The 74mm range from Victorinox doesn’t get much attention. There are few models and little variety. A shame, as they are amongst the best small knives that are especially suited for backpacking.

The Victorinox Money Clip weighs just 27.6g and provides what Three Points of the Compass feels are the most useful tools for use while backpacking, camping, on day hikes and for simple Every Day Carry. Within its slim aluminium frame are a decent set of scissors, a usable short blade and small yet effective nail file. I have previously looked at a couple of other Victorinox knives of 74mm length. Those were the thicker Ambassador that has exactly the same tools within its scales but adds questionably useful tweezers and toothpick in the scales, and the Executive that comes with either alox scales like the Money Clip, or with thicker Cellidor scales. The Executive has a wider set of tools however and some of those are pretty much superfluous for outdoor purposes. That is about it for the presently available 74mm knives from Victorinox, and it may even be that this length is on the way out.

Many hikers tend to put their faith in the best selling Victorinox knife, unsurprising, as the trinity of tools in the 58mm Classic are exactly as those found in the Money Clip, just smaller. The non-locking spear point blade on the Money Clip, however, is a bit more usable with its 53mm length of which 46mm is cutting length. The Money Clip blade measures 1.63mm across its spine compared to the smaller and shorter blade on the Classic which utilises steel 1.18mm thick.

Opening from the opposite end to the blade is the small nail file. This is small indeed. It is only 34m long of which the file surface is tiny- just 24mm x 4.5mm, but, you can file fingernails with this, just. This file also comes with a small nail cleaner tip that can also be used with smaller Phillips screws.

The scissors however, are excellent. These are around fifty per cent larger than those found on the Classic but surprisingly the 18mm cutting edges on the Money Clip scissors are only 2mm longer than those on the Classic. That said, they are noticeably more efficent at cutting than those on its smaller brethren.

The Money Clip shown here is silver, it also comes as standard in red, black and there were also some uncommon colours produced.The Money Clip is a handsome product and the matt silver scales with red Victorinox shield lend a simplicity to the knife. Dimensions are- length: 74mm, width: 21.39, depth: 8mm (including clip). The overall dimensions are deceptive, notwithstanding the attached clip, it only measures 5.50mm across the scales and 6mm across the rivets. The 27.6g weight is barely noticeable.

Which brings us to the feature from which the knife takes its name- the money clip. This is not a feature much used in the UK, and increasingly less for bank notes with the increase to card and contactless payment. It is a shame that the clip is not removable as it would reduce both weight and thickness. But even with the clip it still weighs 7g less than the Ambassador which only offers additional useless toothpick and ‘not-that-good’ tweezers. You could remove the clip with a hacksaw but would then have to use a file in an attempt to smooth down the rough edges that were left. If that is what you want, just look for the Ambassador knife with Alox scales. The stainless steel clip can act as a pocket clip but with a 14mm width and just 23mm of usable depth, it isn’t intended for that. If bent out under stress, it would be nigh on impossible to bend it back. You may as well leave the clip in place.

Note that due to the knive’s intended use for holding money, there is no keyrng on this tool. Nor any scale tools due to the use of thin Aluminum Oxide- Alox scales. These are smooth, attractive and robust.

This isn’t an expensive knife. Victorinox may possibly be removing it from their portfolio soon, but even if they don’t, it is still worth snapping one up and keeping it handy. Light, usable, reasonably priced, good build quality, reputable firm, what’s not to like?

Three Points of the Compass has looked at quite a few knives and multi-tools that may, or may not, be suitable for backpacking, day treks or Every Day Carry. Links to these can be found here.