Wenger V/S Victorinox

I think that Wenger CAN be compared to generic knives. I think I have a very good eye for quality and detail, and I've NEVER seen a bad VIC, on the other hand, I've seen plenty of junk Wengers... If you were physically here with me I AM SURE I could show you WHY the VIC is better. Please don't get mad.. I'm just trying to help a fellow human being make a good decision.

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peace love arch
 
Victorinox, always Victorinox. Their quality is incomparable. Victorinox blades are thicker in similar models/sizes and take and hold a better edge, hands down. Wenger isn't a bad knife, but Victorinox is a better knife.

Thanks for the reference to my old test post!

Mike

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It's not the pace of life that concerns me, It's the sudden stop at the end.
 
This might be a little "off", but this is about the correct pronounciation of Wenger. My wife is learning German, and asked if it's "Wenger", or should it be "Vengair"?

Also, thanks, El Cid for the side-by-side of the Soldiers knife. I prefer this one as one of my daily carries (the other is a BM Leopard), because of the simple design and lack of extranious tools I generally don't need. (I have a regular tool kit in my truck.) I had an older Vic Soldier (with a hollow pin for a lanyard) until it got stolen, so now I have a Wenger with bailer ring. As long as it has some way to attach a cord so I don't drop it, I'm happy with it.
smile.gif


Matt in Texas
 
Ok after all was said and done I dropped by REI today and picked up a Victorinox "Climber" model. I just have one question:

Whats the hook thing supposed to be for?

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"I'm inuspeptic, frasmotic, even compunctious to have caused you such pericumbobulations."--Mr. E Blackadder
 
The hook's for picking up packages that are tied with string. Really. I've carried a Climber as my main SAK for almost 20 years and when my old one wore out I found another old one (made before they started putting the hooks on) on ebay. For some reason the hook bugs me.I've heard that the shank of the hook now has a nailfile. Does yours?
 
I gave much thought into which "swiss army" line to stock and decided on Victorinox. That was over 20 years ago...have never had one returned....have never had anyone ask to return one. Wenger may have the same quality on a day to day basis, but the above says volumes about Victorinox. Regards, Mike
www.newgraham.com
New Graham, Since 1935
 
The one I have does not have a nail file.

A stringed package hook eh? How....quaint. I'm sure I'll be wondering how I ever got on without one before long.

Now the lace tightner...that makes sense.


[This message has been edited by Mr E Blackadder (edited 06-16-2001).]
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">....Victorinox "Climber" model. I just have one question:

Whats the hook thing supposed to be for?

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I thought it was used to tighten the lower laces on climbing boots? (Like a skate hook for ice skates)

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Holger :c{{{&lt;
AKTI Member No: A001324
CKG-F
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www.cockroachfarm.com
 
I prefer the Victorinox SAKs overall.
But as far as Wengers being incomparable to Vics? That's not even close to the truth. Both makes are of a very high quality and 100% comparable, each having their own pluses and minuses. I also have never seen a "junk" Wenger--abused yes, junk no. Go to a knife shop that carries both types and you will see that they are extremely close in quality.
As I said, I prefer the Vic's but Wengers are good too (I own quite a few of both makes).
 
Well allen, he asked for our opinions and that's what he got. IMHO, there is no comparision, Victorinox beats Wenger hands down.

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It's not the pace of life that concerns me, It's the sudden stop at the end.
 
I respect your opinion but how are they NOT comparable?
As I look over my collection of SAKs (both Vics and Wengers) I see that both types have mirror-polished blades and springs, both are made of plastic and steel and aluminum, the tools are very similar, the fit and craftsmanship on both types is well above average. In fact, I could fill pages about their similarities.
I would not want a person who is not familiar with both brands to read this tread and come away with the impression "Vics are perfect and Wengers are crap". They are too close in quality to make a statement like that (that's like saying Buck knives are the best and Case is crap--it may be an opinion but it is'nt really true).

Here is why I prefer Vics: the larger Vics are slightly longer and fit my hand better. The can opener also has a small flat-tip screwdriver, the awl/punch also has a reamer (the Wenger does not), my Vics open and close with more snap (stronger backsprings), and I can get a better edge on my Vics. The toothpick and tweezers are alittle sturdier than the Wengers.
And my Vics simply feel better for me to use.

But all of that does'nt mean the Wengers I own are lousy knives. I wish my Vics had a pressure-lock screwdriver like the Wengers. And the scissor-spring on the Wenger is much stronger than the Vics.

Both are great knives.
 
I prefer the Vic SAKs over Wenger. Harder steel, better can opener, plus it has the small screwdriver on the end of it. But the hook?? why?
 
DAFOX wrote:
"But the hook?? why?"

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Don't forget, these knives are made in (and sell quite well in) Europe. It's quite common there for shopkeepers to tie up packages with string for you to carry them home, rather them stuffing them in large plastic bags. If you've got to haul a large box down the street, into the subway, back up the stairs down another street .... before getting home, that hook just might come in handy.
Well, maybe. That's one theory anyway!
 
I don't buy the string theory because the hook doesn't loop around far enough to securely carry a package like this. The lace tightener theory seems to make more sense. The knife is sold as "The Climber" and the idea of needing to tighten the laces on mountain or hiking boots makes more sense to me.
 
txmoonwolf, I also prefer the Wenger Standard Issue over the Victorinox Soldier. I actually own both, but the Wenger has the shackle ring which I use to attach a lanyard to.
To be honest, other than the shackle ring, I see no difference in the construction between the "Soldier" and the "Standard Issue." Both models are issued to the actual Swiss army. Now, the red scaled civilian versions do have marked differences. Again, many people prefer Victorinox's civilian models over Wenger's, however, they are both well made.

 
I don't buy the string theory because the hook doesn't loop around far enough to securely carry a package like this.
Seems kind of far fetched to me too but the current Victorinox brochure calls it a "multi-purpose hook (parcel carrier)".

So how do you like your Climber? For me it's about the perfect travelling knife.
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Frank,

So far I like it very much. The size is good and the collection of tools is right for me.

Interesting that Victorinox actually calls it a parcel carrier. I guess that adds quite a bit of creedence to the package and string theory.

I used to always carry Wengers but since I have bought the Victorinox I've noticed that it seems much tighter and solid than my old one.

Still, the Wenger served me well for years and I never had any complaints. I just decided to give Victorinox a try this time.
 
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