COLLECTION: Victorinox Soldier (1961 Model) 93mm "1995"

This one found a new home with a good friend.

COLLECTION: Victorinox Classic United States of America National Flag 58mm (1990s)

4th of July marks the Independence day of the United States of America.  I will not rehash here information on the independence day but will list some fun facts instead after the photos .

Fun facts from this article: 4th of July by the Numbers from history.com and 10 Interesting 4th of July Facts from todayifoundout.com

• 150 Million hotdogs are consumed during the celebrations enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than five times
• On this day, 80% will attend a BBQ, picnic or cookout, 76% get together with family, 66% display an American flag, 63% will attend a fireworks display, 32% will attend a fourth of July parade and 26% will set-off their own fireworks.
• The 4th of July Parade in Bristol Rhode Island is the oldest continuous celebration dating back to 1785.
• According to Caesar Cardini's daughter, the Caesar salad was invented on July 4th. Yes! Caesar salad is not related to Julius Caesar from Roman times! hahaha!
• John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and penned the largest signature in the document.
• In 1781, Massachusetts became the first state to declare July 4th as a state holiday. 
• Independence day celebrations became more popular and widespread after the war of 1812.
• Congress declared July 4 Independence Day as a federal legal holiday in 1941.
• Three U.S. Presidents died on July 4th, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826 and James Monroe died five years later in 1831.
• John Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the USA was born on July 4th 1872.

References:

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th/interactives/4th-of-july-by-the-numbers

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/06/4th-of-july-facts/

COLLECTION: Victorinox Recruit Serrated Blade 84mm (1990s)

Here's a rare and highly collectible (but fairly modern) SAK - the 84mm Recruit with fully serrated blade.  Victorinox has released several versions of their popular knives with a serrated main blade like the Spartan.  There are sometimes a few listed on ebay and if you're lucky, you can own one.  I got this as part of a SAK lot I purchased.  I almost listed it in ebay without knowing its value! Good thing I like to research before selling or trading anything.

References:
SmartKnives - Recruit Serrated
Sakwiki - Recruit

COLLECTION: Victorinox Mechanic 91mm (1990s)

The Victorinox Mechanic is a three-layer SAK which is a Tinker with a pliers layer.  This is one of the thinnest Victorinox model with pliers included in the tool set.

The early pliers did not have a crimper.  After 1995, Victorinox included a crimper near the pivot point of the pliers to make it more useful as an all around tool.  The spring is a leaf-spring type design which is the same as the scissors.

Early release of the pliers did not include a crimper

Later half of the 1990s featured pliers with the crimper which is still in used today

References:
Victorinox 1990s Catalog
Victorinox 2001 Catalog
www.sakwiki.com
SAAM's 91mm Tool Evolution

COLLECTION: Victorinox Signature I 58mm (1990s)

The original Signature (dubbed Signature I in sakwiki.com) is the precursor to the current Signature with retractable ball point pen (usually blue ink).  The original Signature model has the removable ball point pen like what the 91mm with plus scales model have.

I'm still researching when exactly did the change between Signature I and II happened but it is sometime in the 1990s.  By 2001, the Signature model already features a retractable pen.

There's also another model called the Stylus which has a touch screen stylus instead of a retractable pen.

Reference:
www.sakwiki.com

COLLECTION: Victorinox Classic New Zealand National Flag 58mm (1990s)

The New Zealand national flag is based on the Blue Ensign flag of the United Kingdom with four red stars to the right with white border representing the Southern Cross (Constellation of Crux). This flag was designed and adopted for restricted use in 1869 and became the national flag in 1902.  There is a two-stage binding referendum on a flag change and is expected to take place in 2015 and 2016.  This current flag might be replaced soon!

My flag collection as of 19/12/2014.

References:
www.wikipedia.com
NZ Ministry of Culture and Heritage accessed 9/12/2014
First steps taken towards flag referendum accessed 9/12/2014

COLLECTION: Victorinox Classic Portugal National Flag 58mm

The Portuguese Republic is a nation-state in Europe located in the Iberian Peninsula next to Spain.  In the 15th and 16th century, during the Age of Discovery, Portugal became one of the world's major economic, political and military power with a well established naval force which allowed them to venture around the world.  At some point during that era, Portugal and Spain divided the world among themselves.

The flag of Portugal (bandeira de Portugal) is the national flag of the Portuguese Republic.  It is rectangular, 2:3 stripped bicolor - green and red, with the lesser coat of arms of Portugal - armillary sphere and national shield, centered over the color boundary.

This Victorinox Classic model was part of the original release of the National Flag series with a model no. of 0.6203.PT7.

Current Lineup as of 8/12/2014.

References:
Portugal wiki, accessed 1/12/2014
Flag of Portugal wiki, accessed 1/12/2014

COLLECTION: Victorinox Electrician 84mm

My 84mm collection is growing.  This is the little brother of the Alox Electrician - the 84mm version.  It is very light and handy as well.  Victorinox has since discontinued this model which was previously distributed in Radio Shack shops in the US.

Reference:

www.sakwiki.com 84mm Electrician

COLLECTION: Victorinox Golf Tool

The latest iteration of the Victorinox Golf Tool.  Introduced by Victorinox in 1999, it replaced the 91mm Golfer.  This is one of the SAK tools that Victorinox has in its lineup that is not within the normal 91mm frame.

This particular SAK has a medicine advertisement logo at the back for the Flonase steriod nasal spray medicine from GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals company.  

Reference:
www.sakwiki.com