A late-recognized 91 mm Phillips Officer
Introduction
The Victorinox Super Tinker 135 is today one of the most familiar 91 mm models in the Officer range.
Yet its early history is surprisingly discreet.
Although surviving examples suggest the configuration appears slightly before 1960, it remained largely absent from catalogues for decades. Unlike the Climber 235, which had already established itself earlier, the Super Tinker did not initially play a central role in the 91 mm lineup.
For much of the 1960s and 1970s, it was effectively overshadowed by its 84 mm counterpart — the 135k “Salesman”.
Technical Overview — A 3-layer Phillips configuration
Super Tinker 1985-1991
- Closed length: 91 mm
- Old reference: 135
- Architecture: 3 layers
- Back tool: Phillips screwdriver
The Super Tinker combines blades, scissors, and openers with a rear Phillips screwdriver — a practical but initially understated configuration within the Officer range.
Tool configuration
Large blade
Small blade
Scissors
Can opener + small screwdriver
Bottle opener + large screwdriver + wire stripper
Back Layer Tool
Phillips screwdriver
Scale Tools
(none on early production)
Early Super Tinker examples from the late 1950s and 1960s do not include Toothpick and Tweezers.
These scale tools appear later, during the 1970s, as Victorinox progressively standardized the 91 mm range. Their late adoption mirrors what happened on other Phillips-based models considered less “luxury-oriented” at the time.
A configuration without early catalogue visibility
Despite existing in physical form before 1960, the 91 mm 135 configuration remains largely undocumented in 1960s and 1970s catalogues.
Super Tinker 135U 1961-1968
Super Tinker 135U 1971-1973
Super Tinker 1973-1976
Instead:
- The 👉Climber 235 dominates the corkscrew + scissors segment
- The 135k “Salesman” (84 mm) carries the Phillips + scissors configuration in printed material
This strongly suggests that Victorinox, at the time, positioned the Phillips + scissors layout primarily within the compact 84 mm format rather than the 91 mm Officer line.
1980's — The name appears
The name “Super Tinker” appears in the 1984 catalogue — but applied to the 84 mm Salesman.
The 91 mm version remains comparatively discreet in printed documentation during this period.
Super Tinker Hoffritz 1978-1983
This reinforces the idea that throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, the 84 mm platform was considered the natural home of the Phillips + scissors configuration.
Late 1980s — The 91 mm Super Tinker emerges
By the late 1980s, the 91 mm Super Tinker finally appears clearly in catalogues under its modern name.
1990's Catalogue
From this point onward, the model is fully aligned with the modern Officer range
Today, it remains one of the most accessible and widely recognized 3-layer Phillips Officer knives.
Position within the 91 mm range
The Super Tinker sits between:
It offers a balanced EDC (EveryDay Carry) configuration for users who prefer a Phillips screwdriver over a corkscrew.
Unlike the Climber, however, it was not foundational in shaping the 91 mm lineup — it was a later refinement that eventually gained recognition.
Collector Perspective and Significance
A model that existed before it was named
The Super Tinker illustrates Victorinox’s habit of producing configurations long before stabilizing their commercial names.
Early 91 mm examples predate clear catalogue recognition by decades.
Bonus Collector — Fuchs Helicopter special run
A particularly fascinating variant is the Super Tinker special run featuring an inline technician screwdriver for Fuchs Helicopter.
This configuration departs from the standard back Phillips layout and reintroduces an inline driver — a rare and mechanically distinctive echo of earlier inline-tool Officer designs.
Conclusion
The Victorinox Super Tinker 135 is a model that quietly existed before it was clearly acknowledged.
Overshadowed for decades by the 84 mm Salesman and by the earlier Climber 235, it only secured a defined place in the 91 mm catalogue in the late 1980s.
Today, it stands as one of the most balanced and enduring Phillips-based Officer configurations — proof that some Victorinox models mature slowly before becoming staples of the range.
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.
Identify every Victorinox 91 mm configuration using the structural identification tree:
👉 🔎 Victorinox 91mm Identification Tree – Identify Your Swiss Army Knife by Toolset
Date your Swiss Army Knife using the interactive visual tool based on tang stamps and tool evolution:
👉 ⌛ Swiss Army Knife Dating Guide – Victorinox Interactive Dating & Tools 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
