New purchase: 1970's era Craftsman, no pliers

[bren10man]

I won this off E-bay Sunday night...and it arrived today.

1970's era Craftsman...no pliers.   Excellent condition.  I am not sure if black scales were around back then, none-the-less, this one has black scales...barely used.  No pin hole in the scale near Phillips driver, so these could be original and not replaced unless replaced long ago.  The blade is scuffed, but that is OK.  The springiness to the tools are about gone, even after a new oiling (SAK was already clean when arrived).  It appears some rust was on the file, cleaned that up with oil.   Now the COOL thing about this knife: HEAVY squared Phillips driver with CAN KEY!!!!! No file on this Phillips like the REALLY old ones.   The other thing: the awl is profiled at the tip like a late 1970's Champion I have....any idea what the date could be on this thing? 

Pics below, with 1985 and back and 1986 Craftsman, no pliers, for comparison:

[ICanFixThat]

Nice! I think I saw that knife and was quite tempted.

[jazzbass]

Nice. I recently got a mid-80s (solid awl) one like the top in your photo. I think the 86-87 version you have is the toughest version to find - tougher than the Victoria versions of this knife.

[bren10man]

Nice. I recently got a mid-80s (solid awl) one like the top in your photo. I think the 86-87 version you have is the toughest version to find - tougher than the Victoria versions of this knife.

Cool.  I bought it in early 1996 in Fairbanks, Alaska NIB at an Army surplus store in order to replace he first Champion I ever bought, it was stolen.  I have never seen one for sale, ebay or in person, before or since, hence why even then I bought it...it was unusual.

There is nothing on Swiss Wiki about any of these Craftsman variations with no pliers....no pics at least.  My collection would be a good start for an article there!!!

[ICanFixThat]

Do we know what year they swapped the Fishscaler for the Pliers? Did the Chisel and the Pliers appear at the same time?

Was it an out with the old, in with the new senario, or was it Oh we'll invent the Master Craftsman, and the New Craftsman, and this other one can be a Craftsman too for a while... of course the names might not have been to use everywhere so it would be just numbers.  Essentially does any one have information on the transition period.

If you have information you can enter it on SAKwiki.

Your photos would be a good addition to the wiki, at least one should be limited to 300-350pixels wide so it can be featured on the actual Craftsman page, the wiki can scale it, but it does not look as good as if you make it the right size.

[ICanFixThat]

I entered an initial description in main description area.  I used 1986 as intro year of the current config, but would like more input.

[jazzbass]

AFAIK, this version of the Craftsman (and Handyman) evolved from the old Champion around 1973 when Victorinox introduced the new Champion with the mag glass. With the new Champion config, the old Champion config (minus long file, plus new fine screwdriver) became the Craftsman/Handyman duo. This lasted until 1987 with the introduction of the new Craftsman with pliers. Since Craftsman knives with the early style pliers exist, we know they (along with the Swiss Champ and Deluxe Climber) were some of the first pliers-equipped knives. If I had to put a date on bren10man's first Craftsman, it'd be late 85 to late 86, making it a one year only model.

Victoria Craftsman:



First version, "new" Craftsman w/ original pliers:

[ICanFixThat]

Thanks, those are nice clear pics, how about uploading those to SAKwiki I think they would make a good set.  Those are pretty clear, we can let the browser scale them as required so the large view is available.

If you like I can upload the images if you've never done that, and don't care to get started.

[bren10man]

The victoria vintage Craftsman should be included, as it has the earlier clip-point small blade.

I will retake and then blow up the pics of all 3 of mine, as mine show the next three variations of the Craftsman from about 1973 (Intruduction of the Champion that the Craftsman evolved from the "ashes" of the older Champion, clip blade), then the 1974-1984 Craftsman (the one I just got), 1985 Craftsman (my second one) and the 1986 Craftsman (the one with hole in awl, etc.).   Someone needs to submit 1987-1990 Cratsman (no hook, one is for sale on E-bay now), and the one on the Wiki is of a post 1991 with hook.


Felinevet has a Handyman for sale from the 1970's he mis-labled as an "original Champion".  It has a corkscrew in lieu of Phillips screwdriver.  One of the older catalogs on the Wiki clearly shows this.

[ICanFixThat]

Thanks, that would be great.  I'll try to note the small evolutionary changes like the reamer without the sewing eye, and link it to a photo if it exists, but most important is to get the main variations.  Now that I'm awake I know jassbass has uploaded to the wiki in the past, so hopefully the Victoria one will appear. Most interesting is the big change though since it greatly helps to identify the different knives accurately, as you know from the past with your Craftsman.  If I have a chance I'll review what I have in my collections, I don't have detailed enough notes yet, I just indicate I have one labeled 1.4773, that has tools that match a 1.4793, and some older ones with no precise notes.  Any information you have on model numbers is always good to help sort out the big changes. 

[bren10man]

I just uploaded pics into the Wiki gallery.

I do not know how to add the pics to the article, and do not want to mess it up.
I have 3 sets of pictures, with front and back for each knife: 1970's Craftsman, 1985 Craftsman, 1986 Craftsman.

All are resized to 350 pixels in width.   I will now upload a pic of all 3, front and back, into the gallery.

[ICanFixThat]

I added the early one to the main desc.  I put the alternate view/side shot on the click.

The others I'll try to work into links in the variations.  The combined ones are not very useful at that size.  350px size is good for those to be featured in the main desc, the others can be bigger.  It's good to maximize the use of the frame for the small ones if possible.  The main ones can be bigger as well, as long as they are clear enough when using the simply quick browser scaling they are clear. 

I think at least now it is clear that there are two quite different versions.

Thanks!

[bren10man]

I added the early one to the main desc.  I put the alternate view/side shot on the click.

The others I'll try to work into links in the variations.  The combined ones are not very useful at that size.  350px size is good for those to be featured in the main desc, the others can be bigger.  It's good to maximize the use of the frame for the small ones if possible.  The main ones can be bigger as well, as long as they are clear enough when using the simply quick browser scaling they are clear. 

I think at least now it is clear that there are two quite different versions.

Thanks!

I can go back and upload bigger ones....what is the MAX size of pixels to use for the gallery? 

[jazzbass]

Thanks, those are nice clear pics, how about uploading those to SAKwiki I think they would make a good set.  Those are pretty clear, we can let the browser scale them as required so the large view is available.

If you like I can upload the images if you've never done that, and don't care to get started.

Pics are uploaded to the 91mm gallery. I didn't put them on the Craftsman page as I didn't want to step on anyone's edits or plans. Feel free to put them where ever you like.

[Reinier]

Excellent info & pics guys!

What if you exchange the Phillips on that old Craftsman (with the fish scaler) for a corkscrew? What model would that be? I think I found one of those somewhere

[jazzbass]

Excellent info & pics guys!

What if you exchange the Phillips on that old Craftsman (with the fish scaler) for a corkscrew? What model would that be? I think I found one of those somewhere

Handyman. Made from the same time and in the same configurations as the Craftsman. Same is true even today with the new pliers models, BTW. Phillips = Craftsman, Corkscrew = Handyman.

[Reinier]

Makes sense, thanks!

I'm trying to get old of that old Handyman. It's this one by the way:



Is it me or does the reamer/awl look a bit strange? Broken, maybe

[jazzbass]

Is it me or does the reamer/awl look a bit strange? Broken, maybe

It's probably fine. On the older knives pre-91, the key ring attachment is on the pen blade spacer. So the backspring for the awl is flat and there's a gap at the end. Also looks like that is a pre-83 awl, so there's no taper to it. It's just ground into a point at the end. Can't be 100% sure without better pictures, but most likely it's OK.

[Reinier]

Thanks for your help! I knew about the key ring attachment point, but I did expect more of a tapered end on the awl. I didn't have the time to compare it to one of my own older SAKs. I'm pretty sure you're right

[bren10man]

Is it me or does the reamer/awl look a bit strange? Broken, maybe

It's probably fine. On the older knives pre-91, the key ring attachment is on the pen blade spacer. So the backspring for the awl is flat and there's a gap at the end. Also looks like that is a pre-83 awl, so there's no taper to it. It's just ground into a point at the end. Can't be 100% sure without better pictures, but most likely it's OK.

The Craftsman I just got and a Champion I got a year ago were both made in the 1970s.  The tip of the awl is profiled and sharpened differently than awls on SAK's made from 1980 to today.  I was just like you, thought it was profiled.  Nope...just different times and eras.

BTW: I like the updated Craftsman Wiki entry....looks good!!!!

[ICanFixThat]

....
BTW: I like the updated Craftsman Wiki entry....looks good!!!!

Thanks to you and Jazzbass for the photos and info, the entry is now quite improved.  It's still a work in progress so keep checking, and dates are always problematic since it is clear the dates depends on where you live in the world.  Send me a PM is you have any big beef with anything.

Did either you or Jazzbass pick up that one on ebay today?

[bren10man]

No, I didn't big on the Handyman there, and I didn't have a chance to bid on the 1987 era Craftsman.....but I DO have a sapphire Deluxe Tinker on the way.   I did bid on a Wenger Rolex advertisment knive, and lost....glad I did, it sold for $75....YUCK!!

[ICanFixThat]

Rolex stuff always goes for money, but there have been a couple of those sell recently so keep an eye out you might get one at a better price.

[jazzbass]

Did either you or Jazzbass pick up that one on ebay today?

Not sure which you're referring to, but I do know I didn't get it (last thing I won on eBay was "Swiss Army Knife Handbook" for $4). Handyman or Craftsman?