Minimalist SAKs

Originally posted by trane fan
I guess the Optometrist was correct. I am going to need to get reading glasses ‘cause I swear the crossbow on my little V'nox/E'nox still looks like an umbrella to me. :o :o :D

ah, well you and it seems - plenty of others.......

and to think I used to laugh at myself for having a magnifying glass on my EDC SAK -

of course you do need to have another SAK to be able to examine the logo umbrella-crossbow...... here in lies the road to madness :D :p

Thank goodness William Tell didn't have this problem.....
otherwise the apple would have stayed on his son's head......
but at least he wouldn't be all wet :D

A few more umbrella-crossbow logos -
cBow_Umbrella.jpg


--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
 
I came home from the office for lunch and my silver Alox Bantam was waiting for me in the mailbox. Boy it's a sweet knife. It is just about the perfect size for a gent knife. I was surprised by how different it's dimensions are in comparison to the cellidor Bantam I once owned. I like it much better although I did like the tweezers and the toothpick on the cellidor model.
 
Are the crossbow symbols still used on the Victorinox's today? There isn't one on my classic or soldier.
-Kevin
 
There is a crossbow on my new Bantam but I swear it looks like an umbrella, imagine that. :D :D
 
Yea, you think they would make that crossbow...well, look more like a crossbow! Anyway, I remember you posting awhile ago about getting an Alox Bantam. Me and you where asking questions about it I beleive. What do you think, now that you got it? Feel good in the hand? Or too thin? Thanks,
-Kevin
 
Originally posted by Morgoth412
Are the crossbow symbols still used on the Victorinox's today? There isn't one on my classic or soldier.

Do you want the simple or complicated answer?

Simple one - yes, it is, as evidenced by trane fan's recent purchase of the new to the US model of the Alox Bantam.

Are you sure you want the complicated answer?

awww, shoot... I am not certain of this - but I think -

the Crossbow symbol is on the opposite side tang of the blade -
marked as "Officier Suisse" (note the spelling of "Officier"(sic)) - only on the "officer's knives" -
ie: on the regular red handled 91 & 84mm SAKs and the Alox models.

Since the Classic and the Soldier (by definition) are not officer's knives, they do not have the crossbow symbol and Officier Suisse.
My two Populars (ribbed Alox handled Pocket Pal), 111mm WorkChamp and SwissTool (pliers) do not have the crossbow and Officier Suisse for that same obvious reason......
fbc7b14b.jpg


Umbrella?
If one looks carefully at the symbol (and here's a very enlarged image for those who do not have magnifying glasses on their SAK models :D)
fbc7b148.jpg

- the "bow" part has upturned ends/tips -
I have yet to come across an umbrella with gutters ..... :D
 
This one looks like a very handy model: did you say it was called the golfer?

fc551d71.jpg


any idea on the Victorinox # designation for this one? Looks like a great mini-multitool...
 
With all this talk about the Bantam, what's everyone's thoughts on the Cadet? The nail file kinda turns me off. I'd rather have a small blade.

Paul
 
Originally posted by Morgoth412
Yea, you think they would make that crossbow...well, look more like a crossbow! Anyway, I remember you posting awhile ago about getting an Alox Bantam. Me and you where asking questions about it I beleive. What do you think, now that you got it? Feel good in the hand? Or too thin? Thanks,
-Kevin

I'm very impressed with it Kevin. It's just thin enough without feeling flimsy or weak. The length and ergos are good as well. I would definitely recommend it.
 
Could there be a minimalistic SAK in the larger size ?.

I have a large size (108 mm) equal ended (cigar shape) Victorinox with red textured plastic scales and lanyard hole, only two blades, a non-locking spear and a saw/cap-lifter/can-opener/screwdriver combination.

It´s similar to the Mauser but only two blades, two back springs, no tools on the back.


PWork,

I have a Cadet and really like it, it used to be my standard when traveling, used to carry it in my shirt pocket along with my pens, I too would prefer the small blade or maybe a reamer, but the nail file does come handy sometimes.
 
Originally posted by numberthree
This one looks like a very handy model: did you say it was called the golfer?
any idea on the Victorinox # designation for this one? Looks like a great mini-multitool...

numberthree -

Yes, well - it was called the "Golfer" by SMKW when they were selling these in the mid-'90s - and I think it's probably a misnomer.

There is no name on the box.
fbc6b9b8.jpg

Notice this is the normal logo/Swiss shield side. The Swiss shield is on the other side as shown in my previous pic and it's actually printed matte "silver"

There is however a barcode, and from other US imported Vic SAKs - I think the last 5 digits are the US model number:
fbc6b9b7.jpg


The last 5 digits of the barcode are: 53823
The instructions that came with the knife is (c)1994.

I was first made aware of this model when someone told me about them being sold as a special from Radio Shack - I think I did see them in Radio Shack packaging but with Black cellidor handles - but no model name.

I have not seen this model in any US Swiss Army Brands/Forschner catalog.
 
Originally posted by Don Luis
I have a large size (108 mm) equal ended (cigar shape) Victorinox with red textured plastic scales and lanyard hole, only two blades, a non-locking spear and a saw/cap-lifter/can-opener/screwdriver combination.

It´s similar to the Mauser but only two blades, two back springs, no tools on the back.

You mean the PathFinder?
fbc684be.jpg


From photocopies of the SAK pages in a 1982 catalog pumaonly sent me. (the numbering is the catalog own item #s, and not Victorinox model #s)

I deliberately left in part of the upper knife -
the Safari that added the corkscrew and reamer to the back of the PathFinder.
 
Originally posted by trane fan
I swear when I purchased it the label said Pocket Pal. But again that was five years ago.
trane fan -

Here's confirmation that your red Alox handled SAK was called "Pocket Pal" - even though (confusingly) the current Pocket Pal is the red Cellidor handled version.

This is from a photocopy of an old Vic catalog that Frank sent me - he thinks it's early '80s (I think definitely pre-1982)
fbc684bc.jpg
fc0f3317.jpg
 
Thanks for clearing that up UVT. Man, that Pocket Pal must have been sitting in a warehouse or on the store shelf for a long time. I really like the "Solo" model that is shown in the second picture. Are they still available? BTW, I say it still looks like an umbrella, gutters and all!!! :p :D ;)
 
UnknownVT, Thanks for posting the picture of the pre-1982 catalog. The top knife in the picture, the 'Solo' has long been my favorite SAK. I still have the one I got during high school in 1980. I just wish I had got a couple more of them way back then.
 
Originally posted by UnknownVT
You mean the PathFinder?

From photocopies of the SAK pages in a 1982 catalog pumaonly sent me. (the numbering is the catalog own item #s, and not Victorinox model #s)


Yes I have the Pathfinder, interesting they don´t mention in the catalog that the combination blade also opens cans.

Also, I don´t notice any "Extra heavy tension" or "Lock blade effect".


I´m learning a lot from your threads and postings, Thanks.
 
trane fan-

SMKW has the silver alox Solo for $10.99. It looks like they're even in stock.:)

Dave
 
Originally posted by BOILER
trane fan-

SMKW has the silver alox Solo for $10.99. It looks like they're even in stock.:)

Dave

Thanks for the heads up. Great avatar BTW.
 
Originally posted by Don Luis
Yes I have the Pathfinder, interesting they don´t mention in the catalog that the combination blade also opens cans.
Also, I don´t notice any "Extra heavy tension" or "Lock blade effect".

Victorinox themselves do spec that the tool opens cans on their Safari - from a circa 1987/88 Swiss/international catalog:
fbc538df.jpg


That's also the first time I heard about any heavier spring tension alluding to a lockback effect.
I wonder if that's Victorinox's own feature, or one promoted by the vendor
 
Back
Top