View Full Version : New? Wenger 'EVO' Swiss army range
redcollective
31-08-2006, 20:19
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/
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? :confused:
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
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
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? :confused:
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
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
31-08-2006, 21:23
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
31-08-2006, 21:25
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 ? :rolleyes:
Doesn't GENUINE & ORIGINAL mean the same thing ? :rolleyes:
not sure its just what i have heard
leon
JonathanD
31-08-2006, 22:27
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 :confused: But to go back on subject, the new Wengers are absolutely superb knives and I highly recommend that you check em' out.
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
01-09-2006, 08:21
but for the more culturally inclined.... :)
french army knife (http://home.uchicago.edu/~chevrier/jokes/couteaup.jpg)
woodwalker
Why does the French Police one have seven corkscrews on? :)
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.
Why does the French Police one have seven corkscrews on? :)
Why, so they can sample wine from reposessed vineyards ;)
JonathanD
01-09-2006, 18:38
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 :rolleyes:
bloodline
01-09-2006, 21:20
Wenger are the best and always will be I gallenge anyone to prove me wrong :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: victorinox just make cutlery for the meat trade and cooks ;)