Swiss Army knife bail?

John A. Larsen · Dec 13, 2008

Does anyone know when Victorinox stopped using the triangle shaped bail on their knives and went to the ring type lanyard attachment point? I bought a Camper (?) today and it is just about like one I have had since about 1994, which has a ring, attached to one of the metal spacers. They are pretty much the same except the one with a bail has a clip pointed small blade vice the spear pointed blade on the newer one.They both have a small and large blade, can opener, screwdriver, scissors and saw, plus on the back an awl and corkscrew. The one with the bail is layed out in a different sequence and has no toothpick or tweezer, and the inside curve of the screwdriver is sharpened. Thanks, John

cdf · Dec 14, 2008

Check out SOSAK on line , that site or SAK WIKI should be able to help ya .

Chris

Foilist · Dec 15, 2008

After snapping the blade shut on the bail of my Wenger SI and buggering up the edge, I removed the bail. That may have something to do with it.

SAKsRCool · Dec 27, 2008

They started using the keyring attachment in 1968.

Blade21 · Jan 1, 2009

SAKsRCool said:
They started using the keyring attachment in 1968.

Not for the alu scale models. I have an issue DAK (my own) with the bail stamped '83

SAKsRCool · Jan 2, 2009

Mr. Larsen mentioned the Camper, which is a cellidor model. Soldiers never had a keyring.

Blade21 · Jan 3, 2009

SAKsRCool said:
Mr. Larsen mentioned the Camper, which is a cellidor model. Soldiers never had a keyring.

What do you call a keyring?

http://www.knifeforums.com/uploads/1228655439-SN851417__Large_.JPG

Sorry I couldn't upload here so I linked to the other forum

Numbers 5,7 and 8 are Victorinox.

I would say the number 5 has a bail an 7 has a keyring attachment.

SAKsRCool · Jan 3, 2009

Yes, I would call what is on #7,8 and 9 a keyring attachment.

Since I know where this is going, I'll add to my statement "Soldiers never had a keyring." that Swiss-issued Soldiers never had a keyring as far as I know. Though obviously the Pioneer series does come with one.

Blade21 · Jan 4, 2009

SAKsRCool said:
Yes, I would call what is on #7,8 and 9 a keyring attachment.

Since I know where this is going, I'll add to my statement "Soldiers never had a keyring." that Swiss-issued Soldiers never had a keyring as far as I know. Though obviously the Pioneer series does come with one.

The #5 is not a Pioneer. It's the DAK. So it's most likely a Soldier.

swissbianco · Jan 4, 2009

the ones in that pic are not swiss army knives but issued by dutch army, thats different.

the swiss army has/had soldier with keyring/bail, the 61 sak, some yearstamps, made by wenger, had sutch, i have an couple of them.

all swiss army sak and p49 pistol

together with the famous edelweiss prybar-sak

+B
swissbianco usa