Vintage SAK Owners Club

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Lovely finds FB and VS - Especially that old Golfer - ARMEE SUISSE - Yay

Thank you Huntsman! 

[Boonies]

Added this older Golfer today. 
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Be happy to help you clean up your collection if you decide that old ad knife doesn’t fit 😈.       👍👍👍👍👍

[Boonies]

Couple of recent finds.

Exposed rivets and old style awls....yummmmm!        👍👍👍👍👍

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Be happy to help you clean up your collection if you decide that old ad knife doesn’t fit 😈.       👍👍👍👍👍

If a mint-in-box one comes along, you'll have first dibs!  It actually arrived just today, it's very nice for its age. 

[Boonies]

Ok, I’m holding my breath 🤪🤪🤪.......

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Added this older Wenger:

[cody6268]

Added this older Wenger:
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And it's in remarkable shape for its age! I really need to get an older piece in that good a shape myself. Pretty much everything pre-1980s I own looks like heck.

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And it's in remarkable shape for its age! I really need to get an older piece in that good a shape myself. Pretty much everything pre-1980s I own looks like heck.

Apparently the other side has some marks on the scales, but that didn't stop me from wanting it.  It seemed to be in pretty good shape, I agree. 

[jnoxyd]

It looks like Victorinox started using new tools a bit earlier than 1952. What do you think?

[jazzbass]

It looks like Victorinox started using new tools a bit earlier than 1952. What do you think?

So the big question here is "officially" the fish scaler comes out in 1952 with the rest of the big changes to the 91mm line. In actuality, we see the fish scaler come out in several models BEFORE the big 1952 changes and show up in the 1946-1951 Post War era knives. I have several of these and seen many more, and they are always knives from the end of the post war era, so my guess is that they were made late in the era (say 1950-1951) just looking at the tang stamps (always Armee Suisee/VaSS), how the knives are assembled, and how the parts are made. They could have been made early in the early vintage era (1952-1958) from left over parts, but this seems less likely - the post war fish scaler is slightly different in design from the early vintage scaler, so it's not just a case of "hey, let's cram this new fish scaler tool into the old knives".

I've seen four models from this era - the Angler (like this), Angler Jr (no scissors), Angler Solo (literally just a fish scaler), and Angler Plus (this but adds woodsaw). The latter is, AFAIK, the first 5 layer knife they made. The Angler variant is fairly unusual but shows up the most. The Angler Jr., Angler Solo, and Angler Plus models are very hard to find.

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I have this one coming, a 1908 version of the Soldier.  No date stamp on the back.

[VICMAN]

I have this one coming, a 1908 version of the Soldier.  No date stamp on the back.

That is beautiful FB!

[TonySal]

I have this one coming, a 1908 version of the Soldier.  No date stamp on the back.
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[kamakiri]

So the big question here is "officially" the fish scaler comes out in 1952 with the rest of the big changes to the 91mm line. In actuality, we see the fish scaler come out in several models BEFORE the big 1952 changes and show up in the 1946-1951 Post War era knives. I have several of these and seen many more, and they are always knives from the end of the post war era, so my guess is that they were made late in the era (say 1950-1951) just looking at the tang stamps (always Armee Suisee/VaSS), how the knives are assembled, and how the parts are made.

I think that's the strongest argument for it being in your late pwar era.  'Construction details' seem to make a very sharp transition in 91mm knives.

They could have been made early in the early vintage era (1952-1958) from left over parts, but this seems less likely - the post war fish scaler is slightly different in design from the early vintage scaler, so it's not just a case of "hey, let's cram this new fish scaler tool into the old knives".

I think if jnoxyd's knife was assembled c. '52 or later that it would likely have aluminum liners and 2.5mm pins on both ends, etc.

I've seen four models from this era - the Angler (like this), Angler Jr (no scissors), Angler Solo (literally just a fish scaler), and Angler Plus (this but adds woodsaw). The latter is, AFAIK, the first 5 layer knife they made. The Angler variant is fairly unusual but shows up the most. The Angler Jr., Angler Solo, and Angler Plus models are very hard to find.

. Would be interesting to see these together.  I gotta wonder what would be on the box of the solo.  Just 'f'? Something different like 70xxf?

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That is beautiful FB!

     

Thank you Vicman and TonySal! 

[Rapidray]

I have this one coming, a 1908 version of the Soldier.  No date stamp on the back.
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Very nice 

[jazzbass]

I think if jnoxyd's knife was assembled c. '52 or later that it would likely have aluminum liners and 2.5mm pins on both ends, etc.

What I meant was they assembled post 52 with leftover pre-52 parts - so old NS liners, etc. So chronologically the scaler was introduced in 1952, but at first in the old knives as they used up old stock. This is, IMO, a (slightly) possible but (extremely) not plausible theory. Much more likely they introduced the scaler in 1950(ish), and the official timeline from Victorinox is wrong (not for the first time).

I gotta wonder what would be on the box of the solo.  Just 'f'? Something different like 70xxf?

My suspicion is that it doesn't really have a model number in that it was never something made for sale. More likely a factory demo model for showing of the then-new fish scaler tool. Make a couple at the factory, give them to sales reps to show off, take orders for the 234fU, 235faU, and 236faU. Not dissimilar from the "Huntsman with backspring fine screwdriver" they made in the 80s/90s for display purposes.

[Reinier]

Not dissimilar from the "Huntsman with backspring fine screwdriver" they made in the 80s/90s for display purposes.

Mine has the chisel instead of the fine screwdriver. Is that a different model?

[jazzbass]

Mine has the chisel instead of the fine screwdriver. Is that a different model?

Nope - that's the one I was thinking of. I looked at a pic real quick and thought "oh yeah, fine screwdriver" - you know, the older one that looks like the chisel.

[Reinier]

Understood

[FolderBeholder]

I think  this might be my first Pat. Pend. SAK

[jazzbass]

Nice! Armee Suisse, Hoffritz or Victoria tang stamp?

[FolderBeholder]

Nice! Armee Suisse, Hoffritz or Victoria tang stamp?

Thank you JB!  It is Victoria tang stamp.

[VICMAN]

I think  this might be my first Pat. Pend. SAK

Very cool FB!

[El Corkscrew]

Added this older Wenger:
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[Boonies]

Filled another of the remaining holes in the 84mm “accumulation”, all the way from Switzerland.  I think I read that the seller is a member of this forum but not sure.  Small Climber, long nail file.....so good 😛.         

[Rapidray]

Filled another of the remaining holes in the 84mm “accumulation”, all the way from Switzerland.  I think I read that the seller is a member of this forum but not sure.  Small Climber, long nail file.....so good 😛.         

The long nail file...another SAK that is on my list! Enjoy 

[TonySal]

Filled another of the remaining holes in the 84mm “accumulation”, all the way from Switzerland.  I think I read that the seller is a member of this forum but not sure.  Small Climber, long nail file.....so good 😛.         

[TXSAK]

All these vintage SAK's look great!

[VICMAN]

Filled another of the remaining holes in the 84mm “accumulation”, all the way from Switzerland.  I think I read that the seller is a member of this forum but not sure.  Small Climber, long nail file.....so good 😛.         

Nice find Boonies!