Just read this on Vic's FB page.

[dks]

All our Wengers will instantly become collectibles!!  We will all be rich 

[crackout]

Mh..I got a bunch of 84mm tools flying around here. I'm prepared for 84apocalypse.
Maybe I should get one or two more Eco-MF+ for saws.

[SparkyXI]

All our Wengers will instantly become collectibles!!  We will all be rich 

Just put in an order for my first (and last) Wenger Knife: a SI. It will stay in whatever box it comes in.

 

[Dunc]

I've just had an interesting thought , Vic and Wenger are handled by different importers/distributors for the UK , Burton McCall for Vic and Whitby & Co for Wenger.Looks like Whitby will be loosing a fair bit of business but I guess they'll still have Wenger Watches.

[Syph007]

Dammit! You better keep the big rangers!!!!  I love those things!

[Marius]

As I read into this Wenger's SAK business was losing money. Personally for us, SAK enthusiasts, I see nothing good coming out of this. The only good part is for the Victorinox and especially Wenger employees that were promised to keep their workplaces - something quite rare in general for such mergers. But with this it will likely come a mass killing of all more complicated and expensive to produce (than their Vic counterparts) fancier Wenger SAKs and a reprofiling of the Delemont factory production towards lower end and cheaper to manufacture models that sell well.

R.I.P. Wenger

[Marius]

Press Release: http://www.wenger.ch/stuff/contentmgr/files/3/b186728f6bdc99657a8549ff9c65b52b/files/vx_wenger_mediainformation_e_130130.pdf

The site in Delémont will be maintained. An assortment from the Wenger knife collection will be produced going forward under the brand name Victorinox. Wenger's watch and licensing business will continue. The Wenger branch in the US will be merged with the existing Victorinox headquarters based in Monroe (Connecticut).

One thing is for sure - no more alox  so sad..

No more alox?  Why is that? 

The only remaining alox Wenger SAK, the SI, was already removed from production a while ago.

[Mr. Whippy]

Press Release: http://www.wenger.ch/stuff/contentmgr/files/3/b186728f6bdc99657a8549ff9c65b52b/files/vx_wenger_mediainformation_e_130130.pdf

The site in Delémont will be maintained. An assortment from the Wenger knife collection will be produced going forward under the brand name Victorinox. Wenger's watch and licensing business will continue. The Wenger branch in the US will be merged with the existing Victorinox headquarters based in Monroe (Connecticut).

One thing is for sure - no more alox  so sad..

No more alox?  Why is that? 

The only remaining alox Wenger SAK, the SI, was already removed from production a while ago.

But they must be setting up the machines to build Vics in Delemont.  They could bring a 93mm Alox machine too...

[enki_ck]

A really sad day.

I hope they keep the 85mm and 130mm line though.

[Gareth]

My guess is that we'll see Wenger's 65mm and 74mm (do they even still make the V.I.P?) go for sure.  As Vic have put little to no effort into the 84mm range in a long time I can see that one going in favour of the Wenger 85mm.  The 111mm range is totally safe due to the Military contracts and I suspect the life of the 120mm Ranger's entirely depends on how much money they have made for Wenger.  The good news is that the Delemont made knives will get access to the far bigger distribution network the Vic seem to have.

Very sad day though.

[Mr. Whippy]

My guess is that we'll see Wenger's 65mm and 74mm (do they even still make the V.I.P?) go for sure.  As Vic have put little to no effort into the 84mm range in a long time I can see that one going in favour of the Wenger 85mm.  The 111mm range is totally safe due to the Military contracts and I suspect the life of the 120mm Ranger's entirely depends on how much money they have made for Wenger.  The good news is that the Delemont made knives will get access to the far bigger distribution network the Vic seem to have.

Very sad day though.

My thoughts too.

I hope the 93 mm Alox lines continue...

[Steinar]

People keep their jobs, the company tries to operate efficiently. I would be surprised if Wenger's SAK arm didn't struggle in the current economic climate. So even though we in some ways are witnessing the closing of a century long chapter of knife history, I'm glad the company tries to operate smoothly without closing the Delemont plant. I think Vic is showing some class while trying to compete in the marketplace here. 

[Reinier]

I think I agree, Steinar

[Mr. Whippy]

Of course you're correct Steinar.   

  to Victorinox.

[Marius]

Press Release: http://www.wenger.ch/stuff/contentmgr/files/3/b186728f6bdc99657a8549ff9c65b52b/files/vx_wenger_mediainformation_e_130130.pdf

The site in Delémont will be maintained. An assortment from the Wenger knife collection will be produced going forward under the brand name Victorinox. Wenger's watch and licensing business will continue. The Wenger branch in the US will be merged with the existing Victorinox headquarters based in Monroe (Connecticut).

One thing is for sure - no more alox  so sad..

No more alox?  Why is that? 

The only remaining alox Wenger SAK, the SI, was already removed from production a while ago.

But they must be setting up the machines to build Vics in Delemont.  They could bring a 93mm Alox machine too...

I too would like that to happen.. But I personally suspect that the 93 mm Vic alox machinery is nearing  the end of its life too and that there are no plans to renew it. I kind of doubt they will invest into moving that legacy production line to Wenger's factory. My guess may be wrong. Time will tell.

[Dunc]

Does anyone know how far apart the two factory's are ?

[Grathr]

If Victorinox and Wenger are struggeling eith their sales, they would probably benefit from improving their advertising. I have never seen any advertising for Victorinox or Wenger in Norway.

On another note, Victorinox are doing a fantastic job if they manage to merge the two companies whitout laying off any of the employees over the next couple of years. Then they are truly beeing a responsible employer. 

Hopefully this merger will also bring us some new and exciting tools 

[Monrogue]

Interesting.  Wish I had the spare cash to buy a couple SI's (one to use and one to keep NIB) and the Evogrip 16.  Oh well, they may still be available when I am able to get them, well at least the Evo16 anyway. 

[Nhoj]

This is so sad. I am going to buy some wengers before it is too late.

[Syph007]

Ya I think I want some more Wengers now too before the cost goes up when supply dwindles.

[Singh]

It’s good to see Vic maintaining their social responsibility by not cutting jobs. If the result of all this is SAKs for the next 100 years, then it’s a good move, obviously.

My only SAK concern is the Alox line. The Alox line stands apart from the cellidor SAKS:

(pardon my biased opinions)


• An Alox SAK ages better than one with plastic scales. The wear and patina on an old Alox is fine art.  Just look at  all the pictures of old Alox SAKs that are posted here.  By contrast, a worn plastic scale looks like child’s toy that a dog chewed up.   
• The tools on the alox are beefier than the cellidor line. 
• The springs and liners on an Alox are flush with each other, resulting in a SAK with a smooth back that feels good in the hand.

I see the Alox  SAK as a unique piece of rugged functional art that ages gracefully, attaining  a fine patina from years of use. I’ll be sad if they go.

[Monrogue]

It’s good to see Vic maintaining their social responsibility by not cutting jobs. If the result of all this is SAKs for the next 100 years, then it’s a good move, obviously.

My only SAK concern is the Alox line. I’ll be sad if they go. The Alox line stands apart from the cellidor SAKS:

(pardon my biased opinions)


• An Alox SAK ages better than one with plastic scales. The wear and patina on an old Alox is fine art.  Just look at  all the pictures of old Alox SAKs that are posted here.  By contrast, a worn plastic scale looks like child’s toy that a dog chewed up.   
• The tools on the alox are beefier than the cellidor line. 
• The springs and liners on an Alox are flush with each other, resulting in a SAK with a smooth back that feels good in the hand.

I see the Alox  SAK as a unique piece of rugged functional art that ages gracefully, attaining  a fine patina from years of use.

I agree with your points here.  I do like the cellidor models as well since there is much more variety with them.  However, I don't like how easily they are marked/damaged.  I did carve my initials into all cellidor models I own, but one of them has been dropped and there is a nice little dent/dig in it as a result.  I worry if I drop one of them and it lands just right, that the cellidor scales could bust into pieces.  I'm normally very careful with them though.  My wife is actually the one that dropped it

If the Alox models would incorporate scissors, I could make do without the scale tools and would probably make it my primary SAK.  Currently we can only get scissors if we pay someone to mod it, or are capable of doing so ourselves (neither of which I am currently able to do).[/list]

[crackout]

Alright, ordered a Wenger SI.
You happy now, Victorinox?

[kkokkolis]

Don't worry Monrogue. I dropped my Swischamps 100 times. Most times there was nothing or a tiny mark on them. 5-6 times a little bit broke off. Just once the liner and blade bent 1-2 degrees. Never broke to pieces any Cellidor scale. I carried my last Swisschamp with two minor traumas for many years. As soon as I put new scales to it it is as good as new.
I offered my Wenger ToolChest Plus to my son and now I don't have any. If I was to buy two one would be a Ranger 57 and the other a 85mm with most of the Wenger specific tools but no compass. S554 is a candidate.
In a few years when you will be googling Wenger all you'll be getting will have to do with Arsenal.

[JRAmmon]

Does anyone know how far apart the two factory's are ?

89 miles or 143 km: Not sure what passes, if any, are involved to slow a direct route. I don't see Delemont, as a factory, surviving more than a few more years. Maybe I am wrong!

[DaveK]

I suppose this has been inevitible since Vic bought Wenger really. You get the sense that they put off the hard choices as long as they could but future viability must be tough to manage when your two factories are competing with each other (especially if one is patently out performing the other).

It's always sad to see a familiar and trusted brand name disappear (my very first knife was a Wenger when I was a kid) but I think I'm becoming a bit numb to it lately with so many household business names failing all around us.

As others have said, it's nice that they're managing to keep all of their staff and put them to use with other products, and a reduced range of products has got to be more sensible than gambling with the future of both companies.

The worst outcome might have been if they had decided to outsource Wenger production and possibly compromise their standards. This way at least ensures the brand doesn't get "tarnished".

[Mr. Whippy]

I suppose this has been inevitible since Vic bought Wenger really. You get the sense that they put off the hard choices as long as they could but future viability must be tough to manage when your two factories are competing with each other (especially if one is patently out performing the other).

It's always sad to see a familiar and trusted brand name disappear (my very first knife was a Wenger when I was a kid) but I think I'm becoming a bit numb to it lately with so many household business names failing all around us.

As others have said, it's nice that they're managing to keep all of their staff and put them to use with other products, and a reduced range of products has got to be more sensible than gambling with the future of both companies.

The worst outcome might have been if they had decided to outsource Wenger production and possibly compromise their standards. This way at least ensures the brand doesn't get "tarnished".

Is this a Leatherman swipe?!!


(jk--I know DaveK  )

[DaveK]

Well, I don't know. You try and add a bit of considered, compassionate dialog and you get that kind of response.

I'm appalled.

Pfft

[Mr. Whippy]

 

[felinevet]

Here is the full press release: http://www.wenger.ch/stuff/contentmgr/files/3/b186728f6bdc99657a8549ff9c65b52b/files/vx_wenger_mediainformation_e_130130.pdf