Wenger and Victorinox

[Chuck289]

What's the difference between a Wenger or Victorinox SAK. Are they 2 differnt companies?

 

[ahgar]

victorinox and wenger are two distinct companies who offer very similar products. Both companies lay claim to being the original swiss army knife and to be honest I don't remember which one has the best claim. I have carried several sak's over the years and I like the victorinox offerings the best. I really like the metal scaled models, soldier, pioneer, electrician etc as the metal scales feel much more sturdy to me. in either case you get a lot of knife for the money and a wide choice of tools to choose from. another benefit is that a sak doesn't upset people when you pull it out to open a letter like a spyderco endura does. later, ahgar

 

[jlh2600]

i prefer victorinox' logo. wenger's is too fat.

 

[bama_lou]

Victorinox bought Wenger not too long ago.

 

[greens]

Seems like Victorinox is of higher quality. I haven't seen any complaints about their stuff like I have with Wenger. A quick search should bring it up. I have the rucksack model that I've been using on almost daily basis, so far it has served me well and is as tight as new.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I have more Vics than Wengers, but I have never had a quality problem with any Wenger I owned. Wenger recently came out with a very nice line of Evo knives, SAKs with a rounder ergonomic shape.

Each company, by contract, supplies half the Swiss Army's knives.

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

What's the difference between a Wenger or Victorinox SAK. Are they 2 differnt companies?

I've always considered Victorinox to be vastly superior in design and quality to Wenger. (I almost said that in a really nasty way, but that suffices.)

-Jeffrey

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

I have more Vics than Wengers, but I have never had a quality problem with any Wenger I owned. Wenger recently came out with a very nice line of Evo knives, SAKs with a rounder ergonomic shape.

Each company, by contract, supplies half the Swiss Army's knives.

The people to ask, then, would be the members of the Swiss Army!

I wonder, then, if there is a rivalry there. "I got a VICTORINOX issued to me!" "Oh yeah?... Well...uh... Wenger is the original!"

It could be like Dr. Seuss's "Sneetches" -- those with the better brand would be the "star-bellied sneeches" and those with the crappy brand would be the ones "with none upon thars"...

-Jeffrey

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I believe one company gets to call theirs "original" and the other "authentic". The basic issue SAK is an identical model from each except for the logo. One company is from French-Swiss territory and other from German-Swiss.

 

[GIRLYmann]

Victorinox is THE ORIGINAL Swiss Army Knife (SAK) innovator/manufacturer.
Wenger is an appointed GENUINE manufacturer for Swiss government issued Army pocket knives.
Now that Wenger is owned by Victorinox.
Time would eventually tell if the range of products from either brands would turn out to be one in the same?
But for now there are tool/blade features exclusive to each of these brands.
If you're looking for innovation than Wenger should keep you happy.
If you're looking for excellent quality control and superior fit amd finish, than go with the traditional Victorinox.
Though now, Victorinox has started to look at add-ons such as the brand new mp3 player. Not quite something you could use in a life or death situation. Besides it requires a power source too. Strictly an urban fashion statement built upon an icon. I would rather have some new tool added instead.

 

[puukkoman]

I have both, and have observed that they are of equal quality. Just slightly different, that's all.
My only gripe is that Wenger doesn't make a knife that compares in size to the Victorinox 91mm SAKs. As far as mid-sized SAKs go, Vic makes 91mm and 84mm, while Wenger makes 85mm. I find that a 91mm SAK is the size I prefer, so I wind up with a Vic in my pocket more often. Sometimes it's nice to carry a slightly smaller one, though, and then I make sure it's a Wenger.