC setup. If you’re interested in any of these multitools, click any link in the article or simply click the button below to see them all.
All images courtesy of Smoky Mountain Knife Works – smkw.com.
