Years ago I had a Victorinox Mauser - bigger than a normal SAK with 2 blades, a saw/screwdriver/bottle opener/can opener combination tool, corkscrew and awl, with green nylon-like scales. I lost it, but acquired a Bundeswehr pocket knife instead. This looked just the same but had only one cutting blade. It was also stamped Victorinox Switzerland. I lost it too, somewhere on the training area at Barry Buddon....
Although I owned them a few years apart, as far as I can recall, the quality and finish was just the same (ie, very high- as good as a SAK with stronger springs)
Both were great bushcraft knives (for a folder) - a bit bigger and more robust than a SAK, still legal for every day carry with 3" locking blade and a good saw. So I thought I would get another. (error - should read 'non-locking blade')
However, looking at the net, this knife is made by several contractors (some respected ones like Neito and kissing Crane, others I've never heard of) and there have been suggestions that some of the non-Victorinox are of inferior quality. So I paid a bit more for a Victorinox made one. I'd be interested to hear from others who've used these.
They can be sourced very cheaply from Germany (......obvious, I guess....) but postage is the killer. In the UK they cost about a tenner. A group buy might be possible but if some are a bit sub-standard that could be a problem. I see the Bundeswehr now use a different locking Victorinox, so I guess the old ones are no longer being made.
Seems the Mauser has gone the Way of the Woodlore and is now a collectors item.
Although I owned them a few years apart, as far as I can recall, the quality and finish was just the same (ie, very high- as good as a SAK with stronger springs)
Both were great bushcraft knives (for a folder) - a bit bigger and more robust than a SAK, still legal for every day carry with 3" locking blade and a good saw. So I thought I would get another. (error - should read 'non-locking blade')
However, looking at the net, this knife is made by several contractors (some respected ones like Neito and kissing Crane, others I've never heard of) and there have been suggestions that some of the non-Victorinox are of inferior quality. So I paid a bit more for a Victorinox made one. I'd be interested to hear from others who've used these.
They can be sourced very cheaply from Germany (......obvious, I guess....) but postage is the killer. In the UK they cost about a tenner. A group buy might be possible but if some are a bit sub-standard that could be a problem. I see the Bundeswehr now use a different locking Victorinox, so I guess the old ones are no longer being made.
Seems the Mauser has gone the Way of the Woodlore and is now a collectors item.
