74mm Victorinox SAKs

TheArab

TheArab

Joined
Jan 24, 2022
Messages
508
Is it true they've been discontinued, meaning they will no longer be made? If so, who's to blame for that, non-knife people who think there's too much knife in an Ambassador or an Executive, or knife nuts who never showed interest, or Victorinox themselves with very little marketing/promotion of that line?

We all love our 58mms, but that 58mm blade does not & will not satisfy the knife nut in me. Imagine all those 58 mm models in the 74mm frame, with the 74 mm blade, that'd be AWESOME..

I think the Ambassador will become my new favorite of the smaller SAKS.

IMO
 
I don't think there's been a clear word on whether they've been completed discontinued, or just discontinued for sale in the US. I think part of the problem was their cost, they were often more expensive than some of the larger models, and there wasn't a huge variety of tools to choose from.

I would love to see a 74mm model with the same tools as the Rambler, upsized of course. I don't know that I'd really need anything else for day to day carry and use if such a model existed.
 
If you need to blame someone, I'd put the blame right on Victorinox.

I would love the executive, but it costs almost three times what a classic does, is not that much larger that it will handle more work, and to top it off, the 74mm's were very thin on the ground. You had to order off the net, unlike the 58mm's that were in near every big box store and sporting goods/back packing shop.

Something was very wrong when an executive costs what a classic and recruit both costs. And almost impossible to find in a store.
 
When I looked a few days ago, I saw that you can still buy an Ambassador for 26 dollars on amazon. It ships for free even if you don't have prime.

I don't know why everyone is so fixated on the Executive. It's really not a good knife. Orange peeler? Awkward old-timey nail file? No thanks. You can keep that junk. I don't want useless tools weighing down my knife. The Ambassador has everything you need in a knife that size, it weighs less, is more compact, and the nail cleaner tip will even handle Phillips head screws. It's perfect for people who like the 58mm Classic but just want something with a larger knife or a bigger pair of scissors.
 
The Executive is my single longest-carried knife, now in its 23rd year of carry for me, since 1999. Even the orange peeler has found use, it not as an orange peeler. I’ve used it as a scraper and a small serrated blade, though admittedly not often in that capacity. I prefer its size over the Classic-sized line, though I like those, too. The Executive is my favorite ‘pen knife’ design. Luckily I have two more Execs, though I’ve never needed to carry either of my spare ones much yet,

Jim
 
The good news in this thread is that the 74 models are well liked, even by 58mm fans.

For comparison, here we have the the Classic, the 65mm Executive 81(Delemont's classic), & the awesome 74mm Ambassador.

Even the 65mm is really better & nicer, but is still kind of needlessly small. Now the 74mm blade is one decent blade, can never be considered "BIG" because it's not, yet it looks very large next to the 58.

It just feels like a wasted opportunity, more models will certainly attract people.

20220829_031724.jpg
 
After some online discussion here in the forums over the last little while, I ordered the Ambassador for myself. I agree, I think it is a fine size for me personally. Kind of a cellidor version of a Cadet. Not as flat in the pocket but it is light weight in my chinos and sharp enough for the cutting chores I have run up on in the two weeks I've had it. I can see how it might not be the "most" popular item in the line up, but I would by another if I get separated from this one. I don't fumble finger it as much as a 58 mm. I also have the 65 mm that I have carried almost everyday for over a year and put it aside for this new one. We'll see if it sticks in my pocket. I should probably go ahead and get a back up.......
 
J Buck said:
I should probably go ahead and get a back up...
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Or maybe a Money Clip? Essentially an Ambassador with Alox scales plus a convenient clip, if one doesn’t mind losing the T&T.

…

I wish Victorinox would make an Executive Money Clip…I’ve made a few as gifts.

I like the Orange Peeler as a package opener. Ironically, I dislike it some as a peeler, because of the cleaning needed after use.
 
kamakiri.knives said:
…

I wish Victorinox would make an Executive Money Clip…I’ve made a few as gifts.
Click to expand...
I've done some searching & in some online reviews & such, some people claim they wrote to Victorinox about the 74 mm line & they've confirmed those SAKs have been discontinued & will no longer be made & won't be available.

I obviously can't confirm that, but I have no reason to doubt those people.
 
TheArab said:
I've done some searching & in some online reviews & such, some people claim they wrote to Victorinox about the 74 mm line & they've confirmed those SAKs have been discontinued & will no longer be made & won't be available.

I obviously can't confirm that, but I have no reason to doubt those people.
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There was a later communication confirming that they weren’t discontinued. At least from what I’ve seen a few months back. The communication from Victorinox was copy-pasted so I’ve got no reason to doubt that.
 
kamakiri.knives said:
There was a later communication confirming that they weren’t discontinued. At least from what I’ve seen a few months back. The communication from Victorinox was copy-pasted so I’ve got no reason to doubt that.
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That's very nice.. Thanks for letting us know..
 
kamakiri.knives said:
Or maybe a Money Clip? Essentially an Ambassador with Alox scales plus a convenient clip, if one doesn’t mind losing the T&T.
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It has a couple drawbacks. The smooth alox scratches too easily. Textured would have been better. It also doesn't feel as good in the hand as an Ambassador. Maybe if it was thicker...

kamakiri.knives said:
I wish Victorinox would make an Executive Money Clip…I’ve made a few as gifts.
Click to expand...
...like that. Yes, that might improve the feel of it.

:)
 
TheArab said:
That's very nice.. Thanks for letting us know..
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Well, I’d like to see something a bit more definite like Victorinox resuming sales directly or a discontinuation notice on the individual item pages. Too much of the communication has been from regional sales reps from what I recall. And from what I know of other industries, that’s the least reliable source of info in any organization.

Guy McVer said:
It has a couple drawbacks. The smooth alox scratches too easily. Textured would have been better. It also doesn't feel as good in the hand as an Ambassador. Maybe if it was thicker...


...like that. Yes, that might improve the feel of it.

:)
Click to expand...
And now you know you could make one if you wanted to. 👍
 
J Buck said:
Kind of a cellidor version of a Cadet.
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Speaking of which, there's now a limited edition cellidor Cadet called Cadet Swiss spirit 2022. If I were to buy one, I'd probably put on some shiny Red cellidors on it, although those are nice scales with all those Swiss attractions.. This could also be an introduction of cellidor Cadet, maybe to be offered in various colors in the coming years? We'll see.

Screenshot 2022-08-30 053808.png
 
TheArab said:
Speaking of which, there's now a limited edition cellidor Cadet called Cadet Swiss spirit 2022. If I were to buy one, I'd probably put on some shiny Red cellidors on it, although those are nice scales with all those Swiss attractions.. This could also be an introduction of cellidor Cadet, maybe to be offered in various colors in the coming years? We'll see.

View attachment 1915143
Click to expand...
I have been looking at these for a while, very beautiful knives, and they go along with my favored SAK motif perfectly (white with black graphic). The only issue is I would basically be paying for the scales, in the long run, as mods become available and I find an 84mm toolset that I love, but they are very beautiful scales... also, this being a very lightweight package, might be able to pass as light enough to "leisure carry", as I do enjoy the "large blade" without a lot of other stuff like an awl which I don't use when lounging.

As for the 74mm, I think it would be a crying shame if they were discontinued. As I have stated on the forum before - 74mm (Executive, in particular, tell me if there is any kind of Executive plus! What is the biggest 74mm?) is the best leisure size, the best "small size" SAK that exists. The 84mm is too similar of a heft to the 91, and just sort of makes me want to say "Eh, screw it" and grab my 91, but the 74 is truly my definition of "lightweight", it has heft closer to 58mm than 84.

I really hope it does not get discontinued, as this is one of the few sizes I still need to explore. I have heard murmurs that they were discontinued since 2020, and I used to think they WERE discontinued, before I even received my first Executive. To be fair, I have never bothered with the purchase of a new 74mm - I had a 74mm that belonged to my fiancee's grandfather refurbished, when that came back from Victorinox, I realized the joy of 74mm, and got my own Executive, a custom-scale G-10 (I think) blue-on-white motif.

I know I would definitely like another 74mm, but the Executive seems to be the best. Wish I could get it in some sort of white scale option, could theoretically take the blue layer off of one, making it white, and etch a design on that, there's an idea...
 
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The main thing that worries me is, if you search for "Executive" on Victorinox's current website (the one that displays all their current models), the only result is the 84mm version. This is disturbing, indeed.

My pair of 74mm Executives, next to two 58mm SD Classics on the right, and a Tinker 84mm, as well as a 94mm Super Tinker. See? Perfect size and heft for a leisure SAK, the 74mm is...
20220831_125049.jpg
 
Hashishiin said:
I have been looking at these for a while, very beautiful knives, and they go along with my favored SAK motif perfectly (white with black graphic). The only issue is I would basically be paying for the scales, in the long run, as mods become available and I find an 84mm toolset that I love, but they are very beautiful scales... also, this being a very lightweight package, might be able to pass as light enough to "leisure carry", as I do enjoy the "large blade" without a lot of other stuff like an awl which I don't use when lounging.

As for the 74mm, I think it would be a crying shame if they were discontinued. As I have stated on the forum before - 74mm (Executive, in particular, tell me if there is any kind of Executive plus! What is the biggest 74mm?) is the best leisure size, the best "small size" SAK that exists. The 84mm is too similar of a heft to the 91, and just sort of makes me want to say "Eh, screw it" and grab my 91, but the 74 is truly my definition of "lightweight", it has heft closer to 58mm than 84.

I really hope it does not get discontinued, as this is one of the few sizes I still need to explore. I have heard murmurs that they were discontinued since 2020, and I used to think they WERE discontinued, before I even received my first Executive. To be fair, I have never bothered with the purchase of a new 74mm - I had a 74mm that belonged to my fiancee's grandfather refurbished, when that came back from Victorinox, I realized the joy of 74mm, and got my own Executive, a custom-scale G-10 (I think) blue-on-white motif.

I know I would definitely like another 74mm, but the Executive seems to be the best. Wish I could get it in some sort of white scale option, could theoretically take the blue layer off of one, making it white, and etch a design on that, there's an idea...
Click to expand...

Hashishiin said:
The main thing that worries me is, if you search for "Executive" on Victorinox's current website (the one that displays all their current models), the only result is the 84mm version. This is disturbing, indeed.

My pair of 74mm Executives, next to two 58mm SD Classics on the right, and a Tinker 84mm, as well as a 94mm Super Tinker. See? Perfect size and heft for a leisure SAK, the 74mm is...
Click to expand...
The Executive you're referring to is a 65 mm, way smaller blade than the 74mm.. You're right the 74mm Exec. isn't on VIC or SA websites anymore, but the Ambassador & M.clip are still displayed on Vic's website. What that means is unclear to me.

To answer your question, yes, of the 74mm, the Executive has the most tools. I don't know of any plus scales for any models other than the 91 mm.

I like the Executive, I like the fact it has a strange set of tools, I'm happy to have it in the collection. That said, the Ambassador being a classic on steroids so to speak is quite nice, I love it, & you'd be happy with one in your collection.

About the Cadet, yeah we'd be paying extra for the scales basically, beautiful scales indeed but I prefer a plain color on that.

A cellidor Cadet would be a Sportsman without back tools I guess.

Nice knives btw..
 
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