+1 on that. It's an excellent, minimalist SAK. Going to be my next Victorinox purchase.
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Victorinox to shut down Wenger
- Thread starter pinnah
- Start date
+1 on that. It's an excellent, minimalist SAK. Going to be my next Victorinox purchase.
'Fess up, this entire thread is just a thinly-veiled guise for your hand-wringing concern about if and how the Wenger shutdown will affect your beloved keychain Classic-- yes?
Count me among those who hope the Wenger scissors design (lever-age and slight serration vs. Victorinox's spring) will abide in some implementation....
~ P.
Actually no. It more makes me think about good, focused brand managment and how less can be more in a global market and how good of a lesson this would be for Buck to consider.
I do wish that a US maker would make a camper again.
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Ah, t'was a joke, given your stated preference for small tools other than the Classic, and not on a keychain(!).
I'm not familiar with Buck's history and/or current challenges, but I agree that this seems a good "focused brand management" move for Victorinox (as did their purchase of Wenger at the time, to forestall the possible devaluing of the "Swiss Army" brand had the manufacture of Wenger's still-"Official" knives fallen to shoddy practice elsewhere).
~ P.
OK, note that blade! Now find a bigger (than SAK Classic) scissors and graft in a similar-size pliers, find a main blade, and you got a New Camper.
Now a show of hands who thinks some company other than Vic will do it? (I'd be delighted if someone did especially Buck or failing that, anyone. I don't know if the original camper was an American invention, but I'd like it very much if a new version was introduced by one of our knifemakers.
I think Leatherman would be the right company. Take the scales like on the Squirt or juice line and you'ld have something similar to an Alox Vic. I suspect they have the tooling and expertise to do it. Suspect it's really out reach for GEC, Case r even Buck.
A tool I'd like to see is a mini metal file with a scraper edge and a 2 prong Phillips end. Should replace the awl. That, a main spear in the shape of the old Ulsters, scissors and a cap lifter driver. We can dream.
A tool I'd like to see is a mini metal file with a scraper edge and a 2 prong Phillips end. Should replace the awl. That, a main spear in the shape of the old Ulsters, scissors and a cap lifter driver. We can dream.
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Sad 
I have carried a Wenger Esquire on my keychain for years. Very useful little knife.
I have carried a Wenger Esquire on my keychain for years. Very useful little knife.Interestingly, years ago there was a series of Wenger knives with Buck handles. BuckSwiss? SwissBuck? I can't remember which. There were a handful of different models. :thumbup:
All good ideas, but the devil's in the details and that's why the Next Generation Camper discussions tend to stall or go nonlinear. There's too many tools, too many blades, to get something as plumply sleek as a traditional 4-blade camper. And with all respect to Leathermen, sleek matters (at least to me). I find the Leatherman tribe too squared off for easy pocket carry. Even the little guys such as the Squirt.
Now you want sleek, get a Wenger Ranger. Alas....
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- Mar 1, 2009
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I like the Vic Compact for just that reason. It combines most of the functionality of their Climber model but it's one layer thinner.
I think Victorinox has been and is doing an incredible job of brand management. They are, in a very tangible way, eliminating needless overlap in their product line to reduce consumer confusion and to maximize their part of limited shelf space.
I mentioned Buck because I think Buck would do well to take notes. They have what many knife company's would die for; iconic status among their signature lockbacks, phenolic handled fixed blade and black Derlin slipjoints. Instead of leveraging these instantly recognizable design elements by offering updated blade options, they seem to be following the CRKT and Kershaw approach of having a ton overlapping products that have no consistent look and feel.
Say SAK and most folks instantly picture the same thing.
Say Buck and the same is true but that has little to do with their product line IMO
Although I prefer Vic by a wide margin, it's still sad to see Wenger go. But, as others have already said, I'm glad Vic kept Wenger out of the hands of some Chinese company.
I personally find Vic's quality to be amazing. Use the blades/tools in the way they were intended, and they have great durability. They aren't meant to replace dedicated tools, but for instances where you can't carry all the actual tools and the SAK or multi is all you have on you. If you expect a SAK to do something unreasonable (i.e., something beyond what it was designed for), you may be unimpressed with it. Keep in mind, most of the SAKs are very inexpensive. There are knife manufacturers who put out products with far less quality and consistency that cost considerably more than your typical Vic SAK. You can still get a Vic Pioneer for $25. How often can you get a bomb-proof, time-proven knife for such a steal?
Jim
I personally find Vic's quality to be amazing. Use the blades/tools in the way they were intended, and they have great durability. They aren't meant to replace dedicated tools, but for instances where you can't carry all the actual tools and the SAK or multi is all you have on you. If you expect a SAK to do something unreasonable (i.e., something beyond what it was designed for), you may be unimpressed with it. Keep in mind, most of the SAKs are very inexpensive. There are knife manufacturers who put out products with far less quality and consistency that cost considerably more than your typical Vic SAK. You can still get a Vic Pioneer for $25. How often can you get a bomb-proof, time-proven knife for such a steal?
Jim
That is an excellent observation. Buck has gone kind of nuts on the tacticool knives, but, as you note it seems to work for Kershaw and CKRT, and really Spyderco.
When Vic came out with the luggage (I thought it was licensed and maybe it was), I thought it was going to be a huge mistake (knives and luggage, wtf?) but it apparently is quality stuff and had innovative features that made it sort of peripatetic (rarely get to use that word, but it means versatile) like the SAK itself.
I bought the Vic/SAK kitchen knife set. My wife thought I was just being a goofy knife nut, but then she started to use them and declared it a great purchase. She, like most, didn't realize that the Forschner entity had long experience with food prep knives and just thought it was another kind of goofy brand extension.
I guess the most important thing about their brand management is quality. And their designs and execution just work. And they have excellent customer service.
Curiously, though, their brand extensions definitely dilute that SAK image. I imagine there are some people that have Vic luggage and watches that dont own a SAK.
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Victorinox is the brand I grew up with, and they are my favorite production knife company. I've never owned a Wenger, but I always thought of Wenger as a cheaper version of Victorinox. I'm sure they are not any cheaper or lesser quality, but that is what I've always assumed without ever trying one out.
GEC pays attention to these forums. They listen. I have a feeling we might see a true Camp knife coming from them one of these days in the not too distant future.
GEC pays attention to these forums. They listen. I have a feeling we might see a true Camp knife coming from them one of these days in the not too distant future.
Yup, that assumption in incorrect. I've owned both and own both. Both are quality and much value for your money.
Unfortunately true. Buck often gives me the impression of a collective of brand managers, each shepherding a separate line in isolation from the others, all with the name "BUCK" on it somewhere but with no design coherence overall. They have pockets of coherence (within each line), but no consistent company design identity. Thus what's emerging is a series of design families gathered around the logo. They need to fix this, or they'll just fritter away their identity — patrimony, really — down a multitude of separate design streams.
Why pick on Buck? Why not Case, Kershaw, Spyderco, or any other U.S. based manufacturer, who all have iconic designs?
Buck is primarily a hunting knife maker. Their bread and butter is making affordable, decent knives for folks that shop at big box stores. They make a few knives that we traditional knife enthusiasts at BF appreciate, but we constitute a small faction of their customers. They use modern materials and designs to have broad appeal, seemingly taking the "shotgun" approach, meaning they roll out various incarnations of a single concept, and wait to see which one stands the test of time, while unpopular models are discontinued. It's a strategy that seems to have served them well; people like trying out new models from a company they like, and it doesn't break the bank for them to do so. In conclusion, the last thing they will be is a company that focuses solely on perfecting a handful of products.
Buck is primarily a hunting knife maker. Their bread and butter is making affordable, decent knives for folks that shop at big box stores. They make a few knives that we traditional knife enthusiasts at BF appreciate, but we constitute a small faction of their customers. They use modern materials and designs to have broad appeal, seemingly taking the "shotgun" approach, meaning they roll out various incarnations of a single concept, and wait to see which one stands the test of time, while unpopular models are discontinued. It's a strategy that seems to have served them well; people like trying out new models from a company they like, and it doesn't break the bank for them to do so. In conclusion, the last thing they will be is a company that focuses solely on perfecting a handful of products.
Modoc ED
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What's the big deal??? Wenger is finished and evidently won't be missed in the industry. If they were so good, they would have out sold Victorinox and it might be Victorinox on the way out.
I've never had a Wenger but no doubt about it - Victorinox makes a very very good product. I've probably got two dozen or more of their knives (almost all unopened) in various versions laying around the house. They make great "Uh oh, I forgot your birthday presents". My first Victorinox from years ago was their "Camping" (Camper) model - still, for my .02¢., the best one they offer the only possible exception being the "Farmer".
So, so long Wenger. I doubt, if in the long run, you'll be missed.
I've never had a Wenger but no doubt about it - Victorinox makes a very very good product. I've probably got two dozen or more of their knives (almost all unopened) in various versions laying around the house. They make great "Uh oh, I forgot your birthday presents". My first Victorinox from years ago was their "Camping" (Camper) model - still, for my .02¢., the best one they offer the only possible exception being the "Farmer".
So, so long Wenger. I doubt, if in the long run, you'll be missed.
I like the shape Wenger's spearpoints better. I also like Wenger's flat screwdriver better as it locks under pressure so won't fold. That said, I'm a fan of both Wenger and Victorinox. I'll pick up a couple of more Wengers this fall and stash them for gifts later when they're unavailable. I can get the Highlander down the street for 18 bucks.