For consumers who have actually had the privilege of owning both Victorinox and Wenger, it’s unlikely they noticed significant differences between the two brands.
Victorinox offers several more models than Wenger did, and all of its Swiss Army knives generally produce a slightly longer version of its Wenger equivalent. Wenger SAKs usually run a tad bit wider in the scales, making the Victorinox models a little more compact.
The main blade on the Victorinox is also longer with a thicker spine, but the Wenger features a broader blade with more belly. Both brands feature slip joints on all the tools, but the springs on the Wenger tend to be weaker than Victorinox.
However, Wengers do have a locking mechanism on all standard-sized knives, whereas Victorinox only features a locking blade on its larger sizes. Because of their smaller profile, Victorinox’s Swiss Army knives usually weigh less than Wenger’s models.
Wenger knives feature scales that are more ergonomically comfortable and many provide rubber or plastic inlays for a better grip. On the other hand, on some of its models, Victorinox features Plus scales that provide additional tools, such as a ballpoint pen and a stick pin.
The corkscrews are nearly identical to one another, with no significant difference between the two, although Victorinox’s Economy Line corkscrew, in particular, was made of an entirely different material. Before 1919, Victorinox used a groove corkscrew.
The awls are significantly different. Victorinox features an eye in the center of a drop-point blade and has an added cutting edge. Wengers display a traditional awl with a spear pattern without the added edge.