Dad's Old SAK

John Hill · **on:** December 29, 2024, 05:07:13 PM

Greetings and thanks for allowing me to join. I recently found my father's old SAK, and Im trying to find out more about it and if it can be repaired/restored. Sadly, it's in pretty rough shape. I sent an email to Victorinox, but only received a boilerplate reply to send it in. I don’t want it replaced. Anyone have any experience?

Thanks,

John
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IMR4198 · **Reply #1 on:** December 29, 2024, 05:55:31 PM

Hi John,
If you had just bought the thing, I would say send it back. Since it was your father's old knife, I would say to think hard before sending. It does look pretty well used. I will post a photo of some old 1950's SAKs. The names of some of them are different now. SAKWiki is a good place to find exactly what you have. Make sure the tool set matches what you have. Best wishes. Gary
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Barry Rowland · **Reply #2 on:** December 29, 2024, 07:12:01 PM

I've had great experiences with Victorinox Repair in Monroe, Connecticut. Make certain you mark it sentimental. If they can't do anything, one of the repair staff will call you and advise you. In my case, they returned the knife and included a new version, free of charge.

Farmer X · **Reply #3 on:** December 29, 2024, 10:02:54 PM

One hurdle that's set pretty high is the differing scale composition and means of attachment. I'd imagine that correct replacement scales for that SAK are long gone. If the tools are in good shape, I'd see about repairing the existing scales. Whatever you choose to do, consider yourself fortunate to have your Dad's SAK!

John Hill · **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2024, 02:24:56 AM

Thanks for the replies. Here are a couple of photos open. Sadly the main blade is broken off and the small blade has been badly sharpened. Everything else would looks to be ok with a good cleaning. Farmer is probably correct about the scales. I’m going to try calling Victorinox, see if I can talk to someone about it.

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Barry Rowland · **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2024, 02:34:34 AM

John, that knife has so much personality and character that it almost stands to be left as is. Your Dad used it as it was meant to be used, as a practical everyday carry. He continued to use it after he broke the main blade. I recognize a grinder sharpening anywhere! In my humble opinion, it's beautiful as it is.
I'm sure someone at Victorinox USA will be very helpful. It wasn't too long ago they released a similar knife, an anniversary Officer's knife, so they might actually have parts available. I'll say this: when Victorinox says lifetime warranty, they mean it.
Let us know how you make out.

Grand_Banana · **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2024, 04:06:34 AM

Very neat

I agree with Barry. I’d be inclined to use a knife like that if it wasn’t so worn to add my own touch to the tool. Your dad clearly used it well. Much like my dad and grandfathers old knives. I don’t want to change the blades as theirs show decades of use and sharpening.

The can opener would suggest it’s from the 40s? SAKwiki states that style was used until the 50s after which Wenger started producing the same design from the expired patent. Think I’m reading it correctly.

nate j · **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2024, 05:01:05 AM

Quote from: Barry Rowland on December 29, 2024, 07:12:01 PM

I've had great experiences with Victorinox Repair in Monroe, Connecticut. Make certain you mark it sentimental. If they can't do anything, one of the repair staff will call you and advise you. In my case, they returned the knife and included a new version, free of charge.

Good advice here. If you don’t want to do that, then I’d suggest retiring it to a place of honor and getting a new Huntsman for carry and use. Either way, cool to have your dad’s old SAK!

IMR4198 · **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2024, 11:52:14 AM

Hi John,
That was a good view with the tools all open. Yeah, it's pretty much a wreck. Sentimental value only. Since you are so good at taking photos, how about a close up of the tang stamp on that broken big blade? Might need to buff off a little to be able to see what it is. That would help date the thing better.
Even if you got it reconditioned, it likely should still be retired. A new SAK doesn't cost much, and you can mess the new one up for your descendants to wonder over. Best wishes. Gary

John Hill · **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2024, 01:55:03 PM

Here are the tang photos.

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IMR4198 · **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2024, 02:06:22 PM

SAKWiki says c. 1947-1952. Best wishes. G

John Hill · **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2024, 02:27:12 PM

Thanks G. I was looking at the Wiki, but hadn’t figured it out yet.

AzteCypher · **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2024, 09:22:04 PM

I'm inclined to agree with everyone else on keeping it mostly as is. I would give it a good cleaning and a bit of oiling to keep the joints moveable though. If you'd want it to be usable, I would go about finding a donor knife of that vintage so that you could harvest the two blades. Those scales are probably nylon so they'd be hard to replace. Would probably be best to repair them.

It's a beautiful knife regardless and the decision is indeed a difficult one.

Farmer X · **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2024, 11:33:10 PM

I think the one thing we have come to consensus on is that it needs to stay in the family.

AzteCypher · **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2024, 11:37:45 PM

Grand_Banana · **Reply #15 on:** December 31, 2024, 01:09:13 AM

And to get a modern Huntsman to carry in honor of dad’s model.

Fireman · **Reply #16 on:** December 31, 2024, 11:44:55 AM

Quote from: Barry Rowland on December 30, 2024, 02:34:34 AM

John, that knife has so much personality and character that it almost stands to be left as is. Your Dad used it as it was meant to be used, as a practical everyday carry. He continued to use it after he broke the main blade. I recognize a grinder sharpening anywhere! In my humble opinion, it's beautiful as it is.

I'm with Barry. Leave it as is and buy a Huntsman for yourself. My dad carried Barlow pattern knives, and at least one had a broken large blade. Because his ended up lost or used to death, I don't have any of his. So I bought a vintage Barlow on eBay and carry it now and then. If I did have one of his, I would do exactly the same thing.

John Hill · **Reply #17 on:** December 31, 2024, 03:06:44 PM

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it. Here’s my carry SAK’s, a Deluxe Tinker, Recruit and the little keychain partner there, along with a Wenger, all from the 80’s. The Sears screwdriver disc on the keychain was my dad’s as well. I’m thinking I’ll call Victorinox and see if the blades can be replaced and leave everything else as is. I’d be nice to drop in my pocket now and then.

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IMR4198 · **Reply #18 on:** December 31, 2024, 07:15:42 PM

I would see about getting the scales done as well. Who knows? If it is going to be non-original, just as well go to the limits. Time for IMR to fess up here. As soon as I saw the big blade was broken, and the pen blade ground down, I was thinking a complete refurbish anyway. Yes, I change my mind. Make sure to ask them to send the replaced parts back. Best wishes. G

PS That's a pretty fancy Wenger Dynasty series. Nice. Gary

Barry Rowland · **Reply #19 on:** December 31, 2024, 11:19:03 PM

Nice looking carries John! I carried an '80s Huntsman my Dad got for me in 1983 almost exclusively for the next 32 years. I like the feel of the older SAKs.

Myron · **Reply #20 on:** January 01, 2025, 12:16:25 AM

This knife is incredible! I would clean it up and leave it alone. Write down everything you know about it for future generations, and then get yourself the equivalent modern Vx SAK to use and carry. Then hand both down to your chosen SAK heirs.

Thanks for sharing it!

John Hill · **Reply #21 on:** January 07, 2025, 03:25:26 PM

As an update, I’ve elected to send it Victorinox and let them look at it, so it’ll go out today. A very nice lady in customer service that I spoke to assured me that they could take good care of it. While I did think about keeping it as is, I would really like to get it functional and carry it now and then. I still use his ShopSmith from the early 80’s and I smile every time I do. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

AzteCypher · **Reply #22 on:** January 07, 2025, 03:31:15 PM

Sounds like a plan. Keep us posted.

nate j · **Reply #23 on:** January 08, 2025, 12:53:35 AM

Quote from: John Hill on January 07, 2025, 03:25:26 PM

As an update, I’ve elected to send it Victorinox and let them look at it, so it’ll go out today. A very nice lady in customer service that I spoke to assured me that they could take good care of it. While I did think about keeping it as is, I would really like to get it functional and carry it now and then. I still use his ShopSmith from the early 80’s and I smile every time I do. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

John Hill · **Reply #24 on:** January 15, 2025, 07:05:05 PM

The repair center in CT said they are shipping it to HQ in Switzerland due to its vintage. Now I wait.

IMR4198 · **Reply #25 on:** January 15, 2025, 07:08:22 PM

Your chances for a first-class repair just went up. They probably have all the long-discontinued parts that are left in Switzerland. Keep us informed. Best wishes. G