Saturday, July 27, 2013

Vintage Victorinox Fisherman


My second one with bail, but this time in the more famous 91mm size and with toothpick and tweezers. This one was advertised on Ebay as a vintage 91mm model, but after some research, I stumbled upon a 1967 catalog on SakWiki in wich this configuration was promoted as the "Fisherman". Later on this name would stay the same, but the multi purpose hook was added. Normally I start looking at the tools to find out when it was made, but with this one it was fairly easy to determine its age thanks to the catalog. On the other hand, it's always possible that this particular knife was produced before the catalog date, so let's take a look at the tools...





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, according to the tools, 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). This is probably one of the last knives with a bail, since it was discontinued in 1968 and yet popped up in a 1967 catalog. I would say that, if you look at the catalog, the knife was offered from 1967 till the late 60's, since the 70's catalog doesn't show the bail... This knife is in pretty good shape and only had one flaw... The small clip point blade was sanded as a spear-pointed one, but after some adjustments i reshaped it to the original one...

2 comments:

  1. The knife you see as my profile picture was my fathers and as you can see the scale on one side has come loose and I hope you might have an idea as to how I can reattach it.Thank you in advance.

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