My 1st 108mm

Boonies · **on:** July 17, 2018, 12:10:10 AM

Just received my 1st 108mm and I am impressed. Seems a bit bigger than I imagined but nice and slim.

I could use some help on this one.....it was being sold as a German Army Knife but I am a skeptical. No German eagle impressed on the scales and an anchor on the case. So I’m thinking somebody’s Navy but haven’t been able to find this emblem with Google. Probably not Google’s fault though.

The case is olive drab, just a little lighter than the scales. Has anyone seen this emblem?

nmpops · **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2018, 12:35:21 AM

I have the same knife I bought about 25-30 years ago. The GAK without the eagle. Great knife mine doesn't have the sheath. No idea about the logo, maybe someone's Marines?

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Boonies · **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2018, 01:23:27 AM

Nmpops.....

It is the Republic of China Marine Corps. Pretty cool!!! Thanks for the hint!!

jaya_man · **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2018, 04:09:47 AM

Nice one Boonies... GAK without eagle is a Safari Trooper...

Boonies · **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2018, 04:46:37 AM

Thanks jaya_man, knew that the GAK needed the eagle but really didn’t get much farther. Really didn’t think the German Army would have an anchor in their emblem either.

Really nice knife, not sure getting this was a good idea. 😜

jaya_man · **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2018, 04:50:27 AM

If it’s one for the Taiwanese Marines then hell yeah its a good score... official issue then...

Never knew it existed...

Boonies · **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2018, 06:05:55 AM

Pretty sure it’s legit, the knife is Vic, the case is Vic and fits the knife perfectly. Olive drab cases from Vic can’t be all that common, especially with the emblem. I’m just worried that I am liking these knives and will go looking for others. Really need another niche to collect.

glenfiddich1983 · **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2018, 08:03:27 AM

Quote from: Boonies on July 17, 2018, 06:05:55 AM

Pretty sure it’s legit, the knife is Vic, the case is Vic and fits the knife perfectly. Olive drab cases from Vic can’t be all that common, especially with the emblem. I’m just worried that I am liking these knives and will go looking for others. Really need another niche to collect.

Great catch, and the 108mm are a great niche to collect since it's one of the few model lines you can actually complete.

Ptisuisse · **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2018, 09:47:27 AM

Quote from: Boonies on July 17, 2018, 06:05:55 AM

Pretty sure it’s legit, the knife is Vic, the case is Vic and fits the knife perfectly. Olive drab cases from Vic can’t be all that common, especially with the emblem. I’m just worried that I am liking these knives and will go looking for others. Really need another niche to collect.

This is what the fun and excitement of knife collecting are all about. On fine day you stumble upon a knife that is 30+ years old, and you pretty much discover it MIGHT have been issued to the Taiwanese army. Although one must remain very cautious about this. Because there is no proof so far that the case and the knife are connected. Your Trooper is a very desirable knife in terms of collecting. GAKs are all over the place and can be had for a song, but Troopers are much more difficult to come by.
But careful : these knives kinda grow on you :

- First, because of their unique design : they are not completely Victorinox. I explain : they were first produced to fill a supply contract for the german army, so one can imagine that Vic did not have a totally free hand on the design. The results is a slipjoint knife with a fairly different layout/philosophy - for one thing only one joint, the tools are on ONE side only. Compare it to the 1961 soldier issue alox models...... The combo tool is a bit disturbing also, at first. But when you get used to it, it becomes invaluable.
- Two : they're pretty much man-size, built like tanks, no-frills, and at the same time much easier to pocket than a 111mm one hand opening version. They take a paracord braid directly, thanks to the lanyard hole. Very easy to EDC. If I wanted to raise hell I would say the 91mm are for boys and the 108mm for men. See what I mean ? (but of course I am just teasing)
- Three : 108mm not dead. Check this thread out : https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,43354.0.html - You will see there are avid collectors out there, active modders as well, and a few models are still available off-the-shelf in Britain at a reasonable price.

Enjoy your Trooper. Put it on a shelf, buy yourself a GAK for dayly use, and give it a beating. It was built to take it.

Ptisuisse · **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2018, 09:57:34 AM

Just for info, here is a shorter civilian version of your sheath. I bought it in Germany, quite probably the sub-contractor who made them for Victorinox had a production overrun. When I look at this case, I reckon it is too thick for a Trooper. How does yours fit ? I mean, not lengthwise, but thickness-wise ?

Gareth · **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2018, 10:08:20 AM

What a great little find mate.

Anyone else enjoying the idea of China/Taiwan importing SAKs?

VICMAN · **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2018, 11:46:54 AM

Nice find Boonies!

Boonies · **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2018, 07:53:01 PM

Quote from: glenfiddich1983 on July 17, 2018, 08:03:27 AM

Great catch, and the 108mm are a great niche to collect since it's one of the few model lines you can actually complete.

Thanks glen.....I needed a little more enabling......

Boonies · **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2018, 07:56:16 PM

Thanks Gareth and VICMAN.....I too thought it interesting that Taiwan would import a Swiss Army knife but who doesn’t.......🙄

Boonies · **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2018, 08:02:49 PM

Ptisuisse.....the knife fits the case quite well, I can get a 2-layer 111mm in the case but have to stretch the top to get it to snap and the back of the case is pulled forward when I do this. Not a good fit. The 108mm snaps closed quite naturally. And of course a 91mm or 93mm almost disappears in the case. Spirit won’t even start. I think this case was intentionally made for a 108mm.

Ptisuisse · **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2018, 09:39:09 PM

Yep, looks like a perfect fit/perfect match indeed....... cool !

enjoy.
If one of these knife/sheath combo popped up, others will.

Good on you, mate.

cody6268 · **Reply #16 on:** July 18, 2018, 12:47:27 AM

Really, really funny. The PRC cranks out millions of fake SAKs, but the Republic of China, Taiwan chooses the real thing.

Great find, and nice sheath! Still haven't found one that fits the GAK nicely. Thinking about trying a Case Trapper sheath, as they're roughly the same size.

Boonies · **Reply #17 on:** July 18, 2018, 01:31:49 AM

Thanks cody......had a thought so I tried it. The brown leather sheath for a Spirit seems to fit pretty well. Little play side to side (the Spirit is wider) but the thickness and height is perfect. Maybe???