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After buying a pig in a poke many times, but especially after buying one particular "lot" of Swiss Army knives described as excellent condition, only to find that several had broken internal back springs, many of the scales were really beat up and blades were ground down to nubs, I decided to grade my knives.
1. Acknowledgment MUST be made in EACH and EVERY instance that the knife was graded using the guide developed by "Chautauquan on eBay©" [that's me].
2. It is only valid for describing GENUINE Swiss Army Knives, manufactured by either Victorinox or Wenger.
3. Suggestions for improvement are always welcome.
1. Blades and features - any and all of the various attachments-parts-blades that come with the knife, e.g. nail file, scissor spring, tweezers, toothpick, battery, LED light, etc.
2. Scales = Another word for the handles. Most often the scales are Plastic or Alox [an Aluminum alloy]. However I have seen Sterling Silver, Mother of Pearl, Stainless Steel, Wood, Buffalo Horn, Leather and various custom made materials.
3. "Master" refers to the main or largest knife blade. This is the blade that usually has the manufacturers markings on it.....e.g.Victorinox, Victoria, Elinox, Officer Suisse, INOX, Rostfrei, Stainless, Wenger, Delmont etc.
4. Logo-Advertising-Personalization. These marks may be made at the factory or added at the point of purchase. While they DO NOT affect the GRADE, they should ALWAYS be noted. e.g. "Has Marlboro logo on back scale"
5. KNOCKOFFS. I have seen only VERY FEW exceptions to this general rule: THE KNOCKOFFS ARE GARBAGE. If you can buy it at the Dollar Store, or get 24 for $19.99 on eBay, brand new, these are NOT worthy of being called Swiss Army Knives. Some vendors even advertise this junk under the VICTORINOX category on eBay. If you are looking for a quality, durable, warranted knife, be sure you are getting either Victorinox - The Original {tm} Swiss Army Knife, or Wenger, the Genuine {tm} Swiss Army Knife.
Knife is either sealed or has only been opened to be inspected. There is no defect. Packaging is also in perfect condition with all paperwork-warranties intact.
A++++ NEW in Box or New in Package. Packaging or knife may have very light scuffs from inspections [shopworn or shelf worn]. There is no other defect. All paperwork-warranties intact.
A+++ NEW without box. This is a knife which has never been used or carried. There is no defect. Original packaging is not present.
A++ MINT or REFURBISHED condition. This knife will appear to be new. Upon very close inspection, VERY LIGHT "pocket wear" may be evident. Scales retain their original luster and shine. There is no defect. All blades must retain original factory edges and show no evidence of sharpening. All features intact and in pristine condition.
A refurbished knife will have blades that appear to be nearly unused. Tweezers and toothpick have been replaced with NEW, and scales have been polished to the level of MINT described above.
A+ NEAR MINT. This knife may have VERY LIGHT "pocket wear". Scales will still have most of their original luster and shine. If not for a very minor blemish on the handles, this knife would be MINT. All blades must retain original factory edges and show no evidence of sharpening. All features intact and in pristine condition.
A EXCELLENT. This knife may have "pocket wear" The original luster may have faded. All blades still retain original factory edge. While there may be a few light scratches, the blades and features are all 100% intact.
B++ VERY GOOD. This knife will have "pocket wear" The original luster will have faded. All blades still retain original factory size, however there may be evidence of skillful hand sharpening. While there may be light scratches, the blades and features are all intact and functioning.
B+ GOOD. A knife can be graded GOOD if it has e.g., a small chip out of the handle that does not affect function, or scratches-scars-gouges on the scales that are cosmetically unappealing. All blades still retain original factory size, however there may be evidence of skillful hand sharpening. While there may be scratches, the blades and features are all intact and functioning.
B FAIR. This knife will have significant "pocket wear", may have similar defects to a B+, but additionally the shield may have worn off, blades my have been sharpened and only retain 75% or more of their original size. This knife is still fully functional, but shows fairly hard use, but reasonable care. The tweezers, toothpick or keyring may be missing but this should be noted.
C+ ACCEPTABLE. This one is "worn in like an old shoe". Knife is pretty rough. Master still has at least 50% size. A knife like this actually shows the quality of the genuine SWISS knives.. Despite looking like it's been through the war, it will still get the job done. Nothing to show off, but it works. The tweezers, toothpick or keyring may be missing but this should be noted.
C ABUSED. This may be in otherwise GOOD condition or even better, except it has a broken part or blade. An example would be a knife with several knife blades, where the small blade is broken off. The rest of the features may be fine. I myself carry an EXECUTIVE model with a missing small knife blade. Clearly someone used it to pry and snapped it off. The rest of the knife is excellent. This type of thing should always be noted.
C- DEFECTIVE. The thing that comes to mind most often here is a broken inner spring [back spring]. Swiss Army Brands will almost certainly repair or replace this knife. The knife is not fully functional, as is, but SHOULD BE subject to service under the lifetime warranty.
D ROUGH. Someone did their best to mutilate this knife, but again it can still be used. Sharpen it up again and put it out in the barn to cut bailing twine. Carry it on an airplane. Who cares if they take this one?
F PIECES-PARTS. Not an intact knife but there may be something useful here to someone. Still Swiss quality.
VINTAGE-RARE-RETIRED-OLD-LIMITED.
Knives described as Vintage, should still be issued a letter grade to show condition. Vintage is generally an older model, with markings, features or trademarks that might indicate that vintage. A "retired" model might be so described if it is not made anymore. One example might be the parcel hook that was added in the early 90's on Victorinox knives . The CAMPER model was modified to include this hook, so you may have an "OLD" CAMPER, to indicate that it was made before the hook was introduced.
I hope this guide has been helpful and would appreciate it if reference is made to it if you use it.
".......from Chautauquan's Guide on eBay©." Thanks.
Anyone is welcome to use this grading system with the following provisos:
1. Acknowledgment MUST be made in EACH and EVERY instance that the knife was graded using the guide developed by "Chautauquan on eBay©" [that's me].
2. It is only valid for describing GENUINE Swiss Army Knives, manufactured by either Victorinox or Wenger.
3. Suggestions for improvement are always welcome.
Grades from BEST to WORST
[Note: a few definitions]:1. Blades and features - any and all of the various attachments-parts-blades that come with the knife, e.g. nail file, scissor spring, tweezers, toothpick, battery, LED light, etc.
2. Scales = Another word for the handles. Most often the scales are Plastic or Alox [an Aluminum alloy]. However I have seen Sterling Silver, Mother of Pearl, Stainless Steel, Wood, Buffalo Horn, Leather and various custom made materials.
3. "Master" refers to the main or largest knife blade. This is the blade that usually has the manufacturers markings on it.....e.g.Victorinox, Victoria, Elinox, Officer Suisse, INOX, Rostfrei, Stainless, Wenger, Delmont etc.
4. Logo-Advertising-Personalization. These marks may be made at the factory or added at the point of purchase. While they DO NOT affect the GRADE, they should ALWAYS be noted. e.g. "Has Marlboro logo on back scale"
5. KNOCKOFFS. I have seen only VERY FEW exceptions to this general rule: THE KNOCKOFFS ARE GARBAGE. If you can buy it at the Dollar Store, or get 24 for $19.99 on eBay, brand new, these are NOT worthy of being called Swiss Army Knives. Some vendors even advertise this junk under the VICTORINOX category on eBay. If you are looking for a quality, durable, warranted knife, be sure you are getting either Victorinox - The Original {tm} Swiss Army Knife, or Wenger, the Genuine {tm} Swiss Army Knife.
The Grades - reference can be listed as, e.g. "Chautauquan on eBay© A++++" - see GUIDE
A+++++ NEW in Box, or NEW in PackageKnife is either sealed or has only been opened to be inspected. There is no defect. Packaging is also in perfect condition with all paperwork-warranties intact.
A++++ NEW in Box or New in Package. Packaging or knife may have very light scuffs from inspections [shopworn or shelf worn]. There is no other defect. All paperwork-warranties intact.
A+++ NEW without box. This is a knife which has never been used or carried. There is no defect. Original packaging is not present.
A++ MINT or REFURBISHED condition. This knife will appear to be new. Upon very close inspection, VERY LIGHT "pocket wear" may be evident. Scales retain their original luster and shine. There is no defect. All blades must retain original factory edges and show no evidence of sharpening. All features intact and in pristine condition.
A refurbished knife will have blades that appear to be nearly unused. Tweezers and toothpick have been replaced with NEW, and scales have been polished to the level of MINT described above.
A+ NEAR MINT. This knife may have VERY LIGHT "pocket wear". Scales will still have most of their original luster and shine. If not for a very minor blemish on the handles, this knife would be MINT. All blades must retain original factory edges and show no evidence of sharpening. All features intact and in pristine condition.
A EXCELLENT. This knife may have "pocket wear" The original luster may have faded. All blades still retain original factory edge. While there may be a few light scratches, the blades and features are all 100% intact.
B++ VERY GOOD. This knife will have "pocket wear" The original luster will have faded. All blades still retain original factory size, however there may be evidence of skillful hand sharpening. While there may be light scratches, the blades and features are all intact and functioning.
B+ GOOD. A knife can be graded GOOD if it has e.g., a small chip out of the handle that does not affect function, or scratches-scars-gouges on the scales that are cosmetically unappealing. All blades still retain original factory size, however there may be evidence of skillful hand sharpening. While there may be scratches, the blades and features are all intact and functioning.
B FAIR. This knife will have significant "pocket wear", may have similar defects to a B+, but additionally the shield may have worn off, blades my have been sharpened and only retain 75% or more of their original size. This knife is still fully functional, but shows fairly hard use, but reasonable care. The tweezers, toothpick or keyring may be missing but this should be noted.
C+ ACCEPTABLE. This one is "worn in like an old shoe". Knife is pretty rough. Master still has at least 50% size. A knife like this actually shows the quality of the genuine SWISS knives.. Despite looking like it's been through the war, it will still get the job done. Nothing to show off, but it works. The tweezers, toothpick or keyring may be missing but this should be noted.
C ABUSED. This may be in otherwise GOOD condition or even better, except it has a broken part or blade. An example would be a knife with several knife blades, where the small blade is broken off. The rest of the features may be fine. I myself carry an EXECUTIVE model with a missing small knife blade. Clearly someone used it to pry and snapped it off. The rest of the knife is excellent. This type of thing should always be noted.
C- DEFECTIVE. The thing that comes to mind most often here is a broken inner spring [back spring]. Swiss Army Brands will almost certainly repair or replace this knife. The knife is not fully functional, as is, but SHOULD BE subject to service under the lifetime warranty.
D ROUGH. Someone did their best to mutilate this knife, but again it can still be used. Sharpen it up again and put it out in the barn to cut bailing twine. Carry it on an airplane. Who cares if they take this one?
F PIECES-PARTS. Not an intact knife but there may be something useful here to someone. Still Swiss quality.
VINTAGE-RARE-RETIRED-OLD-LIMITED.
Knives described as Vintage, should still be issued a letter grade to show condition. Vintage is generally an older model, with markings, features or trademarks that might indicate that vintage. A "retired" model might be so described if it is not made anymore. One example might be the parcel hook that was added in the early 90's on Victorinox knives . The CAMPER model was modified to include this hook, so you may have an "OLD" CAMPER, to indicate that it was made before the hook was introduced.
I hope this guide has been helpful and would appreciate it if reference is made to it if you use it.
".......from Chautauquan's Guide on eBay©." Thanks.
Guide created: 04/27/07 (updated 07/21/09)
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