The original Champions — the flagship of the 1950s and 1960s
Introduction
Before the Champion C, before the SwissChamp, and before the modern segmentation of the range, there was simply the Champion.
Appearing in catalogues in the early 1950s, the Victorinox Champion became the undisputed flagship of the brand for more than two decades. What collectors later identified as Champion A and Champion B were, in period catalogues, a single model — the Champion — offered with different back-tool configurations rather than distinct identities.
I. Technical overview — The original Champion platform
Champion A (Corkscrew) 1960's
Champion B (Philips) 1960's
Core configuration
- Closed length: 91 mm
- Category: Officer Knife — Flagship
- Introduction: early 1950s
- Catalogue logic: one model with tool options
-
Old Victorinox reference:
- Corkscrew: 246fm
- Philips: 146fm
Main tools
Large blade
Small blade
Can opener + small screwdriver
Bottle opener + large screwdriver + wire stripper
Scissors
Wood saw
Metal file / metal saw
Fish scaler
Back Layer Tools (period configurations)
- Champion A — corkscrew
- Champion B — Phillips screwdriver
- Long Nail File (LNF)
Scale Tools
Toothpick
Tweezers
These tools are always present, reinforcing the Champion’s role as a complete civilian flagship rather than a purely utilitarian knife.
II. Historical evolution — Two decades at the top
The flagship of the 1950s and 1960s
From its introduction in the early 1950s, the Champion sits at the absolute top of the Victorinox range.
At the time:
- no other Officer Knife offers comparable tool density
- the Champion represents technical mastery
- it functions as both reference model and brand showcase
For many users, the Champion was the Swiss Army Knife.
Champion B on 1950's Catalogue
Champion A on 1954 Catalogue
Champion B & Champion A 1957-1961
Luxury scale executions
As the flagship, the Champion also becomes a platform for luxury presentations.
Across its lifespan, it is known to exist with:
- Staghorn scales
- Buffalo Horn scales
- Mother of Pearl scales
These executions elevate the Champion beyond a tool, positioning it as a prestige object as much as a functional knife.
Late 1960s – early 1970s: structural refinements
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Victorinox introduces a series of structural refinements across the Officer Knife range, marking a key transitional phase in tool layout and hardware.
1970 advertising showing a Champion B with keyring
1971 Champion A with keyring
Champion B 1968-1970 with Keyring
Around 1968, the traditional bail begins to be progressively replaced by the keyring.
However, on flagship models such as the Champion, bails continue to be used sporadically into the early 1970s, reflecting Victorinox’s pragmatic approach: overlapping hardware solutions rather than abrupt replacement.
Champion A 1970 with transition Scissors and bail
The introduction of the keyring has direct structural consequences:
- the new attachment point requires space at the rear of the knife
- to accommodate it without increasing thickness, tools such as scissors and Long Nail File (LNF) are repositioned, shifting toward the openers’ side of the knife
- this results in noticeable changes in internal layering and visual balance, while preserving the same overall toolset
Champion B early 1960's & Champion A 1970
These adjustments illustrate Victorinox’s characteristic method during this period: parallel configurations, mixed hardware, and gradual standardisation, rather than clean generational breaks.
This transitional phase is analysed in detail in the following SAKnife thematic article:
👉 Victorinox 1961–1973 — Structural & Visual Transformation of the Swiss Army Knife
III. 1973 — The end of the original Champions
In 1973, Victorinox restructures the top of its catalogue.
- The Champion C, featuring a new magnifying glass + inline Phillips layer, becomes the new flagship
- The original Champion platform is retired as a flagship, but not abandoned
It is instead repositioned and renamed, without LNF as:
-
Handyman
Handyman Original Victoria 1973 (legacy Champion A)
- Craftsman
Craftsman Original 1973-1976 (legacy Champion B)
Both retain the same core toolset, marking a transition rather than a rupture.
Collector perspective and significance
One flagship, many expressions
For collectors, the original Champion stands as both a foundational reference and a true collector grail.
Although later labelled A and B, it was conceived as:
- a single flagship model
- defined by optional back-tool configurations
- the knife that established what “fully equipped” meant at Victorinox
Its balanced proportions, dense yet coherent toolset, and refined execution place it among the most accomplished and visually successful Swiss Army Knives ever produced.
A nostalgic bridge to Handyman & Craftsman
The transformation of the Champion into Handyman and Craftsman represents a passing of the torch rather than a downgrade.
Both successor models would later receive one of the rarest and most symbolic metal inlays ever used by Victorinox:
the Astronaut.
This detail acts as a quiet homage, linking these pragmatic successors back to the prestige and heritage of the original Champions.
👉Victorinox Commemorative & Collector Metal Inlays
Conclusion
The Victorinox Champion A & B defined the flagship standard for more than two decades.
They set the benchmark for what a fully equipped Officer Knife could be, combining density, balance, and craftsmanship in a way few models have matched since. When the Champion C appeared in 1973, it built directly upon this foundation rather than breaking from it.
Seen today, the original Champions stand not only as technical references, but as true collector grails — among the most accomplished and visually successful Swiss Army Knives ever produced.
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
