Swiss Army Collectors

[BlueOvalFitter]

I am a Swiss Army watch and knife collector. I have (4) knives (just started collecting again) and (3) watches. I am wearing (1 of the 3) that I own. It's called the Garrison Field Officers watch. The knife is my latest SA collection piece.
Does anyone else collect Swiss Army items?

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

I did for a while. Victorinox only. I even had the clothes from back when they sold them at Nordstrom (?) probably 18 years ago. I still have 2 watches, a few knives, backpack. One of my favorite knives with an altimeter was stolen from my truck. Bummer.

 

[MParr]

I had a Swiss Army watch at one time. It just didn’t hold up. I’m sure they hold up well for some people. I’m not one of those people.

 

[Astro14]

A K-31, from the Swiss Army, not Victorinox…

 

[Electromotive]

I am a Swiss Army watch and knife collector. I have (4) knives (just started collecting again) and (3) watches. I am wearing (1 of the 3) that I own. It's called the Garrison Field Officers watch. The knife is my latest SA collection piece.
Does anyone else collect Swiss Army items?

I received a Swiss Army watch circa 2005 as an employee safety reward similar to the one in your pic (Garrison style) except white dial with black numbers/hands. Original battery lasted couple years. Had it replaced and a few months later watch quit altogether. Battery was checked and it was still good. I do like the practical no nonsense style of this type Swiss army watch.

 

[Electromotive]

A K-31, from the Swiss Army, not Victorinox…

I have one also that came from Century Arms some years ago. I reload for it with Graf Supply Privi Partizan brass. I also load for a couple 30-30 Win. chambered rifles and normally use the 30-30 style 150 gr. RN bullets in the K 31 just to keep things simple in the supply line. Thankfully the K 31 can use .308 in. dia. bullets, a definite plus for reloading.

 

[ecotourist]

I'm on my second Swiss Army (Victorinox) watch. They've been my everyday watch since about 1995. My current one is a diver's watch, which was a retirement gift. My original Swiss Army watch is being refurbished as a first "real watch" for my grandson who is now 10 years old.

I have a Swiss Army knife for camping of course and a Victorinox shirt that I've almost worn out. I wear it while doing volunteer work (currently on a WWII Lancaster) at the British Columbia Aviation Museum.

I wouldn't describe myself as a collector, this is just Swiss Army stuff I've acquired over the years.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

I'm on my second Swiss Army (Victorinox) watch. They've been my everyday watch since about 1995. My current one is a diver's watch, which was a retirement gift. My original Swiss Army watch is being refurbished as a first "real watch" for my grandson who is now 10 years old.

I have a Swiss Army knife for camping of course and a Victorinox shirt that I've almost worn out. I wear it while doing volunteer work (currently on a WWII Lancaster) at the British Columbia Aviation Museum.

I wouldn't describe myself as a collector, this is just Swiss Army stuff I've acquired over the years.

When I lived in FL. I had the watch I'm wearing and (6) others. I sold (4) of them and kept (3). I also owned (11) knives, and sold (7) of them. I am re-starting my collection, slowly but surely.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

I am a Swiss Army watch and knife collector. I have (4) knives (just started collecting again) and (3) watches. I am wearing (1 of the 3) that I own. It's called the Garrison Field Officers watch. The knife is my latest SA collection piece.
Does anyone else collect Swiss Army items?

The watch band is an RAF (Royal Air Force) band. I bought it from a jewelry/watch store in Tampa, FL.
The owner said it's the real deal. If anyone knows any different please chime in.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

I received a Swiss Army watch circa 2005 as an employee safety reward similar to the one in your pic (Garrison style) except white dial with black numbers/hands. Original battery lasted couple years. Had it replaced and a few months later watch quit altogether. Battery was checked and it was still good. I do like the practical no nonsense style of this type Swiss army watch.

Was it Victorinox or Wenger? I have a Wenger that died an early death. Any watch shouldn’t sit with a dead battery, that will kill them.

 

[Electromotive]

Was it Victorinox or Wenger? I have a Wenger that died an early death. Any watch shouldn’t sit with a dead battery, that will kill them.

It was a Victorinox as I recall.

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

I have a camping model Swiss Army knife, like the one I had growing up. That and a couple pen knives, one from my dad. I wouldn't call myself a collector but I enjoy them. Graduated to locking knives in my teens.

 

[vavavroom]

I do not consider myself a collector but I do have several SAKs. From right to left: Victorinox Mini Champ keychain knife, Victorinox Swiss Champ (91mm), Wenger Evo Grip S54 (85mm), Victorinox Work Champ X(110mm). Only the Wenger Evo Grip and the Work Champ have locking blades. The Wenger Evo Grip has arguably the nicest scissors and pliers. The Wenger uses torsion bars instead of fragile springs and the pliers have a slip joint. However, the Victorinox scissors can open wider due to the use of those flimsy springs which are however easily replaceable. The Swiss Champ is the original version without the hook tool but with a glass magnifier in a grey plastic mount. I have replaced the scales on this knife probably ten times since I got it as a 12th birthday gift in 1988.

 

[Hermann]

4 Climbers, 1 explorer, Full Champ, the smaller Champ, the one with the analog clock on the handle, and 1 Spartan
Has taken 40 years + to obtain all of these, so not really a collector, just a fan.

 

[vavavroom]

Here you can see the differences between the pliers. The Champ on the right has the typical flimsy and replaceable tension spring while the Wenger on the left has slip joint jaws and the much more durable tension bar. Wenger went out of business soon after 911 but their product line lives on in the Evolution series under the Victorinox brand name. What killed Wenger was that they made only pocket knives while Victorinox started selling also kitchen knives, watches, and especially luggage. The Wenger knife has its own drawbacks such as the rubberized and fragile but grippy scales and the fragile plastic ruler with a removable button compass. All in all, I prefer the Champ but appreciate the Wenger for its refinements and the locking blade. The Wenger also has a locking screwdriver that won't snap shut on your fingers making which would make you curse in Swiss-German.

 

[ecotourist]

Any watch shouldn’t sit with a dead battery, that will kill them.

My real watchmaker (a master watchmaker) says it's okay to leave them for up to a year. Just the same I get those dead batteries out as soon as possible.

I'm taking my Swiss Army diver's watch to the watchmaker to have the battery replaced. The battery is dead and I've taken it out. The seal looks a bit wonky and while I could have replaced the battery I wouldn't want to take a chance on the seal.

 

[hank2]

I have but one Swiss Army knife, a Victorinox that my dad bought for me in Switzerland about 30-35 years ago. The case is long gone. I only know it as the "fisherman's model". It actually wouldn't be of a lot of use for fishing. Two blades and seven tools. Caricature of a fish and Swiss symbol on one grip and my name embedded in the other. Always in my pocket.

 

[vavavroom]

My Victorinox watch knife with case opener for snap-on backs is made for BECO Watch Tools. It also has the standard blade, tweezers, and toothpick.

 

[manicrodder]

My new hobmissed called fall

 

[y_p_w]

I've probably lost a ton of them over the years. But I do keep a Classic in my pocket although it's missing the toothpick and tweezers. I remember when I could get a fairly big one for about $20 at Target and it came with a Classic as a bonus.

But they have a pretty big business just selling general knives for all sorts of uses.

I do have a ton of Forschner/Victorinox kitchen knives. Just seemed kind of cool when I moved into a new house and found a place that would sell their kitchen knives. I mean - I went with a whole bunch including bread knives, paring knives, filet knives. They even had a Swiss-made Chinese style cleaver. Still do apparently.

Some I have no idea what happened, but the bread knives I use nearly every day and have never sharpened them. Later I bought some Forschner/Victorinox oyster knives. They're made in Portugal though. One only has the Forschner name, but the other only has that Victorinox logo (but not Made in Switzerland integrated into the logo).