1890 Models

The "1890 Models" have no variants to differentiate major technical or mechanical details as they were all made according to the same plan.

However, a knife from one manufacturer to another may show some inaccuracies due to manufacturing techniques and the lack of mastering mass production at the time. The exact rivet locations, the tension and model of blade springs, the exact dimensions of tools and blades, the sides, etc. may vary slightly making it virtually impossible to interchange parts and hamper restoration work.

 

PDF document, a copy of the plan for the Model 1890 soldier’ knife

 

All these knives have wooden sides (ebony or blackened oak), a steel blade, 100mm length (knife closed), a thickness of 20.5mm, 144gm weight and no vintage mark on the blade (this appeared in 1921).

They are all stamped with a Swiss cross on the handle which indicates “Waffenkontrolle” (acceptance test). But the place and direction of the stamp varies from knife to knife.

These knives are the first folding knives manufactured for the Swiss army.

 

 1890 ModelWaffenkontrolle (1890 to 1900)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note that the same “Waffenkontrolle” stamp was in force from 1890 to 1914.

 

1890 Models blade markings

For "1890 Models" we have listed approximately ten different manufacturers... And it is possible we will discover even more !

Most of these manufacturers were Swiss, but the Swiss manufacturers could not meet alone the needs of mass production. So the Swiss army also uses German cutleries, mainly from Solingen.

 

     Wester & Co

     Solingen

Wester & Co Solingen

 

     Elsener Schwyz

 

Elsener - Schwyz

 

   Coutellerie Suisse

   Courtetelle (P.Boéchat)

Coutellerie Suisse - Courtetelle  (P. Boéchat)

 

     D. Pères

     Solingen

D. Pères - Solingen

 

   Forges de Vallorbe

   L+C (Leresche et Co)

Forges de Vallorbe L + C  (Leresche et Co)

 

     Stadler Zug

 

Stadler - Zug

 

   J. Pfenninger

   Wetikon a/see

J. Pfennninger Wetikon a/See

 

     Solberger

     Morges

Sollberger Morges

 

     Jacquet Roche

 

Jacquet Roche

 

     C. Wermuth

 

C. Wermuth

 

   

 

 

Ranking of 1890 Models

See the topic "Ranking of 1890 Models