Victorinox SAK Pin Needle Storage

Victorinox Pin Needle Storage in Swiss Army Knife Scales.

Victorinox Swiss Army Knives have a hidden feature that many people miss. The plastic scales on most models have a tiny hole that can store a pin. Some models like the Compact and Swiss Champ come with this pin already inserted. But most Victorinox SAK models do not include the pin. The good news is you can add one yourself using regular sewing supplies.

Which Victorinox Models Have the Pin Hole

The pin hole is found on Cellidor scales. These are the plastic scales that come in red, black, and other colors. The hole is very small and easy to miss if you do not know where to look.

The Alox models – the ones with metal scales – do not have this pin hole. The Farmer X and other Alox knives cannot store a pin this way unless you modify them. Let me know in the comments if you have found a way to add a pin to an Alox model.

Where to Find the Pin Hole

Look at the scale on the same side as the corkscrew or the Phillips screwdriver. The tiny hole is right there in the scale. It is just big enough to hold a thin pin.

The Problem with Pins That Have Plastic Covers

You can try using sewing pins that have a plastic ball or cover on the end. These are common sewing supplies. They will work on models that have a corkscrew because the corkscrew has extra space. But there are two problems with this type of pin:

• On models with a Phillips screwdriver instead of a corkscrew, the screwdriver will not close properly if you use a pin with a plastic cover
• The plastic cover sticks out and does not look very neat

So if you have a Tinker model or any Victorinox with a Phillips screwdriver on the back, pins with plastic covers are not a good choice.

The Better Option – Regular Sewing Pins

Here is the simple solution. Go to a sewing supply shop and buy regular sewing pins. Not the ones with plastic covers. Just the basic thin pins with small flat heads.

These pins fit perfectly into the pin hole on Victorinox scales. They are very cheap. You probably already have some in your home.

How to Insert the Pin

Follow these steps:

1. Locate the tiny pin hole on the scale of your Victorinox knife
2. Take a regular sewing pin with a small flat head
3. Push the pin into the hole. The pin should slide in smoothly
4. The head of the pin will sit flush against the scale
5. To remove the pin, use your fingernail to pull it out from the side

How the Sewing Pin Compares to the Original Victorinox Pin

If you compare a regular sewing pin to the original pin that comes with the Compact or Swiss Champ, they are very similar. The original Victorinox pin has a head that is slightly wider and flatter. It is also about 2mm shorter. The sewing pin head may stick out just a tiny bit more. But both work perfectly fine. The pin stays locked in place and does not fall out.

Which Knives I Added Pins To

I added sewing pins to several Victorinox models including:

• The Compact
• The Ranger
• The Angler (with the fish logo)
• The Explorer (with the magnifying glass)
• The Huntsman (black scales)

All of them accepted the pin without any issues. The pin goes right in and stays there.

Why Victorinox Does Not Include the Pin on All Models

I am not sure why Victorinox does not give a pin with every knife. Maybe it is a nice little trick that not everyone knows about. Or maybe it is for safety reasons. If you want the pin, you can add it yourself. And now you know about it.

Final Thoughts

You do not need to buy a special model like the Compact or Swiss Champ just to get this pin. A regular sewing pin from any sewing supply shop works perfectly. It costs almost nothing. You can add a pin to all of your Cellidor Victorinox knives. This gives you an extra tool that can be used for sewing, removing splinters, or any other small task that needs a thin pointy object.

Thanks for reading. I hope this tip helps you get more use out of your Victorinox Swiss Army Knife collection.