Victorinox VS Wenger

F

Followthehollow

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
319
I know both of these are considered "the" swiss army knives, I'm just kind of curious about something.

I've had a wenger I've carried as a secondary knife for a few years. I'm not sure on the model exactly. (scissors/saw/philips and straight screwdrivers/ 1 blade/leather punch)

It's held up fine and I've been pretty happy with it.

I just got a Vic Swisschamp (an older one from the mid 90's I believe, it was from an estate) for Christmas and I'm shocked by the difference in feel.

The Vic overall feels far better made as far as blade play, smoothness, spring tension etc.
The quality just feels higher over all


Just wondering if this is a common perception, or if its just due to the difference in models etc.

Thanks
 
I generally prefer the Vics quite strongly over the Wengers, the Wenger Standard Issue being he exception. The Wenger SI's that I've sampled are Victorinox quality.
 
Both are great and works.. But i do much prefer victorinox.. Wenger does have some innovation in tools,like locking screwdriver and knife blade,but the victorinox just feels right for me.
 
I own SAKs of both brands, but over 100 are made by Victorinox and I think less then 10 are made by Wenger. The back spring of the Victorinox SAKs is usually a bit stronger and I often think that the finish of those SAKs is better. But, Victorinox spoils us, the Wengers aren't bad.

Wenger does a good job with innovation. Some of their traditional models have a locking blade and have nice handles with inlaid parts for better grip.

I recently bought three Wenger Rangers and those are huge compared to the 111mm series by Victorinox. They're strong too.
 
"...The Vic overall feels far better made as far as blade play, smoothness, spring tension etc. The quality just feels higher over all
...is a common perception, or if its just due to the difference in models etc...."
- Followthehollow

for one thing most wengers measure 84mm in length versus the slightly longer standard-sized 91mm victorinox.
hence the smaller wengers are already at a physical disadvantage for people with a stronger preference for something slightly larger in the hands.
and whilst wenger's sak's back-spring tension will never match the uniformed stiffness on that of a victorinox,
it's far much more easier and sometimes even actually preferred by some for it's ease of operating as a whole.
the single greatest thing in a wenger is that, there are no plier/scissor springs to replace,ever!
and it's scissors hardly require sharpening with it's micro serrated edges.
besides that wenger's locking large flat screwdriver and main large blade (on some models) would have been a much welcomed feature on any victorinox.
when one compares, it's obvious that you can't have 'em all.
also, there will always be more victorinox sold anywhere in the world.
and that's probably why folks end up compromising with the original brand even though genuine can be very original in more ways than one would expect from something so genuine as something of an original sak.
 
No, Wenger just got bought by Victorinox, to prefent foreign ownership (got bancrupt and was up for sell)

The Elsners (the owning familiy of Vic) then bought Wenger but they remain competitors.

Nice move if you ask me. The SWISS Army knife is still under swiss comand and they usually dont cut corners as some asian Holding would probably have...

As to the question Vic/Wen:
I prefer Victorinoy, just for size and tool selection.
 
I have always felt the action and Q.C. was better on a Victorinox but I still like my Wengers too.
 
TheHunt said:
No, Wenger just got bought by Victorinox, to prefent foreign ownership (got bancrupt and was up for sell)

The Elsners (the owning familiy of Vic) then bought Wenger but they remain competitors.

Nice move if you ask me. The SWISS Army knife is still under swiss comand and they usually dont cut corners as some asian Holding would probably have...

As to the question Vic/Wen:
I prefer Victorinoy, just for size and tool selection.
Click to expand...

Wait so Victorinox sold to wenger, and then wenger sold back to vitorinox?
 
No. Eisner owns Victorinox. After 9/11 and a drop in small travel knives due to restrictions on in-flight carry, Wenger ran into increasing financial difficulty. Eisner/Victorinox then bought Wenger, but allow it to run as a separate enterprise.
 
I own many of both. I prefer Vics as they offer far many more models, in addition to their quality. However, Wenger offers some interesting choices. I like the Rangers as they are monsters compared to even the 111mm Vics. The saw on a Ranger has no comparison in the Vic line.
 
I don´t care about, if I carry a Wenger or a Vic. I like both. IMO both are as strong as the other one. The new Wenger Evo-Wood-Series is really interessting, for me. Perhaps you other guys would also enjoy such a knife.
But I EDC a Vic Farmer, because I like it very much. I also like my Wenger Soldier Knife 06.

Kind regards
 
It's generally accepted that Wenger went through a bad spell of QC a few years back and let some pretty poor knives get out the door. Also the thinner blade and softer springs can put some people off. I also know the first ever Wenger I got was, frankly, junk.

BUT I've got several others, both older and brand new and really can't complain about them in the slightest. If I'm deciding on whether to carry a Vic Sportsman or Wenger Commander (basically the same tools) it's almost always the Commander i pick up. I also really like the deeper belly you get on the Wenger blades.
 
I just got the wenger Alox Standard issue and love it :). Worth a look for those that like alox SAKs
 
I only own Victorinox SAKs,so cannot comment on the Wengers.But,I love my Vic SAKs,one of my top 5 favorite knife companies.
 
wanted to add that any the Champion has many more layers and this will give a more solid feel that a single or two layer SAK

I noticed this in comparing my recruit and bantam. bantam much more flimsy

also climber more solid than recruit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top