Do we have a Champion here?

[lowtech]

I have this SAk sitting in my Box which, would i not have learned quite a bit here, I would have classified as a parts donor.
It´s a 6 layer knife, in overall good condition.

I dug it out when looking for a donor knife for HankSolon to send him a Scissor layer without backside tool.

It has the following tools:

Blade with Victorinox Switzerland stainless Rostfrei stamped on, obverse is empty.
The tang is significantly thicker than on new Vics
Small clip point blade
(Old) metal file/saw
Saw
Fishscaler with magnetic tip
screwed together Scissors (spring missing)
Opener layer (No stamps there)

Backside tools:
fluted Corkscrew with 5 windings
small Screwdriver
Awl w/o hole

The tools look un- to minimally used
The snap upon closing is a bit slow, but i have not yet cleaned this knife. It just sat there to eventually give parts for a Cybertool mod (it´s file). Now, after having learned a thing or two, I´m happy i did not tear it apart. Although i should get off my lazy butt to make my Cybertool mod at last...

I will opost some pictures later, but maybe someone can tell me if this really is a n old Champion and if this would be a Collectors piece or just another used Vic.

Keyring adaptor sits on the small blade spacer
The Cellidor scales have a german silver cross
and carry Toothpick and (Aluminium tipped) tweezer
liners seem to be Aluminium

[space cowboy]

pics or it does not exist..!

[GigaHz]

6 layer no LNF = Craftsman. 6 layer LNF = Champion.

[lowtech]

You are right, Space Cowboy!

Here it is:





A little more revealing:







Backside and scale tools:



Tang Stamp:



That´s it.

GigaHz,
i checked with Sakwiki - There you can read thet there was aChampion without the long nailfile, but no Craftsman with a Corkscrew instead of the Philips.

Maybe the Wiki is not Comprehensive there. Is there a way to tell for sure? Maybe the tool constellation will allow dating and we can try to find a Catalog of that age somewhere?

[GigaHz]

I misread. It is a pre pliers Handyman. I thought it had a Phillips on the back.

[lowtech]

No problem - I´m trying to learn here.
Sometimes i find it hard to identify a mdel if it had variations which were also included in a model named differently.
The Clip point small blade led me to the old Champion.
Is it possible to date the model?

Clip point should make it pre 1973, but after `61 because it has no bail.
I did not find any more infos helping to date it more exactly.

[jazzbass]

Its a 73/74 Handyman. This would be one of the last of the clip point knives, made around the time of the big 1974 transition to 4 turn corkscrews and spear point blades. Don't take it apart for parts - its not a highly collectable knife but it is an interesting piece.

[lowtech]

No, no, i won´t take it apart. I bought it with that intention. Luckily i am still indecisive of the tool Layout of the Mod, so i did not take it apart. And after learning about Vics here, I do not plan to take apart any Oldies.

Edit: But i would not mind to trade it for some modern Vic of comparable thickness to do so...

[lowtech]

...and thanks for your Expertise, GigaHz and Jazzbass.
Not that i would mind it being aHandyman instead of a Champion - How do you tell them apart?

[GigaHz]

The LNF.

[space cowboy]

A very nice knife regardless of what its called!

[lowtech]

I agree, it´s anice knife.

Should this line on sakwiki regarding the Champion be revised, then?
" Long Nail-file on the back. (not on all knives) "

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Champion

As this seems to be consent, that without a LNF it´s a non-Plier Handyman rather than a Champion.

[ICanFixThat]

...
Should this line on sakwiki regarding the Champion be revised, then?
" Long Nail-file on the back. (not on all knives) "

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Champion

As this seems to be consent, that without a LNF it´s a non-Plier Handyman rather than a Champion.

No as per the photos plenty of later Champions without LNF. You have to account for the age/6 layers. The wiki could separate it out as 6 layer and 7 layer champions better maybe.

[lowtech]

So in this case, with the same tool loadout, i have to look at which knife had what loadout at teh time the knife was produced. I see. Looks liek a job for someone with more in depth knowledge than me...

So, thanks to all the Collectors here contributing - I think we can conclude: No, we don´t have a Champion but a 73/74 Handyman!

 

[ICanFixThat]

It does get more complicated with the older models that were produced for a long time.  Even what we call the Artisan(84mm) was known as a Craftsman for some time in some regions.

I'll try to make the wiki clearer on a couple points, and expand the related.

[Monrogue]

Cool SAK indeed:). Somewhat similar to my new mod, the Yeochamp.

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 2

[lowtech]

It does get more complicated with the older models that were produced for a long time.  Even what we call the Artisan(84mm) was known as a Craftsman for some time in some regions.

I'll try to make the wiki clearer on a couple points, and expand the related.

Thank you. and if any of my rather mediocre pics are of any use, feel free to use them.

[ICanFixThat]

I updated the Champion Wiki Page finally to try to reduce the confusion between the models and versions from different production years.  Still needs work, and some pictures, but you can check to see that I got it right and that it's not too confusing, not to mention a real improvement unlike many software-upgrades these days.

[lowtech]

Thank you for updating (and notifying us here)!

I own a Champion (No. 1.5793) complete with box and the leaflet in like new condition. If I can be of help and do any pictures or you need a scan of teh leaflet, let me know.
It´s a 7 layer model without the nailfile

Edit: Just saw the scan of the leaflet is already there!

[enki_ck]

Nice work, Francis.