Reply With QuoteThat's my Sunday night reading sorted, thanks for that.Originally Posted by PickleB
Great stuff. I like info' like that.A little SAK geekery for a wet, miserable Sunday. Different shields you might find on a Swiss Army knife.
1. A Red Cross with WK stamp in the cross (Soldier knife)
2. Silver 'Old Cross' (civilian)
3. Swiss Army shield with seperate WK stamp (Soldier knife)
4. Modern Victorinox shield.
For anybody who trawls car boots, if you see old looking Wengers or Victorinox/Elsener/Victoria with interesting features like compressed fibre scales, exposed pivots or shackles then grab them.
Wengers, one from 1940s, the other 1950s.
I quite fancy collecting SAK's/Wengers but don't seem to see them on car-boots etc that often.
Are there any good books on them ?
That's my Sunday night reading sorted, thanks for that.
On the link that PickleB posted is a tab titled Collectors Info, then links to the SAKWiki and the SAK forum of MultiTool which are goods sources of information.
Here's a link to some books, but I don't know anything about these.
https://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-browse_...?galleryId=213
Some good blogs on collecting the Alox Soldiers:
https://www.roverhaven.com/the-rover...1-soldiers-sak
https://www.roverhaven.com/the-rover...ets-swiss-made
https://www.roverhaven.com/the-rover...jyvfc4qr07y5el
https://www.roverhaven.com/the-rover...eu2mne88q8yxb9
And finally a site of a French collector/
https://www.couteaux-du-soldat-suiss.../index.php/en/
Last edited by BillyCasper; 10th December 2023 at 18:31.
Superb, thanks for that, much appreciated.
Cheers
Dave
There is also Jeroen's Victorinox blog spot...but the last entry was in 2014.
Some people seem to collect all the various colours of a model like say a cadet but dont use them, just display in a cabinet.
I buy mostly old soldiers,91mm and SAKS with tools that I can and will use.
Something else I have too many of.
At least I'm at the cheaper end of penknives and have stopped buying then
TBH it's normally one of the 2 X modded 54mm SAK I have to hand day to day. The others are out of sight of small people and out of mind for the most part
Bantam is a real classic EDC.
I had a nice Alox money clip with blade and scissors on me when I was unexpectedly taken into hospital.
The clip is ideal to fix in a pouch slip.
I had no idea of the 74mm SAK size until last year.
I used it quite a bit,not wanting to bother a nurse I used the scissor’s to cut tape to refit my cannula for example.
My watch was on a NATO so I wrapped it around my glasses case and made a bedside clock.
I had to many things attached to my arms and chest that my watch got in the way.
I also had a torch with my keys but didnt need it as the reading light worked.
This was proper EDC using only what I had on me,if I had any idea that I was going to be i for days I would have bought more with me.
Top tip take a power bank and a phone charger at least,it was not easy to get my phone charged up.
https://www.victorinox.com/kr/en/Pro...ox/p/0.6540.16
Last edited by bwest76; 10th December 2023 at 23:31.
Wish the alox Bantam had a lanyard point
I don’t like them and took mine of my Bantam with saw.
Which shocked the collectors,I have a spare I don’t need.
I only have three SAKs. However, as the Bantam Alox lives in my pocket, the Bantam lives on my desk and the Swiss Army 7 lives in my bag, they all get a lot of use.
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Swiss Army 7 is that a Pioneer plus?
These things are beyond me.
The Swiss Army 7 is not unlike the Pioneer, except it has a pruning blade where the Pioneer has a second screwdriver. It also has a saw.
There seems to be a Pioneer X that has scissors, but no saw.
Pruning blade is handy, what with all of the plants in the office...
Does anybody own the Leatherman Arc? Was debating selling some of my other multi tools and buying one. Not cheap but if it's a one tool that covers everything then might be worth it. Really fancy trying out the Magnacut blade.
Interesting I didnt know about this model,the pruning blade is a good one as is the Electrians small blade.
And there's a Farmer X with both scissors and saw! I guess the 93mm Alox cousin of the 91mm standard Huntsman.
I have some victorinox items too...
https://imgur.com/a/AnQV6JY
At the back from left to right: -
- Rescaled Spartan
- Alox Bantam
- Alox Pioneer
- Alox Soldier
- Alox Farmer
- Black Spartan
- Fancy Spartan
- Red Deluxe Tinker
- Red Super tinker
- Black Alox Mini Champ
At the front are a couple of Victorinox Swiss Tools
I used to be a big pen knife collector, mainly old Sheffield made knives. But sadly, the collection made way for a new hobby at some point.
Now I only have a few. The second picture is my latest knife hand made by who I believe to be one of the best in the country, Steven Cocker.
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My collection has gotten way to BIG.
I have a lot of old Sheffield made knives,some quite rare all very usable.
I love the old names and have a friend whos family worked in the industry and has a vast knowledge.
Britain and Switzerland, compare and contrast. (Stick with the British film, great bit of history, ancient tools, traditional ways.)
https://youtu.be/2ygT8HinVA8?si=xlBiJa1XReXSOnCe
https://youtu.be/9LwmKVrCPbo?si=ZNI81sBYL6isUNB3
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Sadly we have lost so much of our skills compared to other countrys.
Though the Sharp show this year was very good.
Two knives I regret selling are.
1. Stan Shaw folding bowie knife with cocabolo scales.
2. Lockwood Brothers multi blade knife with Ivory scales. (Think Swiss army knife long before the Swiss did)
Unfortunately, I don't even have pictures. Sometimes, my stupidity amazes me.
Below is a catalogue picture of the one I owned.
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I have a few Lockwood Brothers they are extremely well made.Two knives I regret selling are.
1. Stan Shaw folding bowie knife with cocabolo scales.
2. Lockwood Brothers multi blade knife with Ivory scales. (Think Swiss army knife long before the Swiss did)
Unfortunately, I don't even have pictures. Sometimes, my stupidity amazes me.
Below is a catalogue picture of the one I owned.
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I havent one like that or I would let you have it.
https://hawleysheffieldknives.com/n-...val=l&kel=1002
Very kind, thanks.
If you ever want to move on anything nice and old, please get in touch.
Thanks Mark
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Well I tried to get through airport security with a SAK in my jeans pocket this morning!
Forgot it was in my pocket, it set the metal detector off, thankfully it was 5am, I was in first class check in at T5 so no queues and the security and police fully understood.
Won’t be making that mistake again.
It was not a favourite knife but one I carry most.
Did they take it off you? I got caught with one making a similar error in Italy and they let me take it on.
Actually, Fair play to them
They let me hand it to someone who I know works for BA (thankfully they were there)
It will be returned to me next time I see them.
Edit knife returned last night - straight in to my jeans pocket, must remember to take it out next week!
Last edited by Sinnlover; 14th December 2023 at 07:19.
That was handy.
An auction I used to go to had boxes and boxes of airport confiscated knives for sale.
Cheers,
Neil.
According to the CAA penknives are permitted if the blade is less than 6cm. See page 5 ... multi tools probably not ...
https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33...20security.pdf
I went to EMA a short while back with a folder in my pocket.
I carry one every day, and usually remember to leave it in the car before travel - but fly a fair bit and inevitably forgot this once.
I remembered before I went through security and managed to dash back out.
Mrs has driven away so had to bury it in the shrubs at the edge of departures.
Picked it up a week later, no dramas!
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When I flew to Malta the lady in charge of security at the airport (I contacted her a week before I left) said it was legal to take my SAK Cadet on board.
I was dubious but having her contact details was a bonus,I took it on board wrapped up tight in the bottom of my bag.
I still have that SAK.
I’ve had the Free P4 which is pretty close, the big glaring miss for me was the bit driver, which the Arc has. The one handed magnetic opening and the easy outside accessibility of all the tools was a big plus over the Wave but I’m a big bit driver user so could never displace the Wave for me. The Arc looks to be best of all worlds with an incredible blade steel, not cheap but factor in the 25 year lifetime warranty and it doesn’t look too bad if you’re consolidating a few other multi tools
.
Your criteria for penknife way too strict, I can't possibly keep up.
As a beginner knife person, I bought a Benchmade Bugout, with the blue handle, which has been more than enough, from the range.
Advanced Knife Bro has a good review on it.
Then I had to go titanium and with replaceable blades, and went with the TiRant RAZOR V3 Utility Knife.
Then none of those were EDC so I went with an Aliexpress special that uses scalpel blades.
I hope I don't get too deep into this hobby, I have all the cutting tools I need for now, I think.
The bubi one is fox, the black clippper is aolegoo from amazon and the woodie a gift from mother in law, doesn't really carry a brand
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That has just helped me decide what knife to buy, I wanted a Sheffield made blade, my great grandad came from Sheffield and moved to Nottingham when he married my great grandma.I used to be a big pen knife collector, mainly old Sheffield made knives. But sadly, the collection made way for a new hobby at some point.
Now I only have a few. The second picture is my latest knife hand made by who I believe to be one of the best in the country, Steven Cocker.
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The the thing that’s swayed me the most is my Great Grandfather was called John Cocker so Cocker has got to be my brand.
Joe Cocker is a distant cousin so if Steven is related triple whammy.
He does not have a website but is on Instagram as "steven_cocker_sheffield_knives"
Mark
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I’ve been chatting to him on Facebook messenger we are trying to find if we are related Cockers he makes some lovely blades.
Penknives, watches and pens… I love how common the crossover of interests is.
Absolutely. I have more than necessary of all the above 😊
Just got the Leatherman Charge TTI, great bit of kit. Very well put together, good toolset for me, nice main blade steel and sharper than a sharp thing😁
Probably because they are small very personal objects?
Cheers,
Neil.
Picked up the Leatherman Free K2 a while ago and it's definitely my favourite. Rock solid once the blade is locked with a couple of useful tools to seal the deal (bottle opener essential).
Not sure it's technically a penknife (pocketknife maybe?) but does that job for me.
Last edited by gunner; 16th January 2024 at 16:28.
Been using this UK friendly Boker Higonokami style brass folder for about a year; super little knife and has remained razor sharp, quick strop on a piece of cardboard is all it’s needed. Image1705523345.258492.jpg
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Picked up the Leatherman Free K2 a while ago and it's definitely my favourite. Rock solid once the blade is locked with a couple of useful tools to seal the deal (bottle opener essential).
Not sure it's technically a penknife (pocketknife maybe?) but does that job for me.
I used to like that kind of thing, I have only a few left like that nowadays.
Now I have a vast collection of Sheffield made penknives from the golden era when we sent them around the world and even taught the Americans the trade.
I also have other traditional knives from countrys I have visited,its interesting to see how things developed.
After all it was a tool to be used by farmers,sheppards,shop keepers,hunters,merchants everyone back in the day.
Besides that I have a lot of military clasp knives,I like the fact that they have year stamps on them.
Opinel no.8 or no. 9 are both ace
But not legal to carry as the blade is too long and locks.
FTFY: You can't keep them in your pocket just in case (nor in your car, for that matter) but you can take them if you go camping, or even walking your dog in the woods.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
I wonder if there is any case law on what a good reason could be?
Why would you need a long locking blade to walk a dog?
I guess you are unlikely to ever get into trouble for carrying one of these unless you did something stupid.
I bought a old no9 last year I am keeping that one for garden work its perfect for the job.
I love the old and used stuff.
I also have the stainless dedicated Opinel garden knife.
https://www.opinel.com/en/garden/garden-knife/n8-garden
I would like the Opinel No 13.
See it on This Page
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