Older Wenger knives and blades

[stressmaster5000]

Here are a few photos of some older Wenger brand Swiss Army knife tools. The most notable are the can openers and scissors as they have drastically changed over the years.
First is an older Wenger bail. Note the bail is more rounded than the Victorinox counterpart and on Red plastic scaled models they have a brass bushing where they are attached. The knives I have seen with bushings seem to be the oldest.


Here is a comparison shot of a couple of older Wenger can opener designs. The top model should be the oldest since the whole tool is shorter and there seems to be a much smaller "V" pivot point. This design is definitely harder to use. They must have made an improvement with the bottom model since the "V" pivot is much more pronounced and it makes the tool slightly longer so it will not slip off the cans edge so easily.




Many do not realize that Wenger produced scissors very similar to what Victorinox produced up until Wenger produced their patented serrated spring lever design. Here is a Wenger model with a standard scissors with a single leaf spring much like that of vintage Victorinox models had.


Another easy to see difference is the main blade shape. Older models seem to have a more tapered design while the newer blades have a larger belly and more of a spear point as seen in this photo. The new blade style is on top.


The Awl too has changed over the years. Here is a couple examples of vintage older Awls with a definite very sharp point while the newest designs have rather less pointy tips. Note too the "Bird Beak" type curved tip of these  older models shown here.


One of these knives is tang stamped with the "Wengerinox" stamp while the other one has the standard stamp.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

There's some lovely stuff there

[Neil]

Its just a shame we are so lacking in documentation to help put together a time-line for these features 

Thanks for the pics 

[WH867]

 ]

Many do not realize that Wenger produced scissors very similar to what Victorinox produced up until Wenger produced their patented serrated spring lever design. Here is a Wenger model with a standard scissors with a single leaf spring much like that of vintage Victorinox models had.


 

I have an older version of that wenger with just a blade,nail file,and scissors with phillips. Mine has the bail with bushing.   Just curious what the model name is?

[stressmaster5000]

I have an older version of that wenger with just a blade,nail file,and scissors with phillips. Mine has the bail with bushing.   Just curious what the model name is?

Me Too! 

When you find out let me know. 

[Gareth]

Some great comparison shots there.  Has anyone tried the older Wenger can opener?  It looks to be a pig to use IMO.

[stressmaster5000]

Some great comparison shots there.  Has anyone tried the older Wenger can opener?  It looks to be a pig to use IMO.

I have used mine. It is a real dud compared to modern designs. First of all, it leaves a terrible lip to cut your self on. Second, the design requires you to push down on the knife while the tool cuts upwards. If you slip or it comes out of the can by accident, it would be bad.

[Gareth]

Some great comparison shots there.  Has anyone tried the older Wenger can opener?  It looks to be a pig to use IMO.

I have used mine. It is a real dud compared to modern designs. First of all, it leaves a terrible lip to cut your self on. Second, the design requires you to push down on the knife while the tool cuts upwards. If you slip or it comes out of the can by accident, it would be bad.

Yeah, that's kinda what I thought.  Seems there is a good reason they don't use that design anymore.

[stressmaster5000]

Its just a shame we are so lacking in documentation to help put together a time-line for these features 

Thanks for the pics 

Just a follow up note but through exhaustive research and much reading I have found a few tidbits of knowledge that I want to pass on to my fellow SAK Wenger collectors.

• The lever style of integral spring system for the scissors was first introduced in 1972.
• The Ski Wax scraper and smoother tool integrated into a special Skier SAK's was introduced in 1975.
• The special 3" V.I.P. model was introduced in 1976.(slightly larger cousin to the Esquire)
• The Universal Wrench and matching in-line Phillips screwdriver was first introduced in 1980.
• The "Packlock" locking main blade system in 1982.
• The "locking" system for the screwdriver/cap lifter and inline Phillips screwdrivers in 1984.
• The Ruler-Compass tool or better known as an "Orienteering Tool" was introduced in 1986.

There is information out there, its just not that easy to find. I will post more when I find it.

[max6166]

Great info! You even answered 2 questions I already had. 

[Neil]

Thanks Wayne

[stressmaster5000]

More old Wenger SAK photos. Picked up a couple of new or new in the box Wengers from the early 1970's with old style can openers and scissors. One has a bail and one is plain. Kind of neat since they look like they were never used at all just left over old stock on some shelf somewhere for all this time.

[Neil]

One day I will find a little hardware shop hidden away in a small town and find things like this.  Maybe

[bren10man]

One day I will find a little hardware shop hidden away in a small town and find things like this.  Maybe

You mean like that shop in Seoul I found just over a year ago with ALL those 30 some odd NIB old stock First Mates?

[meanx]

Nice find and an interesting read,thanks for the info on the Wenger something to copy and save.

[Zed]

  very nice and good comparison pics, i still like the older lanyard loops 

[Neil]

One day I will find a little hardware shop hidden away in a small town and find things like this.  Maybe

You mean like that shop in Seoul I found just over a year ago with ALL those 30 some odd NIB old stock First Mates?

Similar but where the owner says "we sell about one every two years, what will you give me for the lot?"

[Maties]

Hello!

I've seen a knife exactly like the one in this image, with a grooved corkscrew on the back. Anyone knows what's it's model name? I'm not finding anything similar on the sakwiki.

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[IMR4198]

Looks like a Wenger Classic 02.  Number 1 02 09.  Scissors have the older spring type.  Best wishes.  Gary

[Maties]

Looks like a Wenger Classic 02.  Number 1 02 09.  Scissors have the older spring type.  Best wishes.  Gary

Thank you very much!
I've found some information thanks to this. It seems to be called also "diplomat with corkscrew", and the model number I think it's 1 02 03.

Here is an image of the exact one I've seen. Info on this site:

https://www.smartknives.com/Wenger-Pocket-Knives/Diplomat-CS.htm

Cheers!

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[IMR4198]

Good detective work.  Bravo.  Wenger used different names depending on where they were sold and when.  The knife sold in the US as the Highlander was a Classic 11 number 1 11 09 in some European catalogs for example.  It was good to see some Wengers on the site.  Best wishes.  Gary

[Echotech]

Nice find 

Good resurrection of a very old thread too