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Victorinox has a storied history spanning over 125 years, and needless to say, they have a robust catalog of multi-tools to reflect such a heritage. Most will be familiar with classics like the Tinker and Climber, and EDCers will definitely recognize the Cadet. But you don’t get to be in the game for so long without mixing things up from time to time. And in the case of Victorinox, that means seasonal releases to celebrate special times of the year.
For the holidays this year and going into the next, special editions of the Cadet and the Huntsman are now available to collect. This special Cadet–known as the Winter Magic Limited Edition 2023– comes with its complement of nine functions, including the signature large blade and combo bottle opener, but its embossed aluminum scales with anodic oxidation features a 3D, textured winter mountain motif, which is the first time I’ve seen them deviate from the standard scale design. The Huntsman comes with 16 tools, including two blades, scissors, and a saw, but its iconic red Cellidor scales come printed with a unique dragon design, which honors the fifth sign in the Chinese zodiac and is the animal (the Wood Dragon, specifically) for 2024.
Both the Winter Magic and the Huntsman Year of the Dragon 2024 come in special edition boxes and also come in limited numbers: 10,000 for the Cadet, and 8,888 numbered pieces for the Huntsman (8 being an auspicious number).
What we like: It’s always nice to see Victorinox still making an effort to spice up their tools in case you were looking for a special gift or upgrade, and without jacking up the price completely.
What to watch out for: As mentioned above, though there are a lot of them both tools are in limited supply, and take it from me who’s tried to hunt down older limited edition Cadets, you’re not going to want to miss these as a collector.
Final verdict: ‘Tis the season for useful and beautiful gifts.
