Any love for Wenger?

[North Man]

PS have i posted this link before?

http://books.google.no/books?id=i-_nR43-FIUC&pg=RA1-PA133&dq=wenger+steel+knife&hl=no&sa=X&ei=UTZLUai2IMXesgbBxICgAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=wenger%20steel%20knife&f=false

[ICanFixThat]

PS have i posted this link before?

http://books.google.no/books?id=i-_nR43-FIUC&pg=RA1-PA133&dq=wenger+steel+knife&hl=no&sa=X&ei=UTZLUai2IMXesgbBxICgAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=wenger%20steel%20knife&f=false

for the advert?

[J Mackrel Jones]

I have a nice old new Wenger with a PIC tag -- I see from the old ad that PIC stands for Precise International Corporation, the Wenger US importer for many years.

[ColoSwiss]

Has anyone heard any more about the Wenger RealTree 'Snow' knives? They're supposed to be out now. Hope they didn't get canceled in Wenger's subsumption into Victorinox.

http://www.wengerna.com/realtree-ap-snow-50-16850

[basilio]

Has anyone heard any more about the Wenger RealTree 'Snow' knives? They're supposed to be out now. Hope they didn't get canceled in Wenger's subsumption into Victorinox.

http://www.wengerna.com/realtree-ap-snow-50-16850

Was wondering myself.
I searched a little but at the moment the new snow camo appears only on the Wenger USA website

[North Man]

PS have i posted this link before?

http://books.google.no/books?id=i-_nR43-FIUC&pg=RA1-PA133&dq=wenger+steel+knife&hl=no&sa=X&ei=UTZLUai2IMXesgbBxICgAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=wenger%20steel%20knife&f=false

for the advert?

yes for the advert

It is interesting to see, since it is just a drawing sort advert. If one see the scanned magazines during 1972 and up. If one see the Backpacker magazine in the 1976-1980. There are alot of articles and nice pictures on the Wenger knives. Precise and Wenger really put on some show here. I have mentioned rather much on this period, in example the much text and info i had before. Still it is a nice piece  of history.
I found some information on the Backpacker magazine 1973 and up - how the backpacking boom happened. Interesting is the late 70s with the embossed models and the new categories we discussed(embossed models). It is a category started from the 1975 approx(not sure yet)?

Also interesting is the Backpacker name on the Wenger knives  In the Backpacker magazine maybe a coincidence.
Like you know camping/backpacking waves happened in different waves around the world, at different times. Still it is my understanding that the Backpacker magazine got its fame in the 70s because of the wave. Not because of knives but the waves.

[North Man]

here it is mentioned in 1979 - how the Backpacker knives developed for the Americans
http://books.google.no/books?id=buADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=wenger+backpacker+developed&hl=no&sa=X&ei=jR9MUca_CemE4ATag4HoBQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=backpacker&f=false

I however careful with making this a 100% info, that these knives was just developed for this.

PS. It seems the 70s is at a time where Wenger is going more heavy into the American marked.

[Outback in Idaho]

here it is mentioned in 1979 - how the Backpacker knives developed for the Americans
http://books.google.no/books?id=buADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=wenger+backpacker+developed&hl=no&sa=X&ei=jR9MUca_CemE4ATag4HoBQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=backpacker&f=false

I however careful with making this a 100% info, that these knives was just developed for this.

PS. It seems the 70s is at a time where Wenger is going more heavy into the American marked.

  Interesting. Wonder why I has never seen a SAK in my 70's, or even 80's. Seen a Leatherman in a Marlboro catalog that my parents had gotten. Later found a palm-pinching Gerber. Don't recall what era I ever saw a SAK... 

  Same ugly awl too. Don't know how anyone could use that type of awl stand-alone. Say, where does one find them short-tailed chain rings? Only seen photos of them on various SAK.

[North Man]

here it is mentioned in 1979 - how the Backpacker knives developed for the Americans
http://books.google.no/books?id=buADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=wenger+backpacker+developed&hl=no&sa=X&ei=jR9MUca_CemE4ATag4HoBQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=backpacker&f=false

I however careful with making this a 100% info, that these knives was just developed for this.

PS. It seems the 70s is at a time where Wenger is going more heavy into the American marked.

  Interesting. Wonder why I has never seen a SAK in my 70's, or even 80's. Seen a Leatherman in a Marlboro catalog that my parents had gotten. Later found a palm-pinching Gerber. Don't recall what era I ever saw a SAK... 

  Same ugly awl too. Don't know how anyone could use that type of awl stand-alone. Say, where does one find them short-tailed chain rings? Only seen photos of them on various SAK.

Just stop me if i am raving on

In the 70 one also got Boys life mag. From 1980-1990 one see more magazines with articles/pictures. No doubt the adverts can vary, if just a black and white picture or bad scan. Some looks like a drawing aswell(70s)

We must not forget that Wenger got popular in Japan, with a outdoor wave 1970 and up(hopefully there are some info here for me?)

It was to bad they shut down the scanned newspaper project, atleast all the good stuff is gone. I read a every article i could find. It was a great way to check magazines and newspapers up against eachother.
Combination with looking in catalogues-magazines-newspapers-knives-collectors-pictures-other research-contact with factory. This way i could find or learn more.

[North Man]

It was in this kind of research i learned more on the fashion waves aswell. How the smaller knives with new colors was developed for woman and fashion industry, again just time windows and interesting to know about. we may never know for sure

[basilio]

Say, where does one find them short-tailed chain rings? Only seen photos of them on various SAK.

Wenger used them for older models.
I did try to search for them, but it seems that they were not an official replacement part (at least, I was not able to find them as replacement through shops)

[basilio]

Just stop me if i am raving on

Please don't stop!
You made a very good research during these years 

[Outback in Idaho]

  Lot of reading material in libraries went on microfiche, but where it went from there I wouldn't know. Would of figured they would of gotten scanned and put in some archive format?

[North Man]

I am sure many newspapers must be scanned. The Google one had a whole database of american newspapers. Could be possible to search individual papers aswell, maybe one would need to pay or get permits.

However today we read about Wenger markeds, according to a paper in 1988 wenger had 10% of its marked in the USA. In 1992 35% this is impressive. The counter part say the figures is to high, anyhow well done.

And interesting: In 1989 it was talk on new knives and more colors - called pastells (must be the 65mm)
Then in 1990 there was talk on on the knives for woman. In the newspapers i often found that there was a competition about markeds in America, again just time windows. In 1991 The bulletin 14th March mention the Pastells. Precise mention by these to hit the woman or female marked. sales went noticeably up. It was not cheap, it did cost much to get new colors.

[North Man]

Also some info here i have been into:
in 2003 Victorinox takes over Wenger NA, also the the Swiss Army Fragrances,



I got information that Victorinox and Wenger have been in competition on the knives, this during from 2005-2010/12. It seems it was a surprice for many this, including me. Maybe i had gotten som impulses that something was going on. I had the impression that Wenger did well and had/have been very innovative. And i did wonder if it would be a self business again, atleast in knives.
It is today already news that the small knives will be legal in the air, strange this since we know Wenger have seen much trouble in history with the economy. So it is worth having in mind, after the tragic Sep 11 Wenger could not recover. Talk about outside countries wanting to buy the company. Victorinox did a great move to keep it in Swiss hand, and also other reasons.

Sadly maybe we would have seen Wenger products getting a boom again, this because if air legal.
I do not want to get in trouble but i got information some time ago. Victorinox and its contract with NATO We own this marked, hence wenger was out. They do not have permits selling to Nato.

[North Man]

Again remember my information as time Window and talk points,.The Nato info is regarding knives.

Information suggest that Victorinox and Wenger watches are made side by side in the Porrentruy factory.
I wish not to take sides since i love both Brands. Still i remember when Peter Hug mentioned - we are going back to our roots. Or where we belong, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-06/swiss-army-knives-shift-focus-to-boardroom-from-battlefield.html

No more Wenger Classic knives, these are maybe part of the knives people would not distinguish.

[ICanFixThat]

Also some info here i have been into:
in 2003 Victorinox takes over Wenger NA, also the the Swiss Army Fragrances,
...

I think you mean 2013 here right?

[North Man]

it was mentioned in a Victorinox Swiss army watches catalogue, premium selection 2009-2010


2003
-Victorinox takes over the US-american company Wenger NA, including the fragrance label "Swiss Army Fragrance"

By this it should mean if coorect that Vic took over this before the takeover in 2005 on the Swiss Based Wenger.

[North Man]

also 2005

- Victorinox takes over the traditional Swiss cutlery and watch manufacturer Wenger SA in Delemont in the Swiss Jura.

2006

- Victorinox Swiss Army moves to its new watch production facility in Porrentruy, in the Swiss Jura, to meet the increasing demand and to ensure high-quality timepieces.

2007

-Victorinox sets up Victorinox Swiss Army Fragrance AG based at its head office. The former Wenger fragrance line is repositioned in the marked and is branded with Victorinox emblem.


some of my research:
2009 wenger starts a global reposition campaign

[ICanFixThat]

OK that is correct.  Victorinox did take control of Wenger NA in 2003. I see what you were saying.

Since you seem to be studding there watches also do you know anything about Swiss Military line by private label maker Chrono? Seems like Wenger and Chrono both sell the "SWISS MILITARY" brand, but I wnder if these are really made by Chrono and not in their other factory?

[North Man]

Hi

Pm sent

about the watches itself i have little info, there are differences in them. Both got high quality, i can not say for sure on your question.

[ColoSwiss]

Growing up in the US Midwest in the 1950s and 1960s I never saw a SAK. Don't believe they were carried by Herter's, the Cabela's of the period. First encountered them in the mid-1960s when my family moved to Boulder. Some of the high-end mountaineering shops were carrying them. They cost 5-10 times as much as the Schrades and K-Bars I was buying at the local hardware store, so out of my price range. It was the early 1970s when they starred showing up in chain discount stores at an affordable price.  That was about the same time Wenger dropped the old 'dog-leg' can opener, and started broadening their product line.

[ICanFixThat]

Any one know of a name or model number for a Nomad configuration with a Nail-File rather than the Small blade?  I searched and saw some time back someone asked about this configuration, but their knife didn't have a locking blade as the Nomad.

[ICanFixThat]

Wenger 1967 Professional Series.

[enki_ck]

Any one know of a name or model number for a Nomad configuration with a Nail-File rather than the Small blade?  I searched and saw some time back someone asked about this configuration, but their knife didn't have a locking blade as the Nomad.

I think it was me asking about that combination but I haven't seen another one like it since. Have you found one? Any pictures?

[ColoSwiss]

Any one know of a name or model number for a Nomad configuration with a Nail-File rather than the Small blade?  I searched and saw some time back someone asked about this configuration, but their knife didn't have a locking blade as the Nomad.

I think it was me asking about that combination but I haven't seen another one like it since. Have you found one? Any pictures?

L.L. Bean had a locking Nomad with nail file. The picture I have shows their name on the handle, but no info on model name or number.

[basilio]

L.L. Bean had a locking Nomad with nail file. The picture I have shows their name on the handle, but no info on model name or number.

Yes, have the same knife myself (unfortunately it is not a mint model)

[North Man]

I like it, really nice   

LL Bean is a big name with Wenger knives. Alot of history there.

[North Man]

Here is two important Villmarksliv magazines. In number 10 2011 there was a big test of multitools. Different Brands, good test.

Wenger did really well and MikeHorn got top score, the RangerGrip 74.821.X did also very well.

In Villmarksliv number 7 2012 the RangerGrip 90 was tested, very well scores. On the thicker side mentioned.

The number 10 2011 was also mentioned at Wenger.ch

Then i got a nice poster of the Wenger Mike Horn with Villmarksliv "test"

[enki_ck]

L.L. Bean had a locking Nomad with nail file. The picture I have shows their name on the handle, but no info on model name or number.

Yes, have the same knife myself (unfortunately it is not a mint model)

Yes, the one I asked about was also made for/sold by L.L. Bean. It was in rough shape but you can still read part of the Bean on the scales. No lock on that one.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,38962.msg625039.html#msg625039