From Switzerland with Love (Get it?)

"What greater wisdom can there be than kindness"

I would like to see a picture of this 'friendship' knife with all blades open please, and one that shows the tang markings.
The handles look like old hard red rubber, making this knife rather vintage, maybe 75 years old ?
roland
 
It's from '43, one year before the safety can opener was introduced. I'll get some pictures up here soon, guys.

Wenger, manufactured in Delemont.
Some info was sent to me after I thanked him for this gift:
"They were issued to
the Swiss army during the first half of the 20th century (1908-1951 I
think). In the fifties they switched to stainless steel, and afterwards
it was the normal alox knife which is still available.
They were manufactured by different companies, I saw Victorinox, Wenger,
Elsener and even some made in Solingen. As you can see from the tang
stamps, yours was made by Wenger (in Delémont) in 1943"
 
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This last one is stamped lightly with a "W K" inside of a cross
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pertinux said:
Wow, is that cool. :thumbup:

Thanks for the additional pictures!

~ P.
Click to expand...

Of course, if you have any other requests like side-by-sides, I would be more than happy to oblige. It was really neat looking at it side-by-side with more modern SAK's. I really wish that SAK's were still built like this; I would buy out a dealers entire stock if they did.

The snaps are wonderful and the pulls are strong and study; just right, IMO. When it closes, the power and the sound that comes from it just makes me smile. The tools are all in good shape (credit to the giver's good restoring job :thumbup:) and have a patina that rivals any other knife I have seen. I say this since it is so slight and natural (unlike my SBJ that looks almost like it was forced) that I think it is perfect. The only gaps are on the scales, which are so slight that it doesn't constitute a fault. My favorite feature though is the realization that it is all carbon steel...a SAK...with carbon steel...it's a dream come true!!
 
That looks awesome! I would be interested in a comparison with a TL-29, The shape reminds me of a TL-29 but with extra tools
 
I'll get a comparison tomorrow then, the clouds are moving in again. It has been raining every day for about two weeks now where I'm at, so decent pictures have been lacking lately.
 
Great knife with a great story. That's what this place is all about and what keeps me attracted to this sub-forum.
Thanks for sharing with us.

Paul
 
The most wonderful thing about an old soldiers knife this is, wondering about the tales it could tell. Was it in his pocket while standing watch, rifle slung over a shoulder, over some cold pass in the Alps, keeping a lookout for the possible invaders of the Swiss neutrality ? Or did it take it's place with the owner on some high mountain climbing while civilian?

Like a lot of old knives, I wonder where it's been and with whom?

Carl.
 
Thanks for the pictures. Very nice vintage knife. My guess of 75 yrs was not too far off as 1943 was 69 years ago.
roland
 
I completely forgot about the comparison shots! Here is the side-by-side.

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**Sorry folks, I was combing through my pics and remembered that I was supposed to post 'em!!!
 
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