New? Wenger 'EVO' Swiss army range

[redcollective]

Don't know how long these have been out - what do you folks think of the look of the new scales on these models?

http://www.wengerna.com/browse/evo2.jsp

Ever used an SAK for long enough to worry about ergonomics?

Stu

Oh and just for a laugh - the Wenger 'Giant Knife':
http://haha.nu/amazing/king-of-swiss-knives/

 

[Ralph]

In answer to your question, no, and I find the handle very comfortable on my SAK. I don't think those scales do look very comfortable. And thats the first I've ever heard of Wenger making the real genuine article. Are victorinox the makers of the knife for a different Switzerland, or am I just wrong?

 

[Ed]

Are victorinox the makers of the knife for a different Switzerland, or am I just wrong?

Both victorinox and wenger have licenses to produce the SAK.

Ed

 

[Ed]

I don't think those scales do look very comfortable.

I can tell you they are not for those of us who are left handed I prefer the origional plain handle scales

Ed

 

[leon-b]

In answer to your question, no, and I find the handle very comfortable on my SAK. I don't think those scales do look very comfortable. And thats the first I've ever heard of Wenger making the real genuine article. Are victorinox the makers of the knife for a different Switzerland, or am I just wrong?

wenger make the genuine and victorinox make the original
p.s on my victorinox climber i find that using the small blade isnt that comfortable as the corkscrew gets in the way and hurts my hand
leon

 

[addyb]

Actually, back in April Victorinox bought out Wenger. Luckily for us, they're still allowing Wenger to make the "Genuine" knife as a bit of effective marketing. Apparently after 9/11 SAK sales went down the drain because knives bought in airport kiosks were no longer allowed onto aircraft. To be fair, 90% of all SAK's are exported and only a very small share actually is sold to the Swiss civilian population. In addition to that, something enormous like 50,000 knives from each manufacturer are bought for the swiss military. So I'm sure you can all see much trouble the two companies went through in the last few years. Don't quote me on any of this, but doing a bit of googling might turn up similar results.

Cheers,

Adam

 

[sxmolloy]

Actually, back in April Victorinox bought out Wenger. Luckily for us, they're still allowing Wenger to make the "Genuine" knife as a bit of effective marketing. Apparently after 9/11 SAK sales went down the drain because knives bought in airport kiosks were no longer allowed onto aircraft. To be fair, 90% of all SAK's are exported and only a very small share actually is sold to the Swiss civilian population. In addition to that, something enormous like 50,000 knives from each manufacturer are bought for the swiss military. So I'm sure you can all see much trouble the two companies went through in the last few years. Don't quote me on any of this, but doing a bit of googling might turn up similar results.

Cheers,

Adam

You beat me to it Addy. you are absolutely right, in 2005 Victorinox took over Wenger. See here for more details.
http://www.victorinox.ch/index.cfm?site=victorinox.ch&page=73&lang=E last paragraph.

 

[sxmolloy]

wenger make the genuine and victorinox make the original
p.s on my victorinox climber i find that using the small blade isnt that comfortable as the corkscrew gets in the way and hurts my hand
leon

Doesn't GENUINE & ORIGINAL mean the same thing ?

 

[leon-b]

Doesn't GENUINE & ORIGINAL mean the same thing ?

not sure its just what i have heard
leon

 

[JonathanD]

Genuine means just that, they are genuine SAK supplied to the genuine SA. Original means they were the first to be official suppliers to the SA. Although both do still supply the SA, Wenger have been the most prolific with their Soldier (alox) model. Victorinox also released an alox version more recently that has also been bought by the SA. Ups and down for both companies in terms of 'official' supply, but both have equal claims to being 'Genuine SAK's'. Confused, yeah, me too But to go back on subject, the new Wengers are absolutely superb knives and I highly recommend that you check em' out.

 

[addyb]

Yes, that's true Jonathan. But the historical reason for the 'Genuine' versus 'Original' swiss army knives dates back to the beginning of the company's history. The Wenger factory is (was?) in the German speaking region of Switzerland and (I believe) run by a close relative of Carl Elsner. Victorinox comes from the French speaking side of the country. Anyway, both sides claimed creation to the original product and the government at the time with a really great marketing foresight allowed both factories to produce the same product while at the same time playing them off one another in order to keep the price down. See what I'm getting at? Oh, and the swiss military orders an exact equal number of soldier model knives from both factories in at attempt at equality.

It's almost awe inspiring how much history the SAK brand has behind it. That and it's unstoppable quality control. All in all, one helluva knife!

Adam

 

[woodwalker]

but for the more culturally inclined....

french army knife

woodwalker

 

[Bigman]

Why does the French Police one have seven corkscrews on?

 

[Ralph]

I see. After all this time thinking that wenger were imitations.

I can tell you they are not for those of us who are left handed I prefer the origional plain handle scales

Ed

I am left handed, so maybe thats why I don't think the scales look comfortable.

 

[Ralph]

Why does the French Police one have seven corkscrews on?

Why, so they can sample wine from reposessed vineyards

 

[JonathanD]

For you SAK fans, there is a great little screensaver you can download through the link at the top of the page. Vic fans might not be too excited though

 

[bloodline]

Wenger are the best and always will be I gallenge anyone to prove me wrong victorinox just make cutlery for the meat trade and cooks