Would you guys please kindly inform me about these saks?

Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
538
yesterday i visit a knife dealer to buy a super tinker... i've been loving SAKs for more than 20 years and actually bought them for tools and EDC... i got plenty of saks but not considering myself saks expert or collector at all... (to much macgyver influence hahaha)

i see these old saks and the dealer offer me a reasonable ordinary saks price for these old stocks (plus a tiny discount)...

this one is pretty strange since i have no info about it...
its 84mm victorinox like my sportsman that i EDC, but it got scissors on it!
i have no idea whats its called. (any info?)
oldsaks3.jpg

seem old but i dont know how old... its got the nail file instead of small blade.

also got these old anniversary models... dont know what its called, it might be a standard, tourist, mini tinker and classic (right?)
seem that the dealer had keep them since 84 or 97 and no body bought them...
oldsaks.jpg



oldsaks2.jpg



i dont know the larger on the left called... seem like an old GAK but its red... wish i could got the green one but its the only one they got.



so please give me your honest opinion guys... did the dealer just trick me to buy those old inventory or they're worth to keep...?


thanks alot guys...
 
Great find! Some of them are retired models and hard to find.

I think that the 84mm model with scissors is a Climber Small, which is a retired model.

I am not sure about the anniversary models, but here's my guess (from left to right):
Tourist, Classic, Tinker Small, Spartan

The large one could be the civilian version of the GAK. If I am correct, that model is called the Safari Trooper. This model and its variants are retired.

I use this site to identify SAKs:
http://www.smartknives.com/Knife-Directories/84mm-Victorinox-knives.html
 
I think you did good, Iyonk! ;)

Hadn't seen that link, Harayasu - Thanks! :thumbup:
 
The Sportsman with scissors has been known as an Alumnus but the origin of the name seems unclear. It dates to pre-1985 when Vic weren't that fussed about names and it was local dealers that often seemed to come up with their own. It's a rare piece indeed and well done on finding it.

SAKwiki is also a great site for SAK information and has lots of old catalogues listed in it's gallery section.

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Knife+List

Oh yes, I think Harayasu nailed the rest.
 
Last edited:
Yes, the one on the left is a Safari Trooper. I've seen them sell on ebay for up to $60. I've "stolen" a couple from ebay for as little as $12. I also have the green version of the Safari Trooper (not a GAK.) If you want to consider a trade, shoot me a PM or email.
BTW- the Safari Troopers were discontinued in the 80's.
 
Wow... thanks alot guys! you're all surely very helpful to me...

the anniversary models got serial numbers on them and the shield on the reverse side... they're not super prestine but feel pretty good after all the posiitive input from you guys..

i never intended to be a saks collector, since i dont think i can catch up hehehe...


i just thought after all these years those knives just sitting in the shelf and no body pay attention to them... may be they're not valuable at all, but after all the info from you guys, i'm very happy to purchase them all...

have a niceday guys...

iyonk
 
thanks alot for your very2 generous offer scott... but i live on the other part of the earth far from you and the hastle off the country law wont be easy for the trade... so i'm very thankful but cannot accept your generoucity

once again i really appreciate your kindness and sincere offering...

surely a very tempting offer though! if we're not far appart i'll trade in heartbeat hehehe...
 
You're welcome— but there was nothing generous about the offer really.

Used GAKs used be be common and cheap not that long ago. That would be the green military version of yours. Finding one in good condition is getting to be difficult. The green civilian version is always hard to find. The red one (like yours) seems to be more common, but still quite collectible. Wherever you are, you could probably find a way to sell it for a profit and then turn the whole deal into the green version that you really want. OR—you could just learn to love the red one. After all, SAKs are supposed to be red. :)

BTW— that red Safari of yours was my first SAK. That was about thirty years ago.
 
I still appreciate your sincere offer scott hehehe...

I have a question for SAKs collectors... do you guys collect SAKs becouse they're valuable or becouse they brings memories for your own pleasure?

lately i've been looking for the saks that i used to have just for memory sake... so far lots of saks just sit in the drawer instead of getting used as a tool hehehe...
 
Nice collection!

Do you have a photo of the red 108mm knife with the blades open? Using a primary source, the red one appears to be a "Safari". According to the catalog (see photo), the "Safari" (0.87 70) is red whereas the "Trooper" (0.87 70.04) is green. Both are part of the "Safari" series.

victorinox-misc.jpg


Using sources other than primary sources can be misleading, especially when references aren't given or the origin in "unknown". For example, I've heard many names for this knife but few matched the one on the box: ;)
techline.jpg

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=516532&highlight=techline
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=650176&highlight=techline

Nothing against Smartknives. I've referenced Smartknives in a review, and the owner of SakWiki deleted the reference before he posted my review on one of his other sites. :p

Do you have the tin for the 100 year knife? (see photo above) It's real pretty!

I collect Swiss army knives and other types of multi-tools because of sentimental reasons as well as because they are useful. Collecting for value suggests an interest in selling... Who would want to sell their beloved Swiss army knife?! ;)
 
Woohoo.. nice collections supratentorial!

yes i have the tin for the 100 year aniv knife... but its in beaten up condition with some rust on it... but i dont mind since i feel lucky enough to bought it since they wait for me all these years for me to bring them home hehehe...

yup, the red 108mm consist of the same tools like your picture... basicly red trooper... i do really wish i got the green one like i used to have long time ago... but since i got no option... then red it is...

the store also got the stag hunter like your picture, they ask almost $50 for it... i like it but still thinking about it...

the 84mm sportsman with scissor is the one i love most... sadly i dont have the heart to EDC it since its so collectable... why cant victorinox re-issue the model? its my perfect SAK in the whole wide universe!


thanks alot supratentorial! awesome post!!!
 
I have a question for SAKs collectors... do you guys collect SAKs becouse they're valuable or becouse they brings memories for your own pleasure?

Well, in the beginning I didn't intend to collect SAKs, but now I do, mainly alox models though. They are also really useful tools and I use them a lot. It is not my intention to sell them, but of course I do know that some models may be worth a lot a few decades later.
 
Thanks Iyonk! It's cool that you have the tin also. Some mineral oil should remove the active rust so that its condition is preserved. You might want to grab the Stag Hunter, especially at that price, if the pattern has sentimental value to you.

Google showed that my review is still up on that guy's "Secret Order" website. ...ironic that he's still using my material (this is not the only example either) since Google also revealed that he's been saying lies about me (even making some threats) behind my back for at least a year!

If you are looking for a good primary source to reference on Swiss army knives, you might pick up The Knife and Its History: Written on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Victorinox. There's lots of Swiss army knife knowledge in that book!
 
I know how you feel supratentorial, sometimes the internet and forums could be cruel and unfair... been experiencing typical of those in an airgun forum... but i just wont let myself consumed with it...

i consider the stag hunter, but haent made up my mind hehehe...

thanks alot supratentorial... wish you a good life my friend!


iyonk
 
Back
Top