Gear Review
The Austin Surplus Score: Victorinox Gems for Pennies
Finding hidden value in the bins of a local Texas surplus store
6
Items
$9
Spent
~$69
Total Value
Section I
The Austin Surplus Find
I got a chance to visit the Surplus Store in Austin and it lived up to its name in finding cheap Victorinox Swiss Army knives. They had them arranged in several set of bins ranging in price from $1 for basic 58mm Classics to $3-4 for 91mm and specialty scales 58mm Classics.
Pricing Tiers
- →Basic 58mm Classics — $1.00 per unit
- →91mm Models — $3.00 - $4.00 per unit
- →Specialty Scales 58mm — $3.00 - $4.00 per unit
Section II
The $9 Haul
Most were in rough shape and had seen better days, but there are a few hidden gems. For a total of $9, I scored six 58mm Swiss Army Knives:
- →Memory — 58mm model with internal storage
- →Signature — 58mm model featuring an integrated pen
- →Rambler — Multi-functional 58mm with Phillips screwdriver
- →Classic (x3) — The quintessential small Swiss Army Knife
This is the price point that makes this hobby fun.
### Value Breakdown
The Memory, Signature, and Ramblers go for $15–20 each online, and the Classics go for at least $3 a piece.
| Item Type | Store Price | Online Market Value |
|---|---|---|
| Memory, Signature, Rambler | ~$1.50 avg | $15.00 - $20.00 each |
| Classics (x3) | ~$1.50 avg | $3.00+ each |
| Total | $9.00 | ~$69.00 |
Section III
Maintenance & EDC Update
Update - 7/1/22 - Cleaning 🧼
Finally got around to cleaning the knives I bought. Most were surprisingly already clean with no dust or debris between the scales.
I’m liking the Rambler and may use that for my EDC (Every Day Carry).
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