Not every knife I own is a tactical blade. I actually own at least two traditional pocket knives. They were from different companies which are now the same. I, of course, refer to the famous Swiss Army knife made by Wenger and Victorinox. More about these companies can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Army_knife
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Army_knife
(What would we do without Wikipedia?)
It is interesting that before the turn of the 20th century both companies were aware of the power of advertisement and the impact of negative ads. They agreed to share the Swiss Army Knife business and branded themselves as Wenger the Genuine Swiss Army Knife and Victorinox the Original Swiss Army Knife. If only modern politicians could get along so well.
It is interesting that before the turn of the 20th century both companies were aware of the power of advertisement and the impact of negative ads. They agreed to share the Swiss Army Knife business and branded themselves as Wenger the Genuine Swiss Army Knife and Victorinox the Original Swiss Army Knife. If only modern politicians could get along so well.
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| The red is my older Wenger and the silver is the Victorinox. Two great Swiss Army knives. |
A number of years ago these two companies combined under one management to sell both brands. Recently it has been decided that the Wenger brand name would be sacrificed to the pressure of global manufacturing.
So, soon there will be no more Wenger, only Victorinox knives.
I bought my scarlet handled Wenger over 40 years ago in preparation of a Canadian fishing trip. It seemed like a sensible thing to do. The knife contained cork screw, tapered metal spike, primary blade, fingernail file, a saw blade, bottle opener/straight edge screwdriver, and can opener.
I bought my scarlet handled Wenger over 40 years ago in preparation of a Canadian fishing trip. It seemed like a sensible thing to do. The knife contained cork screw, tapered metal spike, primary blade, fingernail file, a saw blade, bottle opener/straight edge screwdriver, and can opener.
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| Eight functions, not counting the lanyard. MacGyver would be proud! |
I really wanted just the blade, can opener, bottle opener and saw. A second blade would have been welcome and I toyed with the idea of sharpening the nail file.
I’ve got to admit this can opener is one of the worst designs ever incorporated into a knife. It requires you to press the opener up through the metal lid of the can. The problem was inserting the point into the can initially. I almost instantly collapsed the opener into my finger creating a nasty cut. I’m not the only one. Within a few years the can opener was replaced by the older, more traditional press through the metal lid type.
I’ve got to admit this can opener is one of the worst designs ever incorporated into a knife. It requires you to press the opener up through the metal lid of the can. The problem was inserting the point into the can initially. I almost instantly collapsed the opener into my finger creating a nasty cut. I’m not the only one. Within a few years the can opener was replaced by the older, more traditional press through the metal lid type.
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| Even with the little diagram on the Wenger on the left, it's a terrible can opener. The newer Victorinox has a much nicer can opener. |
The main blade is only 0.5 mm thick. That’s half the thickness of a dime. I bent my tip years ago.
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| The Victorinox on the left has a thicker blade than the Wenger on the right. That thin blade has some advantages if your're cutting the right things. I sold several to a hunter heading for South Africa. The thin blade makes it easy to cut the thorns you pick up in the brush out of your skin, so he claimed. |
I got my Victorinox after a beer camp in which I was always looking
for a bottle opener. One of the beer
tasters gave it to me too many years ago.
Beer Camp?
That’s an easy one. Several of us got together and made a long weekend at a cabin at a state park. We brought many, many different brands and types of beer and sat around the table with munchies and tasted beer. (I wonder what happened to the notes we took?) We’d open a bottle, pour a little into everyone’s glass and taste. We only had one rule. If you didn’t like it you had to pour it down the sink. That’s where I discovered I didn’t like German smoked beer. Yuck!!!
That’s an easy one. Several of us got together and made a long weekend at a cabin at a state park. We brought many, many different brands and types of beer and sat around the table with munchies and tasted beer. (I wonder what happened to the notes we took?) We’d open a bottle, pour a little into everyone’s glass and taste. We only had one rule. If you didn’t like it you had to pour it down the sink. That’s where I discovered I didn’t like German smoked beer. Yuck!!!
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| MacGyver might not want this knife with it's selection of tools, but its not bad for camping or even lost in the woods. |
The interesting thing is the two knives weigh the same, 70 grams.
Do I have a favorite? Nope. They both come with a set of memories that still make me smile. It’s seldom I have them both together. Most of the time one’s in a shoulder bag and the other in a car. You never know when you might need a bottle and can opener.
Do I have a favorite? Nope. They both come with a set of memories that still make me smile. It’s seldom I have them both together. Most of the time one’s in a shoulder bag and the other in a car. You never know when you might need a bottle and can opener.
Even the term Swiss Army knife has come to mean compact
do-it-all. I bet if we ever land a man
on Mars he’ll have a Swiss Army knife on him.
On a more personal note.
A distant relative was struck down in the prime of life
leaving a wife and two young boys.
Funerals for old men and women are sad, but the survivors console themselves
that the departed had a full life. Not
so much when the person is only 43.
I stood in line waiting to speak to the widow and as
customary the parlor played an endless loop of photos of him. He never smiled. Never. The best was a micro smirk. I felt bad for his boys and wife. They don’t have a picture of their dad and
husband smiling.
So, make an effort to smile more as you go through life. You don’t have to stand in front of the
mirror and practice. You’re not the next
king of England or a next hot leading man. We just
have to have a natural smile that we display.
