Multitool.org Forum
Tool Talk => Swiss Army Knights Forum => Topic started by: dks on September 21, 2012, 06:29:17 PM
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There were some discussions lately regarding new and old models, differences etc and since I happened to have two Explorers in front of me I made some comparison pictures:
The new one was bought this year and the older one is from before the 1990s.
I focused on plainly visible differences.
Difference in the emblem, old one on top.
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee484/jladks/toys/1-IMG_1929_zpscaf10db2.jpg)
Differences in the magnifying glass, the corkscrew (old one is fluted), the position of the attachment ring and the new one has the hook. (old one on top).
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee484/jladks/toys/2-IMG_1945_zpsa188cef3.jpg)
Here the differences in the positioning and thickness of the ring are shown more clearly.
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee484/jladks/toys/3-IMG_1950_zps694601ec.jpg)
Differences in the nail nick and overall shape of the small and large blades,
Old one on the right
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee484/jladks/toys/4-IMG_1956_zps2da9a84b.jpg)
Old one on top. Also note the different writing on the tang. Unussually the older blade does not have the crossbow emblem on the blasé.
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee484/jladks/toys/5-IMG_1960_zps9373b6c2.jpg)
Scissors. The old one, at the bottom, has a screw.
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee484/jladks/toys/9-IMG_1980_zps7d0c8f61.jpg)
Differences in the Philips screwdrivers. The old one, at the top, has a longer one with a larger tang.
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee484/jladks/toys/6-IMG_1963_zps200ba522.jpg)
In the new one, when closed, the screwdrivers tip sticks out more making it easier to open. (new at the bottom)
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee484/jladks/toys/7-IMG_1965_zps28d40e75.jpg)
Finally the new one has the hole for a pin in the scales, behind the corkscrew. No pin was included. Old one on the right. Left!
(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee484/jladks/toys/8-IMG_1975_zpsfb910cfb.jpg)
I am sure there may be other differences too.
Enjoy and keep exploring………. :ahhh
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The keyring inside the backspring is so much better than the spacer version. A lot smoother to the touch and beefier.
Nice shots, the knives are flipped with respect to your caption on the last image though.
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Thank you!
fixed. :tu:
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Nice write up.
I am sure there may be other differences too.
There are. Many more, in fact, depending on what two versions you compare. Since the Explorer came out in 1973, there have been 5 versions of the main blade, 2 versions of the pen blade, 3 different corkscrews, 5 different scissors, 3 different mag glasses, 2 different phillips, 3 different awls, 3 different cap lifters, two different style tweezers, relocation of the key ring, a temporary mag/scissors layer flip in the mid 80s and the introduction of the hook.
Put all of those changes together and you can build a collection of at least 12 Explorers that are all different in some way. The older one in your pictures looks to be a mid 1970s version. Is the back of the main blade blank or is it stamped "Officier Suisse"?
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Blank.
Apart from a small bit missing from the scales it all looks practically unused.
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any chance you can relink the photos from the first post? I'd love to see them, but they don't seem to be showing up anymore.
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any chance you can relink the photos from the first post? I'd love to see them, but they don't seem to be showing up anymore.
+1
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+2! I learned a lot from just the text alone!
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dks may be able to rehost the pics somewhere but photobucket broke the internet when they decided to charge for hosting. You can download plugins for the Chrome, Opera and Firefox browsers that will allow you to see the pics:
Chrome users can download this extension to see old threads with PB photos. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/photobucket-embed-fix/naolkcpnnlofnnghnmfegnfnflicjjgj/related?hl=en
Opera users can use above extension, after install an Opera extension named "install chrome extension"
Firefox users has a port available https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/photobucket-embedded-fix/
I assume that these workarounds will only function for a short while, until Photobucket stops access.