Score! Two vintage Victorinox German Army Knives

[MG_Saldivar]

I just got these two bad boys today... They were advertised as "used in excellent condition" and I agree. The knife blades had food residue on them and the interiors, especially along the spacers, were dusty but after cleaning up the main blades, they seem to be in good shape and have VERY authoritative snap.

The knife blades were dull but don't appear to ever have been resharpened. I'm guessing the original owners wore down the factory edges and then just let them stay that way.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Great score! Those are nice knives. Many years ago, you could get them new and I bought one in a store in NYC. I gave it to a brother-in-law who couldn't believe the quality -- you know people who don't carry knives.

I like them better than the current German Army Knife, which is a version of the One-Hand Trekker, not a bad knife in itself.

 

[MG_Saldivar]

I've heard rumors Vic will make available a limited number of OHTs with plain edge blades (I know some are already available in Europe with corkscrews). Until then, I'll hold off.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I picked up an OHT which I do like, even with the funny serrations. After I sharpened it, the serrations were rounded down a bit, no longer so aggressive, and a lot easier to use.

 

[felinevet]

Victorinox serrations are the best I have ever seen - they did it right - right shape and right part of the blade. But if you want a plain edge it takes about 10 minutes with a file.

 

[Ultraman]

Very nice catch! Say, does the end of the saw work as a screwdriver? How well does it work, or is there a danger of closing the sawblade on your fingers?
I've been eyeing it as an EDC, especially since reading this (note that he uses the vic mauser).

Thank you!

 

[psinide]

Good stuff, are those the one's with the extra thick saw blades?

 

[shecky]

I, too, have a couple of those older GAKs. One a Vic, the other I'm not sure.

A local surplus place had a box full of these, often well used and dirty, but still with much life left in them. I thought it curious that twisted/bent blade tips were very common. It seems the knife blades were often used to pry/drive screws or such. Which is strange since the combo tool would seem more appropriate for such a task. Some of the knives had been very aggressively sharpened, some were caked with mud. And while several different manufacturers were represented in the pattern, they all seemed to be well constructed and built from identical tooling. The only real differences were that some had a Vic-like nail file on the combo blade, and some had a nifty, removable metal cover for the saw teeth.

Very decent, useful pocketknives.

 

[MG_Saldivar]

Say, does the end of the saw work as a screwdriver? How well does it work, or is there a danger of closing the sawblade on your fingers?

I've seen this knife's "saw tip" referred to as a bottle opener but it looks like the Victorinox 'combo tool' to me. I'll try it on some cans soon.

The snap is very firm so I could trust it as long as I'm not in a hurry.

 

[MG_Saldivar]

are those the one's with the extra thick saw blades?

Well, the knife is longer than my 91mm SAKs (Camper, etc.). I don't think it's quite the size of the 111mm lockblade SAKs; however, since it's bigger than the Camper, yes, the saw blade is a bit thicker and of course longer.

 

[MG_Saldivar]

The only real differences were that some had a Vic-like nail file on the combo blade, and some had a nifty, removable metal cover for the saw teeth.

Interesting. I just noticed the one knife I have that came with a saw cover (not pictured) does indeed have the Vic 'nailfile' texturing (like the small nailfile blade on a Huntsman II).

 

[Ultraman]

I've seen this knife's "saw tip" referred to as a bottle opener but it looks like the Victorinox 'combo tool' to me. I'll try it on some cans soon.

The snap is very firm so I could trust it as long as I'm not in a hurry.

Good to know this. Thanks again MG!

 

[Tango44]

I just got these two bad boys today... They were advertised as "used in excellent condition" and I agree. The knife blades had food residue on them and the interiors, especially along the spacers, were dusty but after cleaning up the main blades, they seem to be in good shape and have VERY authoritative snap.

The knife blades were dull but don't appear to ever have been resharpened. I'm guessing the original owners wore down the factory edges and then just let them stay that way.

Congrats, great find, how much did you paid for each one?

 

[MG_Saldivar]

Sportsmansguide is selling these in lots of two for a little under $20 per lot.

As you can see, the two I received were in nearly perfect condition even though they're advertised as "used." Someone on the BF wilderness/survival forum stated in another post that he bought four; one was near mint and the other three were scratched up (two had their knife points chipped off). YMMV.

 

[MG_Saldivar]

I finally had time to take some pix of my GAK's saw guard... As I described above, one of my GAKs came with a guard, the other didn't. Some of the folks over on EDCForums tell me that the texturing on the saw blade, which I took for a nail file, was actually intended to be a striking surface for a match (???).

 

[sgbeskin]

I got one of those Ebay a few years ago for 5.00. It was dirty and you could hardly open the blades, but a little oil took care of it. It's my son's knife now.