Why arn't Wenger knives very popular?

S

sharkknife

Joined
Dec 28, 2007
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I have an Alox Wenger recruit. At the time that was the only thing I could get locally. Then a few months later Target started selling the VIC version. I paid to much for the Wenger :( I hear they stopped making those knives in that handle material.
 
Most people say that wenger knives "feel" like lower quality than vics. I have noticed that wenger knives seem to be lighter weight that victorinox knives but hold up just as well. it really depends on looks and tool design as far as which one is really better than the other one.
 
Here in the Netherlands, Wenger knives are often quite a bit more expensive than their Victorinox counterparts. The Wenger Evolution 14 has a similar tool configuration as the Victorinox Climber. But the Wenger is 35 euros and the Victorinox is 22 euros. That's a difference of 13 euros (ca. 18 US dollars). I think that's one of the reasons why people prefer Victorinox.

Personally I prefer the way Victorinox implements their tools. For example, I prefer the Victorinox can opener over the Wenger can opener. Also I sometimes notice that the back springs of Victorinox knives are a bit stronger than those on Wenger knives. But Wenger knives aren't bad and Wenger does a lot of innovation, just look at their handles and locking systems.
 
Vic's were more common in my area. They became the dominant brand for that reason.

That was in the time after color TV and before computers :rolleyes:
 
pellidon said:
Vic's were more common in my area. They became the dominant brand for that reason.

That was in the time after color TV and before computers :rolleyes:
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Still that way around here. I don't think I've ever seen a Wenger sold around here. Of course the SAK I prefer (the farmer) isn't sold around here either. Had to order online. :rolleyes:
 
sharkknife said:
Why arn't Wenger knives very popular?
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Don't know that Wenger's aren't popular, they are just up against VIC, who has made huge inroads in US and seems to really understand how to market. There is almost no store you go into that will not have at least some VICs.
VIC has pretty much stayed with the classical "look" of the SAK and I think that tradition appeals to many.

jlee3228 said:
Most people say that wenger knives "feel" like lower quality than vics. I have noticed that wenger knives seem to be lighter weight that victorinox knives but hold up just as well. it really depends on looks and tool design as far as which one is really better than the other one.
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I've seen the comment about the "feel" numerous times, and don't quite see it either.
I believe there was a period when they were making some a bit cheaper, so that may be what folks are referring to. They seem to have gotten away from that now.
They are doing some very interesting designs recently and I find a number of them interesting and useful.
 
I'm not sure why. Victorinox's are more available.

I also prefer the design of the Vic can opener over the Wenger.
 
it goes waaaay back,
that wenger would always be kinda second fiddle.
imagine trying to displace the originators of a particular reputable rock solid product.
for one, a good head start will always be a marketing advantage to the early bird,
which wenger had to put up with since day-1.
then there's this genuine wishful thinking of trying to introduce to the market,
goods of similar quality if not better; or cheaper than the original...not!
and to top it off, the competition just won't roll over.
but you got to hand it to them for trying ever harder to win you over.
 
There are a few factors IMO. Vic are easier to get hold of, though it should be kept in mind that Vic are a much larger company, somewhere in the region of ten times the size I remember reading.

Also there does seem to have been a period where Wenger's QC wasn't up to scratch. I picked up a second hand Wenger that was woeful. Fortunately that isn't the case any more.

Lastly, and often overlooked, is that we tend to compare 85mm Wengers to 91mm Vics, so yes the springs do feel different. If you compare Wengers to the 84mm Vics then the difference isn't there IMO.

Sadly Wenger is also that bit more pricey here as well, but well worth investing in one I think.:)
 
As some guys already told, the QC of Wenger, especially with the steel, was some time ago very, i´d like to take the word unhappy. I got a Wenger knife (it´s like a 111mm Vic, don´t know the type). I lend it out to my sister, when she was travelling. I got it back, with no more edge on it. She used it very often and was a long time away from home. I tried to resharpen it, with no success. Sharp as a dull crowbar. I bought that knife about 12 years ago. My wife uses to carry a Wenger with her as EDC. Got dull very often, I resharpened it. It became razorsharp. I´m thinking about getting an EvoWood. Because I like that wooden handles more, than theese synthetic handle ever.

Kind regards...
 
Just an FYI. Wenger is a subsidiary of Victorinox. I don't remember when Victorinox bought it's competitor.
 
@ UffDa: As much as I have heard this was sometimes in the middle of the 90s. But I don´t know really...

Kind regards...
 
Humppa said:
@ UffDa: As much as I have heard this was sometimes in the middle of the 90s. But I don´t know really...
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Seems it was in 2005. According to Wikipeidia: April 26, 2005

Suppose it explains why there has been a turnaround in the quality.
 
A good move on Vics part - Otherwise ther might be 'genuine' swiss army knives made in China or wherever.
 
bigbadboom said:
A good move on Vics part - Otherwise ther might be 'genuine' swiss army knives made in China or wherever.
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You mean there aren't ? :D Guess they can't even copy and compete with VIC prices.

Good move for us too, got Wenger back on track.

Just looking at things from a distance, it seems they let the VIC line stay pretty much "traditional" and do the experimenting with new designs, concepts, and materials in the Wenger line. Seems smart.
 
@Alann45 an @all: Sorry, for that wrong information... But (!) I knew it was in the middle of a decade... ;)

Yeah, this could be why there was a change in quality.

Kind regards...
 
The way it works was that in 1891, when Carl Elsner first created the swiss army knife, the swiss government (not wanting to produce civil unrest) decided that each company, Victorinox from the German-speaking region, and Wenger from the French-speaking region would each produce 50,000 knives per year exclusively for the Swiss military. Therefore, Victorinox is the "original" SAK, and Wenger was the "genuine" SAK, as Victorinox was created first.
Both companies are now under the same umbrella, since Wenger became financially unstable. Personally, I've always preferred the 'Victorinox' branded cutlery and multi-tools. Other users, simply like the price-point and features on the Wenger knives. The Wenger-branded blades seem more readily available in 'blister-paks' at some outdoor stores, while the Vics counter-top display boxes are featured at military surplus outlets, and stores with dedicated knife sections. It mostly likely depends on a retailer's jobber, and the 'wholesale' lot price.
 
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FYI,
"...Wenger is in the French-speaking Jura region and its competitor is in the German-speaking canton of Schwyz..."
.www.wengerna.com/company-history

dare we hope for a complete merger of french product styling with german production efficiency from wenger?
 
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