WENGER SA Delémont, Switzerland
Length - 9.5"
Width - 6 "
The Wenger Giant, also known as the Wenger 16999, is the largest Swiss Army Knife ever made. The Giant comprises 87 tools that can perform 141 different functions. It is the only SAK that has the most tools, as it has every tool that Wenger has ever produced for their 85mm Swiss Army Knives.
But Wenger put in so many layers in the Giant that its thickness is greater than its length. In all, the Giant has 49 layers.
This knife is more than 9 inches thick. Funny how the Guinness Book calls it a penknife! This monster certainly is not something you can call a pocket knife or a holstered knife.
Wenger has included every tool they have designed over a century-long history of making Swiss Army Knives. There have been tool variations in the Wenger Giant over the years since its first inception.
Why Was The Wenger Giant Made?
Have you ever regretted that your Swiss Army Knife doesn’t have a specific tool that you would love to have? But the other SAK that has that tool is missing another tool that your current SAK has.
Well, that was NOT the reason why Wenger created the Giant. A SAK is designed to be a functional multi-tool and hence there has to be a limit to the number of tools a specific model can have.
But what if we can have all the tools in one single model? This is exactly the idea that Michel Champion, who used to work in the assembly department of Wenger’s Delemont factory in Switzerland, came up with.
Michel Champion is known as the father of the Wenger Giant. After he saw some big knives in the Guinness Book, he had this idea about creating one knife by assembling all the tools that Wenger makes in a single model. He presented the idea of creating this big SAK to Wenger’s management.
The idea was accepted by Wenger’s management, and the rest is history.
Michel says that the aim was not to win a world record certificate but to ensure that Wenger was capable of achieving such a feat. The model is officially known as the ‘Wenger 16999’. But of course, it became well known as the ‘Wenger Giant’ because of its size.
It took ten weeks of development for Wenger to come up with the prototype of the Giant. Mr. Champion engineered the manufacturing process and created the first Wenger Giant in the year 2000.
How was the Wenger Giant made?
The Wenger Giant is assembled by hand. The assembling and riveting process are manual, as Michel Champion mentioned that it is impossible for a machine to assemble a knife like the Giant.
Initially, Michel Champion alone was responsible for putting the knife together as he knew exactly where each tool should go.
He once mentioned that only the assembling process of the Wenger Giant took about one hour.
Mr. Champion later trained his colleague Mr. Leuenberger to assemble the Giant. The two of them were the only technicians in Wenger trained to assemble this monster SAK.
Wenger assembled the first 25 units of the Giant in 2000. These were used for exhibitions in various trade shows.
In the beginning, Michel Champion could assemble only two units of the Giant a day. As he gained experience, he was capable of assembling eight such units in a day.
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The Wenger Giant is not only the largest Swiss Army Knife but also one of the most expensive Swiss Army Knives ever made. After all, the level of engineering effort that went into the design and production does deserve premium pricing.
WENGER® Certificate
You are now the owner of the high quality GENUINE WENGER GIANT SWISS ARMY KNIFE (1.092.002.000)
This collector's knife, manufactured by WENGER SA in Delémont, Switzerland integrates:
87 tools / 141 functions. Guaranteed
Integrated swivelling compass with
sight line (exclusivity) / ruler cm + inch (exclusivity)
2 x Key Ring
Toothpick
Tweezers
Screwing bit 1.0 x 6.5 mm
Screwing bit PH 1
Nail clipper
Blade with Scout mark
Large blade
Nail file / nail cleaner /
screwdriver for small cross head screws
Corkscrew
Flat screwdriver with safety lock system /
Cap lifter / Wire bender
Flat Phillips screwdriver
Can opener
Reamer
Wood saw
Graduated saw
Metal file / Metal cutting saw
Fish scaler / Fish disgorger / lineguide
Magnifying glass / Precision screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver with safety lock system
Flat Philips screwdriver
All-purpose wrench (exclusivity)
Small blade
3 x Bit holder
Semi-round-nose pliers
Combination pliers
Serrated-edge scissors and lever (patented exclusivity)
Multipurpose pliers (exclusivity) / Tag clamp /
Inside and outside wire-cutters
Multifunctions detachable tool
Junior blade
Fabric cutter
Diode light
Integrated holder
2 x Integrated Pocketgrip holder with screwing bits
10 mm detachable hexagonal wrench / screwdriver /
spoke key (3.3 mm and 3.5 mm) openings /
extension lever
Chain rivet setter / detachable (5 mm) curved
hexagonal male key
Blade for case opener
Round needle file
Graduated rule / magnifying glass / spring bars tool
Toolbox
Reamer
Pin-punch bit 0.8
Pin-punch bit 1.2
Fine fork for spring bars tool
Screwdriver blade 0.8
Screwdriver blade 1.2
Round needle file
Phillips screwdriver bit, 1.5
Tool holder Minathor
Bevelled blade
Cigar cutter (patented)
Combination tool
Hexagonal key
Curved key
Detachable 10 mm hexagonal key
Military knife blade
Special Military screwdriver
Fix screwdriver
Reamer for gun
Screwdriver for gun
Stud key golfer
Golf reamer
Snap hook
Green repairer
Graduated tread depth gauge (mm/inch)
detachable sliding bit holder
Detachable sliding bit holder
Blade for grafting knife
Blade for grafting knife
Blade for grafting knife
Blade for grafting knife
Blade for grafting knife
Retractor blade for grafting knives
Small blade
Scissors
Nail File / Nail cleaner /
Screwdriver for small cross head screws
Green repairer
Screwdriver / can opener / cap lifter
Screwdriver
Reamer
Blade
Combined tool: screwdriver / can opener / cap lifter
½ serrated blade