SAK question...

D

drjones

Joined
Sep 6, 2000
Messages
913
When I was little, my dad got us a SAK. It was HUGE; had ALL the tools, plus came with a really cool leather pouch with, among other things, a sharpening stone and other cool tools.

Which model is this, and is it still available???

I was looking at a store, and the knife was similar to the Swisschamp, only I *think* ours was bigger.

Thanks
Drjones
 
i think what you are looking for is the swisschamp but i believe it used to be called something else.and you can buy the leather basketweave sheath with a sharpening steel as a extra.
 
the swiss champ is sold in a survival pouch with all kinds of stuff.

this might be what you are talking about. I don't think they ever made one bigger than the swisschamp.

it would be amazing to see if they could.

they do sell a display version which is about 18" tall and the knives and scissors open and close automatically. it is very cool
 
The SwissChamp XLT is a fairly recent addition to the Victorinox line. Even the SwissChamp itself goes back only ten years or so, if I remember correctly. Before that their biggest model was the Champion, which is no longer made but was nearly identical to the current Explorer.

--Bob Q
 
It was the first knife I purchased with my own money actually.
If I remember correctly my father had to order it from some catalog company in Ireland. It was one of the only places you could get it at the time-this was in 1972. I believe it cost me $13.00 including shipping. That was alot of yard-raking and gutter cleaning for me back then. I was 9 years old.

If possible I'll post a pic. I must confess it is very ugly. I carried it everywhere and did everything to it and with it. In one of my most jack-ass moments of my youth I even took a wood burner to it and engraved my name in the scale-DOH.

Here are the tools that mine has:

Large blade
small blade
scissor
hook disorger\scaler
hack-saw\file
wood saw
cap lifter\large screwdriver\wire stripper
can opener\small screwdriver
awl (no thread eye)
corkscrew
reamer\thin file (this is a long thin implement with a very sharp point and very fine file, it is about 1/8" square overall)
tweezers (steel)
toothpick

The lanyard was a 'bail' type (I think that is what it's called)that attached to both sides of the handle scales via rivet. It is long since gone :( . Mine is almost exactly 1" thick. It came without any sheath or sharpening stone.

It was a good model. And yes, I do think it was called the Champion.
I'll have to go find a pic of the Explorer to compare.

EDIT: Just checked. The model I have is much closer to the Swiss Army Ranger, not the Explorer.

Mongrel
 
Hi folks,
The Champion (predecessor of the Swiss Champ)had all blades of the swiss champ except
25.pliers, 14.multi-purpose hook, 24.chisel, 23.fine screwdriver, 32.Mini-screwdriver, 31. pin, 30.pen,
10-1.6795_SwissChampNr.jpg
 
Thanks for stopping by. I was looking for a history of Victorinox models with pictures online. Any idea where to get something like that? I checked my Levines 3rd edition and he basically says that Victorinox would change models\names\features so often it is difficult to really pin down the changes.

Any help with this would be really appreciated.

I still haven't gotten around to posting the pic-sorry-I'm on dialup and it takes me awhile :(

Mongrel
 
Hi....

No one has thought about this....

Was it Red or Black ???

If its black,, what you have is a Wenger Tool Chest...

Both the Red and Black are Swiss Army knives, just from two different companies..Red is Victorinox Black is Wenger...

ttyle

Eric...
 
Pretty much looked like the one pizzini posted.

Yes it was red.

Wish I still had it!

:(

Drjones
 
Originally posted by Mongrel
I must confess it is very ugly. I carried it everywhere and did everything to it and with it.
Click to expand...

You may want to consider sending it back for free service. Victorinox provides a lifetime warranty and they really stand behind it.

--Bob Q
 
I just picked up a new SAK... the Work Champ.
It also has a ton of tools, and IMHO in all the right spots...
Screw drivers come out the end and not the side:(
And the main blade locks..! Very Cool.

The thing is huge tho.. to big for pocket carry.

You might want to check it out... Since it's new for this year.
 
And for the true SAK fanatic there is always the WorkChamp XL.
workchamp_xl.jpg

Sorry about the lousy picture...

How can you not love a knife that comes with a hoof pick and marlin spike? :D

--Bob Q
 
I've managed to get a white Victorinox Champ.
It's a lot easier to find if dropped in long grass etc.
 
bquinlan...
I'm glad to see you included the side view... they never show you that in the sales pics. When a knife is wider than it is deep it's no longer comfortable to hold or use. I for one didn't equate the number of tools to the thickness of the knife until I got my Work Champ. It is just on the edge of being to thick to be useful.
The XL is way beyond...:eek:
 
@bquinlin-thanks for the heads up, I'll definately look into that.

Here's a thought-

What would you guys think if Victorinox produced a matching set of SAKs? Here's the plan. You basically take a work champ and divide the tools up between two seperate knives. Say one knife would be the screwdrivers, pliers, etc.; the other knife would be the 'cutters'-blades, awl, scissors, etc.

Make one knife's scales black, the other red, or even aluminum. Put the two together in a matched leather of kydex sheath, or even two seperate sheaths. You get all the tools you want and the quality of a SAK. Might be a good alternative to carrying a seperate multitool and SAK combo.

I agree that when the SAKs get to be the size of the XL I lose interest fast, but if it came as two seperate knives I might look at it closer.
 
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