Victorinox mini screwdriver and Wenger corkscrews...

[sambeaux]

So... not the biggest data set, but...

The newer hex handled mini screwdrivers from Victorinox ( the ones that store in the corkscrew ) do not fit Wenger corkscrews. At least they don't fit the Teton and Commander that I have.

The older round handled mini screwdrivers do fit, but they are pretty tight. Mine fits both my Wenger Teton and Wenger Commander.

Is there a source for the older round handled screwdrivers?

Sam

[enki_ck]

That's weird. I got a batch of half a dozen new style mini screwdrivers from my local distributor last week and they all fit in Wengers, new and old. Commanders, Travelers, Foresters, Rangers, ... And they fit the LM Juices too. They should fit all the 4 turn corkscrews.

Can you post a pic of yours next to the original PAT one?

[Aloha]

just got one and it fit the wenger soft touch 14

[sambeaux]

Hmm... Maybe my Wengers are older than I thought? I just bought both used off of ebay. Here are the requested pics:

[neillcurrie]

I have several Wengers, the Vic screwdriver fits them all.......if anything, the driver's a little lose in the Wengers.

[Schneider]

Interesting problem. Both kinds of mini screwdrivers fit in Wengers.

[ducttapetech]

Looks like the corkscrew on the Wenger is a little thicker.

sent from Ducttapetech's mobile device

[enki_ck]

I think I know what the problem here is. I just tried it in the corkscrew of an old Wenger and it could barely fit one and a half turn. The corkscrew came off of and old Cyclist some time ago. It looks as though the older corkscrews were a bit thicker and the turns were ... longer? Not sure how to describe it.

Here is the old Wenger corkscrew next to the Victorinox one.


And the same corkscrew on top of the Wenger Master on which the mini screwdriver fits.

[bmot]

Hmm... Could it be that Wenger started using the same corkscrews as Vic after the takeover? 

[enki_ck]

Hmm... Could it be that Wenger started using the same corkscrews as Vic after the takeover? 

No. Some of the SAKs that I tried it on and that worked are 20+ years old.

[marduk]

I experimented with the new mini screwdriver on the relatively new 130mm Patagoneon model and found that it did fit. I tried it on an older model, the 85mm Dynasty series Ivanhoe, i.e., Commander, & it only went in a little more than half way, but the old style mini screwdriver went in all the way altho a bit tight. Finally, I tried both mini's on a relatively new 85mm Tool Chest Plus and they both fit.

[enki_ck]

It fits just fine in my Wenger Securite 17 (Forester with locking blade but without the locking bottle opener/screwdriver) and that one was dated by North Man to be around 1984.

[ICanFixThat]

Interesting.  Good Find.   

I noticed that the min-screwdriver fit tight in a few, but I never noticed that the latest one didn't really fit all sometimes.

[enki_ck]

OK, we have a date now. As per North Man's post in the Wenger love thread, the corkscrew change happened around 1979-1980.

[sambeaux]

Well... That's great, but... I'm pretty sure both of mine are newer than 1980... and I think we've heard from some people that the screwdriver works in some brand new models.

Both of mine were bought used, and I'm really no expert at dating SAKs...
The Teton has Fire Red ( translucent ) scales, which I think are relatively new, and the Commander has WENGER in raised letters on the shield scale. I believe that's also relatively recent.

Thanks for all the help trying to clarify what's going on.

Sam

[ChopperCharles]

Okay, bringing this back up. I have a Golfer Pro Deluxe (with the snap shackle). The blade markings indicate it was made in 1990. The mini driver will not fit on the corkscrew.  Not sure when the change was, but it was after 1990.

The mini driver DOES fit the Evo Soft touch I have (The one with the clip point main blade)

Charles.