history
The history of model no. 248 begins around 1900 (cf. cat. 1901), when Victorinox began producing this pocket knife. Next to the model no. 234 k, it was the most widespread and popular pocket knife in this 84 mm series of small army knives.
Originally, the scales were made of fiber and the functional parts were made of carbon steel. Like all army knives, model no. 248 k also went through various stages of development, towards rust-resistant steel and Cellidor scales, etc. The model is no longer produced.
functional parts
The model no. 248 k has a corkscrew on the back in addition to a small and a large cutting blade. The model was available with or without an underwire. Toothpicks and tweezers were basically not available for this model, but individual variants were produced with them.
material thickness
Large cutting blade: 2.5 mm; small cutting blade: 1.75 mm (later 1.5 mm); Corkscrew: 3.0 mm (later 2.5 mm); Rivets: 2.2mm
construction
Model No. 248k is a 1-layer pocket knife, which means that the tension of all three tools comes from one spring. Four rivets were used on this model, with one rivet hidden under the scale (except on the very early models). The large cutting blade rotates on the head rivet, the small cutting blade on the base rivet. A third rivet fixes the corkscrew on the back. The fourth rivet holds the back spring in place. Spacers were always used, except for the rare variants with aluminum scales
scale material
Celluloid/ cellidor, horn, aluminium, mother-of-pearl, fiber and tortoiseshell were used as the scale material.
Celluloid as a scale material had the disadvantage that the scales decomposed over time. Substances escaped from the material, which led to decomposition and caused oxidation of the rivets and liners. The further developed material Cellidor did not have these disadvantages.
Liners/spacers/rivets
At the beginning of production, blanks made of aluminum or brass were used and spacers and rivets made of carbon steel or brass, later only nickel silver was used for blanks, spacers and rivets. Only from the end of the 1950s was aluminum used again as a circuit liner material.
Trade names: Gourmet