White Scale SAKs?

T

taeku4

Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
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Hello, I have a question about white scales on SAKs from the factory.

I have a white scale Victorinox SwissChamp with my name engraved on the side, from a family vacation to Europe last year. I picked it up in the city of Lucerne Switzerland, and I was told by someone that the white factory scales on SAKs are for ones sold in Switzerland, the black ones for Europe, and the red ones for worldwide distribution.

I have never seen anyone else, aside from my family and friends who got the white scale Classics from Switzerland, carry any white SAKs. I know there are white Classics also sold in America, but I have never seen any other model sold in white. Is there any truth to this?

Also, what would you guys recommend for a decent fullsize Leatherman tool? As an engineering student and car tinkerer, might be good for me to actually have some tools on hand from time to time.

(the souvenir SwissChamp is much more of a collectible for me than anything else at this point, it has too many good memories for me to carry anywhere and possibly lose, but my red Tinker or Leatherman Micra is always on hand:D)
 
Hummm, it's not something I've heard before, it's possible there is a grain of truth to it. The vast majority of SAKs sold anywhere in the world are good old red, including Europe and Switzerland AFAIK. Here in the UK common variations are; black, camo, silvertech and transparent, but not white. I'm sure you can buy black (and all the above colours) SAKs in the US as well.

So it could well be that it's easier to buy (if not exclusively) white scaled SAKs in Switzerland, they're certainly not easy to find anywhere else.

BTW I do love white SAKs, I've got a Vic Rambler, Climber and a Wenger Commander all in white, lovely.:)


On to the Leatherman. Much as I love the Juice, if you're likely to be working on a car etc then it might be a little to small for your needs. If you're on a budget then have a look at the Kick, Fuse and Blast. All good tools and excellent screwdrivers. If you've got a bit more to spend then look at the Wave. You wouldn't go wrong with any of them IMO.

If you like your SwissChamp then you could also look at the Victorinox Spirit (standard or 'S' or 'X' variants) one of the great tools out there IMO. In fact I've got a Spirit X on my belt right now.:) Well packed with features and the most comfortable set of pliers I've ever held on a MT.
 
taeku4 said:
I was told by someone that the white factory scales on SAKs are for ones sold in Switzerland
Click to expand...

I visited Zurich some years ago and went into a knife shop to buy some SAK's. I was told the same thing about the handle color's.
I purchased two Champs with white handle slabs and I have never seen them anywhere else.
 
Thanks a lot for the responses everyone.

Gareth UK: thanks for the suggestion, I was looking at some Leathermans, but the Swisstools just look really nice and handy. Plus, considering the build quality of my SwissChamp, the SwissTool is probably awesome.

Alfaholic: I was actually told the same thing at the place I picked mine up at. It was an official retailer in the Bucherer Watch shop, so I guess that there is some truth in it.

BuckThorn: your one of the few people I've heard who own a larger model Victorinox with factory white scales. Aside from the friends and family who I gave white SAKs to, there is no one in my area who seems to own one, aside from the white Classics they sell everywhere.
 
I bought an ebay lot several years ago, of 20 SAK's that I could clean up and give to my Scouts when they got the Whittlin' Chip.

I got one white one in the lot, with a woman's name on it. I was curious about it, since I had never seen a white on before, and couldn't find them anywhere. I guess if they're only available on Switzerland, that makes sense.

~Chris
 
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