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

This one found a new home with a good friend.

COLLECTION: Wenger Delemont Standard Issue (Soldier) 93mm (1963)

This is the Wenger equivalent of the Victorinox Soldier. Models produced during 1962 to 1964 had Red Alox scales and brass liners. This practice was discontinued as the red finish usually fades or get scratched up during normal use.

Some more background information from www.sakwiki.com "These new knives were produced with red Alox scales from 1962 to 1964, after which they changed to silver Alox. Red Alox models for 1965-1975 are also known to exist with the exception of 1974. As part of the new design the wire stripper notch was added, and hollow rivets were introduced. This model was standard issue to the Swiss military and many others until 2008 (08 is the last tang stamp).

Since the knives were issued to soldiers in part to maintain their firearms they were under the supervision of the Waffenkontrolle, and early models contain their 'approved' stamp on the scales."

I got this from a fortunate ebay win! Got it cheap together with another Swiss knife (a Victorinox Super Tinker) and two other old pocket knives (a Nomad and a Repeat Needham Brothers - Sheffield).

After cleaning thoroughly, polishing out some of the deep scratches in the main blade and removing the oxidation in the brass liners, the end result was quite acceptable.

Here are the photos plus the before and after cleaning shots.

Original state of the knife when I received it from the ebay seller, not bad at all! Apart from some fading of the red anodized color, oxidized brass parts and a small chip on the main blade, it was actually in a very good condition considering it is more than 50 years old!!!

After a thorough cleaning and some touch ups.

More photos:

The scales were a bit faded specially on the edges (left). A quick touch up did the trick (right).

The brass liner has oxidized already (left) but cleaned up nicely after (right).

The Standard Issue was produced by Wenger in their Delemont plant and formed part of the contract to supply the Swiss Army together with Victorinox based in Ibach.

The "+ PAT" stamp on the can opener was still used in 1963.

The bottle opener/screw driver tool included a scraper too but without the wire stripper.

The money shot! 1963 tang stamp.

References: 

www.sakwiki.com

www.swissarmyknights.com

www.aloxworld.com

COLLECTION: Victorinox Soldier (1961 Model) 93mm "2006"

I bought this knife to commemorate the years when my children were born.  Year 2006 is the birth year of my daughter.  This completes the series for my children.  I just need to get a few more for the other members of my family.

Complete line up of my children's Birth Years Soldier's Knife Collection.

REFERENCE: Victorinox Scales & Liners Thickness

I wasn't able to find these easily by searching the internet.  So I did some measurements using a digital caliper.  I'll be updating this list constantly as I dismantle more SAKs.

Victorinox

Scales & Liners Thickness Measurements

91mm Cellidor

Scales: 3.30mm

Y2000’s Outer Liner: 0.70mm (from an Explorer)

          Older (Y1980’s) Outer Liner: 1.00mm (from a Master Craftsman)

          Inner Liner: 0.70mm

93mm Alox:  2.80mm

84mm Cellidor:

            Scales: 3.30mm

            Liners: 0.70mm

74mm Stainless Steel:

            Scales: 1.50mm

            Liner: 0.40mm

58mm Cellidor:

            Scales: 2.40mm – 2.50mm

            Outer Liner: 0.50mm

58mm Stainless Steel:

            Scales: 1.35mm

COLLECTION: Wenger Delemont Standard Issue (Soldier) 1966

Here's another Wenger SI knife I got.  It's from 1966, the main blade has seen better days.  I've tried to rescue it a bit but since I don't own a belt sander plus I don't want to ruin it further, I just tried to preserve the "used" look.

After the debacle of using red anodized scales which quickly wore out during field use, Wenger and Victorinox decided to change back to the normal silver anodized scales for the SI/Soldier model after 1964 although there were some Soldier models in 1965, 1970 and 1975 that had red alox scales together with the silver ones.

References:
www.sakwiki.com

COLLECTION: Victorinox Alox Farmer

This is one of my few alox Victorinox SAKs - the Farmer (Item Number: 0.8241.26). One of a few alox with a wood saw.

This one is in a pretty good condition. There's a very slight bend near the tip of the main blade but it's very slight that it's difficult to photograph it. There's a very small nick in the awl but except those two, the tools are very good. No sign of being sharpened or scratched.

The alox scale has pocket wear with a few nicks on the corners usually seen on pocket carried alox saks. There's a CMM engraved on the engraving panel.

COLLECTION: Victorinox Soldier Year 2003 (1961 Model) 93mm (2000s)

As I was thinking on what to focus on the Swiss Army Knife collecting, I decided that one of the model series I want to collect is the Soldier's Knife series, the knife that started it all for the Victorinox brand.

The Soldier model is being produced by Victorinox and Wenger (SI) for the Swiss Army every year since 1891. There has been four models so far, the original 1891, the 1951, the 1961 and the 2008.  You can read more about the model changes at www.sakwiki.com.

Since collecting all of the Soldier's knife for every year that it has been produced will be cost prohibited, I've decided to just collect the Soldier's knife produced in every year of my family members' birth years.

This is the first of my "Birth Years Collection" series.  2003 is my eldest son's birth year. The 2003 is part of the Soldier 1961 model where the Alox scales were first used for the Soldier's knife.

This particular knife was part of a big lot I purchased from one of my favorite ebay sellers. I got another Soldier's knife in this lot that I will post in a later date.

References:

www.sakwiki.com

COLLECTION: Victorinox Electrician Silver Cross 93mm

This is one of the popular variant in the Alox Pioneer series.  As per the catalogs, back in the 1970's the Alox range had just four major model ranges, the Junior, the Cadet, the Souvenir and the Pioneer. Under these major ranges, Victorinox used model numbers to identify the different variants (different tool sets).  The Alox Electrician had an initial model number of 2212 (Tool list: Klinge-Blade, KabelKlg.-Cable Blade, Scraubenzieher - Screwdriver, Bohrahle - Awl).

In the 1980's the model number changed to 0.8120.27 and received the model name of Electrician.

I got this in another ebay deal of one lot with two Alox Electricians, one Signature lite and a Wenger Traveler.  Apart from some tarnish in the tools, the condition was great! A little bit of cleaning and some metal polish did the trick.

By the way, the Alox with the Red Shield started replacing the Silver Cross in the 2000s. 

References:

Victorinox 1970's Catalog

Victorinox 1980's Catalog

Victorinox 2000's Catalog