Oops.  Silly me!  I was confusing the Kathyn Kane "Swiss Army Knife Handbook" with the Michael Young "Owner's Manual"  I fond the handbook somewhat lacking. I've ordered the Owner's Manual from Amazon.  It is a hard one to find.  I've been trying to get a copy of the Rick Wall book.

The "Owners Manual" by Michael Young is an easy buy. Follow the link Ron posted a few posts down from here or look it up on eBay if you prefer as he sells them there too.

The Kane and Wall books are hard to find but from what I have heard they are not much compared to these modern books.

I've tried to get the Wall book on several occasion via different libraries but it most cases some schmuck has stolen it.  I've manged to get a copy of the Kane book and it is fairly weak. A lot of fluff and not nearly enough substance. (I just looked it over again)  Due to its age, it lacks any information on the newer patterns.

Thanks for the info, I will probably get the owners manual on Amazon, and I would like to eventually find  the History one on the net somewhere.

I found the "Knife and its History" on Amazon.com.  They are used. There is two copies at around 92-95 dollars each.

As some of you know I've been doing some un-scientific knife polls.  They are located at http://gullycat.hegewisch.net/poll/ I bring this up because my latest poll is regarding the two brands Victorinox and Wenger.  The question reads:

This question focuses on the two brands of Swiss Army Knives, Victorinox or Wenger.  While you might collect other knives; when it comes to just your collection of Swiss Army knives which answer best describes it?

If you would like to participate, then hop on over to a href="http://gullycat.hegewisch.net/poll/" target="_blank">http://gullycat.hegewisch.net/poll/ >

Several other polls remain open at the moment.  The SAK poll is at the top because it is the most recent.

My latest addition, a Swiss Army Officers Knife.

It isn’t mint but it’ll do.  Below is a precursor to the modern Spartan, the last in the line of the original “Officer’s  Knife”.  It differs from the later Spartan by having a shackle (bail) instead of a key ring and has solid scales with no space for tweezers and toothpick.  It differs from the later Standard because the Standard lacked shackle.     

The implements give us an idea of when the knife was made.  It has the earliest version of the newly patented can-opener and the older  triangular reamer.  These two implements date the knife between 1952-1960.   This knife is direct descendant  of the original Swiss Officers Knife first made in 1897 and registered as the Officer’s & Sports Knife.  Despite being known as the Swiss Army Officer’s Knife it was never officially adopted by the Swiss Army.

Nice knife Tobias. I need to learn some more about the older knives before I buy any. I have no idea what they should sell for.

Thanks Ricky.  As for determining what the knife is worth, I use a a couple guidelines.

1.  I watch a lot of sales on eBay and see what the knife is fetching before bothering to make a bid. This requires patience and will power but eventually you realize there are more than one of anything out there selling and some "rare" items are fairly common.

2.  Next I try to determine how much do I really want the item and how good of shape does it really need to be in. How important is the condition when it comes to the value. If I'm going to use the knife, do I really need to buy something in mint condition?

3.  Was the knife a common knife or rare knife (that can only be determined with research. When it comes to SAKs very few are truly rare.  This one was just older and in decent shape and selling cheap!.

4.  How much do I really want to spend on this particular knife.  I just over spent on Wenger Standard Issue but they are getting scarce and I really wanted one.

Seems close to mint condition.  No Box, however.  Not necessarily rare but nice just the same,  A Climber with a scene of the Matterhorn.

Victorinox just released this new video.

How Swiss Army Knife took world by storm

Thanks for the heads-up on the video, Wayne! Victorinox is a truly remarkable Company that makes amazing knives. The quality of their knives is second to none in the world, as far as I'm concerned. I am always amazed at how they consistently produce such a perfect product. Even with all the SAK's that I have, I have never had one with even so much as a small blemish. Truly amazing!

According to the video, sales of SAKs dropped by 30% due to 9/11.  You have to wonder how much this affected USA made knives and if this had more to do with the demise of so many USA knife companies as opposed to the globalization of the knife industry.

Toby,

I believe that Victorinox and Wenger were particularly impacted due in large part to the sales of their knives in airport gift shops and duty free shops around the world coming to a screeching halt after 9/11/2001.

According to Elsener a 40% drop in sales! Airlines and airports were returning huge lots of SAK's to Victorinox. And the only other knife company authorized to make knives for the Swiss Army, Wenger, went bust! Elsener came to their rescue and purchased Wenger in 2005.

I can't think of another company in the USA that might have been impacted to such a degree? I think that domestic knife companies were probably impacted more by the economic downturn and subsequent recession--loss of discretionary spending--more than they were by airport regulations, like Victorinox was? 

Ron, I agree that the impact on the US, knife market would not have been as substantial but I feel even a 5% drop in sales would have an impact.  Companies such as  Case which have a "collectors" market would probably be better able to withstand the hit but companies such as Camillus and Imperial were not as "collectable" 

Worse for Camillus was they government and BSA contracts.  The Boy Scouts came under strong opposition by Gay Activists and the government contract profit margin was under 1%!   With a union demand for higher wages at such a point in time, how could a company survive?

As this discussion is not specifically Swiss Army, I started a discussion in the General Knife discussion list  ( http://www.iknifecollector.com/forum/topics/globalization-or-9-11 )

My Rescue Tool.

Nice Knife Brad. Is it new or used ?

Excellent Rescue Tool, Brad.  I think that one is known as the One Handed Fireman or OHF.  The original Rescue Tool has the glow in the dark handles. The saw blade on the bottom is designed to cut through safety glass. That blade and the glass breaker are also designed so that the operator can remove andf replace them.

Ricky - It is new, just picked it up last night.

Tobias - Haven't figured out how to remove the bits you say are replaceable.

Brad. Mine came with the instructions.  I'll see if I can find them.  If I can I'll Scan it and post it here.

I just had to add here I used my can opener on my Swiss army knife for the first time yesterday. It was not as good as a p38 but it did a good job on opening a can of chili at work . I did have a little trouble keeping the hook part of the blade under the lip on the can. Anyone have some good tips on using this opener ?

It cuts differently than that of P-38.   You cut away from you i instead of toward you. It takes some getting used to .

That's an interesting video you posted, Toby. Personally, I have never been too much of a fan of the Victorinox can opener. Probably because I had so much experience with the military P38. The Vic opener seems counterintuitive to me.

Wenger makes a can opener that works almost like a P38 and I feel is much more efficient than the Victorinox. Just like the P38 the Wenger opener works in a clockwise manner. Unlike the Victorinox which goes in a counter clockwise motion.

Here is a side by side picture of the two different openers with the Victorinox on the left, the Wenger on the right.

If you'll notice there is no screwdriver option on the Wenger like there is on the Victorinox. Again, I'll sacrifice the screwdriver for the more efficient opener.

Ron, I use the small screwdriver on the end of the Vic Can opener more than I use the can opener.  I agree with you, it is counter-intuitive.   I've carried a P-38  for over 40 years. It is the absolute best camp can opener I've ever used and easier than any can opener I've ever come across on a knife.

Thanks for the response guys. Interesting conversation about the can opener. I was curious what everyone else thought about it.  It gets the job done in an emergency. Maybe I will start carrying my p38 again. :)

Has Central Valley Wholesale Knives discontinued its eBay store?  I just went there and it was empty.

I thin k he is just away on Vacation/Holiday. The last thing he sold says he will be away until today the 14th.

Thanks Wayne,

I was worried for a minute.  I need to buy some replacement scales for a couple used SAKs I'm going to modify.

Do you ever kick yourself for being indecisive about purchasing a knife.  I went back and forth for some time about buying a 111mm Equestrian.  Now they are getting expensive and hard to find!  Silly me.

Steve,

That's a really great looking 2 layer Wenger you have. I have yet to come across one with the old style of can opener, like yours has. Another bonus on your knife is that bail. But, make sure the bail is out of the way when you close the master blade on your knife. As many of us who own Wenger knives with bails have found out the hard way, those bails can take a nasty chunk out of an edge if they rotate up and into the path of a blade that's snapping shut. Ouch! That's a common problem with their Standard Issue (Soldier) alox knife, which also has a bail. IMO A better placement for the bail would be at the same end that the master blade pivots from. But no one ever asks me! 

Where did you find this treasure, Steve?

An excellent find, Steve.  At least pre=1975.  I'd guess it is from the 1950s-1960s.

Steve,

You got another good one! This model is the 111mm "Picnicker." It is also a 2 layer knife but, unlike the previous one that was made by Wenger, this one is made by Victorinox.

When the Swiss government divvied up the contracts 50/50 for their Swiss Army Knives, Victorinox called their knives "The Original Swiss Army Knife" and Wenger called theirs "The Genuine Swiss Army Knife."

Despite both companies now being owned by Victorinox they still maintain their separate identities and continue to manufacture Original and Genuine Swiss Army Knives, respectively. 

For practicality, performance and reliability you just can't beat these Swiss Army Knives...in my humble opinion. And you, my friend...you got a couple of good ones!

That a 111mm Picnicker.  Common but quite a nice knife!

Quote: "I guess what is on top is an ice pick perhaps?"

Steve, I believe the tool that you thought was an "ice pick" is actually an awl (reamer) with an eyelet and can double as a sewing needle for stitching canvas or leather using twine or any similar thread-like material?

You have a very versatile tool in just that one knife, Steve!

Packing a big punch into every nook and cranny on your knife the Swiss also placed a very small screwdriver inside of the corkscrew! Very ingenious, those Swiss! I use one of those micro screwdrivers all the time to adjust the screws on my eyewear. I love that little 'driver!

Cheers, my friend!

Here is one of my latest SAKs.  It is a Victorinox Classic SD with the the Star of David shield and cobalt blue handles.  Not necessarily rare but not that common either.   Scales show a little pocket wear but blades are like new.

Real nice Tobias, I just acquired a couple of vintage Victorinox folders. I'd love to show ya'll later. One is a Golfers type multi-blade.

Thanks Steve.   Landed three more today, an old Wenger Backpacker (no etch, will be a user), and pre-1991 Huntsman and pre-1991 Camper.  The huntsman is near mint, no box.   The Camper is in exceptional shape but has well worn scales.  (that's okay I got it for a under $5 and bought it to re-handle it!)  Pictures to follow.

My Take on the German Army Knife

The company was founded in 1884.  2014-1884 =130

However, the Company was originally named Victoria.  It became Victorinox in 1921 when the company switched to stainless steel (inox) in its knife production.  They first sold knives to the Swiss Army in 1891 and they used the trademark cross/shield emblem on their knives in 1909. 

I think the term "Evolving" is appropriate as soon you will see Victorinox/Delmont tang stamps  on a few knives now that Wenger Genuine Swiss Army Knives are truly no more.

A look at the Midnite Manager, one of my EDC knives

A Look at the Wenger "Evo Cow" knife

Most recent find at a Flea Market included a Swiss Buck Advantage (also known as the Sidekick).  Knife appears to be new but was sold without the box.  I bought it from a guy who was a Buck Knives Distributor for 13 years.  I got it and Coleman Fixed blade for $25.    Pretty good deal in my book.  The Swiss Buck has was made from 1991-1998.   Still tryign to find out about the Coleman fixed blade.  What I can say is both are sweet looking blades.

SWISS CHAMP VICTORINOX KNIFE

Nice Champ, Fingers!

I am glad I get my Late 1940 Victorinox Swiss Army Officer Knife. Looooong delivery to arrive my home fro Switzerland. It look beauty Vintage Swiss pocket knife. This is almost 70 years old knife.

Vintage Swiss Pocket knife

That's a great looker, Fingers!

Hi folks, we have a new member that posted this in a forum but I figure your the best people to ask

WTB Victorinox Wilderness Alox

Can anyone help him out?

A total of 250 were made with only 150 with black blades. 

100 black on black

50 orange on black

50 gold on silver (shiny stainless steel)

50 purple on silver  (shiny stainless steel)

Good luck.

They're Back!   The don't have the Wenger/delmont tang stamp but the 130mm Wegner knives are still around.   The new Victorinox/Delmont knives are showing up.

See:  New Victorinox Delemont Swiss Army 130mm Knife RANGERGRIP 61 0.9553... on ebay!   Item number:  131287278428