The first Huntsman — refined, urban, and always with a bail
Introduction
The Victorinox Huntsman LNF (reference 246) occupies a unique and foundational position in Swiss Army Knife history.
It is the first model to carry the Huntsman name, appearing well before the modern Huntsman known today.
Introduced in the 1940s, the Huntsman LNF belongs to a period when Victorinox explored multiple identities for its Officer Knives. While emerging from the early Sports Knife family, it quickly adopted a more refined and urban profile, defined by the presence of a long nail file, toothpick, tweezers, and a bail (keyring) fitted as standard.
I. Technical overview — A refined four-layer Officer Knife
Huntsman LNF 246aU 1966-1968
Core configuration
- Closed length: 91 mm
- Category: Officer Knife
- Old Victorinox reference: 246
- Architecture: four main layers
- Keyring: Bail always present
Main tools
Large blade
Small blade
Scissors
Wood saw
Back Layer Tools
Can opener with small screwdriver
Bottle opener with large screwdriver and wire stripper
Corkscrew
Reamer / awl
Long nail file
Scale Tools
Toothpick
Tweezers
The Long Nail File as identity
The long nail file (LNF) is not an optional or transitional tool on the 246 — it is a core defining element.
Paired systematically with toothpick and tweezers, and combined with a bail, it places the Huntsman LNF firmly in a civilian and urban context. This is a knife designed to be carried, handled, and kept close, rather than purely used in the field.
In this sense, the Huntsman LNF represents a more polished and lifestyle-oriented interpretation of the Swiss Army Knife.
II. Historical evolution — The original Huntsman identity
Origins in the Sports Knife family (1940s)
Catalogues from the 1940s already list the Huntsman LNF (246), placing it among the early multi-layer Sports Knives produced by Victorinox.
At this stage:
- tool combinations were still fluid
- refined accessories such as the long nail file were legitimate choices
- the Huntsman name appears for the first time, attached to this LNF configuration
Importantly, the 246 follows earlier four-layer outdoor knives: the model known as 236, but it is the 246 that establishes the Huntsman name.
Executive and urban positioning (1950s)
Catalogue 1954
During the 1950s, Victorinox segmented its range. The Huntsman LNF transitions away from purely sportive imagery and appears within more urban and executive-oriented contexts.
Key traits remain constant:
- long nail file
- toothpick and tweezers (a)
- bail as standard (U)
This consistency reinforces the idea that the 246 was conceived as a civilian Officer Knife, blending outdoor capability with everyday refinement.
Woodsman 236 and Huntsman LNF 246 in the 1950's Catalogue
Structural transitions and disappearance (1960s–1970s)
From the 1960s onward, Victorinox enters a phase of structural and visual standardisation, affecting scissors, back tools, and naming conventions across the 91 mm range.
Huntsman LNF 246aU 1970's (supposed 1971 as no PAT on can opener, meaning Bails were still assembled after 1968 on that prestigious model)
Huntsman LNF 246aU 1970's (supposed 1970 as it has the new transition Scissors, note the LNF position close to the openers, and nail nick on the other face)
As detailed in the analysis of the 1961–1973 structural and visual transformation, the long nail file progressively disappears from production during the 1970s, as Victorinox simplifies tool combinations.
👉Victorinox 1961–1973 — Structural and Visual Transformation of the Swiss Army Knife
By the 1973 catalogue, the Huntsman LNF (246) is no longer listed.
Reassignment of the Huntsman name (post-1973)
Modern Huntsman in the 1973 Catalogue
Huntsman 1973
After the disappearance of the LNF configuration, Victorinox reassigns the Huntsman name to a different platform.
From 1973 onward, the Huntsman designation applies to what becomes the modern Huntsman, now known by its current reference 1.3713:
- without a long nail file
- with toothpick and tweezers
- positioned as a fully outdoor-oriented four-layer Officer Knife
This creates a clear distinction between:
- the original Huntsman (246) — refined, urban, LNF-equipped
- the current Huntsman (1.3713) — outdoor, standardised, modern
See dedicated article here:
Collector perspective and significance
The true origin of the Huntsman name
The Huntsman LNF (246) is historically significant because it is:
- the first knife to bear the Huntsman name
- a model with a clearly defined, coherent identity
- distinct in philosophy from the modern Huntsman
For collectors, this makes the 246 a key reference model, not a marginal variant.
Related models
The Huntsman LNF relates closely to:
- 👉Climber LNF (245) — three-layer counterpart with long nail file
- 👉Huntsman (1.3713) — modern Huntsman, post-1973
-
👉 Woodsman 🔍 — Huntsman + magnifying glass
Together, these models illustrate how names, tools, and intended use evolved independently before being stabilised.
Position within the 91 mm range
Within the historical 91 mm Officer Knife landscape, the Huntsman LNF occupies a unique bridge position:
- more refined than pure outdoor knives
- more capable than strictly urban three-layer models
- emblematic of a period where lifestyle, carry, and elegance mattered
Conclusion
The Victorinox Huntsman LNF (246) is the original Huntsman, both in name and in spirit.
Introduced in the 1940s, refined through the 1950s, and phased out during the 1970s, it reflects a time when Victorinox explored elegance, daily carry, and personal presence alongside functionality.
Understanding the Huntsman LNF is essential to understanding the Huntsman story itself — because before the Huntsman became an outdoor icon, it was a refined Officer Knife with a long nail file and a bail, designed to be carried every day.
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 analysis of period catalogues, physical examples, and data shared by recognized collector communities and expert databases. Additional period examples and variants will be added over time as the archive continues to grow.
Identify every Victorinox 91 mm configuration using the structural identification tree:
👉 🔎 Victorinox 91mm Identification Tree – Identify Your Swiss Army Knife by Toolset
Identify the production period of your Swiss Army Knife using the interactive visual tool based on tang stamps and tool evolution:
👉 ⌛ Swiss Army Knife Production Period Guide – Victorinox Interactive Tool Evolution
Explore the evolution of Victorinox 91 mm Swiss Army Knives and discover related model sheets in the historical timeline:
👉 📘 Swiss Army Knife History & 91 mm Model Evolution
