How old is the 91mm Tinker model?

[FavoriteThings]

Hello and thanks for welcoming me; this is my first post.
Is the 91mm Tinker relatively a new model (ie. post 1991)  For some reason, whenever I'm shopping for one with a clip point pen blade or a square backside Phillips, all that ever seems to come up is the Tinker Small.  Not that I have anything against the 84mm versions, but I'm just trying to round out my collection with some variety.  Seems like all the 91mm Tinkers on ebay have the post 1991 Awl with sewing eye and the rounded backside Phillips.

Any help is appreciated!

[Swisster]

the old Tinker's with square phillips are very collectible and hard to come and especially the pre early 70's versions with the file on them. Near impossible to find a pre early 70's version for sale. Maybe look on Etsy but the prices there are usually not good and way over priced for whatever model.

[marlowe221]

I believe the Tinker has been around since the 1950s (whether that was the 84mm or 91mm version, I am not sure).

My understanding is that it was introduced to the American market when Victorinox starting selling SAKs in the USA post-WW2. But I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong!

[Myron]

SAK Wiki is your friend.  Looks like 1952 is the answer to your question.

https://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Tinker

[IMR4198]

   I think the oldest Tinker I have is from 1991?  Can key phillips.  Welcome to the place.  Best wishes.  G
 

[FavoriteThings]

SAK Wiki is your friend.  Looks like 1952 is the answer to your question.

https://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Tinker

Oh, Im VERY familar with SakWiki….its constantly open in my browser…but again, I’m talking 91mm Tinker.
I’m starting to think the 84mm was the only version of it for a while before the 91’s came out.

[IMR4198]

  Most of my resources went down with my computer.  I have two Tinkers from 1991.  Both have sewing eyes on the awls.  They are 91mm.  The sewing eyes have been on 91mm for several years before 1991.  Maybe 1985 or so.  Mine are both black, and didn't come from the US market. 
   Tinkers were 84mm at least until 1987.  I think they were 84mm in 1989.  It didn't help that Victorinox kept using the number 5072 on both sizes through the transition.  The sewing eyes appear first on the 91mm SAKs. 
    I think all of the Tinkers from their inception through (maybe) 1989 were 84mm.  Different story for the Super Tinkers.  Best wishes.  G
 

[IMR4198]

1987 Vic catalog.  You can see the difference in lengths between Tinker and Super Tinker at that time.  Also awls.  Best wishes. 

[FavoriteThings]

  Most of my resources went down with my computer.  I have two Tinkers from 1991.  Both have sewing eyes on the awls.  They are 91mm.  The sewing eyes have been on 91mm for several years before 1991.  Maybe 1985 or so.  Mine are both black, and didn't come from the US market. 
   Tinkers were 84mm at least until 1987.  I think they were 84mm in 1989.  It didn't help that Victorinox kept using the number 5072 on both sizes through the transition.  The sewing eyes appear first on the 91mm SAKs. 
    I think all of the Tinkers from their inception through (maybe) 1989 were 84mm.  Different story for the Super Tinkers.  Best wishes.  G
 

Thank you for the info and confirming….this would explain why I can’t find any 91mm Tinkers with the square Phillips…

[ThundahBeagle]

   I think the oldest Tinker I have is from 1991?  Can key phillips.  Welcome to the place.  Best wishes.  G
 

I have a can-key Phillips head Super Tinker (Tinker with the addition of scissors) from the late 1980's.  And there's no "all purpose" parcel hook.

[Huntsman]

Oh, Im VERY familar with SakWiki….its constantly open in my browser…but again, I’m talking 91mm Tinker.
I’m starting to think the 84mm was the only version of it for a while before the 91’s came out.

What a very interesting query       

I checked the '70s catalogue .... and sure enough the Tinker was 84mm (3¼)  

However this one from '67 - According to the piccie does show the Tinker as  91mm (3½)
https://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Victorinox+Swiss+Army+Knife+Catalogs

Of course the Phillips was deffo around on other early 91mm models - eg The Champion 

[IMR4198]

    The print on the 1967 catalog does say 3-1/2 inch (91mm) for the Tinker.  Look at the little stubby cap lifter in the picture of the Tinker.  Looks like an 84mm.  Assuming the photos are to scale, it also looks shorter than the others.  All of the 91mm have a bail.  No bail on the Tinker.  The Craftsman doesn't have a bail and is listed as being a 3-1/4 (84mm)   
     Is it a misprint or was there a 91mm Tinker in 1967?  If one of these fine old knives shows up, then we will know for sure.    Of all the many thousands of Victorinox owned by the MTO members, surely someone has one (or a better catalog photo) if it exists.  Until then I'm thinking 'misprint'.  Best wishes.  G
 
PS  Did anyone look at the photo of the 'Camper'.  No saw.  Looks like what we call a Spartan now.  Both the 'Camper' and Tinker are listed as having '6 parts'.  G

[IMR4198]

   Just for chuckles.  My sister brought back two black Tinkers from Switzerland.  Probably 1991.  One for me.  One for Dad.  I looked in my catalog that was maybe a year old to see if there were black SAKs listed.  Big wholesale outdoor catalog.  No black models listed, and the Tinker was a different length.  I wondered why the one I just got was longer than the catalog listing.  I marked it down as just being a European issue.  I still have both of them.  I never carried mine.  Best wishes.  G
  

[Huntsman]

Had a look at some of the other older catalogues in the Wiki and for most of them the Tinker is 3¼  and/or 134k

We could be onto something here!!

[jazzbass]

This is a really interesting question! I saw this post last week when I was on holiday in the UK and wanted to wait until I got home to respond so I could verify a couple things in my collection.

Officially, Victorinox has made 91mm versions of the Tinker since 1952 when they changes the dimensions of the knives so that 84mm and 91mm knives could use the same back side tools (corkscrews, phillips, awls). However, the 84mm version (134k) was THE official version until the 80s when they dramatically reduced the 84mm line in favor of the 91mm (goodbye 84mm Climbers, Huntsman, Salesmen, etc).

The 91mm Tinker was in the old catalogs (Model 134/134U), and could be ordered if one wanted to. But the "standard" model, and the one in the pictures, etc, was the 84mm version so that's what got ordered way, way more. So you CAN find 91mm Tinkers, but they are somewhat rare because they weren't usually the standard model advertised in the catalogs. I've managed to get a few of these, but each one was pretty hard to find and the condition of these tend to be somewhat poor.

Interestingly, it is easier to find older 91mm Tinkers as Elinox models vs Victorinox. The 91mm Tinker was listed in the older Elinox section of the catalog as a Model 1134, and there was no 84mm equivalent listed, so if you wanted a knife with the Tinker tool set, 91mm was your only option. Most of the pre-1973 91mm Tinkers I have are Elinox models.

Here's a shot of all the pre-73 91mm Tinkers I have:

[IMR4198]

  Bravo.  That's what I wanted.  Some photos.  Elinox and special orders count of course.  Now our original post person knows where to find one.  Jazzbass.  I actually had some of those old catalogs with just the number designations, but lost them all with a computer flub.  Best wishes.  G
 

[IMR4198]

  Nobody may be interested, but the U in the number code refers to the shackle or bail.  K means kurz (short).  Best wishes.  G
 

[FavoriteThings]

This is a really interesting question! I saw this post last week when I was on holiday in the UK and wanted to wait until I got home to respond so I could verify a couple things in my collection.

Officially, Victorinox has made 91mm versions of the Tinker since 1952 when they changes the dimensions of the knives so that 84mm and 91mm knives could use the same back side tools (corkscrews, phillips, awls). However, the 84mm version (134k) was THE official version until the 80s when they dramatically reduced the 84mm line in favor of the 91mm (goodbye 84mm Climbers, Huntsman, Salesmen, etc).

The 91mm Tinker was in the old catalogs (Model 134/134U), and could be ordered if one wanted to. But the "standard" model, and the one in the pictures, etc, was the 84mm version so that's what got ordered way, way more. So you CAN find 91mm Tinkers, but they are somewhat rare because they weren't usually the standard model advertised in the catalogs. I've managed to get a few of these, but each one was pretty hard to find and the condition of these tend to be somewhat poor.

Interestingly, it is easier to find older 91mm Tinkers as Elinox models vs Victorinox. The 91mm Tinker was listed in the older Elinox section of the catalog as a Model 1134, and there was no 84mm equivalent listed, so if you wanted a knife with the Tinker tool set, 91mm was your only option. Most of the pre-1973 91mm Tinkers I have are Elinox models.

Here's a shot of all the pre-73 91mm Tinkers I have:

(Image removed from quote.)

https://forum.multitool.org/Smileys/default/facepalm.gif
Brilliant info!  Thank you for the education and impressive collection!  WOW!   And that's just 91mm Tinkers!....

[ThundahBeagle]

This is a really interesting question! I saw this post last week when I was on holiday in the UK and wanted to wait until I got home to respond so I could verify a couple things in my collection.

Officially, Victorinox has made 91mm versions of the Tinker since 1952 when they changes the dimensions of the knives so that 84mm and 91mm knives could use the same back side tools (corkscrews, phillips, awls). However, the 84mm version (134k) was THE official version until the 80s when they dramatically reduced the 84mm line in favor of the 91mm (goodbye 84mm Climbers, Huntsman, Salesmen, etc).

The 91mm Tinker was in the old catalogs (Model 134/134U), and could be ordered if one wanted to. But the "standard" model, and the one in the pictures, etc, was the 84mm version so that's what got ordered way, way more. So you CAN find 91mm Tinkers, but they are somewhat rare because they weren't usually the standard model advertised in the catalogs. I've managed to get a few of these, but each one was pretty hard to find and the condition of these tend to be somewhat poor.

Interestingly, it is easier to find older 91mm Tinkers as Elinox models vs Victorinox. The 91mm Tinker was listed in the older Elinox section of the catalog as a Model 1134, and there was no 84mm equivalent listed, so if you wanted a knife with the Tinker tool set, 91mm was your only option. Most of the pre-1973 91mm Tinkers I have are Elinox models.

Here's a shot of all the pre-73 91mm Tinkers I have:

(Image removed from quote.)

What
The
Holy Smurf?!?!

You have near as many just pre-1973, 91mm Tinkers alone than I have Swiss Army Knives in total

[Huntsman]

@ JazzBass - Thanks for the post - Fantastic information as always                    

OK if I put some of this text in the Wiki Tinker and 84mm pages please ? - Also can I put that photo in?

Thanks     

[jazzbass]

OK if I put some of this text in the Wiki Tinker and 84mm pages please ? - Also can I put that photo in?

Absolutely OK on both.