The forgotten five-layer hybrids — saw meets fish scaler
Introduction
The Victorinox 136f and 236f are rare and undocumented early 91 mm Officer models.
Appearing in the early 1950s, they combine wood saw, fish scaler, and scissors in a five-layer architecture — a pairing never standardised again. Never formally listed in catalogues and likely overshadowed by the far more famous 235fm Fishermesser, they remain among the most elusive configurations of the era.
I. Technical overview — A unique five-layer configuration
Core configuration
- Closed length: 91 mm
- Category: Officer Knife
- Architecture: 5 layers
- Estimated production: early 1950s – late 1970s
136f (Phillips version)
136f 1961-1963
Large blade
Small blade
Can opener + small screwdriver
Bottle opener + large screwdriver + wire stripper
Wood saw
Fish scaler with disgorger
Scissors
Back Layer Tools
Phillips screwdriver
Reamer / awl
Scale Tools
Toothpick
Tweezers
236f (Corkscrew version)
236f 1963-1966
Large blade
Small blade
Can opener + small screwdriver
Bottle opener + large screwdriver + wire stripper
Wood saw
Fish scaler with disgorger
Scissors
Back Layer Tools
Corkscrew
Reamer / awl
Scale Tools
Toothpick
Tweezers
The only difference between the two references lies in the back tool configuration (Phillips vs corkscrew). Structurally, they are identical.
II. Historical context — Models that never officially existed
Early 1950s: real knives, absent from catalogues
Few surviving examples indicate that both 136f and 236f appear very early in the 1950s, likely alongside the expansion of the fish scaler into the Officer range.
Despite:
- the presence of the fish scaler
- a coherent five-layer outdoor layout
- logical reference numbering
they were never listed as part of the Fisherman family, nor formally presented in standard catalogues.
Their absence from official listings, combined with the simultaneous rise of the highly visible 235fm Fishermesser, likely limited their exposure from the outset.
236f 1957-1961
They existed — but discreetly.
No Seahorse identity
Unlike the 234f or 235fm, these models never received the fish (Seahorse) metal inlay, even though they include the fish scaler.
This reinforces their ambiguous position:
- too specialised to be Standard models
- too atypical to integrate into the Fisherman line
- commercially eclipsed by the better-marketed five-layer Fishermesser
136f, 235fm, 236f
The Swiss Cheese “Sportsman” — the only official trace
The only confirmed official paper appearance concerns the 136f in the 1960s.
On a promotional document linked to the Swiss Cheese “Switzerland” metal inlay, the knife is listed under the name “Sportsman.”
The document confirms:
- derivation from the 👉136 platform
- addition of the fish scaler
- distribution through a coupon-based system
This rare version is highly sought after today.
136f 1966-1968 Swiss Cheese Inlay 🧀
And yes — it seems the fish scaler has long enjoyed a secondary career as a rather effective cheese pick 🧀
Late 1970s: quiet disappearance
By the late 1970s, both 136f and 236f disappear quietly.
They leave no successor and no formal integration into later lines. Given the dominance of the 235fm during the same period, they were likely eclipsed rather than replaced.
236f 1971-1973
136f 1976-1978
They remain:
- the only confirmed five-layer 91 mm models
- combining saw + fish scaler + scissors
- without belonging to a named catalogue range
Collector perspective and significance
Among the rarest five-layer Officers
Today, the 136f and 236f rank among the rarest early five-layer 91 mm models.
Their scarcity reflects:
- absence from catalogues
- limited commercial exposure
- competition from the celebrated 235fm
Well-preserved examples are exceptionally difficult to find.
Catalogue ghosts
These models illustrate that Victorinox:
- experimented quietly
- produced coherent configurations
- did not always formalise them commercially
Few knives demonstrate this “parallel catalogue reality” as clearly.
The Swiss Cheese variant
The 136f “Sportsman” with Swiss Cheese metal inlay remains:
- the only documented printed evidence of this configuration
- one of the rarest thematic metal inlays
- a highly desirable collector piece
Conclusion
The Victorinox 136f and 236f are among the most enigmatic Officer models ever produced.
Appearing early, never formally integrated, and disappearing quietly by the end of the 1970s, they remain the only known five-layer knives combining saw, fish scaler, and scissors.
This article is part of the SAKnife Archives, an independent collector-driven project dedicated to documenting Victorinox Swiss Army Knives. All photographs shown come from the SAKnife private collection unless otherwise noted. The historical and technical information presented here is based on period catalogues and expert collector databases. Additional material will be added as new information emerges.
Explore the evolution of Victorinox 91 mm Swiss Army Knives and discover related model sheets in the pillar page below:
👉📘Victorinox History & Catalogue – 91 mm Models Evolution
Explore how Victorinox 91 mm toolsets evolved over time:
👉 🛠️ Victorinox Tools & Structure — 91 mm Swiss Army Knife Evolution
