Any love for Wenger?

[nuphoria]

Great stuff. Lovely pics as usual

[dks]

Now lets wait a few years for its value to go up...   


 

[space cowboy]

Wenger sucks compared to victorinox. IMO

[enki_ck]

Wenger sucks compared to victorinox. IMO

Which Wenger did you carry and use that caused you to think so?

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

I'm not speaking for Space Cowboy, but I will say that one disappointing thing about Wenger models is that any time I find one that I think I'll like, I quickly find a complimentary Victorinox model that is much cheaper in price.

Today it was the Evowood models. I've been curious about those. I found a couple at what I thought were great prices (relative to what I've been seeing on eBay). Well, then I found a hardwood scaled Victorinox Huntsman that had more tools and was >25% less than the comparable Evowood that had a toolset like a Spartan.

I'm sorry to see the Wenger brand go, but if one of the two SAK brands had to go, I'm sure glad it was NOT Victorinox. Victorinox products are generally superior in overall F&F in my experience. And the great majority of the time they are cheaper to boot.

[ICanFixThat]

Great stuff. Lovely pics as usual

+1 Very nice Pics, and a very interesting model from Wenger. I'm looking for a second one, but I'm waiting for a really good price.

[space cowboy]

I'm not speaking for Space Cowboy, but I will say that one disappointing thing about Wenger models is that any time I find one that I think I'll like, I quickly find a complimentary Victorinox model that is much cheaper in price.

Today it was the Evowood models. I've been curious about those. I found a couple at what I thought were great prices (relative to what I've been seeing on eBay). Well, then I found a hardwood scaled Victorinox Huntsman that had more tools and was >25% less than the comparable Evowood that had a toolset like a Spartan.

I'm sorry to see the Wenger brand go, but if one of the two SAK brands had to go, I'm sure glad it was NOT Victorinox. Victorinox products are generally superior in overall F&F in my experience. And the great majority of the time they are cheaper to boot.

Exactly what Moe said!

[basilio]

I'm not speaking for Space Cowboy, but I will say that one disappointing thing about Wenger models is that any time I find one that I think I'll like, I quickly find a complimentary Victorinox model that is much cheaper in price.

Today it was the Evowood models. I've been curious about those. I found a couple at what I thought were great prices (relative to what I've been seeing on eBay). Well, then I found a hardwood scaled Victorinox Huntsman that had more tools and was >25% less than the comparable Evowood that had a toolset like a Spartan.

I'm sorry to see the Wenger brand go, but if one of the two SAK brands had to go, I'm sure glad it was NOT Victorinox. Victorinox products are generally superior in overall F&F in my experience. And the great majority of the time they are cheaper to boot.

Exactly what Moe said!

I have a small brochure from Wenger printed around 1992-1995.
After a brief description of some of the most innovative patented tools (which Victorinox probably never think about), the brochure says (in italian)
"Benvenuti nella cerchia degli intenditori!", which translate into something like
"Welcome to the circle of connoisseurs!".
Everyone knows about Victorinox.
You find them everywhere.
Only few owns a Wenger 

[Singh]

I just got my first Wenger, a brushed stainless traveler. The scissors bob up and down when you use them, so they are not really good for fine work. People complain about the dull Wenger awl, but the can opener can be pressed into service as a pokey thing.  A solid little knife.

[ColoSwiss]

I just got my first Wenger, a brushed stainless traveler. The scissors bob up and down when you use them, so they are not really good for fine work. People complain about the dull Wenger awl, but the can opener can be pressed into service as a pokey thing.  A solid little knife.
(Image removed from quote.)

Welcome to the club. 

I've EDC's a standard Traveler for years.

[North Man]

The universal wrench is interesting and got many variations.
I wonder if it was introduced in the early 70s?, on my picture i got models from 1980-1990s. All of them are different with small variations and one of the most important variations is the cutouts/notches to grab the bolts.
Other variations is the symbolic drawing that shows the use of it, easy to see if you look on your knives. You will also see the shape of this tool got different shapes over the years.
The reason for my impression it was introduced in the early 70s : - from other knives and a manual showing this tool early on.

[Outback in Idaho]

  What are the two models on the far right, S557? They would appear to have more 'bite' than the others.
    Hmm...

[North Man]

hi

the two to the far right is the Cyclist from i would say 1990-1994 or so, or around there.
More bite yes. Only very small differences between the two but its there.
ps by bite i mean the cutouts or notches is better to grab, the width/jaw is about the same on all

[Outback in Idaho]

  Gave in, couldn't take the 557 teasing any longer. Ordered one from eBay, Time Eclectic out of Raleigh, North Carolina. Never done business with them, but they had free shipping with an ETA of the 7th.

  Had looked closer at their photos and it showed the better shoulders on the wrench. Would have hesitated if they were like the micro shoulders on the ones in your photo - far left.



  Noticed that they have a damacus Vic SAK, and this monster: Wenger 16391-SET Minathor 50 EvoWood Swiss Army Knife + 98831 Set + 89839 Pouch. Never seen one of those in EvoWood. Spendy too, $275 US.

[North Man]

yes, tempting knife.
Take a pic when you get it, would be interesting to see the wrench

[twiliter]

Time Eclectic is a good outfit, got both of mine through them but on Amazon. Took a photo with my marginal iPad camera, hopefully good enough to see the wrench teeth...

[North Man]

nice

[basilio]

The universal wrench is interesting and got many variations.
I wonder if it was introduced in the early 70s?, on my picture i got models from 1980-1990s. All of them are different with small variations and one of the most important variations is the cutouts/notches to grab the bolts.
Other variations is the symbolic drawing that shows the use of it, easy to see if you look on your knives. You will also see the shape of this tool got different shapes over the years.
The reason for my impression it was introduced in the early 70s : - from other knives and a manual showing this tool early on.

(Image removed from quote.)

Thanks, interesting comparison!

[enki_ck]

Very interesting. I knew there were at least two, with fine and rough teeth, but never knew about the different tool shapes.

[ICanFixThat]

That is a good wrench comparison. You don't mind if I steal that for the Wiki do you?

According to the Wenger Timeline on the wiki the wrench was released in 1977, this date appears to be based on product advertisements.

[North Man]

That is a good wrench comparison. You don't mind if I steal that for the Wiki do you?

According to the Wenger Timeline on the wiki the wrench was released in 1977, this date appears to be based on product advertisements.

thanks, yes you can use it on the SakWiki 
1977 is interesting

[Outback in Idaho]

That is a good wrench comparison. You don't mind if I steal that for the Wiki do you?

According to the Wenger Timeline on the wiki the wrench was released in 1977, this date appears to be based on product advertisements.

thanks, yes you can use it on the SakWiki 
1977 is interesting

  Amazing. Was a sophomore in high school back then.     

[North Man]

 i did not get it, sophomore?

[Outback in Idaho]

 i did not get it, sophomore?

  High school ranks: 1st year is Freshman, 2nd year is Sophomore, 3rd year is Junior, 4th and final year for graduation is Senior. Least here in the US.

[Vladimir]

Just got it today:
Wenger Classic 62

[North Man]

 i did not get it, sophomore?

  High school ranks: 1st year is Freshman, 2nd year is Sophomore, 3rd year is Junior, 4th and final year for graduation is Senior. Least here in the US.

yes now i see, lol 

[basilio]

My Orvis Catch and Release (left) has the bright polished notch at the end. The standard Catch and Release has the notch coated with abrasive. The Troller and Angler (right) simply have the hook sharpening groove. So it looks like your uncoated notch isn't a flaw. However I have no idea what its used for.

About half the fishing knives I have have a fly lure on the handle, about half are plain.

Karl,
could you post a picture of your "Angler" with the tools opened?
I'm not sure if the model I have (see attachments) is or not an Angler.
The box has the same catalog number as the "Troller"(1 45 03), but I found it listed as "Angler".
In fact my knife has exactly the same configuration as the Troller, not considering the fly lure on the front scale.
Is there any reference about the so called "Angler"?
I was not able to find any information about it.
To my surprise the cermic file of my knife has the notch discussed above.

[Outback in Idaho]

Time Eclectic is a good outfit, got both of mine through them but on Amazon. Took a photo with my marginal iPad camera, hopefully good enough to see the wrench teeth...

  Just a side note: Has anyone else noticed that 'Time Eclectic' uses a unique coding on their replies?
  <extended ASCII code snipped> Googling that brings up something interesting. 

  Noticed that the other day. Gives them a unique time code presence on search engines.

[twiliter]

  Amazing. Was a sophomore in high school back then.     

+1 

[ColoSwiss]

My Orvis Catch and Release (left) has the bright polished notch at the end. The standard Catch and Release has the notch coated with abrasive. The Troller and Angler (right) simply have the hook sharpening groove. So it looks like your uncoated notch isn't a flaw. However I have no idea what its used for.

About half the fishing knives I have have a fly lure on the handle, about half are plain.

Karl,
could you post a picture of your "Angler" with the tools opened?
I'm not sure if the model I have (see attachments) is or not an Angler.
The box has the same catalog number as the "Troller"(1 45 03), but I found it listed as "Angler".
In fact my knife has exactly the same configuration as the Troller, not considering the fly lure on the front scale.
Is there any reference about the so called "Angler"?
I was not able to find any information about it.
To my surprise the cermic file of my knife has the notch discussed above.

Hi Carlo,

More fun-and-games with Wenger. The Troller (1.45.03 / 16962)(what you show above) was sold in at least one market as the Angler. The other Angler (1.44.03 / ? ) that I have is basically a Troller without the scissors. It was also sold as the Pecheur. I have versions both with a fly lure on the handle and plain.