In September 2014 Victorinox released a few Alox models in a new gray color. These knives were ordered by a US dealer and he named the color Moonlight silver. The color is different to the gunmetal blue and Davy’s gray from earlier models but is similar to the gray from Pioneer 2223 special run from October 2013. Moonlight silver is a bit darker that the gray of the Pioneer 2223 which is more silvery.
Some pictures below show a color comparison between Davy’s gray – Moonlight silver – Pioneer 2223 gray.
Wenger Ranger Model 38
Wenger’s Ranger serie in 120 mm was introduced in 1990 and manufactured at least til the end of 2007.
In this post I want to show two special models produced in 2011. Probably these knives where made out of spare stock parts to consume old stock. The blade is from the Alinghi 177 model.
The two models have the identification numbers 1 92 38 36 and 1 92 38 38. The only difference between these two is the phillips screwdriver added to model 38 38.
Black Pioneer with red shield
In July 2014 Victorinox released a new black Alox Pioneer with red shield. This is not a limited edition! After years with only small limited run of colored Alox, Victorinox finally realized people like colored Alox knives!
In 2012 the first black Pioneer with red shield was released as a limited special run of only 50 pieces. That run didn’t have a key ring but was engraved with a serial number nn/50 and was intended for collectors.
Davy’s Gray Alox
In May 2014 Victorinox produced a few Alox models in a blue-gray color. These knives were ordered by a US dealer (*) and he named the color Davy’s gray. The color is similar to the gunmetal blue from a cadet made a few years ago.
On the pictures below you can compare Davy’s gray with two other gray colors. The first two images show a gunmetal blue Cadet and Davy’s gray Micro Farmer. The next two images show the specialrun Pioneer 2223 from 2013 and Davy’s gray Soldier (Pioneer).
(*) He doesn’t want his name published on my website.
The First Mate
In 2012 Victorinox produced a small quantity of about 200 pieces of the well known First Mate. It has the standard silver scales with the red logo. The backside scale carries the engraving panel. This is probably the first First Mate batch with this new backside scale with engraving panel with the cut out for the marlinspike. All First Mate models produced before had the old style scale without the engraving panel. In 2012 Victroinox ran out of stock of this type of scales and was forced to produce new scales with the engraving panel to be able to produce more marlinspike models.
On the next few images we can see the two differences between this new silver First Mate and the batch produced between 2005 – 2008.
Backside scales and tang stamp were changed. The new tang stamp shows the V in the same size as the other characters.
A bit First Mate history …
The First Mate was first produced by Victorinox in the 1960’s. Back then it had red scales with a silver cross. The early models had brass liners and an Elinox tang stamp. Later the brass liners were replaced with nickel silver and also the tang stamp change a few times as for all Alox models.
Between 2005 and 2008 Victorinox produced about 600 pieces of the First Mate with silver scales. This batch had the old backside scales without the engraving panel. The V on the tang stamp was higher as the other characters.
In 2011 two First Mate special run were produced. A blue one with the old style front scale and an olive green with the new style frontscale. Both with the old backside scales. And both with all tools black coated.
From 2012 till 2014 six more First Mate special run were produced. For details about these six other First Mate see my earlier posts. Links are below the last images…
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Links to older blog posts about First Mate special run.