Questions about an Old Cross Electrician

Tuisto · **on:** May 10, 2024, 09:47:30 PM

There seem to be some issues with this OC electrician... The main blade doesn't have a stamp on the back, the electrician's blade looks brand new, the cap lifter has lines running down it that I've simply never seen on a VIC, and the liner isn't copper as it's supposed to be on these OC Electricians. Can anyone who's a bit more knowledgable than me tell me if this is a custom build?

lazar · **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2024, 10:01:09 PM

Can't speak about the tools, but the rivets look really good if it's custom built.

gustophersmob · **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2024, 11:35:49 PM

It’s fine, and original.

The main blade shouldn’t have a stamp on the back unless it’s an older Elinox (or very rare Fischer) in which case the victorinox marking would be on the back. Or you will sometimes see a dated blade, assumed to be leftover from soldier production, but that’s less common than just blank as well.

The cap lifter is the slightly older, unpolished kind. But new enough it appears to no longer have the sharpened inner edge. (See attached pic of a similar unpolished cap lifter on my 85 pioneer).

The electricians blade looks fine, and looks period correct. The older one often had the tang grind transition go out to the nail nick like yours. Newer ones are typically ground down closer to the pivot. (See attached pic for what I mean).

The brass liner was phased out starting in 85, though they still show up for a few years after. So yours was probably made between 85 and 99. They switched to the new cross after that.

Tuisto · **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2024, 11:40:35 PM

Quote from: gustophersmob on May 10, 2024, 11:35:49 PM

It’s fine, and original.

The main blade shouldn’t have a stamp on the back unless it’s an older Elinox (or very rare Fischer) in which case the victorinox marking would be on the back. Or if you can also see a dated blade, assumed to be leftover from soldier production, but that’s less common than just blank as well.

The cap lifter is the slightly older, unpolished kind. But new enough it appears to no longer have the sharpened inner edge.

The electricians blade looks fine, and looks period correct. The older one often had the tang grind transition go out to the nail nick like yours. Newer ones are typically ground down closer to the pivot. (See attached pic for what I mean).

The brass liner was phased out starting in 85, though they still show up for a few years after. So yours was probably made between 85 and 99. They switched to the new cross after that.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Do you know why the cap lifter isn't polished? Is it a different Rockwell hardness than the non-blade tools?

gustophersmob · **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2024, 11:54:13 PM

Originally all the tools were unpolished on the 93mm line. They gradually phased that out over time. It seems the cap lifter retained its unpolished finish longer than other tools did. On my 85 pioneer, the can opener is polished but the cap lifter isn’t.

Hardness is a bit screwy. The tools have always been softer than the blades by a few points. And, iirc, there was varying hardness depending upon the tool. I.e., a blade was the hardest, a cap lifter was a bit softer, and a wood saw was softer still.

In the early 00’s, possibly at the same time they transitioned to the new cross shield, the hardness on at least the blades was bumped up by ~2 points. I’m not sure if the same is true for the tools. I need to dig and do some reading to remember.

Huntsman · **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2024, 12:59:38 AM

Fantastic info GTMB - I think you need to take over as chief Wiki editor!!!

gustophersmob · **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2024, 02:32:30 AM

Quote from: Huntsman on May 11, 2024, 12:59:38 AM

Fantastic info GTMB - I think you need to take over as chief Wiki editor!!!

Ha, thanks!

But those would be some pretty big shoes to fill. I know a little about alox models, but just a drop in the bucket compared to many on the forum.

Farmer X · **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2024, 02:53:47 AM

GTMB gave lots of good info. All I can add is that it looks really good to me (better than my OC Electrician)!

gustophersmob · **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2024, 03:56:55 AM

I completely forgot to say that! That electrician is a beauty!

Tuisto · **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2024, 04:38:36 AM

Thank you so much guys. I really appreciate the info. Now if I could only figure out how to get the awl to stop scraping against the main blade. The tools are a bit stiff too. I washed it in soapy water and opened and closed each of the tools a bunch of times and then oiled it with mineral oil but the sheepsfoot is still a bit sticky. I've had some luck filing the metal around the edges of the bolster area on other Electricians but I'm not sure that will do the trick here. It seems to have been dropped a few thousand times; I'll take a few photos of it for you guys to see.

AzteCypher · **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2024, 08:55:10 PM

You could try opening the tool 90° to the rest of the SAK then try flexing it slightly back and forth by hand to see if that helps to loosen it up. I've done that on a few SAKs and it does help. It doesn't always fix it entirely but it usually helps.