Buck + Wenger = SwissBuck

M

MG_Saldivar

Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
857
Just scored a mint SwissBuck Trekker on eBay!!

Except for the Wenger Standard Issue, I've always preferred Victorinox to Wenger, but for a 'vintage' model, this SwissBuck is quite impressive. The snap seems much more Victorinox-ish than Wenger-ish, and the clip point blades are SO COOL to have on a SAK!

My only gripe is that the Buck logos on the scales appear to be simple stickers rather than an inlaid or embossed shield as with Victorinox or the newest Wengers. :confused:


2074392353_def8cb0c3a.jpg

2074392351_7c16c42eef.jpg

2074392347_c5c7674e43.jpg

2074392343_7fbe2ff29b.jpg
 
Did you put that mini-screwdriver in the corkscrew? Or was it there when you got it?

Never seen a SwissBuck or Wenger come with one.
 
Nope, I added the mini -- it's just a standard Vic version. The fit is a bit tight but I got it on there. :)
 
It's so cool, I want to use it. But I want to 'collect' it. But I want to use it. But I want to ' collect' it... :(
 
I was outbid on some SwissBucks... now I know who to blame! ...just kidding! :D

A complete collection of SwissBucks would be pretty cool. Some of them aren't easy to find though. There were 15 different SwissBucks (model # in parentheses):

Attache (87555)
Delemont (87503)
FishTale (87535)
Globetrotter (87533)
GreensMaster (87553)
Legend (87504)
Legend, White (87505)
TaskMate I (87501)
TaskMate II (87502)
Swiss Advantage (87536)
SwissMate (87554)
Tailgater (87531)
The Remedy (87544)
Trekker (87537)
Work-Man (87552)

GreensMaster.jpg

GreensMaster

Globetrotter_Tailgater_Trekker.jpg

Globetrotter, Tailgater, and Trekker

Work-ManandSwissMate.jpg

SwissMate and Work-Man

Fishtale_SwissAdvantage_Remedy_Taskm.jpg

Fishtale, Remedy, SwissAdvantage, and Taskmate

smallSwissBucks.jpg

Attache, Delemont, and Legend
 
I'll have to go find the one I bought my wife years ago. She used to have it in her purse, now it's languishing somewhere I guess. Didn't know that they were all that rare.
 
The Fishtale, Remedy, SwissAdvantage, and Taskmate have a interestingly more American look to them than traditional SAKs- I like the look.

I never knew Buck marketed SAKs. On their new import value line, Buck has tried to minimize indicators of foreign manufacture (I bought a very early 373, the only indication of foreign manufacture on the package, enclosures or knife was a small CHINA stamp on the tang of sheepsfoot blade). I'm surprised the didn't contract a more traditional Buck tang for this line. I wonder why...
 
Here's some info from CJ Buck (old BF post):

In the early 90's, with all the McGuyver hipe, Wenger was having trouble getting a foothold in US from Victorinox. Victorinox was made in Germany and distributed by Foreschner(I cant remember the spelling here). Wenger is manufactured in Delemont Swizterland. Both companies have provided knives to the swiss army.

They had a court battle/settlement at one point so Victorinox won the title of the "Original Swiss Army Knife" and Wenger the "Genuine Swiss Army Knife."

We asked both companies if they would be willing to manufacture for us. It would have been too capital intensive to tool up for those knives.

Victorinox was not interested and Wenger said yes.

At the beginning, we changed the blade shape on the main blade and had black handles tooled with the buck logo in the side. We were very unique, and about 20% more expensive when competing cause we were a middle man. When both companies came out with Black handled knives we were no longer unique and it was just a matter of time until we let it go.

Wenger were good people to work with and we ended on a positive note.

The Leatherman introduction of tools and the industry's picking up on tools made a huge dent in sales for them. Now the airlines (9-11) and corporate types rethinking knives as premium gifts has hit them hard again. Without glasses and assorted stuff from luggage to workout gear, they would be really hurting.
Click to expand...


Unless he has inside knowledge, I assume Mr. Buck's comment about Victorinox being made in Germany is a mis-statement -- perhaps he meant "German-speaking Switzerland," which I believe is correct.
 
Perhaps, or Victorinox might've been at their capacity limit... Given the sheer volume of units they produce every year (both for retail sale and to fulfill contracts), it's easy to forget, but they're not really THAT big an outfit. They may well have considered Buck's request (especially if they would've had to re-tool to produce the clip-point blades) as not a good business deal.

But, I'm totally speculating. Perhaps our more knowledgeable forumites will chime in...
 
Now the airlines (9-11) and corporate types rethinking knives as premium gifts has hit them hard again.
Click to expand...

I recieved a verry nice ($40-$50) Victorinox as a corporate premium in the past couple months- they haven't all joined the anti bandwagon.
 
The SwissBuck was manufactured in the early 1990's and discontinued after 1998. Photos of all 15 SwissBucks are shown in post #6 (above). The Work-man and Swissmate are 4 7/8" long and have 3 1/2" locking blades. Most of the others are 3 1/4" long.

Here's a photo of a comparison chart that I put together:

swissbuck.jpg
 
supratentorial said:
The SwissBuck was manufactured in the early 1990's and discontinued after 1998. Photos of all 15 SwissBucks are shown in post #6 (above). The Work-man and Swissmate are 4 7/8" long and have 3 1/2" locking blades. Most of the others are 3 1/4" long.

Here's a photo of a comparison chart that I put together:

swissbuck.jpg
Click to expand...

Mine isn't on here...it has the same blade of the Work man or Swissmate, but just the blade and the Phillips, no other goodies...
 
dougo83 said:
Mine isn't on here...it has the same blade of the Work man or Swissmate, but just the blade and the Phillips, no other goodies...
Click to expand...

Apparently my list is incomplete. Those 15 are the only ones that I have seen. I did a Google search and found that the following website calls it the Swissmate: http://www.smartknives.com/Wenger-Knives/SwissBuck-SwissMate.htm

I'm not affiliated with that website so I don't know their source of information but it appears to be more complete than the product catalogs that I've seen.

What I call the "Swissmate" on my chart, they call the "Swissmate II".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top