I would like to follow up some more about the very precise and accurate stamps used by Wenger. If you read sakhome.com you will find inputs around about changes and evolution on SAKs.
You will find information about two Brand philosophies and the protection of them. Today it is only Victorinox and I would like to mention that this is also a Brand that have used and use very precise stamps. There is a difference like you know with the two
philosophies and with Victorinox you usually get more easy to see changes done on the tang stamps. This can be small or large letters or a completely different one depending on category and designation. Wenger has also used different ones and some of them
used from the 1990s and up to 2013 are so precise that it is a joy to follow. Wenger made changes and evolution factors for protecting their Brand and products by making hard to see changes. The product and knives themselves changes very much! We get the evolution on products and new introductions.
If you look on the picture you can see the stampings used on the 130mm New Ranger
in 2013 and it is very precise in every aspect. With tang stamps you must be aware of the depth used on them and the placing. I would express again that one must be careful by saying that some variations are done
on purpose. There are the production variations on them that sometimes are unavoidable. I have no doubt that there are something with the stamp modules and design that must be done on purpose to protect them and act as a signature the same.
So why go so into the aspect with tang stamps or the hard to see changes when it is no problem in history to sort out fake products and that
the fakes are not good at all? I cannot rule out that there are collectability out there just because of the small changes. It is in my opinion a possibility to find collectability and you have the same with postage stamps. Further it gives other dating or
identification help that we can use. It is not possible to go wrong by going after the stampings because if I would find a variation that is not done on purpose then it is
a production variation. Both are helpful in deed.
The funny thing with postage stamps is that you find them with variations
that collectors enjoy. Some are centered strange. On the tang of the knives you have the same issue and it can be very interesting to study. I would not expect that the Wenger secrets if still possible to find would explain such details because it would compromise
the products. We cannot rule out the possibility that a foreign manufacturer would try to copy anyhow. I do feel I am on to something interesting with my research on it. It is very fun! It takes time too.
“There are similarities between postage stamps and tang stamps”
Philately people study
every tiny detail on them. It is the same with SAKs
More is that differences between batches are interesting. Batches of
blades made at a certain time in history may have differences compared to other batches that are close in years. I like Postage stamps and this opened up some more possibilities for me.
The name Wenger on a blade is important because it is the maker mark and signature. It is the name that carry the quality and identification.