Swiss Army Knife?

[Ole Joe Clark]

Our Daughter brought me this knife from Switzerland last year.





The "front side" has "Victorinox Swiss made stainless" and the opposite side has "Officier Suisse" on the blade. Can anyone shed some light on this knife? The blade that is open is rather sharp. I haven't used it, just looked at it. Haven't been able to locate any information on the Victornox site.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Leon

 

[arjay]

That's a nice one
Somewhere around here I have a pic of an old family friend playing an alpenhorn [emoji2]

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Victorinox makes so many variations of its classic SAK (Internet abbreviation found on knife discussion boards some time back) that shedding any light on that particular model is well nigh unto impossible unless one either knows everything in the Victorinox line or has their complete catalog or history or something.

Since your knife is apparently called the "Swiss Officer" and has a metal case (Beretta makes knives a lot like that) that includes a place for engraving of initials I'd venture a guess that you have a limited edition. Either it is no longer made or, perhaps, sold at retail only in Switzerland.

"Swiss Officer" or some similar name I think was the original name for the very first SAKs, made by Wenger before the birth of Victorinox. So the commemorative or limited edition that you have could be hearkening back to the original model.

 

[garddogg56]

thats collector quality.very nice

 

[M29since14]

Can't tell you a thing about it but I do like it.

I just gave away a Super Tinker today, which, along with the Executive, is one of my favorite SAK patterns. I believe that knife is along the lines of a Spartan, but with special handle plates. Or at least it appears so. It may be a bit smaller than a Spartan. In any case, a really fun knife to have around as a conversation piece!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Additional comment - that knife fascinates me so I spent a bit of time after I wrote my original remarks researching SAKs. Not only does nothing appear on the Victorinox website but I cannot find anything to come even close to that knife. And then it dawned on me.....

It says SWITZERLAND on that knife - because, unless my surmise above was incorrect totally - it IS a special edition made solely for sale to tourists in Switzerland. I'd wager on that unless someone has a better theory.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I carry a blue Tinker SAK every day. Star of David on it. They still make them but I can't find them on the Victorinox website, either. Mine was a gift from good friends at least 20 years ago.

http://www.jewishsource.com/prod_images/P0005163s.jpg

 

[Engine49guy]

They do make alot of variations...One of my favorites was a gift from a friend that is a Swiss Cop in Canton Bern,
It has their Bear logo with large POLICE in one panel , IIRC he said they were made special for their department.

 

[chud333]

That is one fine looking knife there sir.
I can offer no help but it is swiss made
as Victorinox is correct.
Be a nice gift to give or receive for a gentleman.
A might flashy for every day carry IMHO.

Chuck

 

[shawn mccarver]

Not sure if still true, but years ago, the Swiss military bought 50% of their knives from Victorinox, and 50% from Wenger (same model, just different vendor).

Nice knife!

 

[bigwheelzip]

Nice souvenir. I just bring people chocolate from there. You raised her well.

Flags throwers and Alphorn players go together (along with yodelers).



Farmer's Folk evening, near Brienz, Switzerland.

See CV6. From an image labeled "2008 Newsleter, Vol 2".



Here is a link to the newsletter.

+B Newsletter, Issue 2008, vol. 2

 

[noonster]

SAK

there's a SAK Collector society website. You oughta find something noteworthy in there - or be able to ask some of the SAK fanatics about it.

 

[Simson-Suhl]

I believe in was the year 1965, all knifes imported into the US have to have the country of origin stamped on one blade. Most of the larger Victorinox knifes have "Officier Suisse" stamped on the main blade as does my Swiss Champ. A small point of humor, Boker, (Tree Brand), of Germany, the orginial maker of the WW1 issue dagger to the troops, reissued a semi collectable WW1 style dagger a few years ago complete with the leather sheath. They stamped the blade, "Deutschland!"

 

[oldfart64]

Our Daughter brought me this knife from Switzerland last year.





The "front side" has "Victorinox Swiss made stainless" and the opposite side has "Officier Suisse" on the blade. Can anyone shed some light on this knife? The blade that is open is rather sharp. I haven't used it, just looked at it. Haven't been able to locate any information on the Victornox site.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Leon

Victorinox is now the only swiss army knife company as they absorbed the other one (wenger) in 2006 or so. Wenger were the original supplier of service knives to the army, however Victorinox was an alternate supplier. The officer knives were fancier and had features the officers needed instead of the features needed by the enlisted guys. This one looks like a presentation model I saw in the factory when I visited in 1994. I have no idea when it was made or what it's current worth is. But, I would not use it for daily carry, You can buy a regular one for far less that I suspect this one is worth. However, a warning, every victorinox, I own and have seen says "rostfrei" under stainless, which is under switzerland on the back side of the main blade and above the main blade, there is a logo which has a swiss cross and a gizmo that looks like an umbrella. so I don't know if it is really real or not.

 

[oldfart64]

Nice souvenir. I just bring people chocolate from there. You raised her well.

Flags throwers and Alphorn players go together (along with yodelers).



Farmer's Folk evening, near Brienz, Switzerland.

See CV6. From an image labeled "2008 Newsleter, Vol 2".



Here is a link to the newsletter.

+B Newsletter, Issue 2008, vol. 2

So, if it is made by Bianco, why does it say Victorinox? Not saying it is not a nice knife, but it certainly then should not say Victorinox.

 

[bigwheelzip]

So, if it is made by Bianco, why does it say Victorinox? Not saying it is not a nice knife, but it certainly then should not say Victorinox.

I'm not a knife expert, but if you open the link to the newsletter, it appears that Bianco is a wholesaler that custom orders these knives to spec, from Victorinox. Much like Talo does with Smith & Wesson.

From the newsletter:

"Relief SAK
Prior the IWA I got a sample of a nice cast relief SAK. The scales that fit any 91mm Victorinox and the metal casting looks and feels really nice - Swiss made quality! Scales are available with different images on the front, the back is allways the same. They come from the factory mounted on a Vic. Spartan, but I can offer them mounted on any currently produced Vic. SAK, please ask for price."

Found one retailer in Switzerland that carries some items from this product line, for 95 CHF (98 USD).

Victorinox Metal Spartan William Tell | knives-n-tools EN

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Thanks for all the great input! If you know anything or have a comment please continue posting. I learn so much from you.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[Marshwheeling]

Additional comment - that knife fascinates me so I spent a bit of time after I wrote my original remarks researching SAKs. Not only does nothing appear on the Victorinox website but I cannot find anything to come even close to that knife. And then it dawned on me.....

It says SWITZERLAND on that knife - because, unless my surmise above was incorrect totally - it IS a special edition made solely for sale to tourists in Switzerland. I'd wager on that unless someone has a better theory.

That was my thought, too: something you might find in a Swiss-themed gift shop, not necessarily even in Switzerland, in a glass case next to the souvenir spoons and shot glasses. It also occurred to me that the scales might be from the after-market rather than from victorinox. Oops. I guess I should read the whole thread before posting. That angle seems to be covered pretty well above.

 

[Texas Star]

The blade tang image that one member thinks is an umbrella is a stylized image of Wilhelm Tell's famous crossbow. Both brands used it, in their versions.

And I think that Victorinox was the original maker of SAK's. Rev. Theodore Wenger founded his company about 1907. Victorinox dates from 1884, has made govt. knives from 1891.

I used to write about knives and corresponded with the Export Director at Victorinox. He sent me a fine book printed on their 100th anniversary.

If you look at their respective ads, Victorinox said they were the "Original" SAK. Wenger claimed to be the "Genuine" one. Both are genuine; only Vic. was original.

I'm astonished at how much misinformation one sees on the Net. I hope this clears up some confusion.

BTW, both makers turned out a lot of knives for universities, commercial companies, etc. I want Vic. knives with scales marked to advertise Hero jams and preserves and Knorr soups. Both are Swiss products. I'll get the addresses from the Swiss Embassy and write to the firms and see if they can sell those knives.

I have several Classic Vics sold at universities and a few from commercial firms. My favorite may be one from the USAF Academy. Drug makers used to give out Vic. knives advertising their products, to doctors. I have one promoting a drug called Paxil. Do we have any docs here who can say if these knives are still provided?

 

[shouldazagged]

. However, a warning, every victorinox, I own and have seen says "rostfrei" under stainless, which is under switzerland on the back side of the main blade and above the main blade, there is a logo which has a swiss cross and a gizmo that looks like an umbrella. so I don't know if it is really real or not.

The umbrella-like gizmo is, I think, a representation of a crossbow. I don't recall the significance, though I remember reading it.