Minimalist SAKs

PWork · Jul 3, 2003

Are the Pathfinder and Safari still being made? If so, who's got 'em?

Paul

numberthree · Jul 3, 2003

I'm pretty sure I just saw one of the safari/pathfinders on ebay...

UnknownVT · Jul 4, 2003

I've seen the Mausers in the US catalogs -

But were the PathFinders or Safaris ever imported to the USA by Swiss Army Brands (aka Forschner)?

PWork · Jul 4, 2003

I haven't seen the Mausers offered for quite some time.

Paul

Frank · Jul 4, 2003

Here's a nice pic of a Mauser and others.

PWork · Jul 5, 2003

Wow! Those stags are sweet.

Paul

trane fan · Jul 5, 2003

What are the two SAKs located in the bottom left-hand corner of the pic?

UnknownVT · Jul 5, 2003

Originally posted by trane fan
What are the two SAKs located in the bottom left-hand corner of the pic?

I have that same page that Frank posted - in a lavish promo brochure that Victorinox sent me in March/1993 - but it's been around since at least 1984 - as it is reproduced almost in its entirety in the 1984 Victorinox 100 year commemorative book.

The red ribbed Alox knife in the bottom left corner is the Popular (# 0.69 01.20)

The silver ribbed Alox probably is the Excelsior (# 0.69 00.27)

Photocopy of catalog (early 80's) Frank sent me

Listing of Popular in Vic catalog sheet circa 1993

Actual Popular (displays actual size on my monitor)

trane fan · Jul 5, 2003

Thanks UVT.

UnknownVT · Jul 5, 2003

Originally posted by PWork
Wow! Those stags are sweet.

Those were Vcitorinox produced stag handled Champion models.

The SwissChamp is available with stag handles from Victorinox (model # 1.6794.66)-

as well as in mother of pearl, water buffalo horn, rosewood and another wood......

http://www.swiss-knife.com/asp/detail.asp?lan=EN&code=1.6794.66&shop=SK

You'll note all of these special handles actually have the toothpick and tweezers inletted (but no ballpoint Pen, or straight Pin)

PWork · Jul 5, 2003

OK, it's the Excelsior that I want, not the Popular. I really don't care for the key ring.
Hmmmm, I might have to keep an eye out for some stag scales to rehandle my Pocket Pal with.

Paul

Frank · Jul 5, 2003

Originally posted by PWork
OK, it's the Excelsior that I want, not the Popular. I really don't care for the key ring.
Hmmmm, I might have to keep an eye out for some stag scales to rehandle my Pocket Pal with.

Paul

There's a new one on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2182235888&category=43335&rd=1

trane fan · Jul 5, 2003

This may be a stupid question but where's the Logo on the Excelsior?

UnknownVT · Jul 6, 2003

Originally posted by PWork
OK, it's the Excelsior that I want, not the Popular. I really don't care for the key ring.
Hmmmm, I might have to keep an eye out for some stag scales to rehandle my Pocket Pal with

I'm not sure if the Excelsior is a current model - I wasn't even aware of it until I was sent photocopies of these older Vic catalogs - they were listed in 1976, 1982, and the early 80s (pre-1982?) Frank sent me. It ws shown in that brochure which was incorporated in the 1984 100 year commemorative book - the brochure was ent to me in 1993 - BUT it was not among the knives in the catalog sheets sent to me in the 1993 (but I did not get the complete set of sheets).

One could write e-mail to Paul Elsener (son of current owner of Victorinox) or even Victorinox direct to ask about the Excelsior - but be sure to use the Vic model # 0.69 00.27

Paul Elsener - chPaulUSA@aol.com
Victorinox - info@victorinox.ch

As for the keyring - has anyone tried to remove it?
I don't mean just the split ring (silly

)
but to saw then file the ring part down?.........
If you have any Vic SAKs with the metal saw/file - this would seem to be an almost "ideal" tool -
unless of course the keyring is on the same knife (DoH!)

trane fan - by the looks of it - I don't think the Excelsior has the Swiss logo unless it's on the obverse side.....

>>Victorinox model numbering system<< -
has anyone actually figured out the Victorinox model numbering system?

Not the US model #s which are different from anywhere else in the world -
but the original Victorinox Swiss/international model #s
that everyone else in the world uses?

Look at the my Alox Bantams -
without keyring - # 0.23 00.26
with keyring - # 0.23 01.26

Now look at the
Popular - # 0.69 01.20
Excelsior - # 0.69 00.27

I think/guss is that (from the bold numbers above) -
00 = NO keyring
01 = keyring.

So a Popular with the checked ribbing in red Alox withOUT keyring -
IF it exists - would have a model # 0.69 00.20

This MIGHT be worth an e-mail to find out?

PWork · Jul 6, 2003

Frank, thanks for the heads up.

Paul

UnknownVT · Jul 7, 2003

Here's a slight possible problem -

Victorinox have REused the name Excelsior
on a similar but materially different knife:

From a circa ~1995 Victorinox catalog:

This model # 0.69 01 looks like the current red cellidor handled Pocket Pal with a keyring.....

Whereas the previous (early 80's?) Excelsior - model # 0.69 00.27 - is silver check ribbed Alox handles withOUT keyring.....

So beware.

PWork · Jul 7, 2003

Damn, this is confusing.

Well, at least I have my Secretary and Bantam. Maybe I'll pick up an alox Excelsior along the way. Not a problem since I've got the others to cover the bases.

Paul

UnknownVT · Jul 7, 2003

Originally posted by PWork
Damn, this is confusing.
Maybe I'll pick up an alox Excelsior along the way.

The eBay reference that Frank gave is for the silver check ribbed Alox Excelsior model # 0.69 00.27

PWork · Jul 7, 2003

I got my eye on that one.

Paul

trane fan · Jul 8, 2003

What is the impetuous for the name changes? I could understand it if the models themselves were changed but they appear to be unaltered. I know it all gets down to marketing strategies but I'm still curious.