Victorinox - Schuco Limited Escort/Mercedes set

This set contains a Victorinox Escort and a Mercedes Picolo model car. The set is limited to 1000 pieces worldwide and is distributed by Schuco, not Victorinox, so actually it's a Schuco collectable, but let's be honest... it looks awesome... The company Schuco is founded in 1912 by Heinrich Muller and changed over the years many times from owner. Finally in the early 2000's the company was bought by Simba Dickie toys and try to uphold the same die cast quality that made Schuco famous with collectors... The tin box has the Schuco logo pressed and the Victorinox logo painted on the lid. The small model car is weighs a lot an is made of one solid casted piece of iron. The set was released in 2003 and every now and then you find one on Ebay, but it's getting hard to find one in mint condition...

Vintage Victorinox Salesman

This is my first Victorinox with a bail and old style tools. It's one of my favorite tool combinations, but in a smaller package (84mm). I bought this one from Marios Kardaras last week and must say that this knife's once more the proof that this guy delivers quality... The knife looks like new and all the tools work perfectly. This discontinued model uses the oldest style scissors and has one other tool combination available with the long nail file. It weighs 70 grams and has a width of 17mm. The larger, 91mm model, is called the Super Tinker.

Age - marks :

* Cellidor scales : These scales were introduced in 1937. Before 1937 the scales were made from fibre, and had no mirror polish. This knife has cellidor scales!

* Can opener : This type can opener is the more recent one with only one difference. It has a PAT - marking on it wich stands for Patented. This one is introduced in 1951 and continued till 1970.

* REAMER : This newer type reamer without the sewing eye was used from 1961 till 1985.

* Small blade : The small blade has a clip point. These blades were used till 1973.

* Cap lifter : The cap lifter, here used, with sharpened curve, without the 90 degree lock, was manufactured from 1951 till 1972.

* Blade stamp : The main blade stamp says VICTORIA officier suisse with the crossbow in the middle. On the back it says Victorinox Switzerland Stainless Rostfrei. The back stamp was used from 1952 and the front one from 1943

* Bail / keyring : The bail was used from 1902 till 1968.

* Scissors : This type of scissors with the single spring and screw joint was made from 1902 till 1975.

Conclusion :

This knife should be made between 1961 and 1968, since the reamer is the "newest" tool in this knife (from 1961) and the bail the oldest (till 1968). I'm very pleased to own a knife from that age in this condition... It shows on the other hand that Blade stamps, like the Victoria one, must've been used many decades after the "introduction" (1943). Tool-dating gives a more accurate answer. Maybe something to remember for the next vintage one...

Custom Fieldmaster with exposed pins and brass scales

Last week, my wife asked me why I always use such thick scales on my mods. I told her that I needed three to four millimeter wood, to give it enough strength. When I try to peen the exposed pins in a thin wooden scale, the holes start to split the wood... Believe me... been there, done that... :) With the metal scales, it became an habit. I used four millimeters, while I could've gone much thinner. A few days ago, I used some brass plate I had laying around from 2mm. After adding my favorite tools, I peened the pins, and this time it worked like a sharm. The ends are round and stick about half a mm out the scales. I polished the scales with paste and after 10 "layers" I had a mirror finnish. They really look stunning! I made one mistake... I overpeened the main pins (2,5mm) with a tough opening as a result... 

R.I.P. Mr Carl Elsener senior

Last year I went to Ibach and stayed in a nice hotel nearby. The owner started talking about the Victorinox factory and Mr. Carl Elsener Sr. He told me that this guy went every day at work with his bike, not an expensive BMW or Mercedes, but his bike. He went to almost every meeting, till a few years ago. This was a role model for many companies, and showed that with effort and determination you can run a business with happy employees... Last saturday, the multitool-world lost an icon... R.I.P. Mr. Carl Elsener Sr.

I would like to say to the family and close friends.... my sincere condolences... 

Horn scaled Victorinox Excelsior with long nailfile

The lady in Basel told me a rather nice, interesting story about an 90 year old lady who had a shop and sold her some vintage Victorinox knives. They were all in perfect state and had the name "Luscher Basel" etched in the main blade. I bought the two knives she had left for far too much money, but I couldn't resist. A knife is as strong as the story behind it... This one measures 75mm in closed position and weighs 26grams. I call it an Excelsior in the title, but the Excelsior measures 84mm, while this one is smaller and has the long nail file. The only name I could find was actually a number. Before a certain date, Victorinox gave their knives a number instead of a name. This knife, according to the Elsener 1942 catalog, has the number 50. This is at least if this particular number 50 contains a long nail file. In the catalog, number 50 doesn't show the nail file, but number 52 does. This one has the stainless steel scales, so I have no idea which one it actually is. The only thing I do know, is that my knife, when I look at the tang stamp and long nail file, must have been made around 1942. If you look at the condition, this knife is a real gem... My first horn scaled Vic...

UPDATE : It seems, according to SAKwiki that there's a name for this type of knife. Around the eighties, Victorinox made the Accountant with the same tools as my knife. It looks exactly the same, but has the Tweezers and toothpick. I still believe that mine must've been made around the early 40's, since the blade stamp is the only lead I can follow...