Is this a rare Victorinox Ensign?

[Fisting_Chili]

Thanks!

[stressmaster5000]

The Ensign is kind of a mystery knife but this one is definitely not it. As far as I can figure out the Ensign is much like the Broker, except maybe without a keyring. However there have been Broker models without a keyring too so ther lies some of the mystery.

Actually the names came from "Swiss Army Brands" before Victorinox owned them. As an importer of SAK's to the US at the time they saw a need to give models names rather than just the numbers Victorinox assigns them. "SAB" sometimes changed the name of a model later on or you might see an importer for another country have a different name for the same model. Different theories abound but basically you will find that an Ensign has "engine turned" stainless steel scales. This one does not.

[Fisting_Chili]

The Ensign is kind of a mystery knife but this one is definitely not it. As far as I can figure out the Ensign is much like the Broker, except maybe without a keyring. However there have been Broker models without a keyring too so ther lies some of the mystery.

Actually the names came from "Swiss Army Brands" before Victorinox owned them. As an importer of SAK's to the US at the time they saw a need to give models names rather than just the numbers Victorinox assigns them. "SAB" sometimes changed the name of a model later on or you might see an importer for another country have a different name for the same model. Different theories abound but basically you will find that an Ensign has "engine turned" stainless steel scales. This one does not.

Bummer...do you know what it is then?  I'm assuming a stainless classic sd, but how would I know if it were the silver version?  Does it actually have a stamp on it stating its silver? 

Thanks SM

[Fisting_Chili]

Nevermind I found a pic of it on SakWiki....its the brushed steel version.

Thanks!

[stressmaster5000]

Actually it looks more like the plain polished stainless steel variety but it just has some scuffs. I see these models for sale on eBay all the time in large quantities and usually pretty cheap. The shield has a red enamel that frequently comes off or breaks and falls out.

Any Sterling silver classic you find is marked somewhere usually with the .925 and .750 if it has the gold shield inlay. Many of these are Tiffany marked along with the 925 marking as well. Silver is easy to spot when you know the difference.

[Fisting_Chili]

Actually it looks more like the plain polished stainless steel variety but it just has some scuffs. I see these models for sale on eBay all the time in large quantities and usually pretty cheap. The shield has a red enamel that frequently comes off or breaks and falls out.

Any Sterling silver classic you find is marked somewhere usually with the .925 and .750 if it has the gold shield inlay. Many of these are Tiffany marked along with the 925 marking as well. Silver is easy to spot when you know the difference.

This is the pic of the brushed steel classic off SakWiki

So I thought it was this one...?

Thanks for the all the info!  Someday, I'll be the one answering other's questions...hahaha

[ICanFixThat]

Yup!  I'd say your's is a Brushed Stainless Steel classic.

Both Ensigns I have are no-keychain/no-engraving panel turned stainless steel.  I can't remember right now if they botd have the same basic pattern or not, one is simple straight line etch, can't remember the other off the top of my head.  I'm thinking SAB changed the name when the Keyring was added (or they had it added for their market), but used an old catalog picture one year and forgot to update the information.  Although... someone told me they thought there was also a Cellidor Ensign at one time in at least 1 market (I don't think it was US).

[Sazabi]

Actually it looks more like the plain polished stainless steel variety but it just has some scuffs. I see these models for sale on eBay all the time in large quantities and usually pretty cheap. The shield has a red enamel that frequently comes off or breaks and falls out.

Any Sterling silver classic you find is marked somewhere usually with the .925 and .750 if it has the gold shield inlay. Many of these are Tiffany marked along with the 925 marking as well. Silver is easy to spot when you know the difference.

Also, Mercedes-Benz had a sterling silver (and maybe more?) Classic knife with their logo as the shield; beautiful knife, it was. o.o