undated Model 1908 type 2

[Rich S]

Does the lack  of a date stamp on a Elsener Schwzy, Model 1908, type2 necessarily mean it
was made before 1920 when they started date marking that model?

Rich

[ulli]

No I don`t think so. They used the ELSENER SCHWYZ tang stamp until 1931. Sometimes if they didn`t produce enough standard soldiers, they did the WK stamp on some other knives with the same tool configuration.

[J Mackrel Jones]

The SAK Owner's Manual implies that a 1908 with cross-in-circle stamp would be made between 1915 and 1921.  Maybe someone out there knows more about this.

[Rich S]

Mine doesn't have the cross in circle stamp, just ELSENER SCHWYZ and Swiss Made on the tang
and Swiss Made on the can opener.

Rich

[ulli]

You don`t have a picture? Its really difficult to say without a picture. I`m curious about the tang stamp.

Here`s a Little compilation of stamps maybe it will help you to date your knife.

[Rich S]

Heres' a pic showing details of the tang stamp. Thanks for the chart. It should be very useful.
Rich

[J Mackrel Jones]

The "SWISS MADE" in English surely means that this knife was made for civilian sale.  Maybe model 1908s did not have a dated blade as well as not having a military acceptance stamp if sold on the civilian market.
More likely it is a civilian (no military stamp) Modell 1908 made before 1921 when they began putting the first two digits of the date on the tang.

[enki_ck]

Ulli's chart places it at 1930-1940 however.

[Rich S]

How about just marking it as civilian issue, 1930's?

Rich

[ulli]

Yes that could be right.

By the way: with those stamps its a really uncommon and special knife. I`ve only seen a few with those tang stamp combination but with cellidor scales, not with fiber like yours.