Wenger - Sigh.......

Alnamvet68 · Feb 13, 2015

[video=youtube;r85053KFopw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r85053KFopw[/video]

jackknife · Feb 13, 2015

I do agree, Wenger will be missed. I never really understood why they never got as popular as Victorinox, to the point of going under. But now that they are owned by Vic, are most of the original factory personel still there, or has the Delemont factory location totally closed down?

Anyways, the SI was my favorite full size SAK.

The Wenger chefs knife in service in my kitchen for 35 years.

Rich S · Feb 13, 2015

I believe the Delemont factory and its employees are still there. Only thing that changed is the tang stamp (to Vic), the shield and now I think all former Wenger styles are using those dreadful "Evo" scales.
Rich

Nikkogi · Feb 13, 2015

It's a shame Wenger stopped making knives. The delemont Victorinox knives are still nice though. I have recently started to collect them as them as there are so many cool and innovative models.

jackknife · Feb 13, 2015

Nikkogi said:
It's a shame Wenger stopped making knives. The delemont Victorinox knives are still nice though. I have recently started to collect them as them as there are so many cool and innovative models.

I always thought of Wenger as the more innovative company in design. Locking screw driver, locking blade, better design of the small scissors spring. They had a heck of a to of good ideas. But most of all, they kept the bail on the SI, like my old boy scout knife!!!!

Hey Victorinox! Look at me, over here. Bring back the hollow rivet and bail, ya hear! Don't make me come over there!

collim1 · Feb 13, 2015

My only Wenger knife ever was a SwissBuck I had as a kid in the scouts. I lost it years ago and would love to replace it, but the few of those that are still around go for a surprisingly high price.

Even though I always preferred Vixtorinox, I hated to see Wenger go. It's like Saturday Night Live, you might not have watched it in years, but you would hate to hear that it was being cancelled.

SAK Guy · Feb 13, 2015

Wengers are super quality and a little different approach to SAKs. Great main blade geometry + unique toolsets in an 85mm pkg! As I said in the other thread, Wengers aren't better or worse, just different. I started collecting them last year and really like them.

Rich S · Feb 14, 2015

I wish Victorinox would come out with flat replacement scales for the Delemont former Wenger's (now Vics). I really dislike those evo scales. I have about 50 SAKs including Vics and old Wengers, only one new Wenger and it has Delemont scales. I sits in a drawer unused and unloved :-( What I really want is an Alox Tinker - never make alas.
Rich

jeepin · Feb 14, 2015

That was a great video

No Agenda · Feb 14, 2015

I started collecting Swiss Army Knives last summer and I have made sure to buy plenty of Wenger's while i still could. I really like the 85mm package and the tool sets they offered. I agree with the others that the Evo grip doesn't really do anything for me, they just make the knife wider than it needs to be.

Watching this video makes me a bit sad but I'm glad that Victorinox seems to be keeping some of the legacy around.

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Ultraman · Feb 14, 2015

I enjoyed the video...there's something about the outdoors in europe and watching the people (were they Swiss?) was just cool. I found it calming for some reason.

It is kind of sad to see Wenger go. I really liked the look of their Ranger series and I still have my Eddie Bauer packlock. It seemed to me that their baldes did nto sharen as easily as Victorinox's, however. Wenger was a common retail brand where I'm at, so I suspect that their assimilation into Victorinox was not for lack of trying.

Josh N · Feb 17, 2015

I always felt the Victorinox knives were a better overall quality than the Wenger knives and have heard the same from quite a few folks over the years. Wenger while having a wider array of more unique designs always seemed like the poor man's answer to a SAK. I came to this conclusion back in the 80s when I was given a wenger and already had a vic. The vic just felt better overall in fit, finish and quality. The only exception was the SI which was almost exactly the same as the Vic Soldiers with the exception of the bail on the commercially sold models.

Capt. Spaulding · Feb 17, 2015

Josh N said:
I always felt the Victorinox knives were a better overall quality than the Wenger knives and have heard the same from quite a few folks over the years. Wenger while having a wider array of more unique designs always seemed like the poor man's answer to a SAK. I came to this conclusion back in the 80s when I was given a wenger and already had a vic. The vic just felt better overall in fit, finish and quality. The only exception was the SI which was almost exactly the same as the Vic Soldiers with the exception of the bail on the commercially sold models.

Its funny you say that as when Wenger was still in production they tend to cost more than a Victorinox.

ChrisB507 · Feb 17, 2015

Great video. I liked Wenger, mainly because they produced what was (for me) the perfect SAK: the EvoGrip S16, Patagonia Expedition model. It had every tool I needed for EDC, a locking blade, and nothing I didn't need.

deputy tom · Feb 17, 2015

collim1 said:
My only Wenger knife ever was a SwissBuck I had as a kid in the scouts. I lost it years ago and would love to replace it, but the few of those that are still around go for a surprisingly high price.

Even though I always preferred Vixtorinox, I hated to see Wenger go. It's like Saturday Night Live, you might not have watched it in years, but you would hate to hear that it was being cancelled.

I have a few Wengers that I enjoy but I also prefer Vic's. I have one SwissBuck and can't understand the draw. Must be sentimental as in your situation. Good luck in your search. tom.

deputy tom · Feb 17, 2015

jackknife said:
I do agree, Wenger will be missed. I never really understood why they never got as popular as Victorinox, to the point of going under. But now that they are owned by Vic, are most of the original factory personel still there, or has the Delemont factory location totally closed down?

Anyways, the SI was my favorite full size SAK.

The Wenger chefs knife in service in my kitchen for 35 years.

Carl, the SI is my favorite Wenger offering and I will miss them if/when discontinued. tom.

Miao · Feb 17, 2015

Capt. Spaulding said:
Its funny you say that as when Wenger was still in production they tend to cost more than a Victorinox.

Probably part of the reason why Vic survived. Because they so aggressively modernized their production, they were able to put out a (slightly) superior product at a lower price.

Capt. Spaulding · Feb 17, 2015

Miao said:
Probably part of the reason why Vic survived. Because they so aggressively modernized their production, they were able to put out a (slightly) superior product at a lower price.

Your probably correct. I would personally not say Victorinox is superior though. While I like Victorinox much more, I would say both Victorinox and Wenger are the same in quality. Just my opinion though.

GIRLYmann · Feb 18, 2015

Ja! Ja! The sight of those s.i. wengers makes me vant to cry.
That video was more emotionally charged than a rerun of freewillie.

Dr. Scott · Mar 5, 2015

deputy tom said:
Carl, the SI is my favorite Wenger offering and I will miss them if/when discontinued. tom.

The Wenger SI was discontinued four or five years ago, unlikely to ever return. It was better than the Vic version IMHO. I think Vic discontinued their Soldier as well, but I suspect it will someday reappear.

GIRLYmann said:
Ja! Ja! The sight of those s.i. wengers makes me vant to cry.
That video was more emotionally charged than a rerun of freewillie.

I shed a tear myself, but thanks for posting it anyway, Alnamvet.

My SI: