SAK Tools - Blades, Scissors and Saws compared

[IMR4198]

     Shouldn't take much to do this change.  Put a letter code under the Officier Suisse tang stamp.  Make letters A through Z for first quarter century.  Letters a through z lower case for next quarter century.  +A through +Z for next series and +a through +z for next.  For example.  Should have been done years ago.
     No more wondering what year a tool change was made or what year something was discontinued or production started.  Look at the stamp.  Check the year chart.  Simplicity.   Best wishes.  Gary
 

[Bunk Tuppins]

     Shouldn't take much to do this change.  Put a letter code under the Officier Suisse tang stamp.  Make letters A through Z for first quarter century.  Letters a through z lower case for next quarter century.  +A through +Z for next series and +a through +z for next.  For example.  Should have been done years ago.
     No more wondering what year a tool change was made or what year something was discontinued or production started.  Look at the stamp.  Check the year chart.  Simplicity.   Best wishes.  Gary
 

  They won't do that because that would require expensive changes to their tooling every year.  What happens to leftover parts with superseded dates?  I doubt anything like that is in the cards.

[Echotech]

Thanks guys

I do like the date idea, much like LM MT’s have in their handles or Buck have on their tangs…and of course Vic already do with Soldiers

I’ve a couple of non soldiers with dated tangs in my collection but being 93mm alox suspect they were replacement blades or one off use of mod 61 blades

[Farmer X]

What happens to leftover parts with superseded dates?

They would continue early into the following year or be held for repairs under warranty. Cutlers have long hated to have anything go to waste, so I'm told. I have Cases that were packaged early in the year after their blades were stamped.

[Huntsman]

Hey ET

Please can I put these images in the Wiki - They are great      

Also added a link in the dating id Stickie thread
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,75774.msg1630522.html#msg1630522

[Echotech]

Hey ET

Please can I put these images in the Wiki - They are great      

Also added a link in the dating id Stickie thread
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,75774.msg1630522.html#msg1630522

Absolutely you can H thanks

I’ll message you the originals if need be, let me know

Must be time for us to catch up for a beer

[Simon_Templar]

Looks like bumping this thread was a good idea -  long standing members please take note! 

[Echotech]

Looks like bumping this thread was a good idea -  long standing members please take note! 

[Bunk Tuppins]

They would continue early into the following year or be held for repairs under warranty. Cutlers have long hated to have anything go to waste, so I'm told. I have Cases that were packaged early in the year after their blades were stamped.

The thing is this would affect all their 91mm blades, for example.  They are producing a lot of those every year!  But now they would have to make very careful projections and do a lot of accounting and market analysis in order not to get stuck with tons of blades with superseded dates (or conversely they might run short and the customer could end up getting a blade dated the following year).  They would have to change the way they store their inventory and keep different dated blades separate.  This would require all sorts of procedural changes. All this costs money, which raises the price to the customer.  Right now for most of their knives they barely have to consider this. This is a very traditional outfit and I don't think a change like this is to be expected.  They do it now for special issues and their military and it probably pushes the cost up for those.

[Bunk Tuppins]

sorry dupe post

[Huntsman]

The first one is in the Wiki               

https://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Knife+Blade

The page is pretty horrible and needs completely reformatting (been on my do-list for a while) But at least now it has a great first pic          

[Huntsman]

Looks like bumping this thread was a good idea -  long standing members please take note! 

Absolutely -     It's helped the Wiki too

[Echotech]

Excellent

[Farmer X]

This is a very traditional outfit and I don't think a change like this is to be expected.

I think you're right. Victorinox's traditionalist/conservative ways have kept them going for a long time, so why fix what ain't broke?

[Bunk Tuppins]

I think you're right. Victorinox's traditionalist/conservative ways have kept them going for a long time, so why fix what ain't broke?

Plus the date ambiguities lend a certain mystery to older knives, and occasion interesting excursions into the lore and history of these knives.  If it's all spelled out and pat what fun would it be?