Victorinox Replica 1897

TheArab said:
I know I'm supposed to figure it out from the pic, but I didn't. So what's wrong with it? Discoloration?
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It’s the flatness, and lack of it near the center pins. Sunlight across the surface to show the deep spots in the shadowed areas. Parts that are poorly finished and left on the sanding drum too long.

Thanks for asking. I gotta remember that pictures don’t always prove their worth at 1,000 words.
 
Just a quick comparison pic…

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EDIT:
Sorry guys…must not have hit the button to actually edit this post earlier with a description.

Top:
2nd copy, serial 2,2xx range. Better, but not perfect finish.

Middle:
1st copy, serial 1,5xx. Modified scale finish — rounded edges and smoothed original sanding marks and deep spots (mostly). Also removed a bit from the can opener stud since this pic was taken. It protruded too much from the scale surface (which was too thin already compared to the originals which were close to flush)

Bottom:
c. 1930 Model 205
 
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Looks like Victorinox US has sold out of their allocation as of today. So just over a month for them to clear it out since the 6/10/22 release. Last night I saw a ’low stock’ notice on the item page. Looks like many US retailers still have them in stock. I wonder if that’s gonna last very long.
 
Let's see, $500+ for a plastic scaled SAK with so-so at best steel that is a replica of a knife I have no memory of or emotional attatchment to. Nah, got better things to buy.

Edit, vulcanized not plastic and hey they are pretty rare with a production run of merely 10,000.
 
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The discussion on price regarding the replica is interesting. Before it was announced I figured the only way I would own an original functioning 4-pin would be pure luck. I‘m not even one of the serious collectors for knives that old. I never thought Victorinox would produce anything like this with nickel silver liners ever again. So I’m pleased they did…and that it wasnt say $700+. Which is closer to some earlier rumors about it.

This sold yesterday (not to me or by me) for $483. And it’s not nearly as old or rare as any of the 4-pins. Just glad I didn’t have to spend as much for the one I posted with the box above, which is similar, but without the shackle Or either box flap. Haha.

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Pic link from auction
 
This is on my modified replica:

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rivets polished like I think Victorinox should’ve done

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After doing a bit more research and investigation I had to change my view a bit on the ’correctness’ of some items:

It does appear that carbon steel was used for the pen blade spacer in early knives. So the use of the stainless spacer is better than a nickel silver one. It still does stick out too much as I felt earlier.
While most collectors agree that the pen blade profile is too deep, many thought the main blade was too narrow. After seeing an early carbon steel blade that was unsharpened and very close to original, I think it could have been even narrower and both could’ve been finished/sharpened with a smaller bevel.
The cylindrical barrel shaping of the scales is more correct than I thought. It was not until later that fiber scales were finished flatter like my 1930s knife.
I’m still not a fan of the sharp perimeter edge transition on the perimeter of the scales, but it certainly doesn’t bother me as much now.

I wish it were possible to get raw stampings from Victorinox and I could make one that had tools finished like the originals with sharp edges and corners on all the tools and backsprings.
 
I like the look a lot, and since I never uses the corkscrew for wine bottles I am ok with it. I guess for a collectors item, it does not need to be a 1:1 copy of the original? I am not a collector so I am not the target, and the price tag tells me I’m not deeply enough invested in SAK history to buy one. I do find it inspiring enough to maybe build one though 👍🏿😊
 
Barbababa said:
I think you did a good job when smoothing the edges, looks really nice. May I ask what material is in the scales? It´s not wood?
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Thanks! I do wish this was the way Victorinox finished it. But after my recent investigation, maybe the rough finish is correct for the very first knives.

They‘re made of vulcanized fiber. So it works a bit like a plasticky wood.
 
This thread got me inspired to look for old soldier knives, and I just found a Swedish equivalent from some time between the years 1895-1900.
I will post pics of it when it arrives for comparison. It´s more in the style of the earlier SAK with nickel silver bolster in the front (the 125 aniversary soldier).
 
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