Any love for Wenger?

[ColoSwiss]

L.L. Bean has done a lot with both Victorinox and Wenger. To the best of my knowledge, all the Vics are standard models. Some of the Wengers are standard models, but many are specials for Bean.

(Minor error, stuck the Wenger Soldier in with the Vics)

[North Man]

nice collection

[basilio]

Moving some knives around the house and took some pictures.
Here is my set of the Snowboard themed Wenger.
On the left, top to bottom, Shredder/Swissrider black and Shredder Yellow (unknown catalog number).
On the right, top to bottom, 1 40 03 02 (unknown US catalog number, if it was ever imported) and "Snowboard".
I'm not aware of any others models, but I'm not sure.

[North Man]

cool

[ColoSwiss]

Moving some knives around the house and took some pictures.
Here is my set of the Snowboard themed Wenger.
On the left, top to bottom, Shredder/Swissrider black and Shredder Yellow (unknown catalog number).
On the right, top to bottom, 1 40 03 02 (unknown US catalog number, if it was ever imported) and "Snowboard".
I'm not aware of any others models, but I'm not sure.

The yellow Shredder was apparently done for some mail-order gift company (don't remember who). Their number for it is 123295.

The top right one was sold in the US as 'Snowboarder' (# 16954) and in Europe as 'SwissRider'.

The small red 'Snowboard' was also sold as 'Snowboarder', though that may be a dealer's name. (# 17929)

Nice set!

[basilio]

The yellow Shredder was apparently done for some mail-order gift company (don't remember who). Their number for it is 123295.

The top right one was sold in the US as 'Snowboarder' (# 16954) and in Europe as 'SwissRider'.

The small red 'Snowboard' was also sold as 'Snowboarder', though that may be a dealer's name. (# 17929)

Nice set!

Thanks for the informations!
I would say that the model with the keychain is the more elusive one, haven't seen many of them.

[ColoSwiss]

Maybe the yellow ones are more common in Europe, but they are rare here in the US. Outside of the one I got from the mail-order company, I only recall a few showing up on ebay. Jazzbass may have more data.

[basilio]

Maybe the yellow ones are more common in Europe, but they are rare here in the US. Outside of the one I got from the mail-order company, I only recall a few showing up on ebay. Jazzbass may have more data.

Karl,
I personally never saw the yellow shredder for sale here (which doesn't mean anything).
In fact I bought mine from ebay USA some time ago, thinking it was an US only version.
On the other hand, I don't recall ever seeing the model with the keychain for sale.

[ColoSwiss]

Maybe the yellow ones are more common in Europe, but they are rare here in the US. Outside of the one I got from the mail-order company, I only recall a few showing up on ebay. Jazzbass may have more data.

Karl,
I personally never saw the yellow shredder for sale here (which doesn't mean anything).
In fact I bought mine from ebay USA some time ago, thinking it was an US only version.
On the other hand, I don't recall ever seeing the model with the keychain for sale.

Carlo,
I have the same four you have, including the black 8-blade Snowboarder with short chain. Mine has the European number 1.40.03.02. The US number I have listed in my notes, 16954, is also used for the SwissGrip multitool, so it may not have been imported for long.

[Marius]

Two more SIs sans croix for me. Too nice (and soon to be rare) to pass the occasion.

[Marius]

And an older Ranger from our friend Per in Denmark (sorry, Karl, no purple but there is still some green in here )

[ColoSwiss]

And an older Ranger from our friend Per in Denmark (sorry, Karl, no purple but there is still some green in here )

Green!? Bah, Humbug! I absolutely refuse to have a green knife. 

Some nice knives from France and Denmark! 

[AimlessWanderer]

Seen as we currently have the guru's all hovering round this thread  did anyone ever get to the bottom of the Ruthenium fiasco on the Porsche knives? A run on the search function revealed that Wenger officially declared these were zinc which was coated with a titanium colour (to look like Ruthenium), but Wenger's web site still says this ...

Ruthenium:

All Porsche Design Knives feature handles made of Ruthenium, an extremely strong, durable and highly rust-resistant metal in the Platinum group of elements. Ruthenium, a hard silvery-white metal provides outstanding corrosion resistance because it does not tarnish at room temperature, nor is it attacked by hot or cold acids. Ruthenium's excellent resistance is the reason for its major use as a hardener in conjunction with various other metals. Alloys of ruthenium and platinum or palladium are used for wear-resistant electrical contacts.

So Wenger's website says "made of Ruthenium" but official correspondence from Wenger's tech division says they are coated Zinc

They can't both be right ....

[North Man]

And an older Ranger from our friend Per in Denmark (sorry, Karl, no purple but there is still some green in here )

Very nice

I have noticed a detail, not sure others have any info on this?

The steel used on old Ranger and new, the new is more easy to sharpen and seems to get a even sharper edge. It bites better in woods aswell, it may be a difference in them.

[basilio]

the Ruthenium fiasco on the Porsche knives

That's exactly the reason why I'm not planning to buy any model from the Porsche line, which is overpriced (in my opinion).

Nice pictures Marius!

[basilio]

The AP blaze feels very good in hand, great feel. The finish seems to be some thick hard plastic paint, matte. No idea how it is applied. Cannot see any spot where is missing, inside of the scales for example. Very well done. Time will tell how it will wear.

 

Unfortunately I did not have the same good experience with the camo paint from a Ranger 57.
Please excuse the very bad quality of the pictures, but I took them with my mobile phone to show the problem to Amazon (where I bought it).
In my model the camo paint was missing inside one of the scales.
I returned the knife and received another one...... which has exactly the same problem

After much thought, I returned to Amazon my second Ranger for a full refund.
I really like this model, but I will not buy it without first checking for missing camo paint.

[marktwichtel]

Any idea of what it is?
I don't have big knowledge on the 65mm models, but it seems almost an hybrid between a Macao and a Lithos.
Right now I'm calling this a Mac-ithos 

Hi, this is my first post - nice to be here 

I like the blue macao/lithos-mix - i have something like this too ...

[ColoSwiss]

Any idea of what it is?
I don't have big knowledge on the 65mm models, but it seems almost an hybrid between a Macao and a Lithos.
Right now I'm calling this a Mac-ithos 

Hi, this is my first post - nice to be here 

I like the blue macao/lithos-mix - i have something like this too ...

Hi Mark,

Glad to have you aboard. Agree with you, the Macaos and Lithos are great.

[marktwichtel]

... and here some alox 

[North Man]

Welcome to forum, very nice knives 

[basilio]

I second North Man,
welcome marktwichtel and congratulations for your Wenger's!

[victor7000]

I second North Man,
welcome marktwichtel and congratulations for your Wenger's!

+1   

[sawman]

I was hoping to see more pictures of the Wenger Standard Issue in this thread...

[ColoSwiss]

I was hoping to see more pictures of the Wenger Standard Issue in this thread...

How about these?

- Wenger SI official issue - 1964, 1973, 1980

- SI commercial knives, with and without shields

- Assorted Wenger SI commemorative knives

[sawman]

Those are nice, thanks! 

[ICanFixThat]

And an older Ranger from our friend Per in Denmark (sorry, Karl, no purple but there is still some green in here )

Very nice

I have noticed a detail, not sure others have any info on this?

The steel used on old Ranger and new, the new is more easy to sharpen and seems to get a even sharper edge. It bites better in woods aswell, it may be a difference in them.

I thought it was just the change in the design of the blades... but maybe a change in the steel also? 

[ICanFixThat]

Does any one know anything about this piece of Wenger History?  This Hunting knife appears to be quite old as it's using Aluminum handle with riveted Fiber grips like the older soldiers.  First I've seen like this.

[North Man]

Nice find!

Part of the handle actually reminds me of a Swiss bayonet i saw one time, only without the attachings, it looks to be a almost full tang construction?
I would just have to guess, aluminium was used on knives here in 60 and 70s but also more early and later. Maybe they used this more early there. The knife looks like a solid knife for hunting or heavy work on animals.

O.Dobler Appenzell sounds like a name or a Place? Is it stainless steel? if Carbon steel it should have some more patina or maybe someone polished it.

By the looks of the sheath it could be a 60s knife, but i am just guessing. I found some info one time about Wenger knives made elsewhere, i can not find it since the scanned newspapers are gone. It could have been just some other brand. This looks to have a Genuine Wenger type symbol, but i am not sure. Interesting find, hopefully others got info?

[ColoSwiss]

Does any one know anything about this piece of Wenger History?  This Hunting knife appears to be quite old as it's using Aluminum handle with riveted Fiber grips like the older soldiers.  First I've seen like this.

(Image removed from quote.)

I have a similar knife from Wenger, with black handles, saw teeth along the spine, and marked Wengerinox. The knife handle is similar to the traditional German boy scout knife. I recall reading that the knife was made for Wenger by another company, but can't document it.


http://youlistit.cgmauctions.com/uploaded/2013-3-7/fdf991692Db1442D4ca62D83b42D8c4c76b36420scoute.jpg

[ICanFixThat]

Nice!  very similar, and amazing the sheath is almost the same as well, except yours has the nice Swiss Shield stamp as well.

On mine I presume "O.Dobler" was the owner of a shop in Appenzell Switzerland.  The blade on mine I'm sure is Stainless steel also.