Swiss Army Knives

[Sevenhills1952]

If anyone happens to be near Sevierville, Tennessee (close to Pigeon Forge and Dollywood), there's this amazing knife store...here's website, Smoky Mountain Knives. Website says world's largest knife store (!?!).
We bought several Victorinox knives there.
This little keychain one I use every day. Press logo and LED lights, even had a ball point pen.

https://www.smkw.com/?utm_source=GMBlisting&utm_medium=organic

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

[GCS]

Dave455

”The knife you pictured isn’t a “Pioneer” but rather a “Soldier”, though one has to be careful as the names can change with the intended market! I don’t think the knives do.”

“That’s the knife that was actually issued to the Swiss Army for many years, and as far as I can tell remained unchanged, including the crest shown”


Thanks for clearing that up & all the great info
GCS

 

[MikeinNorthWales]

We call knifes issued by the Army "Army Knife" The rest, with cork screws, toothpics etc. are just called Pocket Knife ( Sackmesser)

Ah, I see. Thanks for the answer. I was afraid I came of a bit of a smart a&% after I read my comment, but I was actually serious.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Ton ton]

If anyone happens to be near Sevierville, Tennessee (close to Pigeon Forge and Dollywood), there's this amazing knife store...here's website, Smoky Mountain Knives. Website says world's largest knife store (!?!).
We bought several Victorinox knives there.
This little keychain one I use every day. Press logo and LED lights, even had a ball point pen.

https://www.smkw.com/?utm_source=GMBlisting&utm_medium=organic

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

I have been to Smoky mountain knife works once. Another cool place is the Case knife factory in Bradford,PA.

 

[nate_g_2003]

Got a Wenger Handyman from a neighbor's garage sale as a kid, with a generic leather sheath. Traveled many miles with me during my time in Boy Scouts. It also spent some time in my paintball box. Never lost the tweezers or the toothpick surprisingly. These days, it hangs out in my big toolbox at home, in the pencil/marker/measurement tool drawer. Still have the leather sheath too. I'll have to get some pics later at home.

 

[JAYoung]

At bottom is the knife my Dad took from a German officer right after the Battle of the Bulge and at top is a Tinker, the closest match I could find among modern offerings -- sacrificing a cork screw for a Phillips head screwdriver.
The new one goes in my pants pocket first thing every morning and I keep both blades razor sharp.

[/url][/IMG]

 

[Shane6377]

At bottom is the knife my Dad took from a German officer right after the Battle of the Bulge and at top is a Tinker, the closest match I could find among modern offerings -- sacrificing a cork screw for a Phillips head screwdriver.

The new one goes in my pants pocket first thing every morning and I keep both blades razor sharp.

[/url][/IMG]

JAYoung, your pic isn't showing up for me? Is it just me?

Very cool story about your knife... would love to see it!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[chlorine]

Not a collection, but this guy has been my EDC since 2003. Its the Cybertool 34 or M.

I don't use torx and screw bits nearly as much as I used to earlier in my IT career but I still find myself breaking them out for little things around the house when I see them.

It even saved the day on a roadtrip a few months ago when the oil change place pinched the washer fluid hose in the airbox halves which used torx screws.

 

[nutjob]

What do I have? Has to be 30-40 years old or more?

Thanks

Kevin

 

[Dave455]

What do I have? Has to be 30-40 years old or more?

Thanks

Kevin

Well, it’s a Wenger rather than a Victorinox.

Looks to be a variation of a “Forester” with a small clip point blade instead of the nail file.

The locking main blade was, and still is, unusual for this style of knife. I think the mechanism was unique to Wenger

 

[Dave455]

At bottom is the knife my Dad took from a German officer right after the Battle of the Bulge and at top is a Tinker, the closest match I could find among modern offerings -- sacrificing a cork screw for a Phillips head screwdriver.
The new one goes in my pants pocket first thing every morning and I keep both blades razor sharp.

[/url][/IMG]

Amazing story!

The knife your Dad acquired was very typical of knives carried by German officers in that period, except that the scales seem a good deal more fancy than some.

I really admire the trouble you’ve taken to match your Swiss Army Knife to the German knife. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that scale colour before, so it must have taken some finding!

A great choice for an everyday knife though. Isn’t it interesting how people who need to do practical things, but want minimum weight (such as soldiers and outdoorsman) keep returning to the same basic designs.

I guess that German officer must be in his 90’s now. Probably reading GJ due to his Hazet collection, but now finding this thread and thinking “damn”!

 

[csargents1546]

Just happened to find mine recently. Dates back to the 80s when I was in boy scouts. This knife almost took off a pad on my finger. I was cleaning it after it had gotten buried in the sand for some time and was all jammed up with sand. Was prying open the different parts and I slipped onto the knife, which was quite sharp.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[davethorik]

I haven't seen one of these posted yet. I think.

Picknicker, 11 function. The largest Swiss army knife I've owned, 7-3/4" open. It has a unique locking main blade, the release is the grey slider inset into the scale in 2nd pic.

My parents went on a European vacation 3 or 4 years ago, and actually bought this for me in Switzerland. Definitely the best vacation present ever.

Edit: added pic with part of original package.

 

[driftpin]

I have a couple of Victorinox knives I bought in Lucerne CH, over 30 years ago. They're at another house, I'll re-post here when I get pics when I go there, next.

I bought a slim one, and a second with lots of stuff, I never was going to-use the 'fat' one as a daily carry, I just wanted one as an example of the brand's many blades/appliances. My favorite piece was the 'screw-into-the-corkscrew' thin-blade screwdriver, which I used many times to tighten-up my eyeglasses temple screws.

Most recently, I've carried a Leatherman 'micra' on my keychain, and I use it frequently. The scissors aren't very-good, I think a pair of pliers would be of more-use to me. I bought a replacement 'micra' to have on-hand if something happened to mine.

Seeing what others have collected, and what they've found to-be most-useful, has been interesting.

 

[Robinson1]

I've been carrying a Tinker here lately. Super handy, use the screwdrivers almost daily for random things. Knife blades take a scary sharp edge and are easy to resharpen. I end up using it alot to scrape and cut things I wouldnt want to with a more expensive knife.

 

[JBH]

This one has been in my desk since I was employed. I don’t remember where or how I acquired it, though I suspect my mom bought it for me at some point. I could not tell you the model. The scalloped blade on top is an orange peeler, and is the most used tool on the knife by far.

 

[dacan23]

I almost always have a classic on me, one stashed in every car, whenever I can get them for $10 or less I buy backups.

It fits so perfectly in the little RH pocket on jeans.

Have carried a Victorinox SAK Classic for probably 35 years know. It is my EDC. Go through one about every 4-5 years. Even use the toothpick and tweezers. Knife blade is surprisingly useful. More useful, easier to use, and fits in my pocket much better than my Leatherman mini.

Had a Wenger once. Hated the scissor mechanism. Thought the rest of the knife lacked Victorinox quality.

 

[augustus]

I believe that's the "executive" and it's my every day carry.

This one has been in my desk since I was employed. I don’t remember where or how I acquired it, though I suspect my mom bought it for me at some point. I could not tell you the model. The scalloped blade on top is an orange peeler, and is the most used tool on the knife by far.

 

[RCL]

Son gave me this about 15 years ago.

 

[swissguy]

My wife starts asking why I run around with all these knifes lately They are all over my place. Some have never been opened.

 

[Mike Folks]

If you can find it on TV,the series "How it's made" had an episode on the knife construction.

 

[Shane6377]

Found a couple more. The Mountaineer is a little unique with its metal file and the Bantam is 1 layer and really thin. Perfect when all you need is a blade and a bottle cap opener.[emoji481]



Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[ZRX61]

Don't have one.... got two TL-29's though..

 

[AldeanFan]

Here are some of my favourites.

The blue one was given to me by a friend, it was in his desk when he started a new job. It has a light that lights up when you press the shield. He was working for the company that confiscated my wenger viking below.

The silver alox is just a handy key ring knife.

The Airstream knife was a gift from my wife. Purchased from the Airstream store. Yes I have the matching trailer.

The red Wenger Viking is my favourite. My dad bought me a Viking at Ames department store when I was 10 and in Boy Scouts. That knife got lost in the river on a canoe trip a few years later. Dad bought be a replacement Viking at an outdoors store in Toronto. That knife was confiscated when I forgot it was in my pocket and went to a concert. Dad bought me this one in Quebec. My dad had a knife that my grandfather bought him when he was a kid. He lost when I was a kid, but I found a replacement online. We have a long history of buying each other knives.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GTO]

Mine was purchased by my Father(@the airport) for me when we flew over to Geneva,Switzerland in 1972,when I was 12.
Still have it in its original case,used to use it.Not much in the last 30 years though.

 

[16again]

From back in the day when I smoked. [emoji15]
Victorinox Officier knife.



Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[ukruser]

My small collection:

 

[bora492]

I picked this up at an estate sale for $1. Probably a retirement gift for Dr. Taylor.

 

[4xdog]

I have a number of them -- I've been a fan of Victorinox since my aunt brought me and my brother souvenirs from a trip to Switzerland in the 1960s. A little kid with a multi-function knife? What could go wrong?

In fact, nothing DID go wrong. I used and loved that knife for years before it was stolen in college in the late 1970s. All I have left are its all-metal tweezers. I've since found a similar one to it, which I'll show when I get a chance.

But here's one of my favorites. A giveaway from a supplier to the paper industry, given to me by a customer in one of the mills I used to work with. The hooked blade is intended to cut the thick textile felts used in the pressing and drying sections of the machine when they need to be removed for replacement.

Each division = ½-inch

 

[Dave455]

Here’s my Victorinox 1891 re-issue!

Although not what most folks would think of as a “Swiss Army Knife”, this was actually the original pattern.

I love this knife. It has everything I need, nothing I don’t, and the size (slightly larger than the classic “soldier) is just right too.

 

[Jim C.]

This Swiss Army Knife was a Christmas gift I received 45+ years ago. I believe it’s an “Officier” model.

Jim C.

 

[ed4banger]

I have several, the oldest given to me as a kid, so 45+ yrs old, but this one is my favorite. Gotta love a Swiss Army knife with a cigar cutter!!

 

[motoretro]

Here’s my Victorinox 1891 re-issue!

Although not what most folks would think of as a “Swiss Army Knife”, this was actually the original pattern.

I love this knife. It has everything I need, nothing I don’t, and the size (slightly larger than the classic “soldier) is just right too.

Nice looking knife, wish they'd re-issue this, I'd be a buyer.

 

[motoretro]

Here's a couple, the Red item is what I believe is a "Recruit", possibly 30 years old and still kicking w/ a few scars. The Green Alox item is the "Pioneer X" with Swiss case. It's only a year old and just getting ready to put in rotation w/ my other EDC knives.

*Turns out I mistook the Tinker for a Recruit. Over last weekend I found the Recruit also, my Dad had it in his personal things when he passed, knife is new in box and appears to be about (25) years old. I think I'll just keep it as is and put it in my (100) year Barrister book case where my keepsakes are kept.

 

[torqueman2002]

Here's a couple, the Red item is what I believe is a "Recruit", possibly 30 years old and still kicking w/ a few scars. The Green Alox item is the "Pioneer" with Swiss case. It's only a year old and just getting ready to put in rotation w/ my other EDC knives.

I really like the red "recruit" (AZ calls it "Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-Tool, Tinker Pocket Knife" @ $22.99). I must have a 1/2 dozen between the den, EDC, basement & garage workshops.

 

[motoretro]

I really like the red "recruit" (AZ calls it "Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-Tool, Tinker Pocket Knife" @ $22.99). I must have a 1/2 dozen between the den, EDC, basement & garage workshops.

Perhaps it is the Tinker, I was looking for a knife for my Grandsons and the name stuck in my head, Tinker sounds correct. This knife received a lot of use as it's my backpacking knife and lived in my old external frame pack. This a good site and show's the Recruit. Pretty handy site.
https://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Recruit

 

[swissguy]

Here’s my Victorinox 1891 re-issue!

Although not what most folks would think of as a “Swiss Army Knife”, this was actually the original pattern.

I love this knife. It has everything I need, nothing I don’t, and the size (slightly larger than the classic “soldier) is just right too.

Why a "re-issue" if you can get the real one?

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Recently been carrying a red farmer x alox. Also edc with a folder my mini champ. Have a Swiss champ, centurion, super tinker, huntsman lite, camper, hiker, swisstool and swisstool spirit x. I think that's it?

 

[Bessy]

Just happened to find mine recently. Dates back to the 80s when I was in boy scouts. This knife almost took off a pad on my finger. I was cleaning it after it had gotten buried in the sand for some time and was all jammed up with sand. Was prying open the different parts and I slipped onto the knife, which was quite sharp.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

That's the same model that I found while on a park cleanup with my Scout troop as a kid. We went into the provincial park twice annually to pick up litter. That same knife was off the side of one of the trails. Cleaned up pretty nice after soaking for a week or so in wd40.

I'll have to find/take pictures of my own SAKs.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk