Victorinox to shut down Wenger

Bob W said:
So sad to pimp out the name for accessories but no longer make knives with the brand. Imagine if some company bought Case, quit selling Case knives, but continued using the brand name for truck driver caps. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. :grumpy:
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I was looking online earlier for info about the history of the SAK, and Wenger's part in that story (which goes back to 1893 I think), and what I noticed is that for the most part, it's Victorinox who get to write the history of their longstanding rival. And they get to write their obituary too.
 
Another version...

"History is the polemics of the victors."

- Wm. F Buckley, Jr.


EDITED TO ADD: When you combine these adages with the very short information half-life [1] of digital information, it's sort of scary how easily and how quickly history can be reshaped with enough power and influence to control the media.

[1] - information half-life refers to the rate that written artifacts about a subject decay or are lost. It is said that there is a smaller percentage of original artifacts from the first Gulf War than the US Civil War due the fast rate that digital formats change and are lost (email, document standards, and such). Wegner? What's a Wegner?
 
bdev said:
To the OP,

It might be a good idea to edit the title of your first post from Wegner to Wenger so it will be searchable in the future.
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Fixed.
 
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To honor Wenger's passing I created a thread and asked Wenger fans to suggest some Wenger models they thought I should buy that would be iconic or representative of the best of Wenger. (I'm a longtime Vic owner).

Several members kindly suggested various models. I've been checking them out but so far none of the suggestions has me pulling out my wallet. I'd like to buy one, and I'm still looking, but so far haven't seen any Wenger I like or that isn't a clone of a Vic model I already have.

With all due respect, that might be Wenger's epitaph.
 
Tallahassee said:
To honor Wenger's passing I created a thread and asked Wenger fans to suggest some Wenger models they thought I should buy that would be iconic or representative of the best of Wenger. (I'm a longtime Vic owner).

Several members kindly suggested various models. I've been checking them out but so far none of the suggestions has me pulling out my wallet. I'd like to buy one, and I'm still looking, but so far haven't seen any Wenger I like or that isn't a clone of a Vic model I already have.

With all due respect, that might be Wenger's epitaph.
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If nothing else lay down a few bucks and get a Wenger Esquire (the Vic Classic equivalent, if you will) just so you'll have something with their back spring powered "springless" scissors.
 
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I have the Wenger cigar cutter knife with leather inlays. It was the first SAK I purchased since I was in Scouts. I am sad that I lost my Wenger soldier last fall.
 
Tallahassee said:
To honor Wenger's passing I created a thread and asked Wenger fans to suggest some Wenger models they thought I should buy that would be iconic or representative of the best of Wenger. (I'm a longtime Vic owner).

Several members kindly suggested various models. I've been checking them out but so far none of the suggestions has me pulling out my wallet. I'd like to buy one, and I'm still looking, but so far haven't seen any Wenger I like or that isn't a clone of a Vic model I already have.

With all due respect, that might be Wenger's epitaph.
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Well since they were hired by the Swiss government to make knives exactly like Victorinox, you shouldn't be surprised that they're so similar. ;)

Instead of asking about their iconic and original models, which will undoubtedly be very SAK-like, just like Victorinox, ask about their unique and interesting knives they've made over the years. :thumbup:

Investigate the SwissBuck, a series of at least 16 models that were a collaboration between Buck Knives and Wenger.
The sport models like the Soccer, SwissRoller, and Snowboarder.
The Ranger lineup. Locking blades, one-hand opening.
Evolution (aka Evo) series. Contoured grips, color options.

This is on my list to pick up, a Realtree blaze:
blaze_57_rev2.png


And from my personal collection, a Wenger SwissGrip:
Pocketgrip.jpg
 
Just got my Wenger Evo 18 (black scales) — looks and feels very nice. . (Sorry, no action photos yet.) The black scale really makes the red-white Swiss cross logo pop.
 
When I was in contact with Wenger 20 years ago, I remember being given a hand-out sheet with a list of Wenger's SAK design 'firsts'. Not the sort of thing Victorinox would publicise obviously.
 
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Army of the Helvetian Confederation on parade: Vic Rucksack (top), Vic Pioneer, Wenger Standard Issue, Wenger Evo 18, and a Vic Classic. The Rucksack is new(ish) and the Evo 18 just arrived, its purchase triggered by this get-em-before-they're-gone thread.
 
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