Hoffritz SAK: stranger still... what IS it?

P

polk09

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May 28, 2006
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I thought I had a “Wenger Canyon No Key Ring Knife” SAK, but now it seems not. My quasi-Canyon knife properly has no Key ring. It is an unusual 3 1/4” in length. Its main blade’s tang has “Hoffritz” on one side, and “SWITZERLAND STANLESS ROSTFREI” on the other. The shield emblem on the handle seems identical to Victorinox's. The Awl has no eye. The knife's tools & features match the Wenger Canyon except: [1] the Philips Head Screwdriver has a 3/8” deep milled slot down the tip; [2] the Can Opener has the more-useful screwdriver tip; and [3] neither "Wenger" nor Victorinox appears no where on it. Can anyone help?
 
Perhaps a Tinker Small except [1] mine has no key ring; [2] my Philips has that slot; and [3] no Victorinox name on a blade. Closer and closer.
 
I was holding off posting because this is a little vague, but here ya go FWIW.

When I lived in NYC 20 years ago, there was a chain of stores operated under the Hoffritz name. Among other things, they sold SAKs. I don't remember exactly whether they were Victorinox, Wenger, or Hoffritz-branded. What I think I recall is that they were selling Victorinox knives under their own label.

This is all subject to a pretty big discount for the possibility that I'm mis-remembering, but maybe it's slightly helpful.
 
JNewell said:
I was holding off posting because this is a little vague, but here ya go FWIW.

When I lived in NYC 20 years ago, there was a chain of stores operated under the Hoffritz name. Among other things, they sold SAKs. I don't remember exactly whether they were Victorinox, Wenger, or Hoffritz-branded. What I think I recall is that they were selling Victorinox knives under their own label.

This is all subject to a pretty big discount for the possibility that I'm mis-remembering, but maybe it's slightly helpful.
Click to expand...

You are right on. They were made by Victorinox. Some of the Hoffritz knives had both their name and Vic and others had only Hoffritz, like the one described probably.
 
As JNewell said it was a private branded SAK for the Hofforitz stores. I learned this from research some time ago to identify one that I have.
I can't locate it present to compare with your discription but it is very similar.
 
Yet another discovery: In the same lot of 13 knives I bought on Ebay is a Vic "Fisherman Original" (name as per Smartknives.com). I discovered the same type of slotted-tip Philips Screwdriver. The knife's large blade is stamped Victorinox. I am comfortable it is a Vic, but the name is still unknown.
I am corresponding w/ Vic, so help may be on the way.
(The lot of 13 knives cost me $42, and included the 2 Hoffritz's, the Fisherman Original, a 3 1/2" Vic golfer w/ divot tool, a Huntsman, a Climber, and some classis SD's. Whatta bargain.)
 
So many models, so many variations...

Here's a Victorinox with slotted and squarish Phillips driver, IIRC I got this one new in Mexico City in the early 80's. I don't know the model name for it, it's 91 mm three layers, like a Tinker with file or Hiker with file instead of saw, it has an embedded car emblem.

I believe the slot in the Phillips driver is for opening sardine cans.

Luis


Click to enlarge
 
Don_Luis said:
So many models, so many variations...

Here's a Victorinox with slotted and squarish Phillips driver, IIRC I got this one new in Mexico City in the early 80's. I don't know the model name for it, it's 91 mm three layers, like a Tinker with file or Hiker with file instead of saw, it has an embedded car emblem.

I believe the slot in the Phillips driver is for opening sardine cans.

Luis


Click to enlarge
Click to expand...


You have a Grand Prix, a relatively hard to find model. Nice. And yes, the slot was to open old style cans.
 
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