Spring with key ring

Victorinox went from using a shim for key ring on the main line in 1990. From 1991 the use of a spring with key ring was used. There are different variations of them. I will post some more.

On the picture to the right is the one that is common today.

One the picture to the right is a type used from 1991-1999. there is also a type between this and the common one today.

Here is the type used and produced  for only 3 months in 1999. This is between the two above. Again i would like to mention that this is on the main line and that i have seen this on knives after 2004 on advertising knives. There can be different reasons for this. On the main line it is correct 1999.

For sure the key ring is older than 1968. At that date the Bail was officially replaced with a key ring. I do believe i received some information from a collector that the shim with key ring dates from the early 1950s.

On the picture to the right is the shim on a knife from 1980-1984

On the right is a knife with Bail from the mid-1960s. This was ended or replaced with a shim for key ring in 1968.

Here is a type used on the SuperTimer and the key ring spring design that is a bit special. This knife was introduced in 1990/91 and my knife is from 1991-1992.

The corkscrew with decoration line ended in the early 1990s and the use of corkscrew without decoration line is complex because of other categories and applications. The use of no decoration line can be seen on knives in the 1980s and before. It is the main line that is most important and that is usually seen gone on knives with the introduction of the multi purpose hook.

The use of a scissor screw design can be seen on knives up until the early 1990s.

The two knife blades and the scissors must have been used rather much on this. Over the years looking on the C models there are some which only the wood saw, metal file/saw, screwdrivers have been used while others only the knife blades. I have also seen SAKs with heavy functionality which most of the functions must have seen use too. In many ways these are also a bit heavy in weight and you can see that they must have been dropped a few times causing small dents in the liners. On this picture you can see some discolorations and changes to an area on the aluminum liner. This is because of substances and scratches. Not caused by the blades but by use. On this part of the SAK this got nothing to say. After good cleaning, sharpening and oil the SAK is restarted and ready again.

Today I would like to show you my latest 91mm Victorinox SAK with heavy functionality. This is called the Champion C, This SAK must have seen some use and it needed a good cleaning. After some oil the functionality is restored again. In the mid-1980s the evolution on the 91mm SAKs got many changes. There are several Champion variations and to date them can be extra demanding. The Champion designations were for a good time the flagship from Victorinox. On this C model there are many factors that are after 1985. There must also have been a time around the mid-1980s which the appearance and evolution culminated into the C SAK. The reason for why it is so is because of all the SAKs I have seen over the years. Many times when there are many functions with the new evolution changes at the certain time it indicates it could be a couple years after. For example the first appearance on this C model is 1985 it could be 1987 and so forth.  Looking on this C model on the pictures you can see all the factors and designs that are important for the evolution factors. To be safe I have placed this 1985-1988. It got a small v in the victorinox stamp which is not a factor that can be used 100%. To me it seems the period 1985 got some very interesting Champion models. I also have a couple older c models. To me it seems the 1985 period contain SAKs with some mixed parts too.  The fish scaler got a magnetic tip on this as well. It is a heavy functionality on the Champion C which I like very much. It is comfortable to use and it is a very able SAK.  It is also my impression that it is not possible to be 100% in the dating on these models. One can never be sure to say. I am always open for corrections. 

The SwissChamp is a bigger model that in many ways replaced the Champion and therefor this model became just a part of the lineup by Victorinox. The SwissChamp is a model from the mid-1980s and up.