SAKs, SAKs which brand do you carry, Victrinox or Wenger

....made by Victorinox since the early '70s..........first the Champion then the SwissChamp....no Wengers for me!

Larry S.
 
I usually carry a Vic Huntsman, sometimes a Wenger Soldier, which I like because of the bail and the wire stripper edge inside the bottle opener (edge not present in more modern versions).

The Vic mini screwdriver fits in my new Wengers but not in the older ones, it also fits in some non SAKS (e.g my old Boker folding hunter).
 
When it comes to the average size plastic scale SAKs, I prefer Wengers. They're more compact and the main blade is thinner (which I like).

But the SAKs that I actually carry are the Victorinox aluminum alox knives!
These are the best without a doubt. I have a V'nox Soldier, Electrician, red anodized Pioneer, Cadet, and Pioneer Harvester.
The Pioneer Harvester is my all time favorite SAK.

I don't have a large lock-blade Wenger to compare to my V'nox Rucksak...

Allen.
 
When I saw this thread, I thought for sure it would become an ideological war, but it seems that instead there is much agreement. Victorinox is the clear winner. I have always liked them more: from my first exposure to the two brands, I have felt that Victorinox was well made and Wenger was cheap crap, riding the coattails of V'nox's reputation. Their stuff is like a toy pretending to be a tool.

---Jeffrey
 
I generally prefer Vics, maybe because I grew up with them and they were the only ones available around here.
Yesterday I picked up my first Wenger in 10+ years, a serrated Adirondack - same layout as the Vic Spartan but with a Locking 60/40serrated main blade. The things I like about it over my Vic Spartan:
locking main blade (uses a rocker-bar lock like a Buck 110), locking large screwdriver, toothpick and tweezers are inside the handles instead of outside, tweezers edges were bevelled to a finer point.
Things I don't like over the Vic Spartan:
it's a little smaller, the can opener doesn't have the small screwdriver (which can also be used as a Phillips in a pinch), awl was totally dull.
Otherwise it is a well assembled and finished knife.
 
Victorinox gets my vote too..... i always carry a Swiss Champ, or two , or three ;)
I own a dozen or so Vics and only 2 Wengers(the Wenger plier tool is great)....Vic definitely have the EDGE!
 
I have at least eleven SAKs (I kinda lose count after a while), all Victorinox. Wenger just doesn't do it for me.
 
The really good thing about the Wenger is the locking blade on the smaller models. I like the Vic's and the Wenger, though the Vic's are better quality, the Wenger is still pretty good.
 
Originally posted by T. Erdelyi
The 3 things I do like about the Wengers ,locking screwdriver, scissors, and I just like the way the magnifying glass looks:cool:
Click to expand...
Those "sound" great - until you use them -

the locking screwdriver gives to latch a notch on the backspring -
so it moves - anybody like a screwdriver that moves when you're putting pressure on it - even if you know it's supposed to be locking?

scissors - I've seen so many arguments about Wenger scissors being superior because they do not have a folded leaf spring to break. They do cleverly use a lever to utilize the backspring - but that results in a pair of scissors that moves relative to the handle when used - again sacrificing actual function to save a leaf spring? Also the Wengers are finely serrated - which again means that they do not cut as cleanly/precisely as Vics.

magnifying glass - oh, boy! that's probably the worst thing on the Wenger - not only is the glass too small - my samples came with concentric ripples in the glass grossly distorting the image (I've had two different models from 2 different times, and they BOTH were like that - the first knife I returned with the complaint and asked for an exchange - but the vendor refunded my money - which implies their other samples had the same fault. That's just the quality - next -
the design is stupid it is on the stem of a long screwdriver - the long screwdriver is supposed to give reach into confined spaces - guess what? that magnifying glass restricts the access - not much point having a long screwdriver that occupies the full length of a backspring which could have had another tool on the other end.......

Might want to check out this long review (and tool-by-tool analysis) of a comparison of the flagship models - Victorinox SwissChamp and Wenger Tool Chest Plus -
(linked)

SAKs - Victorinox or Wenger

see also the photos of the tools listings for both Victorinox and Wenger in this thread -
(linked)
SAK - Purchase Rationale
 
As I said before, the one I carry is a Victorinox.
But anyone who thinks Wengers are "cheap crap" or "toys" compared to the V'nox has'nt actually held a Wenger.

Go out and buy a Victorinox Soldier and a Wenger Standard Issue, or a Vic Tinker and a Wenger Highlander and compare them side by side.
You might like the Vic better, but there's no way you could come away with the impression that the Wenger is "cheap crap".

Allen.
 
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