The Wenger Esquire is the baseline or 'standard' small-sized (65mm) model of the Wenger range. It has a large number of colour and scale material options.

The Evolution 81 (EVO 81) is a later design that features ergonomic scales.
The EvoGrip 81, released in the spring of 2009, adds non-slip pads to the handles.

Discontinued - But available as a Victorinox Delémont.

Layer Tools

Evolution 81 with EvoGrip Scales

• Small pen blade
• Spring-less scissors
• Nail-file / Nail-cleaner
• Keyring

Some variations do not have the keyring.

Scale Tools 

• Toothpick
• Tweezers
• LED-Minilight - only on the Microlight versions

Some variations do not have the toothpick and tweezers.

Scales

Red plastic scales are standard, however this model has been manufactured with a large variety of different materials and color variations for the scales.
See the section below and the Identifiers and Variations sections for several examples of scale colours and materials.

Scale Colour and Material Variations

Solid Colours: Red, black, royal blue, white\frost, charcoal, forest green, purple, hot/pastel pink, turquoise, jade, yellow
Translucent: Fire Red, Glacier Blue, Smoke Grey, Watermelon Pink, Plum Ice Purple, Mandarin Orange, Aqua Blue, Lime Green, Lemon Yellow, Everglade Green
Other Materials/Styles: Stainless steel, aluminium (Alox), sterling silver, buffalo horn, wood, camouflage, Evogrip (rubber inserts in plastic)

Also see the Wenger Metal Series page and the Metal 51 and Metal 87 images.
The metal handled versions do not usually include the toothpick or tweezers, and may be with, or without a keyring.

History

The Esquire was a well-established member of the original Wenger 65mm family.

The EVO 81, officially Evolution 81, a member the Evolution line, had the same tools as the Esquire, but with the later ergonomically shaped scales. This new design was available in several colours - see Identifiers. The EvoGrip was introduced in the Spring of 2009, and added black, non-slip, textured pads to the Evolution scales to aid in retention.

Variations

1. Serrated blade versions of have been produced in standard red and also Titanium, but are not very common.
2. Microlight Esquire, also known as the 'Safety' line, these Esquires replace the toothpick with a small white LED in the scale. This variation comes in red, black, Real Tree camouflage and Advantage Timber camouflage.
3. The Viceroy Interlock is a locking blade version, that uses an interlock between the nail-file and the main blade, such that the blade cannot be closed unless the nail file is opened to 90º. It is available with plain and 100% serrated blade. The Viceroy is also available as an official BSA model.
4. The Lady Esquire name was used for some more feminine coloured models such as aqua (16.940.92) which came with a matching aqua coloured plastic slip-case.
5. The Blue Europa Series Esquire has a yellow twelve-star Europe logo, and no keyring.
6. The Titanium has titanium metal handles and according to the catalog a 100% serrated blade, there is also a version with an 80% serrated blade.
7. There are seven sterling sliver handled models in the Sterling Silver Series, some of which have their own names, such as the Imperial, and Tuxedo See the linked page for details.
8. The Wood 01 was a 2009 collaboration with EKA of Sweden who supplied wooden scales. These scales used large brass fittings for mounting, which replaced the typical rivets used to assemble the knives (the brass fittings appear structural, but could be for decoration). This variation does not include the toothpick or tweezers.
9. The Lithos and Macao series are luxury scaled versions.
10. The Wenger Tactile 813 is a variation of the Esquire, differing only in its handles, which have a thin, matte red, neoprene coating.

Physical Specifications

Evolution Scales

Camo Mini Spot Lights in Packaging

• Length: 65mm
• Width: 9mm
• Weight: 21g

Identifiers

• 1.081.011.300: Evolution 81: Red Evolution scales (16908)
• 1.78.03/1.078.003.000: Wood 01
• 1.81.11.813: Tactile 813
• 1.81.11.90: Lady Esquire - Pink
• 1.81.91.100: Viceroy Interlock Official World Scout model
• 1.081.011.822.PER: Patagonian Expedition Race model (16806)
• 1.87.00: Metal 87 - No-keyring; 1.87.01 - With keyring
• 1.087.030.0x0.03: Eloxy 8730 coloured Alox - x=:
  • 0: Rouge/red; 1: Bleu/blue; 2: Noir/black; 3: Vert/green; 4: Naturel/silver
• 1.92.15: Europa series - No-keyring
• 1.92.51: Metal 51
• 1.92.80: Savana series - Buffalo horn
• 1.097.065.600: Spot Light 600 (Mini Spot Light)
• 16.940.92: Lady Esquire - Aqua

US Model Numbers: (Also in brackets above)

• 16156: Microlight Esquire with Advantage Timber camo handles
• 16157: Microlight Esquire with Realtree Camo handles
• 16440: Serrated blade; red scales
• 16640: Serrated blade; Titanium scales
• 1666x: Stirling Silver Series; x defines the pattern - See the link in the Variations section for details
• 1666y: Stainless steel scales... - y=:
  • 7: Hammered; 8: Brushed; 9: Polished
• 16803: EvoGrip - Red
• 168zz: Evolution Scales - zz=:
  • 08: Watermelon pink (translucent); 09: Pastel pink; 15: Blue; 16: Black; 69: Fire red (translucent)
• 16893: Viceroy Interlock BSA
• 16925: Microlight - Red
• 16940: Esquire - Standard red scales
• 16980: Viceroy Interlock model
• 18349: Embossed stainless steel

Related Models

• Chairman - Has an equivalent main toolset; removing the toothpick, tweezers and keyring
• Swiss Clipper - An Evolution model; adding the nail-clipper
• Money Clip - Adds a money-clip; alox handles; no toothpick, tweezers, or keyring
• OptiTool - Replaces the nail-file with an eyeglass/micro-screwdriver
• AirTraveler - Replaces the pen-blade with an eyeglass/micro-screwdriver
• Bottle Mate - Replaces the scissors with a mini-screwdriver/bottle opener
• Crusader - Removes the scissors

• Macao Series - Gold plated 'Esquires' with lacquered scale inlays
• Lithos Series - Gold plated 'Esquires' with stone scale inlays

• V.I.P. - Same toolset; larger in size

• Classic - A similar Victorinox model with an equivalent toolset
• Victorinox Wenger - The Victorinox Delémont version of this model

• Swiss Legend - The equivalent SwissBuck model