Victorinox champ(ion) ID help?

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jw2n

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Sep 22, 2009
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I have a Victorinox Champion? that I bought either in late 1981, or very early 1982. I can not find any info, to include SAKWiki, that matches this model. It has pliers, which seems to make it a Champ. As I understand, the Champ did not come out until 1985. The model I have has the grooved corkscrew, brass pen, plastic topped tweezers, and no package hook. Everything about it matches a Champion with the exception of the pliers. I bought it new while I was in Arizona, and am not mistaken about the date. Any ideas?
 
The champion did not come with a pen. The champion plus did. Do you also have the straight pin? That would narrow it down as a plus model. Grooved corkscrew hints at it being older. No hook only means it is early production IMHO.

My uneducated best guess is that you have a Swisschamp, possibly the first year of production.

P.S. Any chance it is a Wenger Champion?
 
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Don't think it's a Champion--mine of the same vintage ('80-'81) did not have pliers or a pen.

My later vintage Champ has the pliers and pen and eyeglass screwdriver in the corkscrew. It does not have the package hook.

It should say on the main blade who the maker is.

Regards,
Michael
 
It does not have either the pin (plus model) nor the mini screwdriver in the corkscrew. This one is really throwing me for a loop. Also, I have not seen these with a brass pen. As for the manufacturer, definitely Vic.
 
jw2n said:
It does not have either the pin (plus model) nor the mini screwdriver in the corkscrew. This one is really throwing me for a loop. Also, I have not seen these with a brass pen. As for the manufacturer, definitely Vic.
Click to expand...

Provide us with a photo or list of all the tools it has.

Could it be a Craftsman?
 
The front.
1. Large blade
2. Small blade
3. File
4. Saw
5. Scaler/hook degorger
6. Scissors
7. Pliers
8. Phillips (square)
9. Magnifying glass (grey plastic)
10. Can opener
11. Bottle opener

Back

1. Corkscrew (old grooved style)
2. Chiesel
3. Small screwdriver
4. Awl w/hole

Scale tools

1. Tweezers (plastic topped)
2. Toothpick
3. Pen (brass)
 
The awl with sewing eye hole came out in 1985 as did the pliers. Highly unlikely that this knife was made in the early 80's. The ink pen with brass barrel could be a replacement someone added. It would not be too hard to pull off the plastic tip of the ink pen and insert a replacement ink barrel, of which I have seen brass ones fairly common. Is there any dents or ridges towards the end of the ink pen where a spring would normally fit in a regular click type ink pen indicating it was probably a regular ink pen replacement modded to fit in the SAK? How about a photo, can you get us one?

It really sounds like a SwissChamp to me.
 
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I will work on the photos. The pen is the original, as I bought the knife new and have not replaced anything. Can I post photos with a basic membership? My wife and I are trying to figure out when I bought this knife. I bought one in the early 80s and a second in the mid 80s. Unfortunately, someone lifted one of these while visiting our apartment in the early 90s. In my mind this one we are discussing was the first one I purchased. Yet everything points towards it being a post-85 Champ as opposed to a Champion.
 
jw2n said:
I will work on the photos. The pen is the original, as I bought the knife new and have not replaced anything. Can I post photos with a basic membership? My wife and I are trying to figure out when I bought this knife. I bought one in the early 80s and a second in the mid 80s. Unfortunately, someone lifted one of these while visiting our apartment in the early 90s. In my mind this one we are discussing was the first one I purchased. Yet everything points towards it being a post-85 Champ as opposed to a Champion.
Click to expand...

Photos can be posted via Photobucket or other type of free web based photo posting.

Also I was checking the SAKWICKI website and some SAK Collectors website that has some pretty good info and it all seems to point that what you have is probably a SwissChamp. Sounds like your Champion was the one that walked off.

http://www.e-webtechnologies.com/sak/Victorinox_Evolution_of_the_Swiss_Champ.pdf
http://www.e-webtechnologies.com/sak/Victorinox_SAK_History_Urs_Wyss_-_Updated_12_FEB_08.pdf
http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Champion
 
To the very best of my knowledge Vic didn't release the pliers on any SAK until 1985, so I'd have to say that this must be the one you picked up in the mid 80's. Still this makes it a very early model SwissChamp and a very nice piece to have. :)
 
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