What would you consider to be the most collectable/coveted SAK?

I'm sure folks will chime in with obvious examples like the Scientist or original Explorer. Others might include the now discontinued Bladeless model or even the Giant. The new "On the road" models might gain that status in a few years too. However my vote goes to my current white whale:

Unknown model 1980's Wenger official BSA SAK. It had the packlock feature. I think it may have been a version of the Backpacker but not sure. None of the models listed in the well known reference sites seem to match my recollection. It was my first "real" knife and I would love to replace it but I have found almost no information on the net. At some point I will attempt to contact Wenger / Vic directly and see if they would give me some information from the records.

As far being collectible, not necessarily coveted I would also put forth the venerable Classic. This one model alone has an almost limitless list of handle materials, designs, and variations. One could build an impressive collection of nothing but Classics used for marketing logos.
 
I think the alox Soldier is also collectable, especially now they stopped producing them. There are collectors wanting a Soldier from each year it was produced (the production year is stamped on the blade). The same goes for the Dutch army knives made by Victorinox, they have the year they were issued stamped on of the scales.
 
"..Unknown model 1980's Wenger official BSA SAK.''"
- Eyegor

like this?
KNIFE-SWISS-SCOUT.jpg
 
I'd love to have the particular executive that Chuck Yeager has been carrying around for the last 25 years or so. The one that he says even does duty as his backpacking knife on trips into the Sierra Nevada mountains. That would be so cool!

Baring that, I'd love to have Charles Lindberg's personal sak that he carried around.

Carl.
 
I don't know what the most coveted models is, but my most coveted model is the reissue, the one that looks like their first edition, from the 1890's.
 
The Modeler is one I'd consider collectible. I definitely covet it. I've seen only one pic of it on the internet; that was on these forums. That pic was the first and only time I've heard it mentioned. Despite a search, nothing has turned up on any auction site, stores that deal with collectibles or anywhere else. I sometimes even wonder if it realy does exist.
 
GIRLYmann said:
"..Unknown model 1980's Wenger official BSA SAK.''"
- Eyegor

like this?
KNIFE-SWISS-SCOUT.jpg
Click to expand...

Close, but not quite. It was US BSA, not the World Scout Organization. The back spine tools are correct but the tools also included a 2nd small, pen blade, and either a saw or scissors, can't remember which for sure but pretty sure it wasn't both. Mine also had the small chain attached to the keyring that many Wengers carry. Thanks for the help though.
 
Most of the 108mm Safari Series is pretty rare these days, the Safari Pathfinder was my "holy grail" for a very long time. The Alox Woodsman has been long discontinued and hard to find.
 
the packlocks were from the "Wenger Security" range.
but the model number, remains unknown to me.
img4035ic4.jpg

img4030yy7.jpg

btw, pictures aren't mine.
 
Eyegor said:
As far being collectible, not necessarily coveted I would also put forth the venerable Classic. This one model alone has an almost limitless list of handle materials, designs, and variations. One could build an impressive collection of nothing but Classics used for marketing logos.
Click to expand...

You must know my niece!

Some years ago, I gave out classics as a stocking stuffer to most of the family. Most appreciated the useful gift and took to carryi9ng a knife. But our 18 year old niece went ga-ga over the sak. Since then, she has collected every color and type of scale the classics come in. Uses them as a fashion accsessory to whatever outfit she's wearing that day. Has some silver chains, stainless steel chains, hangs them around her waist, or from a neck chain. Color ones, translucent ones, Eidelwiess ones, advertising logo ones. She must have at least 50 of the things.

Now at age 26, at least she knows the benifit of carrying a sharp tool on her. She's become such a fanatic sak carrier, she insists on checking her bag at the airport, so she will not be without her sak when she gets to the other end. Always has a few in different colors stashed in her makeup kit.
 
As far as coveted, for me i would be the Swiss Champ. Or the older Champion. At least for the newbie SAK user, THIS is the knife that defines Swiss Army Knives. It is the original "multitool" of the modern age. When people refer to something as "the Swiss Army knife of...", they usually mean it is a do-all type item. I read somewhere, when they first came out, that the I-Pad was the Swis Army Knife of phones because it was loaded with so many features, there was little it couldn't do. That's the Swiss Champ. THE iconic SAK!!
And yes, at the opposite end of the spectrum, and just as iconic, is the Classic. It is the best selling SAK in the world, and because it is inexpensive, it is used a lot as a gift, whether from a company, or, like Jackknife, among family and friends.
Me, personally, I want McGuyver's SAK. That SAK, and a paper clip, is ALL I would need to survive any type of SHTF situation. I could build a helicopter with a full, working kitchen and a jacuzzi in the back to get me out of there. Ok, that's a bit unrealistic. McGuyver's SAK, a paper clip, and a piece of gum would do the job. LOL.
 
I bought this one new in the late 1970s from a mall cutlery shop. My mind's a little fuzzy as to the original specs. Made by Victorinox, I think it's a Champion model. The scales are polished horn.

I haven't seen another one like it.
SAK1.jpg

SAK2.jpg
 
Well, I have a Scientist and a three layer Yeoman so they can't be THAT hard to find. I would say that the alox sailing knives, the Sailor (alox 2 layer: large blade, saw, sacking needle (old style straight)) and the First Mate (alox 3 layer, adds a pruning blade and large driver/bottle opener tool) are two that I've only seen once each on eBay. Each of them went for a pretty penny. In fact, any SAK with the old style straight sacking needle is pretty darn rare.
 
my vote is on the black pioneer damascus 2010... the largest number of similar SAK that i own are classics... with various colors, advertising logos, multi color alox and so on... the second one are the collestion series of 74mm ambasador... the third largest is the alox soldier series, the fourth is the 1884-1984 anniversery serries....

i just collect victorinox SAK becouse i love them and for memorabilia since i buy a sak for some even or moment in my life...

with 60.000 knives per day production, i dont see most of them to be that rare... i know the value goes up there, but thats not happen in my country.... so i just collect them becouse i love them...
 
There are many rare and highly collectible models. Here is one of limited Alox editions:

Ted_Nugent_Black_Farmer_3.jpg


Personally, I am looking for the original Soldier's Knife (black wood scales, carbon steel blade) from the turn of the 20th century. I would pay good money for one of those!
 
I'd say the First Mate and Sailor Alox models are pretty hard to find. Another two really distintive models are the "Special Mechanic" and "Special Electrician"
 
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