My beef with pretty, etched, plastic SAK scales

[dks]

Why can't Victorinox find a way to make the drawings on them permanent or at least more wear resistant?

You buy a nice limited edition knife with a pretty picture on the scales - could be  a drawing, camo paint, a flag and so on....

You buy it mainly because of the etching, not because you desperately need another Classic. You pay extra too.

You put it in your pocket and watch the etching fade away.

Yes you can get a sleeve for them, but how many put sleeves on keychain 58mm classics?

I am sure they could use some extra opaque coating, like a layer of varnish to make them more robust, but they do not.

So, you either use the knife and watch it fade away (its not character, I paid to have the etching on, all the time) or, you store it away and just look at it.

I want both -to use it and to visually enjoy it for many years!

Will the cost of a factory varnish be that high? I doubt it will even add an extra 5% of cost.

[RF52]

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[Aloha]

 

I keep mine in a leather sheath and worry. 

[Jim the Brave]

Random wonderish thought.....

Could we apply some type of hardening clear coat to it ourselves? And have it look nice? 

[Andetto]

 

[dks]

You could, but I would expect the factory to do it.

[pfrsantos]

C'mon, guys! Really?!

 

That's why you buy (at least) 3 of each: 1 to keep, 1 as backup and, from 3 up, maybe, a user.

 

[Top-Gear-24]

C'mon, guys! Really?!

 

That's why you buy (at least) 3 of each: 1 to keep, 1 as backup and, from 3 up, maybe, a user.

 

 

[pfrsantos]

 

 

[kamakiri]

C'mon, guys! Really?!

 

That's why you buy (at least) 3 of each: 1 to keep, 1 as backup and, from 3 up, maybe, a user.

 

Both philosophically and in practice. If it’s a bit rare or spendy, two is the exception.

I think it’s a bit impractical for them to thicken the clear layers by much. I mean in general, they don’t look better once worn or damaged.

I’d rather they made replacement scales for such knives, even if for a nominal fee. Not really a practical solution for them.

[dks]

I think they make too many to be able to stock replacements - they make new classic LE every year, in addition to all the others.

For some, expensive ones, like very LE series it may be worth it, but then you may have people putting these scales on cheaper models and selling them as the expensive LE models

[pomsbz]

C'mon, guys! Really?!

 

That's why you buy (at least) 3 of each: 1 to keep, 1 as backup and, from 3 up, maybe, a user.

 

Yup and that's how they keep the money rolling in. It's built in obsolescence, a very successful marketing approach although somewhat distasteful but given the low margins they probably have to rely on it.

[kamakiri]

I think they make too many to be able to stock replacements - they make new classic LE every year, in addition to all the others.

For some, expensive ones, like very LE series it may be worth it, but then you may have people putting these scales on cheaper models and selling them as the expensive LE models

Yeah, I’m thinking it would only work if they did such replacements in-house to prevent the resale issue. Impractical and unlikely either way.

[nolongerlurking27]

I had the same problem this year when I got the scuba diving classic. I tried several sheaths that all added a lot of bulk and ended up making my own out of paracord and thinner twin. Even this added more bulk then I wanted and I ended up swiching back to my normal classic

[SwissMix2020]

For it to last they would have to consider other materials besides plastic, but then weight could become a factor or if they did use protective coatings of some kind the cost of manufacturing would increase.

They appear to be a low margin business.  And almost went under after 9/11.  I saw some sales numbers they posted somewhere and the makers of WD-40 have more revenue and profit than Victorinox.

I think they also now make more Multitools or earn more revenue per multitool sold than a SAK.

SAKs are now more a nod to their heritage and past than the future for growth and survival as a company.

[Jim the Brave]

For it to last they would have to consider other materials besides plastic, but then weight could become a factor or if they did use protective coatings of some kind the cost of manufacturing would increase.

They appear to be a low margin business.  And almost went under after 9/11.  I saw some sales numbers they posted somewhere and the makers of WD-40 have more revenue and profit than Victorinox.

I think they also now make more Multitools or earn more revenue per multitool sold than a SAK.

SAKs are now more a nod to their heritage and past than the future for growth and survival as a company.

Well I certainly hope they aren't going away! 

[Sawl Goodman]

Well I certainly hope they aren't going away! 

If you mean SAKs, I doubt they will, although I expect the range to keep shrinking. They've been discontinuing more models than introducing new ones for a long time now.