Wenger SI Vs. Victorinox Pioneer?

[sawman]

Which do you think is better, and why?

[Marius]

Pioneer w/o ring for me over SI. I like more how it's built, especially the blade spine and tang details. For SI I like the hollow rivet and the shield but overall I still prefer a ring-less current Pioneer. For an older aka Sturdy Boy Pioneer, no contest for me: Pioneer 100%. Between Vic Soldier and Wenger SI for me again: the Soldier wins, any year. I still like the SI but I like the 93 mm Vic just a bit more. Between a regular Pioneer (ring) and SI I might take the SI just for the ring detail 

 

[Marius]

Vic Soldier '91 on top, Vic Soldier '03 in middle, current Wenger SI bottom:




Wenger SI top, Vic Soldier '03 middle, Vic Soldier '91 bottom:



My 1st choice between these: Vic '91 (similar to older 'Sturdy Boy' Pioneer w/o ring, even better being in red), 2nd: Vic '03 (aka current Pioneer w/o ring, less the shield), 3rd and last place: the SI.

 

[nate j]

Pioneer w/o ring for me over SI. I like more how it's built, especially the blade spine and tang details. For SI I like the hollow rivet and the shield but overall I still prefer a ring-less current Pioneer. For an older aka Sturdy Boy Pioneer, no contest for me: Pioneer 100%. Between Vic Soldier and Wenger SI for me again: the Soldier wins, any year. I still like the SI but I like the 93 mm Vic just a bit more. Between a regular Pioneer (ring) and SI I might take the SI just for the ring detail 

 

Well said, and I agree.  Ringless Pioneer/alox Soldier > Wenger SI > Pioneer with ring.  I think the F&F on my 93mm Vic knives is also just a hair better than that on my SI, but this may or may not be true in general.

[enki_ck]

Cool pictures, Marius.

It's missing the picture of the nail nicks though, and I believe the one on the Wenger is bigger/longer than on the Vic Pioneers. And while the thickness of the Vic blade is thicker at the base, it tapers down toward the tip throughout the whole length of the blade while the Wenger blades are have the same thickness almost 3/4 of the blade. This is visible in the third picture too. Also I think Wenger awls may have a pointier tip? Don't have a big enough collection to verify that but it seems to be the case with all that I checked. 

I don't have my camera right now but I'll try to take some pics tomorrow if no one beats me to it.

Oh, and I prefer the SI.

[AimlessWanderer]

I have a black Vic Pioneer (in my pocket today, as it happens), but no Vic Soldier or Wenger SI. I personally don't see enough difference between the Pioneers and official military blades to warrant buying one of the others.



I got this particular Pioneer because it's black, which instantly beats both the Soldier and the SI 

[enki_ck]

...
I got this particular Pioneer because it's black, which instantly beats both the Soldier and the SI 

 

OK, then just for Al, black Pioneer compared to the SI.

Nail nicks: (SI at the bottom)


Blade tapering:


Awls: Harvester/SI/black Pioneer

[AimlessWanderer]

Nice one Nikola 

See, near enough identical so no need for me to buy any of the others   

Plus black alox is cooler 

Plus the attachment point alloys me to carry a LM Style PS with it 

[magentus]

SI for the hollow rivet and bail - plus the pedant in me prefers the rounded shield on all the soldier models to the angular on the Pioneer.

[jaydar]

I still think the early 80's wenger blades are my favorite nice ridged finish

I have posted this before but ...

Just a note on quality personaly I think the early 80's wenger soldiers were much better knifes than the equivilent vic mainly down to the finish on the main blade

(Image removed from quote.)

Today I picked up a model 1908 wenger soldier and it is perfect also the use of Brass liners makes it look great (I think the fact it has spent the last 60 years or so in a case has helped it maintain its finish )

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

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[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Just beautiful!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[Marius]

I have posted this before but ...

Today I picked up a model 1908 wenger soldier and it is perfect also the use of Brass liners makes it look great (I think the fact it has spent the last 60 years or so in a case has helped it maintain its finish )

Looks great but is this a  SI or a Tahara and was it modified/rebuilt? Were there factory 1908 models with brass liners too? I was under the impression they had all steel liners. A bit strange that it looks so good, polished, spotless and all.  Superb SAK but a real SI or not?

Of course that the current Pioneers do not stand a chance against these oldies. Except at nail breaking 

 

[Marius]

Nevermind 

[jaydar]

Sorry my fault I should not have left the pics of the 1908 in there .... but its just so pretty

the ridged blade is from a 1981 Wenger si

[Marius]

Sorry my fault I should not have left the pics of the 1908 in there .... but its just so pretty

the ridged blade is from a 1981 Wenger si

No fault at all.. Indeed that is a superb SAK! My question was if it is a Soldat/SI or a civilian (Tahara?) model and whether if you know that it was rebuilt or is original.

 

[El Corkscrew]

Pioneer w/o ring for me over SI. I like more how it's built, especially the blade spine and tang details. For SI I like the hollow rivet and the shield but overall I still prefer a ring-less current Pioneer. For an older aka Sturdy Boy Pioneer, no contest for me: Pioneer 100%. Between Vic Soldier and Wenger SI for me again: the Soldier wins, any year. I still like the SI but I like the 93 mm Vic just a bit more. Between a regular Pioneer (ring) and SI I might take the SI just for the ring detail 

 

I know this thread is ancient but Ditto.

After carrying each of the above described knives. I definitely prefer The Pioneers in soldiers as well. I just need to file that pesky key ring off.

 

[zoidberg]

Wenger SI for the win!!          

[Barry Rowland]

+1!!!

SI for the hollow rivet and bail - plus the pedant in me prefers the rounded shield on all the soldier models to the angular on the Pioneer.

[Roc]

SI all the way.

[magentus]

SI for the win - Hollow bail and cool as Kim Deal Shield, what's not to like?

[hiraethus]

Pioneer, but only because it's available in black.  Chop the keyring loop off for that smooth Soldier feel.

OK, there's the Swiss Railway Soldier, but that's not an SI.

[magentus]

Pioneer, but only because it's available in black.  Chop the keyring loop off for that smooth Soldier feel.

OK, there's the Swiss Railway Soldier, but that's not an SI.

Yes there is that 

[Chako]

Wenger SI for me. Better yet, the stamp-less ricasso error version.

[Trix]

I have this dilemma... Soldier 86 or Silver Pioneer without keyring? I would say Soldier all the way through: It's sturdier, it's the original knife issued to the military, it's a legendary knife!
But then..
I look this two knives closely and i notice small differences. Soldier's central rivet is another color (maybe made of different material), the openers are sturdier but poorly finished especially inside and overall the new Pioneer is better built. I can't sleep at night please help me!!! 

[Don Pablo]

I have this dilemma... Soldier 86 or Silver Pioneer without keyring? I would say Soldier all the way through: It's sturdier, it's the original knife issued to the military, it's a legendary knife!
But then..
I look this two knives closely and i notice small differences. Soldier's central rivet is another color (maybe made of different material), the openers are sturdier but poorly finished especially inside and overall the new Pioneer is better built. I can't sleep at night please help me!!! 

Just to add to your dilemma, you're comparing them wrong.
If you look at an old pioneer that is the same age as the soldier you have, it will probably be poorly finished as well.
What you're wondering is basically "80's SAK or a modern SAK?"
And the Pioneer is what the alox Soldier was made from!

[Trix]

Good point! Even if an 80's SAK is poorly finished it will still going strong for at least a lifetime no? what would you choose?

[Don Pablo]

Good point! Even if an 80's SAK is poorly finished it will still going strong for at least a lifetime no? what would you choose?

You are right, better finish doesn't make the tool last more of a lifetime!
I prefer better finish over the slightly thicker tools of the older SAKs, but that's just me.