From the very beginning of their production in 1891, Swiss soldier knives (or Swiss Army Knives, SAK), like other military weapons and equipment, were subject to quality inspection by an authorized department – the weapons inspection (control), or Waffenkontrolle (WK).
Following this inspection, a special approval mark was stamped on the knife handles (scales).
The type and location of this mark were determined by government regulations and changed over time (Fig. 1). This mark confirmed the knife's compliance with Swiss Army standards.
Quality inspections were carried out both by the manufacturer at all stages of knife production and by additional inspections by Waffenkontrolle inspectors upon acceptance of finished products. As stated in the document “Vorschrift über Soldaten-Messer” (Regulation on Soldiers' Knives) from September 1901, three knives out of every thousand supplied under the army contract were randomly inspected (1, p. 21). For deliveries with a small quantity of items, the check could be carried out on 3 units of products from the batch.
It should also be noted that, according to available information, between 10% and 5% of the Victorinox factory staff were involved in quality control processes over the years (the decrease in the percentage of inspectors was due, among other things, to the increased level of automation). All this ensured a consistently high level of quality for the Swiss Army Knife produced.
Currently, the Victorinox quality management system follows the requirements of the ISO 9000 series of standards (2).
Evolution of the Waffenkontrolle Marks
Fig 1. Victorinox Soldier - 1891
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The original 1890 model of the Swiss Army Knife with black oak grips (Fig. 1) used a simple cross-shaped mark (Fig. 2).
This mark was located along the centerline of the scale, approximately 23 mm from the end of the handle.
Knives from different years of production could have the mark at slightly different distances from the end of the scale, but the stamps on all knives from the same year were generally placed in the same location.
(Interesting fact: the 100th Anniversary replicas of this model released by Victorinox and Wenger do not bear the Waffenkontrolle mark.)
This mark was used from 1891 to 1907 on the Model 1890, and continued to be used till 1915 in a slightly modified form on its successor, the Model 1908, which featured fiber scales (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3. Soldier Knife Model 1908
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Around 1910, a mark in the form of a shield with the letters “WK” and a cross above it was also used (3, p. 22).
A number of knives also have additional marks on the scales, in the form of a small cross or a cross within a circle.
Some sources (4) suggest that this is a variant of the Waffenkontrolle mark.
However, this information has not been officially confirmed by Victorinox, and there is good reason to believe (as do a number of other authors (3, 5)) that this is simply a repair mark (or it was even stamped by mistake instead of the Waffenkontrolle mark). Repair marks have also changed over time (5).
On some knives where the scales were replaced during repair, the positions of the Waffenkontrolle and repair marks may be reversed (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4. WK and repair marks on Model 1908 Victorinox and Wenger knives
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Around 1915 the Waffenkontrolle mark was changed to a cross with the inscription “W-K” above it, framed by a circle (1), p. 94 (Fig. 5), and placed approximately 20 mm from the end of the scale.
This type of stamp continued to be applied to Model 1951 knives (Fig. 6) too until they were replaced by the Model 1961.
With the introduction of the Model 1961 with red Alox scales (Fig. 7), and later with silver Alox scales (Fig. 8), the mark was moved closer to the front of the handle, approximately 20 mm from the front end of the handle, and was again modified – it was now placed on a smooth cross-shaped field (Fig. 8,9).
About 1972 (6) (or 1971 – 1973 (3)), the “W-K” mark was rotated 90° clockwise. And in 1971-1977, a number of knives had the “W-K” mark rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise relative to the original position (3, p. 22). The reason for these changes is unknown.
Fig. 6. Soldier Knife Model 1951
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In 1977, the Swiss coat of arms was added to the front scale (Fig. 11), and the Waffenkontrolle mark was moved (Fig. 12) to a flat square area closer to the end of the handle (approximately 17 mm) and became a "K+" within a stylized "W" (Fig. 13).
Fig. 8. Soldier Model 1961 with red Alox scales
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Fig. 9. WK mark 1965-1978
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(However, there are knives produced in 1978 with the previous type of the Waffenkontrolle mark (4, p. 29). This likely reflects the use of warehouse stock from previous years.)
During 1977, some knives were produced with the new WK mark, and some with the old one (Fig. 14).
One of the sources (7) indicates that on the 1961 model, manufactured in 1978, the Waffenkontrolle stamping area was stamped into the square molded into the scale, but this may simply be an isolated incident resulting from incorrect tool positioning.
Discontinuation of the Waffenkontrolle Mark
Fig. 10. Soldier Model 1961 with silver Alox scales
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Fig. 11. Model 1961 with the Swiss coat of arms
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Fig. 12. Change in the WK stamp type and position on 1961 model (1967 and 1981 knives shown as examples only)
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On February 9, 1988, the Waffenkontrolle informed Swiss Army knife manufacturers – Victorinox and Wenger – that, effective that date, it would no longer be necessary to stamp these knives with the military approval mark (1, p. 90).
This decision confirmed the army's high level of confidence in the quality of Swiss Army knives.
Nevertheless, it was decided to continue to stamp the Waffenkontrolle mark on knives throughout 1988 in order to use up existing inventory.
For the same reason, you can find knives manufactured in 1988-1989 with a blank space for a stamp on the front plate and manufactured in 1989-1992 without it (Fig. 15) (4, pp. 32-35).
All later Swiss Army knives only had the year of manufacture indicated on the blade tang.
Currently, the only supplier of soldiers' knives for the Swiss Army is the Victorinox company.
Fig. 13. WK mark 1977-1988
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The Importance of Waffenkontrolle Marks for Collectors
The type, location, and condition of Waffenkontrolle marks allow collectors to accurately date a specific knife and also serve as additional protection against various types of counterfeiting.
For example, if the location, condition, and type of the mark do not match with the declared year of manufacture of the knife, it can be assumed that the knife has undergone replacement of its components and is of lesser collector's value, or, at worst, is assembled from several different pieces or is a counterfeit.
External References
Fig. 14. Two 1977 knives with different WK marks
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Fig. 15. Model 1961 knives without the WK marks
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1. “100 Jahre Schweizer Soldatenmesser 1891-1991” by Edmund Fasnacht, Martin Frösch, Horst Brunner, Walter Leutwiller.
2. “The Victorinox Quality System”. Version 12.03.09. Qd-00424.pdf
3. “Enzyklopädie der Victorinox Taschenmesser - von den Anfängen bis in die 1970er Jahre, Teil I” by Elsi Nox
4. “Le Couteau du Soldat Suisse de 1890 à 2008. Swiss Army Knife” by Thierry Deladoey
5. “The Swiss Soldiers Knives” by Stephan Keller
6. “Soldier model 1961” by Marsax
7. “WaffenKontrol” by PTHYCRPG
8. SAKWiki, Soldier 1890
9. SAKWiki, Victorinox Soldier 1951
10. SAKWiki, Soldier 1961
11. SAKWiki, Standard Issue 100mm
Also SAKWiki would like to thank Mr. Jens Kamer, Victorinox Collection Manager, for providing very valuable information for this article.