Swiss knives info – Page 19 – All about Swiss knives by Marsax

Marlinspike series 2014

By Marsax | 6. April, 2014 - 16:28 |21. June, 2014 Alox 93mm, Special run

In March 2014 Victorinox released seven Alox models with marlinspike. Each model is available in three colors limited to 40 pieces in red, 30 pieces in blue and 30 pieces in gold.

The models

Seaman

The Seaman is a standard model. It was produced with red scales until the 1990s. On the picture below the new Seaman sits above the blue special run version made in 2011.

Sailor

The Sailor is another standard model which was produced till after 2000. On the picture below the new blue version lies above the special run version from 2011, which was made in a small batch of only 50 pieces.

Marine Soldier – Sea Pioneer – Pioneer 2223

The next model is called Marine Soldier. This model was produced till about 1980s and it never had a name. Because it’s model number was 2223 it’s often called Pioneer 2223. The blue special run version made in 2010 was called Sea Pioneer.

Sea Rancher – Long Rancher

The fourth model is called Sea Rancher. It’s not a standard model and was produced the first time in 2011 as a special run of 100 pieces with Aqua-green scales. It’s called Long Rancher.

First Mate

The First Mate is a standard model which was produced in red till about 1999 and between 2005 and 2008 with new silver Alox scales in a small quantity of only a few hundred pieces. The picture below shows the new version together with the blue special run version from 2011 with all black coated tools.

Midshipman

The sixth model is called Midshipman and is another standard Victorinox Alox model. It was produced with red scales until the 1990s. In 2011 a special run with blue scales was released.

Castaway

The last model of the serie, the Castaway, is a new model with a new tool combination. It has two main blades but no bottel opener. It’s similar to the model called Carver from 2013, but the marlinspike replaces the awl/reamer.

Color comparison

All three colors used for these new series are standard colors. Several other models were produced with the same scale-colors. The pictures below show a few knives to compare the colors. The models showed for comparison are Pioneer, Solo and Cadet respectively an advertising Pruner in gold.

Logos

Different color version of the Victorinox logo were used for the knives. The blue and gold series have an uncommon color version. Logo’s contour and cross are not silver but the same color as the scales and it has a red shield. The red serie has a standard color version with silver logo and red shield, but with one exception. The Midshipman has a full red logo.

Some more images…

First Mate Thailand 2012

By Marsax | 30. March, 2014 - 12:46 |14. January, 2017 Alox 93mm, Special run

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This pink – yellow First Mate was produced by Victorinox in December 2012. It’s a special run of 100 pieces. The knife is dedicated to the King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and was ordered by a Thai knife enthusiast.

The frontside scale is pink (rosa) with a Victorinox logo with a red shield.

The front side of the blade carries an etching. It shows the outlines of Thailand and a picture of the King. The phrase between the two pictures means “85 birthday of the King 05.12.2012”.

The print on the engraving panel says “Rama IX.“, which means King of Thailand 9th generation.

An engraving on the backside of the blade shows the year 2555, which is in the Buddhist calendar 2012, and a serial number 087/100. (This knife is the 87th out of a total of 100 pieces.)

The colors pink, yellow and blue are components of the Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Siam.

This is the 4th knife of a serie of Alox knives which were released from 2011 till 2013, all dedicated to the kings of Siam/Thailand.

2011 red – blue Sailor

2011 orange Farmer

2012 beige – blue Pioneer

2012 pink – yellow First Mate

2013 blue – red Pioneer 2223 (Link to post)

I own only four of them as you can see in the last pictures.

Red Pioneer and Spartan Set 2012

By Marsax | 26. March, 2014 - 23:09 |26. March, 2014 Alox 93mm

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In 2012 the “Swiss Association for the Study of Arms and Armors” (SASAA) celebrated its 50th anniversary. On this occasion they ordered 500 sets of Swiss Army Knives from Victorinox. The set consists of a red Spartan and a red Pioneer.

The two knives are packed in standard silver boxes and these two boxes are packed in a red cardboard box.

The red Spartan carries the SASAA’s logo, a Swiss Dagger, as a metal inlay on the frontside scale. The main blade is etched with the abbreviations of the Association in French, German and Italian language. A second etching on the backside of the main blade shows Swiss symbols, the founding year 1962 and the celebration’s year 2012.

The Swiss Dagger is etched on the main blade of the red Alox Pioneer. Main blade’s backside shows the same etching as on the Spartan.

A serial number is engraved on the can opener of both knives.

On my set it’s CH324 – CH500.

Black G10 Harvester

By Marsax | 23. February, 2014 - 17:13 |23. February, 2014 Alox 93mm, Modifications

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For this modification I decided to use an Alox Harvester and to exchange the silver Alox scales with Black G10 with a Coarse Texture. The G10 used is pretty coarse and the grip is very good.

It’s the first time I used G10 and I like it. It’s ease to work with and it looks nice.

The G10 is very close to the G10 used for the conversion kit for the 111mm Soldier I showed in an earlier post. On the last pictures you can see it.

I thought the G10 version would be significantly lighter than the Alox version, but my balance says it’s only 4g lighter.

For my next mod I will use a green G10 with the same coarse texture.

Kingfisher Alox set

By Marsax | 16. February, 2014 - 15:14 |16. February, 2014 Alox 93mm, Special run

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In late autumn 2013 Victorinox produced 100 sets of two bicolor Alox knives. The set consists of a Solo and a Pioneer. Both models have the same scale colors. A blue frontscale and an orange backscale. These are the colors of a bird called “Kingfisher”.

A little blue Kingfisher and the name “Kingfisher” is printed on the engraving panel of each knife. Each knife is serial numbered on the backside of the blade.

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