Victorinox Vs. Wenger

J

jlee3228

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May 16, 2009
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i just bought a new wenger evo grip the other day and think it is a really nice design but it feels as though it is lacking compared to the victorinox brand knives. it just doesnt seem as solid/tough. does anyone else feel this way or am i being fooled?
 
jlee3228 said:
i just bought a new wenger evo grip the other day and think it is a really nice design but it feels as though it is lacking compared to the victorinox brand knives. it just doesnt seem as solid/tough. does anyone else feel this way or am i being fooled?
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I think that you are describing the general consensus on Vic vs. Wenger. Victorinox bought Wenger a few years ago and they are now the same company. The quality gap has improved, I think, but they aren't equal. Wenger has some more adventurous designs with the contoured grips, bigger blades, etc.
 
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I am of the same opinion, the Wenger knives feel less solid and mine don't seem to take or hold an edge as well as my Vic SAKs, but I still believe they are well made and a great value, I just prefer Victorinox
 
Way too subjective. This sort of criticism pops up often with all brands, where something doesn't "seem" or "feel" as durable or solid as another. It's not uncommon for this to be said with no actual evidence to corroborate.

In this case, I tend to write it off as often a lack of familiarity, Victorinox being much more commonly found in the US. Wenger knives are often written off as being the lesser of the two brands, even though there doesn't seem to be much evidence, or even anecdotes to support the belief. I was in the same boat. I'd never even heard of Wenger until about ten years ago. As a result, I viewed them with some suspicion. Since then, I've revised my views, and rethought the usefulness of evaluating knives based on my preconceived notions of what a knife is "supposed" to be like (in this case, a Wenger is supposed to be like a Vic). So much so that I prefer a few Wengers for edc to my Vics these days.
 
I have both. the only real quality difference i see is that the ones with alox scales seems a bit better in that they are stiffer/tighter, at least to me. other than that, to me the ergo grip ones are pretty good in comparison to other plastic handled ones from both brands.
 
I have a Wenger SI that has been beat on for many years, and it's still tight and ready to go. Great knife!
 
Going through my garage I found an old wegner and an old swiss champ in a tacklebox.
The swiss champ's scale was half broken off and had lots of rust spots.
The wegner had very few dots of rust, and working right out of the the tackle box just needed some oil!
I'm guessing the too got equally used and they were both there circa 6 years ago. They were forgotten about and the wegner survived better than the victorinox.
I still like victorinox better probably since I was raised with one.
 
For some reason I have always favored Victorinox over Wegner. I have always cared for the blade styles and layout of the tools on Victorinox. The ONE thing that I have found that I like far better on the Wegner is the springs on the pliers and scissors. I have had one too many springs break on the Victorinox, while the Wegner uses a different style spring that has never give me any breakage or issues. Its been awhile since I have looked at them, but I believe the Wegner uses the backspring for the scissors and pliers. A far better design I think than the thin breakage prone spring of the Victorinox. I am sure Victorinox would send you another spring though with no issues. Either way, Both are Quality Swiss Army Knives.
 
I've read to the contrary by some. Many like the Wenger better, especially the sissors.

I have a Vic I've carried for a long time. Even if I carry a Spydie or Kershaw I still have my Vic in my pocket. I don't see me buying the Wenger, but if I seen a design in the future I liked, I would have no problem with purchasing it.

Bill
 
I have several of both and while I agree the Vics have a slightly higher QC, I think the Wengers are more innovative with all kinds of special tools and they offer many nice features Vics do not like locking blades, clip point blades, expanding pliers and the like. I also think the 84mm frame of the Wenger rides in the pocket a bit nicer than the 91mm Vic. I like both but there's something a little more special about the Wengers, in my opinion.
 
I am very biased to victorinox. I have owned both and victorinox takes it. I'll take a wenger if somebody buys it for me but i won't buy it myself.
 
Like some, I only consider Victorinox as the real SAK supplier and other companies like Wenger to be copycat manufacturers. This is totally personal preference and not from experience, but since I'll never buy a Wenger (or any other) I'll never know.
 
somniloquist said:
I have several of both and while I agree the Vics have a slightly higher QC, I think the Wengers are more innovative with all kinds of special tools and they offer many nice features Vics do not like locking blades, clip point blades, expanding pliers and the like. I also think the 84mm frame of the Wenger rides in the pocket a bit nicer than the 91mm Vic. I like both but there's something a little more special about the Wengers, in my opinion.
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This pretty much sums it up. Victorinox has perfected what they do...but they don't do anything new, while wenger innovates a bit more.

I prefer Victorinox for the 91mm sak's while I would go with wenger's 120mm knives instead of vic's 110mm knives.
 
anything which doesn't require replacement parts have got to be cheaper in the long run, right?
(naturally i speak of the need in having to replace the spring thingy on the Victorinox scissor bladetool).
besides, there's always this fear that it might pop-out or something when it's needed most.
so yeah, Wenger definately has some very practical and pretty useful bright ideas to speak of.

and speaking of the Evo if that was good enough for Porsche Design
www.0-60mag.com/online/?p=3853
www.wengerna.com/stuff/contentmgr/files/0/f14907ff6ddbc57554e57b75942813ea/image/16679_porschedesign_1_wlogo.jpg
...well then, such a distinguished label makes it a status symbol in it's own right!

the Evo grip was designed by one Professor Paolo Fancelli
www.athenaeum.ch/photos/profs/Fancelli-Paolo.jpg
www.fancelli.ch/
www.wenger-knife.ch/knife/News/Products/Shape.html

there will always be comparisons made between the two SAK manufacturers.
but i do suppose brand loyalty plays a huge part in creating favoritism for a particular brand - even if it doesn't do all the bells 'n whistles when compared to a near rival.
the one huge difference between Victorinox and Wenger (to me at least!) is edge holding ability.
which can probably be attributed to steel type.
Victorinox in this respect, always seems to have an edge over Wenger.
 
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