Wenger Vs. Victorinox?

[KnifeFan]

Can anyone share the personal pros/cons they've found between Wenger and Victorinox? I have used a Victorinox Pioneer as an EDC in the past and developed quite a fondness for it, but want to hear some thoughts about the "other side" of the SAK battle.

 

[znapschatz]

Can anyone share the personal pros/cons they've found between Wenger and Victorinox? I have used a Victorinox Pioneer as an EDC in the past and developed quite a fondness for it, but want to hear some thoughts about the "other side" of the SAK battle.

Not that I have ever done a controlled test with them, but over decades I have owned 2 Wengers and rather more Victorinox. My impression was although all were good, Vics were better designed in that they were more compact than comparably equipped Wengers. In use, however, all did the job, and if a Wenger were available at the right price, I would go for it.

Generally, I prefer Vic except for the Soldier/Standard Issue because I like the bail on the Wenger, absent from the Vic. They seem to be the only SAKs in their respective product lines essentially equal.

 

[lotoblades]

I've owned several of both brands,overall I prefer Victorinox,but I have never had any problems with Wenger.Overall the vic's are better built,and the tools are better designed,I like the can openers,scissors,punches etc. better on vics,but on the other hand I like the locking blade feature on some of the wengers,and they have several smaller models with different tool combinatons that arn't available from Victorinox.

Both are good,find a model you like and try it!

 

[tcolling]

I've owned several of both brands,overall I prefer Victorinox,but I have never had any problems with Wenger.Overall the vic's are better built,and the tools are better designed,I like the can openers,scissors,punches etc. better on vics,but on the other hand I like the locking blade feature on some of the wengers,and they have several smaller models with different tool combinatons that arn't available from Victorinox.

Both are good,find a model you like and try it!

Same here. I agree with you on all points except the recent Wengers seem to be as well built as Vics, from my limited experience with them. I'm partial to Vics but I must say I really like the locking main blades on some of the Wengers. However the Vics win most of the time, for me, due to their superior tool design. Wenger tools seem to have fewer functions per tool than Vics, with the most notable example being the can openers on the two brands.

- Tim

 

[lotoblades]

Yea there's no comparison on the can openers,vics is much easier to use (For me at least) and it has the addition of a small screwdriver.I carry a vic everyday!

 

[tcolling]

Yea there's no comparison on the can openers,vics is much easier to use (For me at least) and it has the addition of a small screwdriver.I carry a vic everyday!

Not only that, it will also serve as a Phillips screwdriver, too!

- Tim

 

[[digidude]]

I have one Wenger and I like it just fine, but I never use it becouse the backsprings are SO DAMN WEAK.

Overall Victorinox are better.

 

[Munky]

I like vics over wengers because the serration teeth bent cutting into a clam pack set of headphones on the only wenger I have owned. My Vic Hunter has a locking blade and although I have "lost" it many times it has always found its way back to me.

 

[KnifeFan]

Thanks for the feedback. I can certainly vouch for the quality of the Vic's can opener, due to some unusual and laughable situations I've found myself in.

Znapschatz - take a look at the Vic Pioneer.

http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Product.htm?category=originalswissarmyknives&product=53960&

It's EXACTLY the same as the Vic Soldier and Wenger Standard Issue, except with an eyelet and ring. This is the knive I carried, except the handle had a red coating on the metal. After years of heavy use, they eyelet and ring are solid as a rock with no signs of weakening. The bonus is that it doesn't protrude out the sides of the handle like the Wenger. I simply attached a small leather cord and was good to go! It may be another option for you to consider...

That leads me into a couple of different questions... has anyone ever really found the SAK corkscrew effective for it's intended use, or have you found it valuable for any other uses? I've experienced a few blood blisters thanks to them, and wonder why Vic would not create a proper Wine corkscrew/foil cutting blade/bottle opener line rather than their "Waiter" model...

Also, has anyone found the saw effective? The saw on my Leatherman is one of the best I've ever come across, and wonder how they compared.

 

[BJE]

Thanks for the feedback. I can certainly vouch for the quality of the Vic's can opener, due to some unusual and laughable situations I've found myself in.

Znapschatz - take a look at the Vic Pioneer.

It's EXACTLY the same as the Vic Soldier and Wenger Standard Issue, except with an eyelet and ring. This is the knive I carried, except the handle had a red coating on the metal. After years of heavy use, they eyelet and ring are solid as a rock with no signs of weakening. The bonus is that it doesn't protrude out the sides of the handle like the Wenger. I simply attached a small leather cord and was good to go! It may be another option for you to consider...

That leads me into a couple of different questions... has anyone ever really found the SAK corkscrew effective for it's intended use, or have you found it valuable for any other uses? I've experienced a few blood blisters thanks to them, and wonder why Vic would not create a proper Wine corkscrew/foil cutting blade/bottle opener line rather than their "Waiter" model...

Also, has anyone found the saw effective? The saw on my Leatherman is one of the best I've ever come across, and wonder how they compared.

The saw on my Farmer as well as my Hiker are both very effective. I like the Leatherman saw a little better (mainly because it locks, and it has a bigger handle to hold on to), but not by much and it seems to fill up faster, I guess due to the backward facing teeth.

 

[lotoblades]

I find the saw on victorinox and wenger to be very effective,especialy on green wood and soft wood,but it still performs well even on dried oak etc.
The main difference on the leatherman is that the teeth are tilted back.
I have cut some pretty bigs saplings and limbs with the saw on a sak,up to 3.5 to 4'' or so in diameter,very effective.

 

[never too sharp]

I heard somewhere(here, actually) that victorinox manufactures both brands now. True or not, I really don't know. When I was a kid, I went with Vic because the sheild looked better. Good reason, huh? I've only bought vics since then.

The corkscrew has to go, at least for the American market. That would be a great place for a #2 phillips or any number of implements.

 

[Eyegor]

My findings echo many others:
Wenger: Better scissors, SI better than Soldier (for me), Packlock, EVOgrip
Vic: Nicer selection of larger (110mm) knives, better can opener, combo tool, probably more models overall.

I would take either and a Vic Rucksack has been my EDC for 16 years,.....but my first SAK was a BSA Wenger. I miss that knife.

As for saws. IMO Vic saws rock. A saw is almost a must have on my SAKs.

 

[tcolling]

My findings echo many others:
Wenger: Better scissors, SI better than Soldier (for me), Packlock, EVOgrip
...

For me, I prefer the Vic scissors. I certainly like the Wenger packlock. The Evogrips don't turn me on too much (I have two models with 'em and I don't care much for 'em.)

Your mileage may vary...

 

[znapschatz]

Thanks for the feedback. I can certainly vouch for the quality of the Vic's can opener, due to some unusual and laughable situations I've found myself in.

Znapschatz - take a look at the Vic Pioneer.

http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Product.htm?category=originalswissarmyknives&product=53960&

It's EXACTLY the same as the Vic Soldier and Wenger Standard Issue, except with an eyelet and ring. This is the knive I carried, except the handle had a red coating on the metal. After years of heavy use, they eyelet and ring are solid as a rock with no signs of weakening. The bonus is that it doesn't protrude out the sides of the handle like the Wenger. I simply attached a small leather cord and was good to go! It may be another option for you to consider...

That leads me into a couple of different questions... has anyone ever really found the SAK corkscrew effective for it's intended use, or have you found it valuable for any other uses? I've experienced a few blood blisters thanks to them, and wonder why Vic would not create a proper Wine corkscrew/foil cutting blade/bottle opener line rather than their "Waiter" model...

Also, has anyone found the saw effective? The saw on my Leatherman is one of the best I've ever come across, and wonder how they compared.

KnifeFan,

Good point about the Vic Pioneer, don't know why it never occurred to me before.

The Vic corkscrew is okay when used as follows: screw it all the way down almost touching the bottle lip, then lever the cork by working the handle back and forth. When the cork breaks loose, it pulls up easily. It isn't a great corkscrew, but works when well enough there isn't a dedicated one handy. The corkscrew is also good for picking apart tight knots. Both these tips I picked up on this forum (many thanks!)

After reading your post, I grabbed my Swisstool and Leatherman Core, each with equivalent saws, and commenced to test them on a length of discarded toilet plunger handle. It took exactly the same number of strokes to cut through. Neither bounced or filled. I think that Vic and current Leatherman saws are about equally effective on wood. Haven't tried the metal saw yet.

 

[lotoblades]

For me, I prefer the Vic scissors. I certainly like the Wenger packlock

I agree Tim,The packlock is great,and while wengers scissors are good I like the Victorinox design better as well.Sure you may have to change a spring (eventualy) but they are more strurdy than the ones found on the wengers,and they stay put when you use them instead of rocking back and forth with every cut.

 

[UnknownVT]

Can anyone share the personal pros/cons they've found between Wenger and Victorinox? I have used a Victorinox Pioneer as an EDC in the past and developed quite a fondness for it, but want to hear some thoughts about the "other side" of the SAK battle.

SAKs - Victorinox or Wenger

SAK Scissors - Wenger or Victorinox?

SAK Pliers - Wenger or Victorinox?

Your Vic Pioneer is very similar to the Victorinox Soldier -

Victorinox Soldier v. Wenger Standard Issue

I did have some issues with Wengers -

UNBELIEVABLE!!! SAK Quality....

However Wenger was bought out by Victorinox a couple of years ago -
even though Wenger is supposed to be operating independently -
hopefully some of the quality issues encountered may be addressed.

--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent

 

[rhino]

I've had a few Wengers and many more Victorinox knives.

Aside from what the others have mentioned, I've been able to get a sharper edge on my Vics almost across the board.

 

[MG_Saldivar]

I don't want to hijack the thread but since this goes to a Vic vs. Wenger issue...

Like others here, I've been concerned by weak Wenger backsprings in the past (although I've only owned two Wengers vs. at least a dozen Vics). However, the new Ranger line from Wenger has intrigued be because of the one-hand opening plain blades that basically aren't available from Vic*. However, I was given pause by the fact that the Rangers are too large for EDC given my area's knife laws.

Then, I stumbled across this model - the Evo S13. It's 3.25" long but has a locking main blade and a locking screwdriver. The tools available make it ideal for me but, again, my prior experiences with Wenger have left me underwhelmed.

Do any of you have any intel on this model?

(I've seached Bladeforums and can't find any mention of this model... I don't know if it's relatively new or if it's an existing model that's been re-named.)


*I'm aware SwissBianco over at SOSAK can sometimes get Vic to produce plain edge OHTs but I'm not prepared to pay what he charges for that model..

 

[darthsoaker]

While I don't have the Wenger, I do have one that has the same implements, except with a serrated edge, and normal scales.

I love it, the pack lock (the name for the lock that Wenger uses) is great, looks awkward, but is perfectly placed. I haven't had any problems with the back springs, and I've used it HARD. I'm going to pick another one up whenever I get to stop by the local Sports Authority :thumbup: