Victorinox Mechanic Phillips Tip

[Duke05]

Hello Everyone,

I received a Victorinox Mechanic SAK as a gift a few months ago. I noticed that the phillips screwdriver's tip had a longitudinal split. Comparing it with the phillips tip on a SuperTinker, which did not have the split, I assumed it was defective.

I sent it to the Service Center in Shelton, CT and they sent back the same SAK without repairing it or an explanation. I called them up and they agreed to pick it up, but today I received the same SAK from the Service Center, again without repair or explanation.

Is the phillips screwdriver tip on the Mechanic supposed to have a split? And if so, what is the function?

Thanks

 

[enkidu]

I believe some SAK philips drivers have a slot (perhaps older ones?). I don't have one in my collection right now, but I've seen a few. I believe that they were supposed to be used for opening cans (think the old style SPAM can).

 

[allenC]

I have an older Super Tinker (without the hook) that has the split phillips, but my more modern Mechanic model (with the hook) does not have the split phillips.

But don't worry, the split is supposed to be there.
It is designed so that the phillips can also be used as a "key" to open tin cans.
You don't see those style of cans around much these days, but it was the type were you peeled off a metal strip from around the can to open them.
The cans came with a "key" that had a slot, so you would feed a small portion of the strip into the slot, and then wind the strip around the key and off the can--thus opening the can.
It's hard to explain but really simple if you've ever seen one in action.

Good luck,
Allen.

 

[UnknownVT]

is it really the same as the current mechanic model?

If so, this seems to be an early model to have the Phillips with the split can-key and the pliers. The pliers were not introduced until 1986 - and I think the Phillips can-key was phased out not long after that......


--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

 

[Duke05]

Enkidu, AllenC, UnknownVT, Thanks for answering my question. I kind of feel embarrassed about sending it back in for repair but they didn't mention the tip was supposed to be like that in the small pamphlet that came with the SAK.

I suspect it is an older model. The tools appear like the one pictured by UnknownVT but the pliers do not have the little groove on the handle's inner face to guide the spring nor does it have the crimping protrusions near the pivot as does my SwissChamp.

Also it has translucent onyx scales instead of the standard red.

As an aside, have the screws on the SAK scissors all been replaced with rivets? I had an old model SwissChamp that had a screw that would loosen frequently but my new model SwissChamp has a rivet which I greatly prefer.

Thanks for all your help. This forum is great!

 

[UnknownVT]

I suspect it is an older model. The tools appear like the one pictured by UnknownVT but the pliers do not have the little groove on the handle's inner face to guide the spring nor does it have the crimping protrusions near the pivot as does my SwissChamp.
Also it has translucent onyx scales instead of the standard red.

Yes, that is probably an older model, mainly due to the clue of the Phillips can-key -
the crimping tool on the pliers wasn't introduced until 1995.

BUT those transluscent scales are probably replacements -
as they were not around until the CyberTools - early 2000's?

As an aside, have the screws on the SAK scissors all been replaced with rivets? I had an old model SwissChamp that had a screw that would loosen frequently but my new model SwissChamp has a rivet which I greatly prefer.

I think it was about 1993 when the switch was made from the screw pivots to rivets.

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

 

[PWork]

I have a Hiker that I purchased in the mid-to-late '80s. It has the can key phillips.

Paul