What's the best Wenger demonstrator knife?

[RedRamage]

This thread was sparked by the 65 vs. 58 knife thread.  I'm definitely a Victorinox over Wenger guy.  I have over 150 total knives between my EDCs and my collection.  Only two of them are Wenger. 

But having said that, I would like to look at getting at least some Wenger, if for no other reason to have something to compare and contrast against my Vics.  I'd like to find a knife in the 85mm size that has a decent mix of tools that show off what Wenger has that a Vic doesn't.  Any recommendations?

[bmot]

S557, (obviously? )


Has all the unique Wenger tools:


Slipjoint pliers, nailfile, locking blade, locking caplifter, wrench, and the serrated scissors.

And that all in a real compact form, too 

[jerseydevil]

I logged into Tapatalk just to post S557.

We share a name, so our great thinking obviously stretches across oceans.....

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Tapatalk

[RedRamage]

S557, (obviously? )

Has all the unique Wenger tools:

Slipjoint pliers, nailfile, locking blade, locking caplifter, wrench, and the serrated scissors.

And that all in a real compact form, too 

That was the one I was leaning towards in my initial (aka: nearly zero) research I did.  But being a Wenger noob I didn't know if I was missing a better option.

[Caranthanus]

Would agree with bmot and jerseydevil ...

s557

[Syph007]

The 557 is the only 85mm I have other than a couple used 2 layers ones and the MTO special blackout one.  Its a good reference SAK and one of the reasons I bought it.

For me the bigger wengers are the ones that shine, I LOVE the 130mm ranger series.  The fold out scissors and pliers are just odd enough they needed to be in the collection, but for actualy use I prefer to not have either of those wider layers.

[tosh]

My Wenger collection is now bigger than my victorinox collection.
If I were to pick, I'd say get 2 (85 & 130)

85mm - Wenger S557 for the reasons everyone has mentioned above.

130mm - Wenger Ranger Mike Horn - the mike horn is very unusual in that the serrated blade is unique to that model only, no other Ranger has it. It also has the fold out pliers too.

Or better still

Forget the S557 and buy the ultimate 85mm model......
The Giant!!

[RedRamage]

My Wenger collection is now bigger than my victorinox collection.
If I were to pick, I'd say get 2 (85 & 130)

85mm - Wenger S557 for the reasons everyone has mentioned above.

130mm - Wenger Ranger Mike Horn - the mike horn is very unusual in that the serrated blade is unique to that model only, no other Ranger has it. It also has the fold out pliers too.

I may have to consider that...

Or better still
Forget the S557 and buy the ultimate 85mm model......
The Giant!!

Yeah, that's okay... as much as I like SAKs, I prefer NOT having to take out a mortgage on the house more!
[/quote]

[Etherealicer]

Personally I think what makes the Wenger unique are their "exotes".
Minathor, Bernina, Fix-it. That said if it has to be a 85mm I would choose one with a locking blade, I would also choose one with evo scales, because that is what sets them apart from the Victorinox. Then choose the model with the tools you are using the most.

My favorite Wenger are the 120mm, they are gorgeous AND have the best blade shape of all SAK

[Etherealicer]

130mm - Wenger Ranger Mike Horn - the mike horn is very unusual in that the serrated blade is unique to that model only, no other Ranger has it. It also has the fold out pliers too.

That is a beauty and has a little brother that is almost as pretty. You should have big hands though, the Mike Horn Ranger is definitively on the larger side.

[twiliter]

I would go with the United Woods set, but since they decided to include the S557 in that set without wood handles, my vote would be the S557.

[enki_ck]

This must be a first for MTO, every single person agrees on what to get.

And I also vote for the S557.

My first thought of which wenger everyone should have was a Traveler, similar to the Climber but I greatly prefer the Wenger model to the Vic here. I still think you should get one of those to do a side by side. But as you're looking for what Wenger has to offer that Vic doesn't, the S557 is the way to go.

Or get both.

[twiliter]

Or get both.

+1 

[Philby]

Evo wood s557. 

[Chako]

I agree with Etherealicer, the exotics are what sets Wenger apart.

With that said, any of what everyone has suggested is a great way to go.

[colt 1911]

This must be a first for MTO, every single person agrees on what to get.

And I also vote for the S557.

My first thought of which wenger everyone should have was a Traveler, similar to the Climber but I greatly prefer the Wenger model to the Vic here. I still think you should get one of those to do a side by side. But as you're looking for what Wenger has to offer that Vic doesn't, the S557 is the way to go.

Or get both.

Yep the traveler is killer ..


Swiss Army knives .

[PTRSAK]

  Another vote for the S557 as the quintessential Wenger.

An alternative to the Traveller is the Evo 16.  The Wenger equivalent of the Super Tinker. Backside Phillips rather than the corkscrew. and the Evo scales, love em or hate em.

[kkokkolis]

I too wanted just one Wenger and bought the ToolChest Plus, in order to see the differences in the other tools too (saw, file, mag lens etc).

[basilio]

Sorry, but you are all wrong! 
The model to go is the Exclusivities S557, the only knife where you can check not only some exclusive tools but also two different type of scales, evolution (translucent) and evogrip.
That is, in my opinion, "THE" Knife for Demonstrations, and was probably created just as a showpiece.

[GigaHz]

How about the Master?

[enki_ck]

How about the Master?

That's a nice one, I'd go for the Serrated Master variation of it. Wenger serrations are very good.

[marktwichtel]

Something like this? 

[basilio]

Something like this? 

Very interesting!
I have a similar one, probably an older demo model.
Mine is a 1.52.53 (known as "Master" in North America), has a different Wenger logo on the clear front scale, and the back scale is a standard red one.
What I find interesting in the model I have (and the same in yours) is the cut out on the blue liner, to show the inner workings of the locking screwdriver.
Will post pictures of my model later.

[basilio]

Something like this? 

Very interesting!
I have a similar one, probably an older demo model.
Mine is a 1.52.53 (known as "Master" in North America), has a different Wenger logo on the clear front scale, and the back scale is a standard red one.
What I find interesting in the model I have (and the same in yours) is the cut out on the blue liner, to show the inner workings of the locking screwdriver.
Will post pictures of my model later.

Attached are the pictures of my model.
Note the different Wenger logo on the liner.
I'm quite sure that the red back scale on mine example is the original one: doesn't seem to had been replaced and there was really nothing to show on that side of the knife.
I don't think there are too many of these "demo knives" around.

[marktwichtel]

Something like this? 

Very interesting!
I have a similar one, probably an older demo model.
Mine is a 1.52.53 (known as "Master" in North America), has a different Wenger logo on the clear front scale, and the back scale is a standard red one.
What I find interesting in the model I have (and the same in yours) is the cut out on the blue liner, to show the inner workings of the locking screwdriver.
Will post pictures of my model later.

Attached are the pictures of my model.
Note the different Wenger logo on the liner.
I'm quite sure that the red back scale on mine example is the original one: doesn't seem to had been replaced and there was really nothing to show on that side of the knife.
I don't think there are too many of these "demo knives" around.

Oh yes, very interesting - thanks for sharing! I think too, these Demo-Versions are quite rare 

[RedRamage]

Well... I think I found the perfect Wenger for demo/display... now I just need an extra $600.  Anyone got a few spare bucks??



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wenger-16993-United-Woods-Limited-Edition-Set-AF-1-092-038-046-/251456065935?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8bf3118f

[twiliter]

That seller lowered their price to $500 for a while, but that's still a good deal at less than $100 per piece. The set is really nicely done, including the display box. I don't think you could do much better for an example of Wenger's finest. 

[RedRamage]

So if everyone here would just chip in $6 to me towards the purchase... I just need 100 "friends!" 

[bmot]

Wow, and free shipping, even outside of the US, even, that -almost- makes it tempting....

[basilio]

WOW!
I was so lucky!!!!
Found for sale locally nothing less than a S557 demo knife.
Had really lost hopes to find one, after all these years.
These knives are really, really rare.





Look how the front scale was made, to show the screw driver locking mechanism. The curved front scale works like a magnifier.



See the posts above for other demo models (1.52.53) and a mint S557.
Well, I am happy