History

Our known date on the Wenger Packlock is from the late 1970s. In 1979 this locking is talked about and introduced.  I would not be surprised if it is from 1977 but I have no conclusive information about that.

The locking mechanism itself is only there to prevent accidental closing and it is like I have talked about here on Sakhome.com a safety feature. From my research Wenger started to introduce the SAK into a more modern design and functionality.  From the early 1970s and up to the late 1970s the SAKs change much and new knives and functions are invented.  It is obvious for me that the production of the knives must have changed significantly. The more modern Wenger knife does enter from and in the 1970s.

It is very interesting to see old advertisings and catalogues from this era and look on knives and see.

The 1970s was just the beginning and it tells a story about the Wenger Brand that show brilliance with new products. It does not stop in that decade at all. No it was just the beginning of making the knives we can see from 2004-2013. The evolution is absolutely there. In the early 1980s the new locking screwdriver to prevent accidental closing arrives and this was another factor in the Philosophy of making the knife more comfortable and safe. The push locking will be adapted to other functions as well.

 If you take the time to see my Wenger Evolution page then it is easier to use the dates and inventions.

The Wenger factory is modernized in 1987 and 1988 is a magic date with the knives and the design + functionality. From the early 1990s the products and knives are very much modern and adapted into a production and philosophy that we know so very well today.  But again it did not stop in the 1990s and the knives and products are entering the very new change with the Evolution handles we see from 2004. It is important to remember that the Wenger Brand in history has used many different methods of attaching a scale or handle. It`s been a constant development from the 1970s. From 2004 and up until today changes to the products has been done but for me it just the result of a Brands knives and history from 1893 and up. It is not so that the knives were reinvented in the 1970s.

The Packlock was a milestone in the late 70s and it started a different thinking for safety and functionality. This is my opinion.

The Packlock itself has seen modifications and changes in the history. This you can see on the springs and constructions.  The invention of the S locking is to me the result of the complete philosophy of the packlock mechanism.

From my research I did discover that there is or have always been a constant product development in the Wenger history. Product development must be done to fulfill the company philosophy on how a knife should be and to continue to be competitive with products and quality. It is for me three parts of the products: innovative thinking, product development and competitive products.

Wenger is a company with origin from 1893 and it is a company with much experience with knives.

Both Victorinox and Wenger make very high quality knives and both got their own philosophy and company values about product and knives. The best is to see the products side by side if you want to know the difference in knife philosophies because it`s there. The Wenger Brand has been very true to the core value of making sportsmen and outdoors SAKs. The product is known by all kinds of outdoors people. The knife must be functional in these environments and the quality must perform. The Brand is also very much known for gadget function and knives but they are not put together just for show. They need to be functional and the quality must be there. It must be able to do the job it is intended for. To be competitive on the marked requires new products and development. I feel the Brand has been very successful with products and innovative thinking from the early 1970s. They have from my information seen hard times in history before the early 2000s.

If we see the development from the 1970s like I have explained before then I feel that the products made from 2004 are so well and innovative that it is remarkable! It has been a true joy for a SAK enthusiast.

If you take a look at my underpage: SAK hobby S557 then this is for the result of what this company started with from the early 70s. This is the knife that is Wenger!

There is a special factor that i have been researching and used some time on. We know that one of Victorinox values is the iconic design.  Wenger also got some on this with the products but there are some differences between them. My impressions are that the design is freer with Wenger. By this I mean that the company did use extra time with making new designs in a freer way for design and comfort. So I am very sure in my research and impressions that there is a difference in the philosophy here.  We know that the rivalry between the two ended in 2004 and that Wenger was run as an independent entity. From my information the two was in competition with knives all the way until 2013. The information between and about them from 2004 is vague. It was my impressions that the Wenger Brand did it very well during the 2007-2013 period. I am not informed about and do not know any of the Victorinox plans for Wenger and the only information so far is about modifications and ongoing products. The workers in the Delémont plant will continue making many knives.

It is my impressions that the knives made up until the complete merging in 2013 are or is so that the knives made from 2004 are genuine Wenger products and innovations. It is my impression that the ending of the rivalry in 2004 made a distinct change but this on business, future and new markets plans. When i study Wenger and especially the products from the 1970, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s it does show an evolution and product development that started a long time before 2003 or the merging date of 2013. Looking on the knives then I am 100% sure in my case.  What is extra interesting is how the Delémont factory during 2004-2013 made so many special products and new knives and these hit the market with incredible success.  We can read articles and see on the internet just how these products are welcomed. It is interesting to imagine but I hate guess. It seems to me that Wenger could run free and test new things. It is mentioned by some that the Delémont knives was more innovative.

The takeover started from 2003 and up

This is an area i am researching now, see the below picture. Wenger continued to use it on the tang stamp up until 2013.

I can explain some on the side about the crossbow and the Wenger Brand. On a SAK from Wenger it does not signify a weapon but rather a quality stamp. On their Webpage it was mentioned: it signifies Swiss-made precision, reliability, flexibility, adaptability and innovation.

These are important values for them and I can explain how this is incorporated into the knives or my impressions.

The Precision on a SAK is very high so we can get the best possible functionality, comfort and use. The sounds of a working SAK really explain this very well indeed.

The Reliability must be there so it will have a long lasting quality and that it can perform when it is needed. A SAK does not break it performs.

The Wenger steel got a special relation between hardness and flexibility of the steel. It can get very sharp and be sharpened very easy.

It is important that a SAK can be used anywhere at any time and that it can be possible to have the functions needed for a special task.

The Innovation we can see on the product development and all the products from the 1970s and up like I have explained.

 Victorinox:

The Victorinox name today is so big that it has become or want to strive a global brand possibility. The name has become an entity on its own.