Old Catalog Posted to SAKWiki

[ICanFixThat]

If you like looking at old Vic catalogs then you might like this one.  I could use some help dataing it, I just called it Catalog-B for now, but I know someone can do the analysis quickly on the models and come up with a pretty good estimate on the time period for this.

Thanks!  Enjoy!

[J-sews]

Pretty cool! Too bad there's no copyright date on it to help with the age question.

Surely you SAK guys can figure it out though?

[ICanFixThat]

I figure the Soldier with the lanyard hole is one good clue.  Red Alox Farmer and Pioneer another.  Windsor and Prince, and the Cadet in the old style.  Someone will be able to put all the pieces togther to get a fairly close date.

[Ninjaz]

My guess is it between 1980 to 1985. because:
* it is 1980+ soldier
* no the plus scales (pen / pin) (1985)
* no hole in the reamer (1985).
* "victorinox" on the blade - small 'v'. (I am not sure if it was untill 1984 or 1985)

I even think it is from 1982-1983 because:
* no mini-screwdriver (1983)
*double spring in the scissors - as far as I know it started on 1982/3 (I maybe wrong with that one).

Thanks for sharing the catalog. I love old catalogs

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Nice work mate

[ICanFixThat]

Ninjaz, Thanks for the detective work. 

On SOSAK, Northman estimated 1983.

Must be after 1980 because of the numbers, they got the Champion that was retired 1985-86 and there is the combination tool that came in 1982 on 84mm.
My guess 1983

I think were having consensous very quickly.

[Neil]

My guess is it between 1980 to 1985. because:
* it is 1980+ soldier
* no the plus scales (pen / pin) (1985)
* no hole in the reamer (1985).
* "victorinox" on the blade - small 'v'. (I am not sure if it was untill 1984 or 1985)

I even think it is from 1982-1983 because:
* no mini-screwdriver (1983)
*double spring in the scissors - as far as I know it started on 1982/3 (I maybe wrong with that one).

Thanks for sharing the catalog. I love old catalogs

ooh, he's on the ball today  

[duder]

These soldier knives were made between 1977 and 1987.
The V-shaped scissor spring was introduced in 1975.
The fine screwdriver is already on some models, it came in 1977.
And the Gran Prix still has the square philips, the round one was introduced in 1980.
The Combi-Tool has a different shape than today (introduced in 1986) , maybe an early variation.
So I think the catalog was made between 1977 and 1980, maybe closer to 1980.

[bren10man]

Well, this much I know: my "mystery" SAK I bought in Alaska in 1996 has the SAME description as the Craftsman discussed (but not shown, shown is Handyman with corkscrew; mine is same knife but with Phillips screwdriver and can key).  EXCEPT, mine is post 1987:

1. hole in punch
2. newer fine screwdriver
3. bottle opener/flathead screwdriver locks open half way

SO, I have a Craftsman, as marked on its box.......just newer.

[ICanFixThat]

Hey duder, thanks!  I was going to bring up the square Phillips.  Do you know when the first Phillips was introduced?

I have what I believe is a slightly older catalog/brouchure that uses the same cover-art but still shows a few of the 74mm and such with the single leef scissor spring, but others in the catalog as having the double spring.

I noticed the catalog talks about the Safari model as having Cellidor handles, do you think this is mistake and it should have said nylon?

Did the Trooper with the green handles pre-date the rest of the Safari series because it was the civilian version of the GAK?  My other brochure just shows the Trooper.

Ninjaz do you bassically concure with duder, possibly putting the date a bit earlier?

Any more sharp eyes what to chime in?

[Sidhartha]

ooo nice! thanks for sharing

[duder]

Hi,

according to a Victorinox-info-booklet the Philips was introduced in 1952.

I think the handles of the Safari knives were never made of Cellidor, it`s probably just a mistake, maybe during translation. I`ve seen that in other brochures too.

The oldest Safari-brochure I know is from 1978 and it shows already the whole line (Trooper, Safari, Hunter). I`m not sure about it, but it seems that after the old GAK was introduced in 1976 Victorinox presented the "civil"-versions a little later. I don`t know if the green Trooper was out a little earlier.

But it`s probably impossible to find a complete overview about all the production dates.

[stressmaster5000]

One thing that "pops" out at me is the stainless steel "Prince" is associated with a red cellidor model and its called the "Cavalier". I have heard use of the Cavalier name so much but never have yet seen it directly associated with any actual Victorinox paperwork like this.

[Ninjaz]

These soldier knives were made between 1977 and 1987.
The V-shaped scissor spring was introduced in 1975.
The fine screwdriver is already on some models, it came in 1977.
And the Gran Prix still has the square philips, the round one was introduced in 1980.
The Combi-Tool has a different shape than today (introduced in 1986) , maybe an early variation.
So I think the catalog was made between 1977 and 1980, maybe closer to 1980.

According to A Collector's Companion the Soldier was since 1980 and the fine screwdriver from 1985.
The fine screwdriver that show in the catalog is old style fine screwdriver. In 1985 the fine scrwedriver is change to be smaller (as the current fine screwdriver) and the old style fine screwdriver is "change" to a chisel (current chisel is look like the old fine screwdriver).

[J-sews]

Wow, this SAK Detective work is kind of fun!

[duder]

I`m very sure about the the soldier.
And it seems what you say about the fine screwdriver confirms my suspicion. It was original introduced in 1977 (as shown in the brochure) and probably later (1985) changed (I have no information about that).
Can you tell me more about this "Collectors Companion" ?

[North Man]

Hi

I am new to MultiTool.org but I know IcanFixThat from Sosak

You have impressive details here people.
I believe that Ninjaz is correct and I guessed 1983 at first  but I forgot about the mini screwdriver . The reason I sad 1983 is because Victorinox changed the numbering system in 1980 so  the catalogues must be after 1980.
The Champion model in the catalogues was retired in 1985-86 well around there I believe.
Also the reamer eye was missing on the awls.
The combination tool on the 84mm knives came in 1982! 1986 on the 91mm
So 1982/83 should be correct
NM

[J-sews]

Hey North Man, thanks for the info and welcome to Multitool.org! 

[Neil]

Welcome to the madness NM

[North Man]

Hi

Thanks!
I see there are some more  from Sosak forums here 
Best wish
Nm

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Welcome to the forums Northman

[AHB]

Welcome, " a little more North than me, Man" 

[North Man]

Hi

Thank you all for letting me feel welcome!


NM

[Benner]

Welcome to MTO 

[duder]

Hi North Man,

I should have used the same name here as in SOSAK-forum, but I think you recognize me anyway.

It`s good to have you here. It`s not easy to find the right year. You say the number system changed in 1980. In my info stuff I just found a note that the the current number system is in effect since 1973. I don`t know...

But I have no info about the combitool on the 84mm knives. If it`s true that it was introduced in 1982, then you`re probably right about 1982/1983.
In this case they just used an older Gran Prix with the old square philips. That would be no surprise. ICanFixThat has mentioned that they showed knives with different scissor springs in one brochure.

Greetings from Germany

[North Man]

 
HI EL sure, I remember you Is the 1973 100% certain?
NM


http://www.e-webtechnologies.com/sak/html/victorinox.html see the first dokument in PDF 1982

[duder]

The note about the number system is in an older newsletter, the ones I told you about. I hope it`s correct.

You`re right about this document, I forgot that one.

It really seems that your guess 1982/1983 is correct.

[North Man]

Hi

Yes, lets hope 82/83 is correct

About the numbering system, I just asumed 1980 because when I have asked Vic before they usually say before 1980 this model had this and that number,

NM

[Gareth]

I think all the detective work here is done already and the 1982/3 sounds convincing to me.  A couple of things I noticed were;

I'd never heard of the Traveller name being used to describe what is a Climber without the key ring (not on SAKwiki either). Maybe it's no coincidence that the modern Traveller is another variation on the Climber.

Also did anyone else notice that the Sportsman has a small blade, not a nail file?  What we would call a Tourist now.

This might well not be news to the collectors out there, but it was news to me.

BTW nice to see you here North Man.

[ICanFixThat]

I see all the detectives are out. 

I had not noticed the Small Blade on the Sportsman, but noticed the Cadet had a small blade (what we now call Cadet II).

I saw the Traveller and was going to compare the specs to a recent traveller (SAB# 54591) that existed before the current one.  This name might have been used 2 or 3 times.  I thought I should have all the info before confusing things on the wiki.

The names for the Fisherman and Angler seem to have flip-floped a bit too over the years.

I'm glad to see so many having fun with this.

I have one more small one, but it's only B&W and in rough shape.  I'm not sure if I should try to restore/protect it first before scanning.