Swiss Army Knives

I've been a fan of SAKs since the early 80s. Anyone else like them? Here are a couple of my favorites.

Nice Tom!
My 36+ year old SAK Spartan ... (I need to get a few more!)

Here's the one I bought at the Military Rod & Gun Club in Grafenwoehr Germany in 1983. I carried this the rest of my time in the Army.

This was the heat before Leatherman's came out.









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Tom

I carry a SAK climber. I have carried a SAK 99.9% of the time for the past 30+ years. Value for money, they are one of the best.
Sorry I don't have any current pictures.

Tony, no toothpick and tweezers in that Spartan?

Rob, your Fisherman has the classic square Phillips head shaft. Cool!

Rod, my two favorite models are the Camper for outdoors and the Climber for city. Love that scissors!

Needless to say, SAKs make great companions for RMKs.

Nope. Guess that's why they call it the Spartan.

After 36+ years, it's time to treat yourself to a "full service" SAK.

Tom,
You're probably right. Do you mean like this? ...

Nope, too small, Tony. More like this!

Just caught wind that Victorinox, who purchased Wenger a few years ago, will no longer produce SAKs under the Wenger name. Good-bye to an era!

Story

Man that's what i call AWESOME!

Picked up this Red Alox Pioneer a while back. These Alox models are a whole different animal in the SAK world.

I like it. A good blade and not too many tools to make it too large. What are the scales made of?

Hi Pat,

The scales are aluminum with nickel silver pins. Also, the Alox models have thicker blades than the standard models.

BTW, sorry to hear about the loss of your Sebenza. Hopefully, it was picked up by someone who will truly appreciate and take care of it. Life goes on. Better a knife than a loved one.

Tom, you nailed it.... my favorite SAK. This one is in my EDC drawer and goes in my pocket often. This one is a little older with the plain cross logo.

Mitchell,

Actually, I tried to find one with the old cross, but most of them looked pretty tired. I agree, this model has just the right tools and less bulk. Solid little knife.

This knife is not as old or historical as some of these postings, but I have carried this SAK about 99.9% of the time for many years.

Just as handy as the rest.

Thanks for posting, Rod.

I also have a SAK. Hope so you people like this...

No fork??

2003 Victorinox Military Issue

Standard issue to every pair of pants I have...

The old cross is very attractive to me, too. Here is a Woodsman that I carry a lot.
On the trail it's a great addition to a fixed blade and lightweight to carry. I have a second one in very good condition in the drawer as a backup - just in case

I have a Wenger with a small light next to the tweezers. Light still works after 10 years.

I prefer the Alox versions but that's definitely a handy addition, Eric!

This is my Nylon handled SAK that is actually a GAK*



* German Army Knife (made by Victorinox)

This one had been issued for the Netherland's Army and had obviously seen some use. That makes it easy for me to throw it in the bag wherever I go
A very versatile tool.

oh....youz guyz means these things?

quick and dirty of a few SAK-n-GAK oldballs acquired over the years....

Nice - another GAK!
And the silver Alox in the bottom right corner seems to carry the "WK" stamp

The above three blade Hunter GAK/Safari is odd, I have others in the line (all others, actually), but no room in shot. Below are a few others of the discontinued GAK/Safari 108mm line. Top to bottom would be Pathfinder (favorite carry knife), Swiss Shark, canted Solo, and Trooper (red GAK in all respects except color).

The above silver alox is first year of no acceptance stamp on small scale blank and is a Wenger from '87....collectors are in disagreement over whether that signifies an issue knife using up last of old scale stock that year only, or if an otherwise military marked knife destined for civilian market. Wenger now dead and absorbed by Victorinox and knives dropped, and doubt anyone still around from Wenger who could point towards a definitive document either way. So, a mystery for all time, as far as I am concerned, no matter expert opinion either way, it only opinion.

The above all black SAK is oddball, note it uses same old "blankless" back scale as the military knives and early Pioneers, several hundred were made up when Victorinox closed out/liquidated all the old style scales circa 2011, so there will never be any such critter again, not unless they retool.

The above 1:100 all red faux old original SAK is from Swiss Bianco, but Victorinox is slamming the door on distributors ordering customs not easily discernable from Victorinox own limited runs, and is now requiring scale markings on top of blade markings for custom orders. Not really fair, as the custom orders mainly just replicated knives such as the original SAK which Victorinox had dropped.

Below is a trick alox Solo knife from Swiss distributor HR, which I use on kids and adults, leading in with, "my eyes are not what they used to be, this knife looks kinda purple to me.....are you sure it is green?....look again."

The below powder blue another Swiss Bianco faux SAK 1:100 limited runs.

Nice collection

I have gak 108, very good knife,
especially the form of saw teeth,
in my opinion the best among saws folding knives.

The latest saws are even better, the GAK just too short in toothed length. If really going at it with the GAK saw, it gets jammed out front or comes completely out of wood with too long and fast a stroke. But good tooth design. It is just their latest is even better.

A little SAK-N-GAK size comparison....the Pathfinder previous (minus corkscrew and awl) weighs about the same as the SAK, while the GAK 1/4 oz heavier 2.9 oz vs 2.5 oz...you never know either are there, incredibly light and rounded. (I prefer the Pathfinder as I have not even a corkscrew printing or against leg, and do not drink alcohol).

Both are jewels for the money, the SAK has nickel silver divider and pins. Two of the best carry knives ever as for size/weight/capability. Again, the GAK saw blade also handles phillips/slotted/bottles/cans, and more reach.

The truly observant might note the SAK blades are heaviest built...stout sucker, stout safe springs. Same knife still made today with annoying keyring stub against palm and named Pioneer.

Which brings to mind one thing I ADORE about the GAK...the beveled lanyard hole through the knife, rather than annoying/protruding/poking/prodding key/lanyard ring or shackle.










A little history...the Swiss came out with the multitool late 1800s, by WWI it was copied in America both as the Lineman knife aka later the TL29 and Scout knife, by WWII we had the all metal MIL-K-818D Scout aka "demo" knife (mine just retrieved from glove box), and the Swiss liked it so much that by late 1950s, they copied the concept with the Pioneer, and SAK adopted by 1960....a full circle.

All are essentially Scout knives, but the Swiss version is half the weight of an American Scout. And far more rounded. Note the smaller/lighter SAK is just as beefy in blades. The had a winner with this one.

Light failing outside so sorry for rushed photos.

Another favorite, from friend Yvonne, and Rusalka the Antonov.

Not many of THESE flyin' around in any sense of the term.

I did not open blades for photo, but the red alox knife is a SAK configuration, while the Tenite/Tenex handled version is a Spartan which has same tools plus awl/corkscrew/toothpick/tweezers value added to back. (Bet y'all/youzguyz didn't know the plastic handles are tenite/tenex, didja?)

Again, as you can tell, I like the oddball stuff.

When I wrote about the best saw on GAK 108,
I mean just the shape of the tooth,
this form when moving forward allows you to start
cutting line more accurately

And yes, modern saws longer, especially on Wenger 120 mm, who now owns Victorinox.

A knife with AH-2 a perfect!

I thought YOU, of all people, would really like knives marked with "Rusalka" the AH-2. The red alox knife also has their wings-AH-2 logo etched on the main blade. The plane is a legend from STOL performance in ferrying folk and supplies into snow covered high mountain airfields the size of postage stamps with rock wall on two sides and 3000 ft drop on other two sides. One of the great planes of all time, essentially a biplane STOL DC3/C47 in fuselage.

Pretty cool set, and Yvonne and I had to work plenty hard to get an international bank wire transfer done to a bank in Switzerland. The flying club not playing paypal, and are set up only for domestic club members. BUT, since so hard to obtain, if the set ever sold in the USA, I MIGHT even not lose money!!!

The difficulty and expense in the transfer to a Swiss bank was unexpected, and not like the old days (hahaha!).

PS- It is Victorinox who owns Wenger, and they have ceased all knife production marked Wenger, and relegated the name to Swiss watches and active wear, very sad to say. It is as if coming back from the dead and finding one's name memorialized in a brand of men's underwear. MUCH better to find one's name and picture on a Swiss Army Knife.

No, not closed, just changed the logo, name models and can opener -
operate the same machines, the same people
in the same room of the former Wenger))

https://www.victorinox.com/global/en/Pro...rgePocketKnives

What I would really like - Alox with stamp with my year of birth

as example photo 66,

my 86 - https://www.smartknives.com/Soldier-Knives/Soldier-1986.htm

or victorinox with WIG KM-1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvyXdcLRfFs

We have this failed because of politics and bad economy,
but in the future they will be in demand for tourism and fishing,
I think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svvfzETPmNg

Unfortunately, I predate the first alox SAK so no birthday knife for me!

As for the new 111mm issue SAK and all other variations (with the longer/better saw and liner locking), whether you wish to consider it a Wenger or not, the name is gone as for knives, and will point out all the newer knives lack any Wenger specific maker cues/clues, such as the Wenger design tools as in combination screwdriver/can-openers with all knives now using the Victorinox patent openers, as well as Victorinox style ground knife blades. So, the Wenger plant may still be open, but they are producing only Victorinox in name and design, and personally imagine the plant slated to close after whatever contract date for Wenger employee job security clause expires.

Ground effect craft require a smooth and flat terrain or sea, and rarely are either smooth and flat. Very limited application in the real world.

But you have to victorinox with AH-2,
It's really cool


I agree about WIG, but as a rescue ship, it's pretty cool - high speed,
but economically not expedient.

Classic hydrofoils and Hovercraft more reliable.
They still play on transport between cities and tourist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuDrN-sgLKo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEWZYj7ZXrA

Avianna web address on the postcard, and they have a shopping site for gear marked with their logo, including the two Victorinox knives of only under 200 production (different numbers for the different knives, like maybe 175 on one and 75 on another, but do not recall details), but you are on your own as for efficient way to pay and ship, however, knives are cheaply priced as far as custom runs go. They have another AH-2 themed knife they would like to do, but there are difficulties so may never happen due to things beyond their control. I am on list if it ever happens.

No photo, but a clarification of Wenger knives being absorbed and then discontinued by Victorinox. Second-hand info but this person does custom orders with Victorinox, and the Victorinox contact stated that Wenger was on verge of it being a Chinese made knife with factory closed and workers laid off, when Victorinox stepped in, bought the factory (which is still open and making Victorinox branded stuff at the moment), and kept all the workers, and the company highly regarded by the Swiss for doing so...

Pity there are not more companies who would do such a thing.

Seems a shame--I always preferred the Wenger scissors design over the Victorinox, because the Victorinox has a flimsy, easily breakable spring.

And nowadays, you have rivets instead of pivot screws, and etc, no grey holder for a magnifier, etc etc...when shopping nowadays, i either get something nearly identical as old, or find NOS stuff, which still is generally quite inexpensive, compared to most stuff.

I had pointed my insider friend to this thread, and they politely dressed me down for any critique of Victorinox taking over Wenger, and informed me of how the factory and jobs were saved, so I will bow out of this before I get another email!

Sometimes the truth hurts!

it did.....especially the part about saving the factory and jobs.