Early Elsener 4-pin Found at a Swiss Flea Market

[Myron]

A dear friend and I were perusing a flea market in Switzerland, when he turned this lovely 4-pin Elsener up.  I think it's a model 237 and dates to ca. 1902-06. 

I feel truly lucky to have it and it will be the center point of my collection. 

[LoopCutter]

    

That is an awesome find.

The stories that it could tell, just gets my mind imagining awl sorts of tales of simple tasks and mesmerizing adventures!

I has just seen a reproduction of that model in a store, has its $500 price sticker attached.

[Reinier]

A 4-pin! Score!
That's amazing

[z1913]

Congrats!

[J2000E]

Congrats - also to have such a good friend that lets you take over his find!

[jnoxyd]

Nice find! Does it have a stamp on flat screwdriver?

[FolderBeholder]

Love it!  Great centerpiece no doubt! 

[Myron]

Thanks, one and all!  I am pleased as heck to have it. 

@jnoxyd, no, the flat screwdriver is not stamped.  We thought it might have the patent stamp on the screwdriver, but when we got it open later we saw that it does not.  The knife is deeply packed in my things or I'd post another picture, but I can post some when I get home from traveling. 

[psyjohn]

What a great find! Congrats!

[ThundahBeagle]

Congratulations on a find like that!  What are the scales mades of and what is that L shaped bit on the topside?

[Tuisto]

Congratulations on a find like that!  What are the scales mades of and what is that L shaped bit on the topside?

Thundahbeagle, the L-shaped thing is a little chunk of metal that makes it easier to get the can opener out.

What a cool find!

[ThundahBeagle]

Thundahbeagle, the L-shaped thing is a little chunk of metal that makes it easier to get the can opener out.

What a cool find!

Ah.  Thank you. 

[Huntsman]

Wow, wow, wow - A SAK enthusiasts dream - Finding something like that in a flea market in Switzerland*

The oldies are the goldies - That would be the centre-piece of my collection too.

My current oldest are a 1942 Soldier and an Officer's Knife 234 (Spartan) of about the same age.
So you've beaten me by about 40 years 

* I guess you missed out on the Alps, the lakes, beautiful villages, towns and architecture, cheese and chocolate on your trip ..... as your head was stuck in flea markets the whole time searching for old SAKs.              

[Myron]

Ah.  Thank you.

Also, the scales are fiber.  (Sorry, ThundaBeagle, I forgot to answer your other question.)

[Myron]

* I guess you missed out on the Alps, the lakes, beautiful villages, towns and architecture, cheese and chocolate on your trip ..... as your head was stuck in flea markets the whole time searching for old SAKs.              

Thank you, Huntsman!  We did get plenty of time in the Alps, as well as the lakes, villages, towns, architecture, cheese, and chocolate.   But I won't say that my long-suffering spouse didn't put her foot down on SAK hunting at a certain point...   

[Sneider]

Congratulations on this special find, Myron. When you hold such an old model in your hands, time seems to stand still for a moment, doesn't it?  Thanks for sharing it here.

[ThundahBeagle]

Thank you, Huntsman!  We did get plenty of time in the Alps, as well as the lakes, villages, towns, architecture, cheese, and chocolate.   But I won't say that my long-suffering spouse didn't put her foot down on SAK hunting at a certain point...   

Well it's good your spouse has priorities to make absolutely sure and insist you went hunting for SAKs!

No?  That's not it?

[psyjohn]

 

[VICMAN]

Congratulations on the great find, Myron!

[Tuisto]

Okay, so forgive my lack of knowledge here, but can someone please explain what this model is? I'm very curious about it and why it's held in such esteem. I don't know much about early models.

[Myron]

Hi Tuisto.  These early fiber-handled SAKs appeared in 1897 and were marketed as the Officer's Knife, in contrast to the larger and heavier-duty soldiers' knives (i.e., the Model 1890).  The first such knife was a two-layer 6-blade, and evolved into what we would today call the Spartan.  It can therefore be considered the great-great-grand-knife of what is popularly considered the "Swiss Army Knife."  In ca. 1902, a third layer was added, in this case a wood saw blade.  In ca. 1907, Victorinox abandoned the 4-pin construction and went to a 3-pin frame.  Hence, the 4-pin knives are quite rare and collectible. 

The shield was an option that could be added, which is why you see knives from this era with and without shields.  In the case of my knife, the bail has survived intact, which is rare to find after all these years. 

I hope that helps.

Myron

[pfrsantos]

Hi Tuisto.  These early fiber-handled SAKs appeared in 1897 and were marketed as the Officer's Knife, in contrast to the larger and heavier-duty soldiers' knives (i.e., the Model 1890).  The first such knife was a two-layer 6-blade, and evolved into what we would today call the Spartan.  It can therefore be considered the great-great-grand-knife of what is popularly considered the "Swiss Army Knife."  In ca. 1902, a third layer was added, in this case a wood saw blade.  In ca. 1907, Victorinox abandoned the 4-pin construction and went to a 3-pin frame.  Hence, the 4-pin knives are quite rare and collectible. 

The shield was an option that could be added, which is why you see knives from this era with and without shields.  In the case of my knife, the bail has survived intact, which is rare to find after all these years. 

I hope that helps.

Myron

Congrats on your find!

 

I understand the keep-it-as-is idea, due to the history that goes with it, but have you thought about contacting Vic and asking if they can "clean it up"?

 

[Tuisto]

Hi Tuisto.  These early fiber-handled SAKs appeared in 1897 and were marketed as the Officer's Knife, in contrast to the larger and heavier-duty soldiers' knives (i.e., the Model 1890).  The first such knife was a two-layer 6-blade, and evolved into what we would today call the Spartan.  It can therefore be considered the great-great-grand-knife of what is popularly considered the "Swiss Army Knife."  In ca. 1902, a third layer was added, in this case a wood saw blade.  In ca. 1907, Victorinox abandoned the 4-pin construction and went to a 3-pin frame.  Hence, the 4-pin knives are quite rare and collectible. 

The shield was an option that could be added, which is why you see knives from this era with and without shields.  In the case of my knife, the bail has survived intact, which is rare to find after all these years. 

I hope that helps.

Myron

Thank you so much for the explanation! Very cool model with a very cool history — congrats on the find.

[Huntsman]

@PFR & Myron - I would not go back to Vic
They’d do too good a job!

Although I’d be tempted with a little metal polish on the blades and I would grind  a point back on the main blade
- Some traditionalists might say even that was too much!!

@Tuisto
https://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Officers+Knife

[Tuisto]

Yes, I actually had one of those for a very brief time. Some of my really early posts on this site feature it. It was in terrific condition, but I honestly had such difficulty opening some of the tools that I (regrettably) sold it... I wish I hadn't.

[Myron]

No way would I ever send this knife to Victorinox or any independent knife smith for reconditioning.  I've already touched up the tip of the main blade and lightly buffed the scales and implements.  It looks great now.  Thanks for all the compliments, MTO.

@Tuisto, you had an early 4-pin Officer's knife and sold it??!!

[Echotech]

 

What an exceptional find Myron, congratulations

 

[Huntsman]

@ Myron - Great stuff

Sounds like we need to see the 'after' photos when you get a moment!!

EDIT PS: Just went back to the 'before' photos - That knife is in absolutely exceptional condition - given its age
..... All of it - But particularly the scales - In fact I don't think I have ever seen one in such good condition
You see so many with scales in really poor condition 

[AzteCypher]

Excellent find!!  Congrats!!

[Myron]

As promised, some post-cleanup pics. 











And a bonus pic -- a sock drawer find Elsener Model 1908 from 1930 with original pouch.  I already had a good 1930, but I couldn't resist the original pouch!