The Wenger Ranger I want... What's the closest thing.

[Sags]

Okay, so I'm a fan of the larger lockblade SAKs.  I already own and use several Victorinox 111mm models.  My EDC is usually an Outrider, or a Rucksack in my pocket.

I want to get a Wenger Ranger now.  However I can't seem to find the exact one with the toolset I want.  Which (for a basic outdoor knife) is the same as my Rucksack, except since it won't be and EDC (AKA pocketknife)  I'd like it one-hand opening.

-Plain edge OH opening blade
-Wood saw
-corkscrew
-awl
-bottle opener/flathead
-can opener

The closest thing I can find in a Wenger Ranger is the Patagonia.  Which is perfect except for the serrated blade.  I like the yellow scales more then red as well.


Or the 78 which is good except for the Philips driver instead of corkscrew.


So does the knife I want exist?   I keep thinking it must and I've just missed it.

Or should I just get the 78 and live without the corkscrew I want.  (I don't even drink, but I've found the corkscrew on my Vics to be a valuable tool for picking/pulling out tough knots in cord and laces.  Among other things.)  Or get the Patagonia and file off the serrations.

EDIT:  This is pretty close too, except I don't need/want the gutting blade.

[enki_ck]

Wenger Ranger 79 is what you seek.

http://www.wenger.ch/ranger-79-1-077-079-000

[Sags]

 

Awesome, that's perfect, I like the black better then red as well.

Next question, is where to buy one in the States?

 I've just checked all the places I normally shop, -FelineVet's shop, SwissKnifeshop, Smokey Mountain, Knife-Depot, Amazon even Ebay.  Nobody seems to have any. 

EDIT:  Just checked Wenger's North America website.  The Ranger 79 is not even listed there.  Discontinued maybe?  European only model?

[Syph007]

I remember being frustrated by that too, only certain models were imported into North American I think.  I was looking for the one with fold out scissors at the time, and couldnt find one from the usual places either.

[enki_ck]

I can't find a black one at the moment but German ebay has some red and yellow ones that ship to the US.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/120755942471#ht_3389wt_906

Swiss Army has a green one too

http://www.swiss-knife.com/asp/detail.asp?lan=en&code=AF.1.077.179.823.X&shop=SK


But my firs choice if I were in the US would be to contact felinevet here onr at his store via PM and ask if he can get one.

[RDog]

This little conundrum seems to be par for the "swiss army" course.  certain logical combinations seem very rare.  Had the same kind of trouble finding a OHO Trekker w/corkscrew & toothpic/tweezers. 
 I can find pictures, but none offered for sale anywhere.  Had to settle on "close enough" and not "what I wanted."

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I remember being frustrated by that too, only certain models were imported into North American I think.  I was looking for the one with fold out scissors at the time, and couldnt find one from the usual places either.

IIRC the 79 is a Europe only model, and isn't normally sold in the US. 

Sags; I have the 179 and did a review of it last fall.  You can find it in the Reviews forum.

[Sags]

Wow...

German Ebay is my new favorite place.  All kinds of models I've never seen on US websites.

This
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Gr-Wenger-Schweizer-Messer-RangerGrip-79-X49-/160902712970?pt=DE_Sport_Camping_Outdoor_Campingmesser_werkzeug&hash=item25768c8e8a

Is exactly what I would want.  Love the yellow and black, and PE blade.  Shipping to the US = EUR 17.50, what's that ~ $25 USD   Hmmmm.

I'll have to see what felinevet has or can get first.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Wow!  I definitely would have preferred to have the PE blade, but it's not much of an issue for me anymore.  My PER Ranger 179 lives in a MaxPed Single Sheath on one of the straps of my adventure pack, so when out hiking, camping, etc. I always have at least one other tool or SAK that has a PE blade.  I tend to use the 179 more as a utility knife rather than a general use knife, so the CE blade works out okay for me that way.

[Reinier]

This little conundrum seems to be par for the "swiss army" course.  certain logical combinations seem very rare.  Had the same kind of trouble finding a OHO Trekker w/corkscrew & toothpic/tweezers. 
 I can find pictures, but none offered for sale anywhere.  Had to settle on "close enough" and not "what I wanted."

You mean like this one: http://www.vicfan.com/2010/11/victorinox-armee-one-handed-trekker-or-forester/ ?
You could have gone for the OH Forester and swap the DD scales for nylon ones with T&T.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

This little conundrum seems to be par for the "swiss army" course.  certain logical combinations seem very rare.  Had the same kind of trouble finding a OHO Trekker w/corkscrew & toothpic/tweezers. 
 I can find pictures, but none offered for sale anywhere.  Had to settle on "close enough" and not "what I wanted."

You mean like, why does the dual pro have a serrated OHO blade and the large serrated blade?  That's something that makes no sense to me at all. 

[RDog]

This little conundrum seems to be par for the "swiss army" course.  certain logical combinations seem very rare.  Had the same kind of trouble finding a OHO Trekker w/corkscrew & toothpic/tweezers. 
 I can find pictures, but none offered for sale anywhere.  Had to settle on "close enough" and not "what I wanted."

You mean like this one: http://www.vicfan.com/2010/11/victorinox-armee-one-handed-trekker-or-forester/ ?
You could have gone for the OH Forester and swap the DD scales for nylon ones with T&T.

Yes, I did a thread on this problem and all the solutions I could think of...each ended in another problem, like I could not find scales for sale anywhere...so the forester was out.  I did not want to buy two knives just to swap the scales...but ended with two knives anyway and still don't have what I wanted.  So at some point i will get a third knife (the forester) and swap the scales with one of the  others I have.

And now this thread is making me kind of like those rangers!

[Sags]

So I've fallen in love with this model.




but it is a European only it seems. 

Still I think I might get it, I would end up paying only about $20 more then I would buying a 179 Patagonia model anywhere in the US.

I have never done Ebay (or any online store) internationally though.  Seems simple enough, Paypal still works, and seller says shipping to the States is not a problem... ...  just wondering if there are any "gotchas" I need to look out for if I do buy it.  (besides the long, long wait of course.)

[enki_ck]

As far as my sif line is correct, no problems at all. no one in the USA reported any customs issues and the shipping to the USA usually is two weeks tops.

[Syph007]

I just discovered german ebay and the joys of SAK buying of models that are euro releases only.  I made my first order from a seller there so we'll see how it goes.  With an auto translating browser it was easy for an english only fellow like me to shop there.  I spotted those orange rangers too... they sure do look nice. 

[enki_ck]

I just discovered german ebay and the joys of SAK buying of models that are euro releases only.  I made my first order from a seller there so we'll see how it goes.  With an auto translating browser it was easy for an english only fellow like me to shop there.  I spotted those orange rangers too... they sure do look nice. 

If you ever do need help with german, you can contact me no problem.

[ColoSwiss]

A couple of tips on using foreign Ebays from the US.

- Sign in to your US Ebay account before going into the other country Ebay site. When you see something you like, hit 'add it to your watch list'. You can then back out of the foreign Ebay and go to your US Ebay account, and normally the item will be there, and you can then pay for it in English.

- As with US Ebay, check the dealer's approval rating. The only problem I've had (and several other people) was with a French dealer that appeared to take the order, but never charged Paypal, or sent the item, or responded to email. Not out anything, but annoying.

- Always check the payment type. Most dealers who ship to the US will take Paypal, but some only take bank transfers, apparently more common in Europe than here. Last time I checked my bank wanted $50 for a foreign bank transfer, which pretty much kills the deal unless you're real desperate.

- US Customs is variable. I've only had to pay duties once (famous last words). However time is extremely variable. I've had some items come in in a week, while others have taken six weeks. Don't know if they're occasionally sitting on stuff for security reasons or what.

Good Hunting! 

[Syph007]

Ya Im always careful about total price.  Any package of a value over 100 I owe duty on, so I will buy just enough of something to come in just under that usually. 

One thing that has me really curious is german ebay is loaded with alox models that are no longer available in north america. Pruner, solo, electrician, harvester etc.  Are these not discontinued in the euro line, just north america?  Even with price conversion and shipping I got 4 pruners coming to me for about 94 CAD, and those are long gone from online sites around north america, and I asked Tim, and he cant order them any more from Vic. 

[enki_ck]

I can get a most of them locally from the Vic distributer so I believe it's just a NA thing.


Here's the Croatian distributer's page:
http://www.maestralcentar.hr/victorinox/dzepni-nozici.html?katalog_start=63


Alox Solo is about $16, Harvester is $34, Pruner $23.

[Syph007]

I can get a most of them locally from the Vic distributer so I believe it's just a NA thing.


Here's the Croatian distributer's page:
http://www.maestralcentar.hr/victorinox/dzepni-nozici.html?katalog_start=63


Alox Solo is about $16, Harvester is $34, Pruner $23.

Cool, good to know!  Those prices arent bad at all.  I wouldnt mind another bunch of solos, even just for the extra scales since I cant seem to have enough of those.

[Sags]

So...

Guess what showed up at my local post office from Germany today.