The 3-layer Elinox driver’s knife with St. Christopher inlay
Introduction
The Victorinox Automobile 8134m appears in the early 1960s within the Elinox line, at a time when private car ownership was rapidly expanding across Europe.
Designed for motorists, this 3-layer Officer knife combines mechanical practicality with symbolic protection through its distinctive St. Christopher metal inlay.
Produced for roughly a decade, it disappears in the early 1970s — along with the now-vanished inline technician screwdriver configuration that defined it.
I. Technical Overview — A dedicated 3-layer configuration
- Closed length: 91 mm
- Old reference: 8134m
- Line: Elinox
- Production: early 1960s – early 1970s
- Architecture: 3 layers
Early examples feature the characteristic exposed awl, consistent with early 1960s Officer construction.
Tool configuration
Automobile 1961-1965 with Bail
Large blade
Inline technician screwdriver
Metal file
Can opener + small screwdriver
Bottle opener + large screwdriver + wire stripper
Back Layer Tool
Reamer / awl
Philips (without file)
Scale Tools
Toothpick
Tweezers
The suffix “m” denotes the metal file layer.
The Automobile existed both with and without a bail (or keyring after 1968), but always retained Toothpick and Tweezers.
Automobile without Bail
Automobile 1968-1971 with Keyring
The inline technician screwdriver
The defining feature of the Automobile 8134m is the inline technician screwdriver.
This long, centered driver — also found on:
- Cadillac
- Handyman 7236m
— was designed for precise mechanical adjustments requiring axial pressure and stability, particularly relevant to automotive maintenance.
II. St. Christopher — Protection for the road
The Automobile 8134m is visually defined by its St. Christopher metal inlay.
During the mid-20th century, St. Christopher medals were commonly placed in vehicles as protective talismans for travelers.
On the Automobile knife, this symbol reflects:
- The rise of automobile culture in postwar Europe
- The association between travel and protection
- Victorinox’s mastery of nickel-silver metal inlays
Two distinct St. Christopher inlay variants are documented for this period.
For a detailed analysis, see:
👉Victorinox Metal Inlays of the 1960s — Nickel-Silver Models History
III. Corporate and advertising editions
Although part of the Elinox line, the Automobile’s frequent appearance as a corporate knife is a separate phenomenon.
The 8134m was often selected by Swiss industrial firms for:
- Corporate gifts
- Advertising editions
- Institutional presentation knives
Documented examples include Brown Boveri and Sandoz.
These editions belong to the broader category of non-regular metal inlays.
Further reading:
👉Victorinox Non-Regular Metal Inlays
The Automobile thus bridges personal utility, industrial identity, and early corporate gifting traditions.
IV. Late production and symbolic shift
First Automobile 8134m, last Automobile 8134m with Ford T, first Automobile Special 1973
The Automobile 8134m disappears in the early 1970s.
In the 1973 catalogue restructuring, it is replaced by the Automobile Special, reflecting the move toward more standardized Officer configurations.
Some of the very last Automobiles are known to carry the Ford Model T metal inlay, with Victoria or Victorinox Tang stamp blade, marking a symbolic shift from religious protection (St. Christopher) to automotive heritage branding.
Collector Perspective and Significance
Early exposed-awl & Last Ford T examples
The earliest exposed-awl examples are particularly desirable among collectors.
That 1973 Ford T Automobile combines Victoria Blade, Philips with file and first Ford T Inlay
Corporate Swiss industry
Corporate inlay versions tied to major Swiss firms add historical and industrial depth to the model.
Bonus collector — Pavag Automobile with wood saw
A rare and striking special run is the Pavag Automobile with wood saw, expanding the configuration beyond the standard 3-layer layout.
This variation stands apart from the regular 8134m and is highly sought after.
Conclusion
The Victorinox Automobile 8134m captures a precise moment in Victorinox history:
- The Elinox stainless steel era
- The golden age of nickel-silver metal inlays
- The rise of automobile culture
- The appearance and disappearance of the inline technician screwdriver
With its St. Christopher inlay and mechanical identity, it remains one of the most evocative and technically distinctive Officer knives of the 1960s.
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
