Swiss Army Knives, Wenger v Victorinox, what is the story?

I have e-m@iled Victorinox and Wenger, whether they would like to elucidate on "Swiss Army Brand & etc".
Of course it's now "off hours" in Europe, but maybe......
Telling them, they have the unique opportunity to speak to the 6000(+) leading knifnuts, worldwide.
Let's see what follows.
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D.T. UTZINGER

[This message has been edited by ZUT&ZUT (edited 05-09-2000).]
 
I know SAB makes there own watches, which are different from Vnox, but still have the same shield logo.

From what I have heard (not personal experience) the Vnox watches are of higher quality.

Clay

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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
If the Cellidor Liners of your Victorinox become dirt, scraped or, for some reason ("but be aware - insect repellent like Deep Woods Off etc. will eat and jelly the handles"), you want to polish them, try this:

- take a piece of paper tissue, clean and smooth (Kleeneks work well);

- soak it in alcohol (it has to be very, very wet);

- rub the liners with the tissue. ATTENTION: the tissue has to be so wet to leave some alcohol behind its passage. If it isn't very soaked, it doesn't work;

- with another clean and smooth piece of tissue, dry the liner BEFORE the alcohol evaporates by itself.

- now your liners are quite brand new.

I did it several times, and every time my liners returned quite new. It looks like alcohol dissolves "damaged" Cellidor, leaving the "untouched" one.

Be careful, if you are NOT quick enough to dry alcohol before it evaporates, it will leave a pink "stain" on the liner. This "stain" can be removed doing things right.

Moreover, if you do this treatment very often, you will corrode your liners.

Falcenberg
 
MDF WROTE:::
If only they made a model with aluminum handles, main blade, awl/reamer and a wood saw. That would be perfect, absolutely perfect. Throw in a small blade and I would be in heaven. Sheer heaven.

Victorinox did...It was called the "Farmer", and it has aluminum handles (red, of course) wood saw, reamer, main blade, and the two can openers...It's not made anymore, though...I bet one could be found on the internet...

P.S. Mine's not for sale
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--dan
 
A Victorinox model that I recently picked up in Germany is handy and one that I've not seen before, either on display or listed. It seems to be a Yeoman without the scissors, and is one of the few with a corkscrew and Phillips. It also has a straight pin in a cavity under the corkscrew.
 
http://www.swiss-knife.com/

That's a European shop that has many SAK's that are not available in the U.S. They might have something that you'd like Marion. I ordered a European Victorinox from them for my son last Christmas. Shipping took a few weeks, but it was during the holiday season.

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Kelly

SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice


 
Hey folks,

I called Swiss Army Brands and e-mailed Campmor, and both stated that SAB does NOT manufacture SAKs, but rather solely distributes for Vnox. Apologies for my mis-statements!

Glen
(pulling foot out of ass)


PS Since folks are asking about different models, does anyone know if the Vnox Locksmith is available? It’s like the Trailmaster, except also w/a file/hacksaw. Everything but the pliers! (Personally, I wish one were available w/the file and not the woodsaw ...) Check out the pic here:

www.victorinox.com/pics/best/werk/0_8493_3_g.jpg
 
Story, thanks much for checking that out about SAB.

Im with you, I would also like to have the 'Locksmith' model.

Richard Todd, owner of Todd and Son Locksmith LLC
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Glen, Richard- The Locksmith can be bought from www.swiss-knife.com, search by name. Or from freeportknife.com, fkcinc@aol.com, but you will have to put your name on a waiting list for next time they order. The same is true of just about all of the Euro models, though freeportknife.com, amy have it in stock. I am already on the list for the Locksmith.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

My Talonite Resource Page, nearly exhaustive!!
My Fire Page, artificial flint and index of information.

"Many are blinded by name and reputation, few see the truth" Lao Tzu
 
Johno -- I have a knife just like yours. It is called the Scientist -- has magnifying glass, phillips head, corkscrew w/jewelry screwdriver, pen, pin, tweezers, toothpick, large blade, and combo tool (supposedly a flathead, can opener, caplifter, and wirestripper but the wire stripper doesn't work very well and you are better off trying to use your teeth on a can).

Great little knife though!

Clay

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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
If any of you guys want to dress up an SAK, you can order white scales from Thomas Pizzini at http://www.pizzini.at It only took about a week and a half to have mine delivered. I ordered 4 sets with ballpoint pens for $20 delivered.
 
Hello everybody,

I got a nice answer from Victorinox to share with you:
SAB (Swiss Army Brand, Inc in Shelton, CT) is the official representation of Victorinox for the US. So they sell "original" Victorinox products. www.swissarmy.com.

Now: Victorinox manufactures (in Switzerland) more tha 300 different models of SAK (and the like) which they export to more than 100 countries worldwide. It is to be foreseen, that there are models not available everywhere "from stock". Furthermore they do manufacture "specials" on request for "giveaways/advertizing" purpose. (I happen to have such one made for a "military event")

They produced 1998 over 25.000.000 knives, of
which were about 1/3 each:
-SAK, different models
-Other pocket knives
-Kitchen and chef-knives
For a total of over 150 Megabucks.....

The steel they use is proprietary chrome/moly stainless (at over 2000 tons a year no problem). For knives nominal HRc is 56.
Sharpening is best done with a "stone", as "steels" tend to be not hard enough.

If you need background info, I might be of help, but please:
for questions about models/prices/availability ask directly www.swissarmy.com (US) or www.victorinox.ch (Switzerland)
I am NOT in the knife-sales-business.

Happy sharpening
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D.T. UTZINGER
 
Mr. Poff:
I'd recommend one of the Pionnier models from www.swiss-knife.com. For 34.00 CHF (currently there are about 1.6 CHF to the US dollar) you can get an aluminum handled model with main blade, saw, awl, sheepsfoot blade, and screwdriver/cap lifter. The Farmer is also available (under the Pionnier list) at 31.00 CHF and has main blade, saw, awl, can opener and acrewdriver/cap lifter. Delivery is free if you order 150 CHF worth. I've been real happy with these folks. Incidently, I always carry one of these and feel it's the ideal pocketknife. Buy them while you can.
Two more comments. I camp a great deal while I work in the field and use the can opener a lot. Why screw up your blade just to open a can?
Also, www.swiss-knife.com has the Locksmith.
 
Victorinox SwissChamp best "little" pocket knife I own with out a doubt useful tool selection and put together very well. I can't say much about the Wengers much as I don't own one but I've used and sharpened both and they seem to be virtually equal. thought I'd bring an old topic BTTT.

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Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
 
A Swiss friend of mine has a collection of SAK's from the 1920's and '30's. These are the real thing, obtained from friends he made while serving in the Swiss Army in the '40's.

They are considerably different from the present day knives. The scales are dull and a reddish-orange color, although the color did change over the years. It was never red as are the present ones.

They had only a few blades (exact details escape me; it has been several years since I have seen them), and were consequently much slimmer than the present day ones. The corkscrew was found only on the officers' model. No toothpicks or scissors (the scales were thinner).

If anyone is interested, I could shoot some digital pics of them next time I see him (although he is a winemaker, and my photographic abilities, meager at best, may be further degraded by wine tasting
wink.gif
). Walt
 
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