Victorinox

[John Williamson]

I should try and find out if I can get a replacement pen and spectacle screwdriver for mine. Otherwise, it's getting a bit blunt after a decade or so of regular (ab)use.

[michael adams]

An icon of what exactly ?

The Swiss Army as they march into battle brandishing their corkscrews, screwdrivers and things for getting stones out of horses hooves ?

Or is that only on the Swiss Cavalry Knife ?

So what other "classic design" can you name which comes in

14 different sizes and thicknesses from two different manufacturers ?

Or put it another way how many sizes are there of acknowledged classics such as Bic Crystal pens, Parker 51 pens, Zippo Lighters, Vokswagen Beetles, BMC Minis, or Barcelona chairs ?

Size

Victorinox Swiss Army knives use 58 mm (2.3 in), 74 mm (2.9 in),

84 mm (3.3 in), 91 mm (3.6 in), 93 mm (3.7 in), 100 mm (3.9 in), 108 mm (4.3 in) and 111 mm (4.4 in) length steppings. The thickness of the knives varies depending on the number of tool layers included. The 91 mm (3.6 in) knives offer the most variety in tool configurations in the Victorinox model line.[22]

Wenger Swiss Army knives use 65 mm (2.6 in), 75 mm (3.0 in),

85 mm (3.3 in) 93 mm (3.7 in), 100 mm (3.9 in) and 120 mm (4.7 in) length steppings. Thickness varies depending on the number of tool layers included. The 85 mm (3.3 in) knives offer the most variety in tool configurations in the Wenger model line.[23]

to say nothing of

Modell 1890 Modell 1890 Ausführung 1901 Modell 1908 Modell 1951 Modell 1951 Ausführung 1954 Modell 1951 Ausführung 1957 Modell 1961 Modell 1961 Ausführung 1965 Modell 1961 Ausführung 1978 Modell 1961 Ausführung 1994 Soldatenmesser 08 (Soldier Knife 08)

in any case as with cuckoo clocks which were in fact invented in Germany I very much doubt the Swiss were the first to make folding pocket knives with additional tools.

michael adams

...

[Bob Eager]

And Wenger offer the most tool combinations in one knife:

[polygonum]

claims to have bought one! Though not a single verified purchaser...

[Andy Burns]

They'd be better off with one of those giant animated models that used to grace shop windows ...

[D.M. Procida]

Some of the reviews are quite funny.

Daniele

[Andy Burns]

[polygonum]

them for the price of the giga-blade one ...

[Clive George]

I think the springs are available as spare parts, and I'm fairly sure the pen and screwdriver are.

Yup.

probably cheaper from a decent outdoor shop.

[Steve Firth]

[Andy Burns]

locally ...

[DJC]

Being 'iconic' doesn't stop anyone copying the design, if fact 'iconic' in the present usage practically means 'just asking to be copied'.

Possibilities: As its too old and iconic to be patented or even a registered design anybody could make it. Being both recognisable and obviously the wrong colour being the design trope de jour.

It could well be made by Victorinox, keeps the Swiss factory ticking over in these hard times.

It could be a copy made in china. It could be the 'real thing' as made in china to Victorinox specs, but coming out the back door keeps Chinese the factory ticking over in these hard times.

Someone in China decided 'Swiss Army Knives' would sell but didn't really understand what was required.

[geoff]

In message , michael adams writes

Cuckoo clocks?

That's the black forest region of Germany, not Switzerland

[geoff]

around with

[geoff]

Lifetime warranty?

I have two, one where the scissors spring has gone and another where the x-headed screwdriver has lost a blade

[Bob Eager]

[Bob Eager]

I've just ordered one. It's waited years, it'll wait anothewr few weeks.

[Bob Eager]

[Andy Burns]

"Victorinox guarantees all Swiss Army Knives to be of first-class steel and provides a lifetime warranty against any defects in material and workmanship. The warranty does not apply to damage caused by abnormal or unreasonable use of any of the implements"

$5 handling charge though.

[Nightjar]

Cuckoo clocks were around at least a century before they started being made in the Black Forest.

Colin Bignell