When I was a kid, my multi faceted grandpa (electrical engineer, photographer, toymaker, builder, gral. maker of everything) had a small workshop nextdoor filled with all sorts of tools and a very beautiful wooden work table. What my grandpa was never without though, was pen, paper & his trusty SAK Champion. He’d use that thing for everything everyday and keep it razor sharp. As I grew up, the Swiss Army Knife became a staple in my house. My dad had a Victorinox Champ: Survival Edition. It came in this nifty beautiful black leather pouch, with a graphite pen, sharpening stone, compass/ruler, sewing kit, graph paper & bandaids. Sadly he lost it in a hiking trip many years ago. A short time after, he bought a Wenger Champ, which he had with him until he passed it along to me some years ago. That thing has a broken corkscrew, a solder burn on the scale & is missing the backspring for the knife. I hope to restore it to full health, someday.
As the years went by, I came to see Swiss Army Knives as somewhat of a treasure, something adult men should have, like swords or cars (yeah, I know). Now, my dad and me have never been super close, and that might have something to do with him also having an estranged relationship with his own father, which is probably why he never gifted me a Swiss Army Knife; I mean it probably never occurred to him to gift me one… So when I got my first job, I saved up enough money to buy my first Swiss Army Knife: a top of the line Swisstool. Man was that thing expensive! Sadly, it only lasted me a year before I lost it. Two years later I would buy another Swisstool that was with me for 13 years, up until I passed it on to my brother. I’ve now made it tradition to gift friends and family Swiss Army Knives.
Today, a Swiss Army Knife is with me almost everyday, not just for the practicality of it, but for the nostalgia, appreciation for its undying design & history, and the warm feeling of happiness it gives me. Long live SAKs!
[Left to right: Victorinox Champion \(my grandpa’s\), Wenger Champ \(my dad’s\) and my first \\”classic\\” style Victorinox: Cybertool L \(my first multitool was a Swisstool\). ](https://preview.redd.it/erm9su6sx0ga1.jpg?width=2992&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=369e7a3d6221427ebfde7186930a1288214c02d7)
https://preview.redd.it/vdcrctxvy0ga1.jpg?width=2992&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=7ef56967890edcbe2f279cd4478688d8e6157de7
https://preview.redd.it/pdyzhmdxy0ga1.jpg?width=6000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=a79d1b1c82cd0318ae093eb33e310bbccc321a3d
by doctorcalavera
4 Comments
thats a nice set you have there.
“Like swords or cars” lmao. Awesome collection!
I have a Deluxe Tinker (pre hook) that my mom gave me more than 30 years ago when I reached adulthood (technically, at least) and I love that it’s such a great design that you can (and people do) buy essentially an identical one today. This one doesn’t get carried much because of the sentimental value, but it sits on my dresser as ready as ever.
There are SAKs everywhere in our house of various sizes. Just all-around great and useful items.
Same here, my dad about 3 SAK during his life, one also with the broken corkscrew, and the small blade damaged by a short circuit . When I got my first job I bought one with yellow scales, that I still carry daily. Then I bought others 😉
Edit: also a bit hurt that he never gave me one.