Any love for Wenger?

[basilio]

Have a look here
http://www.e-webtechnologies.com/sak/Wenger_History_Hidden_Rivet_Scale_Attachment_Methods.pdf

[enki_ck]

My first 130mm Wenger. This thing is a beast. I'm glad I didn't go with the Ranger 79 though. I think the hump on the OHO would be to uncomfortable when using the saw.

[basilio]

My first 130mm Wenger. This thing is a beast. I'm glad I didn't go with the Ranger 79 though. I think the hump on the OHO would be to uncomfortable when using the saw.

Nice!
I happen to love the one hand opening blade, but that's just for aesthetics

[Gim]

My new wenger

[basilio]

My new wenger

Nice one!
I don't understand why Weber insist on putting that ugly sticker over the Wenger one. It is not even possible to remove it without damaging the Wenger box label.
-------
I recently received from Delémont few knives I sent for repairs.
One of this was an Automobilist (1.53.03)/"Tool Chest original model", with the old car image hot stamped.
Since I happen to have a newer model of the same knife (with the old car logo printed), with much surprise I noticed that the tools configuration is different.
See attached pictures (image of the old car hot stamped on top, printed on bottom).
I have saved on my pc a picture of the Tool Chest with the old car image hot printed, and the tool configuration is exactly as in my knife. So, my knife was not a custom order.
If you look closely at the catalog pictures (1991 North America and 1995 Europe), you will notice this difference, expecially looking at the pliers position.
However, the older catalog (1991) seems to have the same tool configuration as my newer knife (the pliers seems closer to the main blade)....

[ICanFixThat]

....
Oh, I forgot. Here is a nice Wenger knife to look at.

(Image removed from quote.)

Yes, that's a NICE knife.

[sawman]

Here is was...checking this thread as usual to see what's new and it finally really sunk in for me.  WTF?!?  No more Wenger?!?  And although quite a delayed reaction, I still can't believe there will soon be no more Wenger knives.  I'm just glad to have been able to stash a few away in the recent months for my collection.  What else can I say... no...more...Wenger...

[North Man]

Nice knives shown

[basilio]

Any idea about the name or the catalog number of this knife?
Unless I missed something (very possible  ), I searched every catalog available, but could not find the model.
A lot of similarities with the "Cascade" and, somehow, with the Alpine Backpacker

[enki_ck]

Wenger 16483 aka Serrated Cascade.

One was sold recently: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321149316081

[basilio]

Wenger 16483 aka Serrated Cascade.

One was sold recently: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321149316081

Thanks!!!!!!!!
Editing the wiki now.....

[AimlessWanderer]

Two new Wengers received today:

Wenger Backpacker is what it says on the tin, but it's actually a Pathfinder with the flat Phillips bit on the knife layer Classic scales, but with raised "Wenger" text like on Evo scales, and with a bootprint imprinted on the scale

Also, a purple wenger nailclipper

[enki_ck]

Two new Wengers received today:

Wenger Backpacker is what it says on the tin, but it's actually a Pathfinder with the flat Phillips bit on the knife layer Classic scales, but with raised "Wenger" text like on Evo scales, and with a bootprint imprinted on the scale

Also, a purple wenger nailclipper

Sounds interesting. Got any pics.

[basilio]

Two new Wengers received today:

Wenger Backpacker is what it says on the tin, but it's actually a Pathfinder with the flat Phillips bit on the knife layer Classic scales, but with raised "Wenger" text like on Evo scales, and with a bootprint imprinted on the scale

Also, a purple wenger nailclipper

Sounds interesting. Got any pics.

Yes, I also want to see pictures!

[AimlessWanderer]

Will try later this evening

[basilio]

While searching for the Cascade (see above) through the various Wenger catalogs I have saved on my pc, I came across this page from the 2008 North America catalog.



Soft Touch 14 with locking blade?
Was this model ever produced?

[enki_ck]

Will try later this evening

Great. We might also have to update the wiki then if it's back into production. Well for now at least until the merger is complete.

Also the Backpacker 12 model http://www.wenger.ch/backpacker-12-1-012-029-300

[AimlessWanderer]

Will try later this evening

Great. We might also have to update the wiki then if it's back into production. Well for now at least until the merger is complete.

Also the Backpacker 12 model http://www.wenger.ch/backpacker-12-1-012-029-300

So what's the difference between the Backpacker 12 and the Pathfinder?  The Backpacker and Backpacker II were totally different. What happened to Backpacker 3 through to 11?  SAK names can be so confusing at times. Mine is identical with the same boot tread imprint, but on the smooth scales (except for the raised Wenger text)

[basilio]

So what's the difference between the Backpacker 12 and the Pathfinder?  The Backpacker and Backpacker II were totally different. What happened to Backpacker 3 through to 11?  SAK names can be so confusing at times. Mine is identical with the same boot tread imprint, but on the smooth scales (except for the raised Wenger text)

Same knife, different names.
Looking at the catalogs, the last reference I found of the Backpacker/Pathfinder with plain scales is from 2008 (top knife in the following picture).
Fisrt reference of the model with the Evo scales is from a 2009 catalog (bottom knife in picture).
Note the small difference (the "3") in the catalog number

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks Basilio 

I would have given you guys the knife number, but it's been transferred onto a store label that wasn't quite big enough  so I only have the first 4 digits (1644....?)

[ICanFixThat]

A vintage Wenger Tahara with solid Stainless steel scales(83.5 mm).  A two blade knife, but the small one has been snapped off.  just a quick pic, as I'm about a year behind in pictures.

[Sazabi]

A vintage Wenger Tahara with solid Stainless steel scales(83.5 mm).  A two blade knife, but the small one has been snapped off.  just a quick pic, as I'm about a year behind in pictures.

(Image removed from quote.)

Kinda reminds me of the Monroe Hardware penknives Camillus made for untold number of years; I like it.

[Luna Knife]

I have a few.  I realy like the handyman and its set of tools.  I also like my tradesman and my snife.  Same quality as vic but slight differences.  I like the toothpick and tweezers better on a vic anf I like the added feature of the screwdriver on the vic can opener but do this experiment....

Next time you need a couple of cans open ask someone to open a s fast as they can with the vic then the wenger canopener. Time them with a stopwatch. The wenger wins every time

[North Man]

A vintage Wenger Tahara with solid Stainless steel scales(83.5 mm).  A two blade knife, but the small one has been snapped off.  just a quick pic, as I'm about a year behind in pictures.

(Image removed from quote.)

Interesting knife!

[North Man]

I have a few.  I realy like the handyman and its set of tools.  I also like my tradesman and my snife.  Same quality as vic but slight differences.  I like the toothpick and tweezers better on a vic anf I like the added feature of the screwdriver on the vic can opener but do this experiment....

Next time you need a couple of cans open ask someone to open a s fast as they can with the vic then the wenger canopener. Time them with a stopwatch. The wenger wins every time

Yes the Wenger can opener works really well 

[Chako]

The most iconic Wenger to me oddly enough...the Swiss Business Tool. These came in 4 models, starting with the Swiss Business Tool 45, 50, 55, and 60. I managed to get all 4, but it did take some hard searching on my part, and I only got lucky once I started my search on the European Continent.

[ICanFixThat]

These are a an intersting part of Wenger History, but the term iconic does not apply to the Business Tool since few would recognize it as representing Wenger, let alone the best of Wenger, in Swiss knives or any other area.

While it's an interesting tool that shows Wenger's innovation and willingness to branch out of it's comfort zone, it just can't be termed iconic.

When they liquidated their inventory a sort while back they were fairly easy to come by for a time. I went for all the colors of the top model and some packaging variations.  I can't remember how many of the other models I picked up.  I grabbed a few extra red ones for possible sale in the future, since they represent something quite different, and with mobile offices expanding these day they were maybe just a bit ahead of their time.  However I have a portable stapler from the 90s that folds flatter than a single layer Ranger is black and way cool from some European manufacturer, so Wenger was by no means the first to consifer this segment, but they did add many interesting tools to the mix.  However; it's always better to have a separate knife.

[Chako]

When I think of Wenger, I think of these...so to me...they are iconic. Going to have to disagree with you.

[sawman]

When I think of Wenger, I think of these...so to me...they are iconic. Going to have to disagree with you.

It's such a genius tool I wish they were still available today as I would still use it.  I still can't get over the dissolution of Wenger ... I have to pinch myself daily 

[sir_mike]

I havent owned many Wenger's but the one I carried and liked was the Teton with full serrated main blade.  I really wish that they still made that one cause I dont have mine anymore!