Wenger alox models vs. Victorinox alox

M

MG_Saldivar

Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
857
I own a number of Victorinox alox models and they typically have thicker blades (and thicker backsprings?) than cellidor models.

A store in my neighborhood has some Wenger alox models (the 'standard' -- the Wenger equivalent of the Soldier, I think) on clearance.

My question -- Wenger cellidor models tend to have slightly weaker backsprings than Vics. Are the alox Wengers' backsprings comparable to the alox Vic backsprings? If so, I'll buy a couple; if not, I'll save up for the Scientist FelineVet is selling. *sigh*
 
I have a Wenger SI, and I like it a bit better than the Vic soldier. One reason is on the soldier, the flange on the awl sticks out just far enough that if you grip the knife hard it digs into the pinky and ring fingers. The other is that the soldiers did away with a means of lanyard attachment. I like the Wengers bail as It won't get lost overboard. If you get the Victorinox poineer to have the keyring attachment, then the position of the keyring digs into the hand under hard use. In the warm months we do a fair measure of boating-kayaks, canoe, and I demand a lanyard. I lost one knife in the river and I don't intend to do that again. And I like the Wenger blade, it has more of a belly to it like the old Camillus scout knives I grew up with.

I've used the Wenger SI a good bit and its a great knife. Made to the same Swiss Military specs as the soldier.

Wengers are the under apreatiated saks!

And while you're at it get a Wenger Patriot. Its the same as a Victorinox secretary. But the Wenger has a clip second blade instead of another spear, and it has a keyring attachment where the vic secretary does not. Its a very flat lightweight watch pocket knife. Very handy.

Get a Wenger SI and try it out. You may be pleasently surprised!
 
MG_Saldivar said:
I know, but I've still handled recent Wengers with weaker backsprings than comparable Vics, hence my question. :D
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The Wenger SIs are made to Swiss Military specs just like the Vic Soldiers so the backsprings are fine. I agree that the Cellidor models have had weaker backsprings than the Vic.
 
I pulled the trigger on a Wenger Standard Issue... Pix forthcoming.

I really like it -- it compares favorably to the Vic Soldier/Pioneer*. The bail is neat and feels very sturdy and all the blades have great snap. I'll rotate it out with my Vic SuperTinker every now and again to see how it fares. :)


*Just to be clear, I prefer Vic models to most Wengers I've seen but I acknowledge the great fit and finish of Wenger knives.
 
does that store have on-line version? I've been looking for a wenger standard at a good price for sometime.

david.
 
Due to his support of SOSAK and the "SAK community," I also try to buy from Felinevet. :)

(I bought the Wenger Standard from a Sportsman's Warehouse that was clearancing a bunch of SAKs -- otherwise I would've gone with Tim.)
 
While on one of my regular patrols through my local pawnshop I spotted a alox handled swiss army style knife in the glass case. I asked to take a look and lo and behold it was a wenger standard issue in pristine condition. It felt so right in the hand I ended up taking it out the door for $10.35. I work in an office environment and it rides well in the pockets of my slacks and jeans. It seems to be just enough knife(and tools) for edc. Question though the can opener appears to be of the Victorinox type. I wonder if Victorinox made this for Wenger. I noticed that the number 97 was stamped on the main blade opposite the Brand stamp, could this be the year this knife was manufactured? I think I am going to love this knife.
 
stainless said:
While on one of my regular patrols through my local pawnshop I spotted a alox handled swiss army style knife in the glass case. I asked to take a look and lo and behold it was a wenger standard issue in pristine condition. It felt so right in the hand I ended up taking it out the door for $10.35. I work in an office environment and it rides well in the pockets of my slacks and jeans. It seems to be just enough knife(and tools) for edc. Question though the can opener appears to be of the Victorinox type. I wonder if Victorinox made this for Wenger. I noticed that the number 97 was stamped on the main blade opposite the Brand stamp, could this be the year this knife was manufactured? I think I am going to love this knife.
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Both the Wenger SI and the Vic Soldier are made to Swiss military contract specs so they are required to be basically the same. Wenger still uses the key bail but otherwise they are the same. ASAIK, they independently produce their own tool sets.
 
I finally got around to taking pix of my Wenger Standard Issue. A great knife; I wish all SAKs had bails!


Wenger Standard Issue:
2046164450_1459cb367f.jpg




The knife with its Sack-Up silicone-impregnated pouch:
2046164586_f9fd78d16a.jpg
 
stainless said:
While on one of my regular patrols through my local pawnshop I spotted a alox handled swiss army style knife in the glass case. I asked to take a look and lo and behold it was a wenger standard issue in pristine condition. It felt so right in the hand I ended up taking it out the door for $10.35. I work in an office environment and it rides well in the pockets of my slacks and jeans. It seems to be just enough knife(and tools) for edc. Question though the can opener appears to be of the Victorinox type. I wonder if Victorinox made this for Wenger. I noticed that the number 97 was stamped on the main blade opposite the Brand stamp, could this be the year this knife was manufactured? I think I am going to love this knife.
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stainless:
I believe the number 97 on your blade is the year of manufacture. I have two Vic Soldiers, one is stamped 98 and the other 01 on the opposite side of the main knife blade.
Jim
 
Yes, the mil-spec SAKs (as opposed to the kind sold to civilians) are all marked with the year of manufacture.
 
Thank you for your answers gentlemen. The specimen I found was in mint condition for a ten year old pawnshop find.
 
Nice knife!
The Vics and Wengers are both great knives.
Ive got two Vic Pioneers and a Wenger Soldier.
Actually one of the Vics is a Pioneer in Red with regular Vic style lanyard ring. The second Pioneer is regular alox has the vic lanyard but is also marked 99 on the blade. I always thought the rule was no lanyard ring and and a date means its a Soldier not a Pioneer. But this one has a Vic lanyard ring AND a date. So which is it Pioneer or Soldier? Any Soldier experts here?

My Wenger is like the one in your pic except it is year 00.
That was an ebay find, i paid the guy with a money order and then every two weeks or so for over 4 months i'd email him and ask him if he received my payment or mailed my knife. Never any reply until finally after 4 months he emails me all happy telling me he "found" my knife!
:rolleyes:
a couple of weeks later i was honestly surprised to get it in the mail. Because the guy was such a flake i had pretty much figured i would never get it.

Through the months of no communication i contemplated complaining to Ebay about him. But i had only paid 7 bucks for it and giving negative feedback usually results in getting negative feedback so it didn't seem worth it. But then it finally did show up, yeah!
There are good sellers on ebay but also some real dorks!
:D
 
tholiver said:
But this one has a Vic lanyard ring AND a date. So which is it Pioneer or Soldier? Any Soldier experts here?
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I'm hardly an expert, but I know from SOSAK forum posts that the Pioneer and the Soldier are identical except for the key ring (i.e., they both have the fatter mil-spec springs and blades). I know other Vic owners have mentioned that they've ended up with Soldier blades (marked with year of manufacture tang stamp) on Pioneers, so it's 'one of those things' that happens in manufacturing. I'm sure they're not common but they're probably not rare enough to add much value to your Pioneer. ;)
 
MG_Saldivar said:
I'm hardly an expert, but I know from SOSAK forum posts that the Pioneer and the Soldier are identical except for the key ring (i.e., they both have the fatter mil-spec springs and blades). I know other Vic owners have mentioned that they've ended up with Soldier blades (marked with year of manufacture tang stamp) on Pioneers, so it's 'one of those things' that happens in manufacturing. I'm sure they're not common but they're probably not rare enough to add much value to your Pioneer. ;)
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I have quite a few Pioneers with dated blades. However, the latest dated blade I've got is [19]98, for what that's worth.
 
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