Wenger Pocket Tool Chest

[Piso Mojado]

Probably scheduled for extinction, but you can still buy them for the usual discount. TSA still confiscates and you'll find them on the big auction site if you're patient. No one seems to collect them, so they sell for tool prices.

The Pocket Tool Chest is Wenger's equivalent to Victorinox's Midnite MiniChamp. Photo comparison:

Wenger is a little longer and a little thinner: not a big difference.

The tool sets are a little different. Plus for Wenger: micro (eyeglasses) screwdriver, awl/reamer with sewing eye, tweezers. Plus for Victorinox: Phillips (crosshead) screwdriver, Wharncliffe blade, cut & picker (blister pack opener) blade, ruler, cuticle pusher (snuff spoon), pen. Their matching tools are equivalent, with one exception: Wenger's LED flashlight uses two button batteries to Victorinox's one. Compared to Victorinox's current production white LED, Wenger's throws at least 50% more light.

 

[Piso Mojado]

Here's a little detail on Wenger's LED flashlight.

Wenger has a low contrast switch on the back scale (Victorinox uses their corporate logo).

You use the tweezers hook to pull out the battery tray. Victorinox tweezers wouldn't work, so this interesting design is probably doomed, and that's a shame: Wenger's LED is more than just a keyhole finder. I will try comparison shots tonight but I'm not confident in my photography.

Happy New Year from Chicago!

 

[Piso Mojado]

I won't be posting beam shots any time soon. My skills are lacking, and I may need to upgrade my Canon A570 IS.

The original Victorinox MiniLight for 58mm knives was a 2mm red LED. It is good for finding a keyhole or circuit breaker switch in the dark, and possibly for reading star charts (I'll have to try that). It is not good for finding your way except indoors among familiar surroundings. I have used it to avoid waking my wife while looking for things in the dark (no, not for my hash pipe). According to SAKwiki there was a 2mm white LED which I have not seen.

In 2008, Victorinox switched to a 3.5mm white LED. In a 58mm knife with one battery, it is three or four times as bright as the 2mm red LED. Also, there is an LED module with two batteries in some 91mm knives. With two batteries, this LED is 50% brighter and equal to the Wenger Pocket Tool Chest. Not my choice for hiking the Illinois River bluffs, but they might save you from falling down a canyon in the dark. (I got caught once the bluffs after sunset and I didn't fall down a canyon, but I ran into a hungry deer.)

Here is a better shot of Wenger's tool set.

Wenger's Micro Screwdriver worked (just barely) on my Henry Kissinger specials after I cleaned the screw slots.

Victorinox's Mini-Screwdriver is a better fit, but Wenger is easier to manipulate. Maybe it's really a lock pick?