Opened my Wenger Heritage box after 3 years.....What The......

basilio · **on:** February 19, 2019, 11:11:17 AM

Hi there old friends and collectors.
Yesterday evening I was looking at the tons of Wenger boxes I have and decided to have a look at my Heritage Knife.
I think the box had not been opened for at least three years.
Well, seems like the green leather-like covering on these boxes sticks to itself and as a result, when you slide the top of the box to open it gets completely damaged.
Don't have a picture available at the moment, but I found two on the internet.
Mine is like the following one

Found also this picture, this one is terrible

To be noted that the box was kept these years inside my house and I don't think there is too much humidity.
Anyone had this happened too?

Huntsman · **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2019, 12:12:30 PM

Nice to hear from you Bas

What a shame - But understandable I guess - Even with a tiny bit of moisture and no usage

Bad choice of materials Wenger!

Mechanickal · **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2019, 12:26:09 PM

Awfull...

tosh · **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2019, 01:31:27 PM

I know of the problem too, a friend purchased one of these when I bought mine, he's torn his badly after forcing it open
Will check mine this evening, if it's still undamaged I will remove the lid and store separately

Top-Gear-24 · **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2019, 02:23:28 PM

What a nightmare ...

Reinier · **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2019, 02:41:28 PM

Good to see you again

But that really sucks

I've had something similar with a limited edition Victorinox knife, but not as bad as in that picture. How bad is yours exactly?

basilio · **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2019, 03:45:00 PM

Hi all!
Nice to see some of you after such a long time!
here is the condition of my model

Here is the back side of the lid

As you can see from the following picture, the "leather" is starting to have problems even on the front part of the lid.
I believe there is a serious problem with the material used.

Mechanickal · **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2019, 04:00:07 PM

Reinier · **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2019, 04:02:57 PM

Wow.
I'm glad the knife is OK (or so it seems).
You should contact Victorinox about it, maybe they have a solution

Nix · **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2019, 05:03:01 PM

I wouldn't have expected that to happen after just a few years, unless you are in a very high humidity environment (and you said 'not' already)....

....or have a problem drooling over your treasures....

Really sorry it ended up in that state.

Smashie · **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2019, 05:07:19 PM

That’s very poor for an item that was sold at such a premium price!

Rapidray · **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2019, 06:21:19 PM

Quote from: Reinier on February 19, 2019, 04:02:57 PM

Wow.
I'm glad the knife is OK (or so it seems).
You should contact Victorinox about it, maybe they have a solution

glad the knife is ok!

tosh · **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2019, 06:26:28 PM

You're not alone Basilio
Just got home and retrieved mine.
Knowing what could happen I was especially careful to open....but alas mines gone the same way

The last time I viewed it was when a friend mentioned his had torn badly, I did check mine but it was fine....not so fine now tho!!

Still, it is what it is, I'm not going to get upset. I've removed the lid and stored it separately. Maybe I'll get it recovered, but that might reduce its value

Rapidray · **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2019, 06:35:43 PM

Those are some very nice looking SAK’s

Mechanickal · **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2019, 06:44:40 PM

This is an outrage...

basilio · **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2019, 06:53:22 PM

Quote from: tosh on February 19, 2019, 06:26:28 PM

You're not alone Basilio
Just got home and retrieved mine.
Knowing what could happen I was especially careful to open....but alas mines gone the same way
The last time I viewed it was when a friend mentioned his had torn badly, I did check mine but it was fine....not so fine now tho!!

Still, it is what it is, I'm not going to get upset. I've removed the lid and stored it separately. Maybe I'll get it recovered, but that might reduce its value

Hi Nick,
sorry to hear that.
Well, we are all in the same boat, as they say.
I think that even using the most possible attention, it is not possible to open the lid without causing damage.
Did you notice that all the boxes show wear in the same three spots? Almost nothing in the lower right part of the case?

tosh · **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2019, 08:19:48 PM

Quote from: basilio on February 19, 2019, 06:53:22 PM

k

Hi Nick,
sorry to hear that.
Well, we are all in the same boat, as they say.
I think that even using the most possible attention, it is not possible to open the lid without causing damage.
Did you notice that all the boxes show wear in the same three spots? Almost nothing in the lower right part of the case?

Hi Carlo
Great to hear from you again
Yes, I did note it seems to be the 3 places you mentioned.
I think it's a combination of the material used - don't think it's leather, I think it's PVC Vinyl? Also the silly slide out idea... Stupid idea in my view.
If I knew that it was proper wood under the Green material I could be tempted to remove. But I guess it's either MDF or chipboard.
Regardless. The knife, inlay and certificate are all still pristine. Just the box covering that's damaged.....need to keep things in perspective here. I'm sure many fellow members would happily accept our "flawed" collectors items. It's not the end of the world...just a manufacturing oversight.

Reinier · **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2019, 08:32:44 PM

Tosh, your certificate is upside down! My OCD alarm is going crazy

EMZ · **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2019, 08:53:56 PM

Probably the combination of different sorts of plastic, containing phtalate plasticizers, and the synthetic glue have created a chemical reaction which 'glued' all together.
I am NOT a chemist, so I can be wrong, but many times the phtalates are the most important malefactor.

tosh · **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2019, 09:00:15 PM

Quote from: Reinier on February 19, 2019, 08:32:44 PM

Tosh, your certificate is upside down! My OCD alarm is going crazy

Sorry Reinier

It's packed away now, I'll retrieve and correct sometime in the next decade

Reinier · **Reply #20 on:** February 19, 2019, 09:55:35 PM

Quote from: tosh on February 19, 2019, 09:00:15 PM

Quote from: Reinier on February 19, 2019, 08:32:44 PM
Tosh, your certificate is upside down! My OCD alarm is going crazy

Sorry Reinier
It's packed away now, I'll retrieve and correct sometime in the next decade

Can I request the OCD badge now? Or you and me both?

fred2892 · **Reply #21 on:** February 19, 2019, 10:31:44 PM

I noticed that too and started sweating a little. Not only that, it’s been rolled out of square. Eek!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Mechanickal · **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2019, 10:33:56 PM

I didn't notice untill you guys pointed it out!

I'm outa here!!

Rapidray · **Reply #23 on:** February 20, 2019, 12:16:36 AM

this makes for a reference now that in the future a collector will know changes are to expect this and it is normal to find the boxes in said condition and its a factory thing, not the seller’s negligence.

ddogu · **Reply #24 on:** February 20, 2019, 01:51:37 PM

They put the blade in the box in an open position. Doesn't the blade then keep the spring pressed down, thus bending it in time? Leaving tools open for long periods of time causes bends like this and unsnappy hebaviour in SAKs as far as I know?