Victorinox Soldier v. Wenger Standard Issue

[UnknownVT]

Just received an '01 Wenger Standard Issue and thought I'd do a visual comparison with the Victorinox Soldier (closest year I have is an '02)

The main difference(s) are the bail/shackle on the Wenger Standard Issue
and the main blades are slightly different -

The Victorinox Soldier has more of a curve from belly to tip.

The open/close action of the tools are virtually the same. With a difference in that the Victorinox felt harder to initially close on the main blade.

This was due to I believe a slightly longer tang -

If one looks carefully at that photo the Victorinox main blade is also a bit thicker. Both have the same width tang - but the Wenger is ground thinner earlier in its distal taper going to the tip - there is more of a step from the year stamped side of the blade tang going to the face on the Wenger - which can be seen on the closed/tang photo above as well as the photo of the blades opened from the year stamp side.

- otherwise all the other tools are almost the same - they are I believe all Victorinox patterns -

I could see no difference in the can-openers, or Bottlecap-lifters (that includes the tell-tale Victorinox squared tang for 90deg usage of the larger screwdriver blade on the latter) -

there was a slight difference in the in-body awl. The Wenger seems to be sharpened ground down on the top of the tip as seen here:

It's harder to see but the overhang "flange" for opening the awls - the Wenger seems just a shade wider - or at least it does not taper quite as quickly as the Victorinox.

The quality and action on both were close to flawless. The Wenger Standard Issue opened and closed like the Victorinox Soldier with the exception of the harder closing main blade on the Victorinox. The Wenger Standard Issue's knife blade was nice and sharp right out of the box - showing no problems in slicing free hanging paper.

Because of the Swiss government/military mandate of 2 separate sources for their "Soldier's knife" I'm assuming that the knives are fully made by their respective labelled companies.

However other than the slight difference in the main blades and the obvious bail/shackle on the Wenger -
I would have said this was virtually the same knife -
a Victorinox (designed and spec'd) knife.

FWIW - 1901 was the year Wenger started supplying the Swiss military with their version of the "Soldier's knife" - so '01 was the 100th anniversary for the Wenger "Standard Issue".

--
Vincent

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

 

[UnknownVT]

Both these knives are supposed to be the Swiss military issued "soldier's knife".

The dual contract is one of those things I could never quite figure out - why the Victorinox Soldier and Wenger Standard Issues show differences on the bail/shackle.

The Victorinox Soldier used to come with a hollow rivet - which is just the same contruction as the Wenger Standard Issue without the bail/shackle.

The main problem with the shackle is that one could leave it folded the wrong way and snap shut the main blade on it and putting a chip in the blade. I did that once back in the early '60's on a Wenger SAK - and have not done it since - so people aren't likely to do it multiple times either -
but once is enough, the damage is already done.

I can't say for sure but I think these two knives are essentially the same as the ones issued to the Swiss military - I've seen posts from from people who have done Swiss military service that seem to show the same knives -
although thinking of it -
I don't think I've ever seen an issued Wenger version WITH a shackle?

Some other members might be in much better position to help on this - especially collectors who actively look for used SAKs?

(also a slight difference from the "civilian versions" might be the "Weapons Contol" mark - the W with K+ mark - on actual Swiss issued Soldier's knives - if you have access to SOSAK please see this SOSAK thread, also mentioned in my review of the Victorinox Soldier '84.)

--
Vincent

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

 

[bt93]

I was doing a search and came across this and decided we need more Zombies.