Help required to identify a 40+ year old 85mm Wenger.

PTRSAK · **on:** June 14, 2012, 04:36:07 AM

Help required to identify a 40+ year old 85mm Wenger.

The SAK described and pictured below was given to me on my 10th birthday, I'm turning 50 in a couple of months so that puts a rough date on it.
I have no recollection if the knife was brand new or second hand when I got it.
I've spent many hours searching several forums and the internet in general to no avail.
closest I have come to a match is a Vintage Monarch, but that has an extra layer and extra tools consisting of Magnifier/Precision screwdriver and Phillips screwdriver.

The original scales came off and were lost many years ago, along with the tweezers. I do not recall if there was a toothpick. The current scales were hand made by me from 2024-T3 Aluminium (Aluminum to "US English" speakers) some time in the 80's.
Other ravages of time include broken Nail File and loose backspring on the Main Blade / Corkscrew / Nail File layer.

The Scissors are the older style with leaf spring a'la Victorinox (incidentally the spring is a Vic part adapted to fit, I was unable to source a Wenger spring.) I believe that the scissors on Wenger knives changed to the backspring version in 1972. (another clue to age)

The Main blade Tang has
_
WENGER /|\ <-- CROSSBOW SYMBOL
DELEMONT |
SWITZERLAND
STAINLESS

and the can opener has a "how to use" diagram and +PAT+ stamped on it.

Blades/Tools are as follows in the 6 layers

LARGE BLADE | CORKSCREW | NAIL FILE
------------------------------------------------------------
| | SCISSORS
------------------------------------------------------------
| | WOOD SAW
------------------------------------------------------------
| | METAL FILE (has teeth on edge, but I would hardly call them a saw)
------------------------------------------------------------
| | FISH SCALER/HOOK DISGORGER (old style, no line guide)
------------------------------------------------------------
BOTTLE OPENER/SCREWDRIVER | AWL | CAN OPENER

None of the blades/tools lock in the open position, there does not appear to have been a Key Ring,

Liners appear to be Aluminium. The opener does not have the Wire Stripper notch.

I will take some photos tonight and add any other details I think of, but hopefully this will get the resident experts started on the trail.

I would like to restore the old girl to (some of) her former glory as she has been my long suffering companion on many "adventures" these past 40 years.

cheers and thanks in advance
Peter

J Mackrel Jones · **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2012, 05:00:55 AM

Almost a Master Fisherman - which had a phillips driver, not a corkscrew. 85 mm would be the nominal length. The Z-shaped PAT can opener was made from 1963 until the late 1970s, when Wenger went to the hook-and-blade style, as still today.

PTRSAK · **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2012, 05:41:28 AM

Quote from: J Mackrel Jones on June 14, 2012, 05:00:55 AM

Almost a Master Fisherman - which had a phillips driver, not a corkscrew. 85 mm would be the nominal length. The Z-shaped PAT can opener was made from 1963 until the late 1970s, when Wenger went to the hook-and-blade style, as still today.

Thanks, edited to 85mm.

Yes, it's "almost" several models, but not quite.

ColoSwiss · **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2012, 06:42:14 AM

If it has the old-style "Z" type can opener I have a photo of it but no other info. If it has the current style of can opener, I don't even have a photo.

Karl

PTRSAK · **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2012, 09:52:26 AM

Pix, sorry they are a little quick and dirty,

PTRSAK · **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2012, 09:53:48 AM

PTRSAK · **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2012, 09:55:28 AM

still more

PTRSAK · **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2012, 09:56:33 AM

Lucky last

ColoSwiss · **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2012, 08:16:04 PM

That has the old-style "Z" or "dog-leg" can opener, which dates the knife to somewhere between 1963 and 1975 (approximately). I have a photo of that model, but no info on model number. It also precedes Wenger giving its models names. I have a similar knife with a phillips screwdriver rather than a corkscrew. The dog-legs had red plastic handles with the Swiss cross moulded in. Most but not all also had a bail. Don't have any other info.

Karl

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2012, 11:32:35 PM

I don't know how many current parts are compatible with these old ones. The scales wrap around the edges of the outer liners, but do not have the same attachment system from what I can see.

Marius · **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2012, 01:00:55 AM

Very nice SAK!

And amazing how much thicker Wenger was making the main blade (at tang especially) at that time compared with the more recent ones.

ColoSwiss · **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2012, 01:12:08 AM

The "dog-legs" are fairly common on ebay and not too pricey, typically $30 - $60.

Karl

enki_ck · **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2012, 01:35:31 AM

Quote from: Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! on June 14, 2012, 11:32:35 PM

...The scales wrap around the edges of the outer liners, but do not have the same attachment system from what I can see.

There are 3 different models of wenger scales, the oldies, the classic scales and the evo scales. None of which are compatible. There's a pdf documenta round here somewhere on the differences. I'll try to find it and post tomorrow.

PTRSAK · **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2012, 07:36:07 AM

Thanks for the input everyone,
I remember now (looking at the pictures of other knives) that it did have the wire loop across the end between the scales. (is this what you are referring to as the bail?) that would have gone west along with the scales, if not before.
Pre-teen boys can be a little hard on equipment

I think I'll have to pull this old girl apart and do a rebuild on her. There is little point in trying to stay original, too beat up for that, especially if I have to make another set of scales (these aluminium ones were knocked out pretty quickly).
Being from the Aviation industry I do have a few offcuts of Titanium sheet in various thicknesses, maybe a set of anodised Titanium scales would be the go, I might even have some the right thickness for liners too.
Or I could make a pair of molds and lay up some carbon fibre and kevlar...

As far as attachment goes, the current scales have been held on with RTV Silicone since they were made and have never moved. But will be easy enough to remove just by sliding a thin blade under them.

hmmmm so many plans and schemes.....

enki_ck · **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2012, 07:54:52 PM

Quote from: enki_ck on June 15, 2012, 01:35:31 AM

Quote from: Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! on June 14, 2012, 11:32:35 PM
...The scales wrap around the edges of the outer liners, but do not have the same attachment system from what I can see.

There are 3 different models of wenger scales, the oldies, the classic scales and the evo scales. None of which are compatible. There's a pdf documenta round here somewhere on the differences. I'll try to find it and post tomorrow.

Here's the PDF:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30550284/Wenger_History_Hidden_Rivet_Scale_Attachment_Methods.pdf

PTRSAK · **Reply #15 on:** July 14, 2012, 01:19:03 AM

Update.. Just picked up a younger version of my knife off eBay.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/390438091141

Same toolset, just a younger version.

I probably paid too much for it, but at the end of the day it's only worth what it's worth to me, right?

Frankly I'm quite happy with what I paid, AND I get an Esquire thrown in as well.

But I'll be damn lucky if this one serves me for another 40 years.