Victorinox Awl (1961 to 1985)

The second version of the Victorinox awl includes a sharp edge and a groove, which turns it into a reasonably efficient drill for working in leather, wood or soft metals. This tool is sometimes called a reamer. It was present on many Victorinox knives from 1961 to 1985.

This version of the awl was preceded by a tapered awl before 1961, and followed by an awl with sewing eye after 1985.

Swiss Army Knife Reamer
Uses: To use the awl tool to drill a hole, follow these steps:

  1. Poke a hole with the sharp point.
  2. Rotate the awl, and gradually enlarge the hole.

In leather or other soft materials, you can often push the awl directly through the material, and then rotate it to get a rounded hole.

Found On:
Similar Tools:
  • A few Victorinox Swiss Army knives include a reamer that has similar functions, but a slightly different shape.
  • There is also a plain awl on the SwissTool, with a more abrupt taper and a sharper edge.
  • The Wenger awl/reamer is a similar tool that does not have the groove and sharp edge.
  • The Leatherman awl/reamer has a similar groove, with a more abrupt taper.