Victorinox Ecoline

Hashishiin

Hashishiin

Joined
Dec 29, 2021
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Can anybody clarify as to exactly what these are? To my understanding, they were nylon-scaled, scale-toolless versions of a lot of Victorinox models. There was an Ecoline Huntsman... etc. Some think it wasn't sold in the US, but it was, just under a different name to Ecoline. I heard they got discontinued? How avalible are the Ecoline models, from all the time they were being created?
 
As I understand it, it simple refers to the fact that they had nylon scales instead of cellidor; that change in material being the only difference. They do have tools in the scales. I have such a Victorinox Climber bought in US, but I'm not sure under what tag name.
 
In North America, the Ecoline are called version 2 (Climber II, Huntsman II, Spartan II, Tinker II, etc). In the past, the nylon scale was just so so, they didn't have scale tools, and the metal tools are those deemed "flawed". Nevertheless, the later ecoline model are standard full feature with nylon scale.

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The top one is the Huntsman II, my absolute EDC, and its box. The bottom one is the Fieldmaster in normal scale, it never gets an ecoline model. I say this from time to time on the forums, that I would use the fieldmaster more if it was in nylon scale. Nylon is less flashy, more durable (shock resistance), more grip, easier to clean and less visible scratch.
I got it from Amazon Canada. They seems to be out of production since 2016s (probably for the advantage above). I checked the same product link and found them selling for twice the price of the normal model nowadays, not eco anymore it seems.
 
jazzz said:
Funny, but to my dry hands, the nylon are way too slippery.
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That's a very interesting subject to follow.. lots of different experiences with the different handles.
My weakness is the Alox. I had to clean the scales down with acetone to get a better grip. And virtually everyone else has No problem at all.
 
Hashishiin said:
Can anybody clarify as to exactly what these are? To my understanding, they were nylon-scaled, scale-toolless versions of a lot of Victorinox models. There was an Ecoline Huntsman... etc. Some think it wasn't sold in the US, but it was, just under a different name to Ecoline. I heard they got discontinued? How avalible are the Ecoline models, from all the time they were being created?
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As I remember the economy line sold in the nylon scale with the printed shield- in green cardboard bubble packs with instructions printed on the back.
opposed to the celidor with inlaid shield in a dark red - burgundy box with and instructional booklet or leaflet. I had an economy model as a school prize. Now that would probably be classed as child corruption. it had scissors - amazing - I honestly don't remember if the scales had tools or not.
 
willisoften said:
As I remember the economy line sold in the nylon scale with the printed shield- in green cardboard bubble packs with instructions printed on the back.
opposed to the celidor with inlaid shield in a dark red - burgundy box with and instructional booklet or leaflet. I had an economy model as a school prize. Now that would probably be classed as child corruption. it had scissors - amazing - I honestly don't remember if the scales had tools or not.
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I think Economy was before Ecoline. And I think those were still cellidor or at least earlier in the Economy phase c. 1980 and I think at least to ‘85? Or so. I don’t have a lot of nylon/Ecoline knives but I think most look late ‘80s or ‘90s.

Edit: One source says nylon used from ‘94+
 
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kamakiri.knives said:
I think Economy was before Ecoline. And I think those were still cellidor or at least earlier in the Economy phase c. 1980 and I think at least to ‘85? Or so. I don’t have a lot of nylon/Ecoline knives but I think most look late ‘80s or ‘90s.
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You could well be right. I finished school in 1982 - but the scales where cheaper and softer. I've always thought of them as polythene?
 
willisoften said:
You could well be right. I finished school in 1982 - but the scales where cheaper and softer. I've always thought of them as polythene?
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Not 100% sure on the other Economy and Elinox scale materials before nylon. Some seem more like ABS? I think later ones used the same cellidor formulation, but got hot stamped or printed shields instead of inlays.
 
Sawl Goodman said:
Aside from nylon scales, a bonus of Ecoline knives - for me anyway - is that some don’t have a keyring nub.
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Thats another thing I'm convinced that when my father bought me the old style Handyman in 86 (my second SAK ) I'm convinced that Victorinox described it as a "Lanyard Ring* when did it become a keyring?
 
willisoften said:
Thats another thing I'm convinced that when my father bought me the old style Handyman in 86 (my second SAK ) I'm convinced that Victorinox described it as a "Lanyard Ring* when did it become a keyring?
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Dunno. Seems pretty clear in print materials that ‘key ring’ is used exclusively by 1973. Maybe it was on or in an older store display?
 
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