Wenger Packlocks

U

Ultraman

Joined
Oct 28, 2005
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Thought I might start a discussion on the packlock swiss army knives by Wenger.

These are the normal sized locking SAKs Wenger offers.
They are "standard" sized knives, about 3 to 31/2 inches long. They are not the much larger sized lockbacks currently offered by Victorinox (like the Adventurer or rucksack) and by Wenger. The release switch is a small lever at the base of the blade, in the same slot the blade is located in. I believe this makes the blade thinner than normal.
You can barely see the unlocking mechanism at the base of the blade in this picture:
opticsgiant_1907_18591371


You know, despite the comments I've seen about Wenger not having as good a steel as Victorinox, they are innovative. I do agree with the comments I've seen about lesser edge holding capability cf. to Victorinox. Better quality steel can trump design if the design differences are small.

The model I have is similar to the traveler model below, except instead of a nail file, it's a single blade phillips screwdriver. I got it through mail order from LLBean decades ago. When the scales came off, I sent it back to Wenger and it was replaced for free.:D

opticsgiant_1907_23022051


Aside from the steel, potentially weaker blade, and inverted toothpick and tweezer positions, not a bad product at all! Anyone else have one?
 
My 2nd "official BSA knife" was a nice Wenger with the fleur-de-lis etchings. It had the same type of lock for the main blade. You could force it to fail but it never did during use. I wish I still had it. Although it looks like the lock lever would get in the way, it never did while riding in my pocket.

I have seen these type listed as "Securite" models. I haven't run across the name Packlock before.
 
I had one similar and liked it very much. The knife completely fell apart though, I'm not sure why. It did not "fail" while I was using it. First, the scales fell off, and then over the years, it just came apart. That was a while ago, and now I might have been able to examine it, figure out what was wrong, and fix it. Back then I just was like, my knife fell apart!
 
I've had a number of their packlock models, one of them is just like the Traveler and its seen extensive use and still going strong!:thumbup:
Both my sons have a boy scout Wenger called the Adirondack and have beaten the hell out them and they still keep going strong.
IMHO its one of the better inovations that Wenger has come up with over the years.

Kap:D
 
Thanks for the responses so far.
Eyegor: thanks for pointng out the "securite" label, now I know what to search for.
Shann: I know exactly what you're talking about, I think for too long a time I was clueless about the initiative to actually think about things and figure out ways to fix things. I don;t know how much I am better now, but I was *really* bad when I was younger. Almost nonsentient. :)
Kapt: Is the adirondack is serrated? It's a good design, but I have not been able to get a good edge on my model. Still, I hope Wenger survives, even if under the umbrella of Victorinox
 
I had one just like it bought in Melbourne Oz 15 years ago, but without the serrations (not 'in' at the time). Never seen another one like it. Lent it to my sister in law and she lost it in Switzerland. The knife went home, man. Its the best lock I've ever used, in terms of ergonomics.
 
Sounds like the knife ran away home like you said:)
Maybe that's what the chain is for - gotta tie those suckers down so they won't walk off from you.

Seriously though, the new evo series seems to bring the ergonomics factor up a notch. If they used the same steel as their (present) parent company Victorinox, and put in another lock mechanism like the slide lock on Vic's bigger models, it'd be perfect.
 
Wasn't the name "Packlock" for the side-unlocking switch device found on the Wenger-Ranger range of large folders?
Wenger Product page
-http://www.wenger-knife.ch/scripts/modules/Wenger_Products/page839113.html-
Reviewed here
-http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=68-
BTW, Buck had a range of Wenger's marketed under the brandname of SwissBuck in the early 1990's.
-http://www.la-gunshop.com/knives/swissbuck/sb_top.jpg-
 
Well yeah, they are pretty large and no where near the standard carry.
But to sum it up,I'll have to agree that the standard size Wengers with those lever-type unlocking device found on the Security range, is my personal favorite as well. Personally, I was really hoping that Vicky comes up with a simlar lockable main blade, now that they own Wenger, sort of. That's probably all that missing from Victorinox SAKs for the moment?
 
"Packlock" is what Wenger uses to name its locking mechanism on its standard size models.
Wenger does have a few tricks up their sleeve that Vic could use, the locking screwdriver, better pliers and scissors and a handy little wrench.
All in all both companies make great products and I own a ton of both!

Kap
 
I've got a Wenger Alpine Backpacker that has the lock and it's a solid little knife. I may be in the minority here but I like Wenger knives just as well as Victorinox. I'm a big fan of Swiss Army Knives and own several Victorinox and Wenger models and I've never had any issues with any of them.
 
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