Bummer

Marius · **on:** December 30, 2012, 10:42:31 PM

The awl snapped off broken from base on my new Soldier 1891 LE. The SAK and the broken off awl are now on their way to the Canadian Victorinox SAK repair center as per their Web instructions. I do not know when and how I will see this SAK again. I'm just hoping for the best.

Northern Geek · **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2012, 10:50:33 PM

Ouch.. Hope it comes back in pristine condition mate

nuphoria · **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2012, 10:56:20 PM

Vic repairs seem to be of a very high standard. Hopefully it will be back safely with you soon

What dreadful torture did you put it through then?

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:00:44 PM

Holy He!!,

I would be

However, I am sure Victorinox will make it completely right.

sak-collector · **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:07:02 PM

Ouch! What happened?

space cowboy · **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:10:55 PM

Looks like a wimpy awl for what you paid for the SAK IMO. Never broke a standard awl in my life! Corkscrews: I broke 2 though!

AHB · **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:19:06 PM

Oouch..

Hopefully your'll have it back soon, but that's not good at all..

Marius · **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:20:59 PM

Thanks all for the best wishes!

Manufacturing/materials defect? I see no other explanation.

I never broke myself any part of a SAK, not even a corkscrew. And this awl is supposed to be at least same as strong at the base as the current 93 mm awls.

So:

space cowboy · **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:26:05 PM

Hmm ... sounds like a defect if its as strong as a standard awl. Why would you use a Collector SAK with such a high price tag? Just curious as I would have locked it up in my safe but, thats just me. I am sure they will fix or replace it for you. Let us know how it turns out!

Syph007 · **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:26:28 PM

See Vic thought noone would actually use those fancy things! Way to go for proving them wrong!

GigaHz · **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:34:11 PM

Was this in use or just opening it?

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:36:17 PM

Metallurgical defect, looking at the break

You should have no problem getting this put right ... although you are correct, there may be a time lag due to the special part required

enki_ck · **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:38:03 PM

Sorry to see that. Hope you get it fixed soon. Keep us updated.

Marius · **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:46:46 PM

Well, I hope mine was an isolated bad awl and the rest of this LE series are in fact good working, high quality SAKs, including awls. Quote from the certficate that came with it:

"Congratulations on your purchase of this original-replica of the very first Soldier's Knife delivered to the Swiss Army by Victorinox in 1891. Your knife has been reproduced from high quality materials on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Victorinox. There are only four series of 1,884 copies each in the whole world. We hope that this unique testimony of traditional craftsmanship will give you a great deal of pleasure."

I thought the only difference between this and the original Soldier SAK are the stainless steel (as per current Victorinox formula) and the Ebony scales and that this LE can make of a very good 'user' if one such wishes.

I know that at least one member here (ICanFixThat?) uses theirs and does not keep them just for display.

It would be a shame IMHO if these would be just show and no substance for the price they command.

So, yes, I hope this was caused by an isolated metallurgical defect. I will update on this thread when I will hear back from Victorinox. May be months. I don't think is an easy just awl part replacing job as the rivet ends appear to be polished together with the Ebony scales to give the final handle form. Maybe they will just replace the SAK. We'll see.

dks · **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:48:35 PM

Bad casting seems to be a popular problem with multitools lately....

I am sure Victorinox did not expect many people to actually use this model...

Marius · **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:58:51 PM

The same awl couple of days earlier:

Wootz · **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2012, 11:59:12 PM

May I ask how did it break?

Marius · **Reply #17 on:** December 31, 2012, 12:15:46 AM

Just playing with it. Why the bummer. And I am not Hulk

[edit] Forgot the smiley. Anyway, I am curious what will happen next, when it will happen.

McChouffe · **Reply #18 on:** December 31, 2012, 09:17:19 AM

Quote from: Marius on December 31, 2012, 12:15:46 AM

Just playing with it. Why the bummer. And I am not Hulk

[edit] Forgot the smiley. Anyway, I am curious what will happen next, when it will happen.

What's the serial number of which series?

Marius · **Reply #19 on:** December 31, 2012, 05:56:54 PM

Quote from: McChouffe on December 31, 2012, 09:17:19 AM

What's the serial number of which series?

It's the NA series. Why do you need to know the serial number?

GigaHz · **Reply #20 on:** January 01, 2013, 01:08:44 AM

For the money of these, I would think a new one is order.

Wootz · **Reply #21 on:** January 01, 2013, 01:39:57 PM

Quote from: Marius on December 31, 2012, 12:15:46 AM

Just playing with it. Why the bummer. And I am not Hulk

[edit] Forgot the smiley. Anyway, I am curious what will happen next, when it will happen.

They don't make them like they used to! At least my awl isn't broken

Happy new year

ICanFixThat · **Reply #22 on:** January 01, 2013, 06:43:41 PM

Holy Moly!!! I'm shocked. Some how the testing of the metal must have failed in this case, unless the heat treatment didn't go right. Must have been the heat treatment. I do use one of mine and have a preserved one as well. I've not had any problems with my user, but I mostly use the blade. I have used the Awl/Reamer though, but I think I'll give it more of a test. Winter weather is here so it is usually with me in my coat pocket.

I hope they settle things up fast for you.

MARIOS7319 · **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2013, 03:15:42 AM

That's very odd for a Victorinox knife.

As others wrote, i believe also that is a metallurgical defect.
If i was you i send it directly to Victorinox in Switzerland, with express mail.
I hope for a fast repair or replacement.
Probably they will change it with a new one, as they did with my Damascus Pioneer that had color fading in the alox scales.
Keep us update, i really want to see how they will respond.

Marius · **Reply #24 on:** January 10, 2013, 06:11:57 PM

Best possible news, my friends!

Found this morning at my door a large box from the Canadian Victorinox SAK Repair Center, expedited mail (wow!)

Inside there was a brand new, fully retail packaged, replacement Victorinox Heritage knife. With all original packaging and papers.

Not just this but the replacement is PERFECT!

The previous one had fit and finish problems everywhere and even before its awl broke I was not really happy with it. I thought maybe all were like that. That previous one had:

- Poor fit of the Ebony scales - visible space between the wood scales and exterior liners all around.
- The awl and blade were touching when closed. The blade was already scratched because of this. Worse: the awl would shift in closed position and fall where the blade would sit when closed. That happened at the slightest touch of the handle over the closed awl - the awl would slip inside the space for the blade - and then if the blade was closing it would hit right on the awl spine.
- Same as others reported the grey inside panel that holds the documentation was loose, falling over the knife.

The replacement does not have any of these problems:

- The Ebony scales are perfectly fitted to the liners.
- The awl sits right and does not move.
- Aboslutely no move/wobbling for any implements, opened or closed.
- Even that gray inside panel in the box stays put in place and quite strongly.

As an extra bonus I got a better number as well, ending in 13

to match the year: 1413 of series IV. Isn't this cool? To me it is. Perhaps more cooler would be 1213 or 1313. But maybe those got sent as replacements to other unfortunate owners.

To answer the question, the broken one was 0958 of series IV. That number was not telling me much.

Few photos, spread over few posts due to the per post limit (could this limit be lifted perhaps?):