UNBELIEVABLE!!! SAK Quality....

[Josh Feltman]

I only own one Wenger, and that's because it belonged to my mother. It has sentimental value for me. Victorinox all the way.

 

[Zerileous]

i am testing one well used victorinox

 

[UnknownVT]

The one knife that was affected is the Wenger Serrated Teton.
The springs, while still functional, seem noticeable weaker than they were before the test.

Many thanks for taking the risk Allen.

Glad to hear that they came through unscathed.

My two regular Wengers - a Cyclist and Forrester suffered from noticably weakened backsprings enough that the nailfile (in place of the small blade) had definite play when fully opened in the open/close direction.

I noticed this first on the Wenger Forrester which I got used and refurbished and put it down to wear and tear until I decided to check on the Cyclist which was bascally mint and I owned from new - and found the nailfile had play too.

My initial (wishful) thoughts were that perhaps this was "normal" since it was a nailfile.

But when I photographed that SwissBuck and found the backpsrings severely weakened - enough so that the knife had play when closed - I realized what had happened to those nailfiles - this could not be right - and it had to be the stress I had put on the backsprings by fanning out the tools to photograph them.

As I said this really shocked me - since I have photographed many, many of my Victorinox SAKs - and had not detected nay ill effects -
especially since I have now gotten so used to doing this that it takes only a few minutes to photograph them - probably 10-15 minutes and definitely less than an hour where I might be trying to get better shots.

I really did not expect this to happen at all - much less have 3 SAKs that I used to consider benchmark of high quality for slip-joints.

So you can imagine my disappointment.

BTW, if anyone else decides to perform this same test, use a screwdriver to open the blades.
Because of the pressure on the backsprings it's very difficult to fan all of the blades, as my broken thumbnail has proven!
And it did hurt like a SOB at the time!

I quickly learned to open all of the blades completely and them carefully fan them half-way closed one at a time.
And I would advise opening the tools on the backside first.

now you understand the risk I take - both to myself and now to (some) Wenger SAKs - to serve BF with photos of my SAKs fanned out.....

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net

 

[rev_jch]

I use to own a few of the wenger made bucks, just like yours many years ago. I remember the quality was poor on those, but I do not remember having a problem like that

 

[UnknownVT]

but I do not remember having a problem like that

Well, I do hope/wish it is just bad luck -

BUT on 3 Wenger made SAKs -

and I also owned a number of Wenger SAKs for many years and had not detected this problem.

However it appears by putting stress on the backsprings like fanning out the tools like the photos we all see of SAKs
(which should be rare - since not many people have call to do this) -
there is a possibility of weakening Wenger SAKs' backsprings -
enough to cause problems - even when done for a short period.

Now, I stress this doesn't happen to all Wenger SAKs -
afterall I do have 4 out of 7 that have not shown problems -
but that also means that 3 out of these 7 do show problems - from what I consider pretty minimal abuse......

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net

 

[rev_jch]

Vincent,
it should definitely not be happening. Im not sure if you could send them to buck to get them to send them to wenger, or how to handle it? Im sure they do not make these anymore. That should nto happen, especially to ones that were not open very long. That shows really bad heat treat on those backsprings.

 

[UnknownVT]

That should nto happen, especially to ones that were not open very long. That shows really bad heat treat on those backsprings.

Thanks rev_jch - that is the way I feel too -

But - I'm trying to put this into context (or console myself ) -

Wenger (who made the SwissBucks) do have a very good reputation -
at one time I regarded Wenger SAKs as close equals to the Victorinox and had always regarded my bias to Victorinox as just a personal preference.

JFTR - personally I do consider having all the tools fanned out (partially opened) and putting stress on the backsprings for a long duration (ie: more than an hour or so) actual abuse to the knife. Also this is a highly unlikely event for most users and most knives.

Whereas the SwissBuck and the other 2 Wengers were fanned out for no more than a few minutes - about 1/2 hour at the most -
I wouldn't have expected those to be so grossly affected -
I was WRONG!

So what happened to my SwissBuck came as a shock - BUT it's one of those things that a SAK is UNlikely to undergo in NORMAL use -
EXCEPT one might be tempted to fan out the tools like in the pictures.

If that is done even for a short while there is a possibility the backsprings might be weakened/damaged.

I have had 3 out of 7 Wengers with weaken backsprings from simply fanning out the tools for a short duration (1/2 hour at most) for photographs.

But that also means there are 4 out of the 7 that I have not detected any weakening -
BUT I am UNwilling to risk ever fanning out the tools on any Wenger SAK -
whereas I would and will do it with impunity on any Victorinox -
because I know they won't have this problem.

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.Net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.Net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.Net

 

[UnknownVT]

UNBELIEVABLE!!! Dept....
From doing the all tools open photo of a SwissBuck (made by Wenger) -
for just those few minutes - would you believe that it has severely weakened the backspring on the main blade/small blade/corkscrew?
Here's the proof -

Now this might just explain why the nailfiles on my like new Wenger Cyclist and used "Forrester" now have play in the open-close direction when fully open - since I had all the tools open for photos on both of them.
If you have access to SOSAK - please see this thread

For completeness here are the other TWO Wengers with weakened backsprings
I have just taken these pics (Sunday Feb/6/2005) - so they are stiill that way
ie: they have not gotten better/cured themselves over time -

Both nailfiles can actually stand even further out - but this is approx where they will naturally "snap shut" (cough, cough, splutter!)

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

 

[allyourblood]

thanks for the follow-up, Vincent. wow -- that's too bad. when i saw this thread was bumped, i kinda thought you were gonna say that your Wegs went back to their old selves. bummer.


abe m.

 

[cdf]

Vics for me all the way ! The only Wegner I'd touch is the military version , which per swiss military spec has to have Vic. can opners and screw drivers .

 

[UnknownVT]

i kinda thought you were gonna say that your Wegs went back to their old selves. bummer.

yeah, I regret to say those "injuries" look to be permanent.

As for them getting better by themselves - I guess it's wishful thinking -
kinda like putting bad milk back in the fridge

Pity, because there were lots of things I used to like about Wenger SAKs....
and now for me there is no longer a "second source".....

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Some shops here like to display the SAK opened halfway so that it shows all the blades. This shows Victorinox wins the day as they all sell Vics, and the blades snap shup as well as new even though it's been opened halfway for long time.

As of Wenger, they are less popular and imported by different company and distribution is/was very little. I rarely see any Wenger here ...

Vincent, do you have explanation of why Wenger spring behaves in such manner while Victorinox doesn't have any impact from it?

 

[dano]

Well, since Victorinox has bought Wenger, I'd guess that some improvements may be in the pipeline?

Don't know....


--dan

 

[FlyingMuskrat]

I have that exact knife and it seems fine....but haven't ever really used it.

 

[M Wadel]

12 years ago i bought a wenger, already had a few vics, that was my last wenger.. i dont know why but the vics are just better