| Victorinox and Wenger have produced the Soldier model 1961 from 1962 untill 2008. This model is 93mm long and has Alox scales. It was officially issued to the Swiss Army during these years. Victorinox knife is also called “Soldier’s knife”. Wenger’s knife is called “Standard Issue” (SI). Each knife has the year of production stamped on the tang of the backside of the main blade. Untill 1987 each knife carries a WK-stamp on the frontside scale. WK stands for Waffenkontrolle. This is the quality inspection stamp of Swiss Army. During this long period of time, the knife was changed a few times. Most of the changes concerned the scales. In this article I describe 5 variants of the model 1961. Model 1961Model 1961 started with red Alox scales and was issued between 1962 and 1965. It has a mainblade, an awl, a cap lifter with screwdriver and wire stripper and a can opener with small screwdriver. |
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| Picture: Soldier model 1961, Elsener 1962 |
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| Picture: Soldier model 1961, backside, Elsener 1962 |
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| Pictures: Cross with W-K stamp and tang stamp Elsener and Wenger Delemont |
| The year stamp on the Victorinox knives is deeper and bold than on the Wenger knives. |
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| Pictures: Year stamp on an Elsener 1962 and a Wenger 1963 |
Model 1961 Variant 1 (1966 – 77)From 1966 the scale color changed. They were no longer red, but silver. The main reason was that the anodizing was not very wear resistant. Therefore Swiss Army renounced the red color and the scales were anodized in silver. |
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| Picture: Soldier model 1961, Variant 1, Wenger 1966 |
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| Pictures: Tang stamp and Cross with W-K stamp, Wenger 1966 |
Model 1961 Variant 2 (1972 – 1977)1972 the W-K stamp was rotated 90° to the right. The reason is unknown. |
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| Picture: W-K stamp from 1972 rotated 90° to the right |
| 1976 (maybe 1975) Victorinox changed the tang stamp from ELSENER SCHWYZ VICTORIA to VICTORINOX SWITZERLAND STAINLESS ROSTFREI |
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| Picture: Victorinox tang stamp since 1976 |
Model 1961 Variant 3 (1977 – 1987)Between 1977 and 1987 new scales with a red shield and Swiss cross were used. The W-K stamp was placed at the bottom of the knife above the hollow rivet into a quadratic spot. |
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| Picture: Soldier model 1961, Variant 3, Victorinox 1979 |
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| Picture: Swiss arms Picture: W-K Stamp |
Model 1961 Variant 4 (1987 – 1993)In 1987 Swiss Army decided that it was no longer required to put a W-K stamp on each knife. After Victorinox and Wenger delivered so many years high quality knives, Swiss Army stopped quality inspections. Victorinox and Wenger than produced new scales without the spot for the W-K stamp. |
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| Picture: Soldier model 1961, Variant 4, Victorinox 1991 |
| During some years (1987 – about 1990) both companies still used their old stock Alox scales with the W-K spot for the soldier knife simultaneously with the new scales. These knives did not longer have the W-K stamp, but a blank spot. |
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| Picture: Soldier model 1961, Variant 4 without W-K stamp, Wenger 1988 |
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| Picture: Empty quadratic spot |
| Over the years Wenger produced knives with a bail attached to the hollow rivet. But these knives were not issued to the Swiss Army, they were produced for the privat market only. |
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| Picture: Bail on a Wenger |
Model 1961 Variant 5 (1993 – 2008)From 1993 Victorinox replaced the hollow rivet with a usual rivet like the other two rivets. The cap lifter became a notch to bend wire and the wire stripper was eliminated. |
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| Picture: Soldier model 1961, Variant 5, Victorinox 2004 |
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| Picture: Cap lifter before and after 1993 |
| 2008 Victorinox and Wenger produced the last soldiers model 1961. |
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| Picture: Final Production Run, Victorinox 2008 |
| Wenger continued with the production of this model untill 2013, but without year stamp on the tang. It was sold to the privat market only. |
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| Picture: Commemorative knife, Wenger 2011 |
| 2008 Victorinox started with the production of the new Soldier model 2009. This new Soldier is no longer an Alox 93mm model, but a modern 111mm knife. Wenger is no longer a supplier for the soldier’s knife to the Swiss Army. |
Hello I have a variant 3 1977. Knife. Do you know the worth of this piece. I love it and probably will never give it up was just wondering what the value might be
Hello,
It depends. The condition is important. I would say in good condition it would be $40-70.
More just commenting for public purpose, I would say that 70’s Soldiers in excellent condition are closer to $70-100 these days.
Cheers,
Dan
What would be the value of a variant 1 1966?
Hi Louis,
It depends in which condition the knife is. For one in very good condition I would say $80 and more.
Regards,
Marsax
I have a 2004 Wenger with a bail that is in excellent condition. What is its value. Thank you.
I would say about $40-50.
Regards,
Marsax
Thank you for your help.
I have a variant 4 Wenger. Could you give me the value? It’s a 87 model..thanks!
It has no bail or w k stamp.
Hi Jeff, I think it would be about $40.
I just got a Model 4 that is stampd 86. So it seems this happened bfore 87 already.
Thanks for this info.
xcuse me wonder , I have a 1966 model and a 1961 and the boxcutter port One of Them , I could know the price ?
I don’t quite understand your question, but depending on the condition the 66 can be worth $100+, especially of the red anodizing is in good shape.
I’m looking for a 1964 Victorinox Soldier. Please contact me if you have one for sale.
I have one of these but i dont know which kind it is, i have pictures of it that i can show, just wondering which kind it is and what it might be worth
Misty,
Here my email address if you want to send me photos of your knife, crocdiver64@aol.com
I will try and help you!
Hi, I have a 94 stamped version of this knife with keyring included.
I have a 75 variant 2 with a VSSR1 tang stamp. I noticed this says this started in 76… Hoping this was possible and I may have landed a rarity.
Hi Mark,
Sorry for my late response. It’s always difficult to give correct answers regarding a year when Victorinox changed something on the knives.
If you have a knife with the VSSR tangstamp from 75 that’s cool. In this case probably my info about this changement is not correct 🙂
Many thanks for your info.
Regards,
Martin
… what a mess. I have a 73 variant2 but red scales, with a VSSR1 tang stamp.
I have two Soldier 1981 from the same year with 73 on the tang but with red scales. One blade is with Elsener and the other with VSSR tangstamp.
The Waffenkontroll-stamp is vertikal on the Victorinox and turned 180° on the Elsener.
Also I have a red 76 soldier with VSSR tangstamp. So it seems that even in 1976, still some knifes with red scales have been produced.
I have a 1961 Red anodized, elsener with a 65 blade, PAT on can opener. Any suggestion on worth? Condition is fair-good..
I found a VSSR model 1961 in silver Alox with 87 ! stamp on the tang, the empty square without w+k stamp.
I was told, that in 87 no SAK was delivered by Victorinox to the Army.
So, it looks like the Black Beauty, but in Silver!
Also I’ve found two Wenger 87 both with square, one with and the other without w+k stamp.