With all the Wenger frenzy...

Marius · **on:** February 06, 2013, 01:43:38 AM

... decided to get myself a SI as well

To start with the negatives (hardly any): there is a bit of separation for one scale towards the bolster (minimal and quite common for these old wood fibre scales), one thin crack on the other from the middle rivet. A bit of discoloration here and there. But no rust at all (I've got younger SAKs with rust on the stainless steel, this one got none).

The rest is delicious! Hardly any signs of usage on the blade and tools. Opens and closes same as well as my new Heritage Vic.

Same as the Heritage this one comes with an all steel build except the scales and the brass spacer at the awl's rivet: steel liners (yes!), steel rivets and steel bolsters.

Less bulky than the Heritage, the scales are thinner. But much more nicely finished than the Heritage on the back side.

The blade tang is stamped "WENGER DELEMONT" on one side and has the year "32" mark stamped on the other side. There is a very clean Waffen-Kontrolle (W-K) mark on front scale.

The knife came in the green drawstring pouch shown in the photos. The seller claimed that this is the original pouch the knife was delivered new in 30s to a Swiss soldier. Does anyone know if this may be true, were such pouches given with the knives back then?

A few quick photos:

Marius · **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2013, 01:45:28 AM

And few photos of it alongside my Heritage Vic:

nuphoria · **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2013, 01:48:31 AM

Pretty good that age I'd say

k12cop · **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2013, 03:49:27 AM

I'm jealous...

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

jrp316 · **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2013, 04:47:55 AM

Do want. Very nice knife, great condition for its age.

magentus · **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2013, 10:58:38 AM

Gorgeous! Nice find........

Northern Geek · **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2013, 12:40:55 PM

I really wish they'd make the heritage a current model.. Such great looking knives.

tosh · **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2013, 01:46:37 PM

Is it me or do those scales look new.
The nail scallops look uneven and recently made??

Has this been in wengers service dept'

Marius · **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2013, 02:13:57 PM

Quote from: tosh on February 06, 2013, 01:46:37 PM

Is it me or do those scales look new.
The nail scallops look uneven and recently made??

Has this been in wengers service dept'

It's all original.

The pouch is the only thing I am not sure about.

I'll take this as a compliment for how nice my SI is

Otherwise..

Marius · **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2013, 02:21:17 PM

The first photo that I took when it arrived:

Marius · **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2013, 02:25:43 PM

Detail:

tosh · **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2013, 02:49:40 PM

Quote from: Marius on February 06, 2013, 02:13:57 PM

Quote from: tosh on February 06, 2013, 01:46:37 PM
Is it me or do those scales look new.
The nail scallops look uneven and recently made??

Has this been in wengers service dept'

It's all original.

The pouch is the only thing I am not sure about.

I'll take this as a compliment for how nice my SI is

Otherwise..

The clean cut-outs on the fibrox threw me as did the almost too perfect embosed stamp. But, if as you say it's all original - well done, a helluva find!

P.S Love the Vic' I take it that's the ebony version??

Gareth · **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2013, 03:29:07 PM

I used to have one like that, but in nowhere near as good condition as yours mate. Nice find.

Marius · **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2013, 04:38:52 PM

Thanks everyone

The black one is one of the recent Heritage 1891 Soldiers made by Vic, wrapped in Ebony wood scales. It's a bit special for me since I received it direct from Victorinox (as a replacement for a bad one). Can read more about it here: http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,41718.msg672235.html#msg672235

I'd still want to find if possible if the green canvas pouch is original.

Anyone has any ideea if such pouches were issued to the Swiss soldiers with the knives in that time period (just before WW2)?

Wootz · **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2013, 05:44:24 PM

Quote from: Marius on February 06, 2013, 02:13:57 PM

Quote from: tosh on February 06, 2013, 01:46:37 PM
Is it me or do those scales look new.
The nail scallops look uneven and recently made??

Has this been in wengers service dept'

It's all original.

The pouch is the only thing I am not sure about.

I'll take this as a compliment for how nice my SI is

Otherwise..

Congrats on your beautiful Wenger.

I do think the pouch is genuine, because I've seen one that looks the same.

(@ong... I hope you do not mind me posting your picture for the good cause?)

Marius · **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2013, 06:17:02 PM

Very cool. So in fact the pouch may be genuine after all.

The Ong's photo shows the same shape, size and color shades for the pouch and string. Same metal eyelets. Promising..

If indeed this is the pouch originally issued with this particular knife back in 30s, then, wow

Except a dark brown stain the pouch and the string are in perfect condition. No breakage, fabric and string look new, no uneven discoloration (besides the stain), no rust on the metal eyelets. Does not even smell old. It could be that it was washed before it was sold to me because it appears to be very clean. I will not wash it myself by fear not to damage it.

ColoSwiss · **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2013, 10:46:46 PM

Great find! And with an original pouch. I didn't know they came with a pouch!

nuphoria · **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2013, 03:08:09 PM

That's lovely

I have made a few pouches for knives as I think it really helps look after them. Also if you scales are made of anything vaguely natural (horn/bone etc), having a little oil in the pouch can help stop them drying out and cracking

Marius · **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2013, 09:02:48 PM

Thanks! I love this old SAK. And with the old pouch it makes for such a cool set.

MARIOS7319 · **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2013, 10:53:11 PM

Very nice find.

I have only 3 old Wengers, two of them are SI.

Marius · **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2013, 12:26:35 AM

Very nice ones, Marios! It looks that your '49 is in better shape than my '32 - I see no scale warping at the bolsters or cracks by the rivets. Sincerely this is the 1st time I think that I see that '59 model with red scales, very interesting. Too bad its main blade was reshaped, as it looks. Are the red scales plastic?

ColoSwiss · **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2013, 12:47:37 AM

The red scales are a material called 'Grilon', apparently related to nylon. They also did some with a more brownish color. The one shown below is a 1964 civilian version without Waffenamt stamp. The key to spotting them is no visible pins.

Marius · **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2013, 02:10:30 AM

Interesting info. Thanks

MARIOS7319 · **Reply #23 on:** February 16, 2013, 10:52:15 PM

Quote from: Marius on February 09, 2013, 12:26:35 AM

Very nice ones, Marios! It looks that your '49 is in better shape than my '32 - I see no scale warping at the bolsters or cracks by the rivets. Sincerely this is the 1st time I think that I see that '59 model with red scales, very interesting. Too bad its main blade was reshaped, as it looks. Are the red scales plastic?

(I know this topic it's a long time ago, but i want to reply.)

Thanks for the good words, Marius.
As ColoSwiss wrote the scales are Grilon type.
And yes you right, they have reshaped the main blade badly, but it was the best i could find, as they are rare.
Also these red scales soldiers are very expencive.

As for the '49 soldier knife is in almost mint condition. I was very lucky to found it.

Wootz · **Reply #24 on:** February 16, 2013, 10:59:10 PM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230927125162?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

WENGERINOX SWISS Army Knife 1959 with RED Handle

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