history
The 136 m model has been manufactured by Victorinox since the early 1950s. It was offered around 1954 under the category "Bastler Handwerker" and in the English-speaking area under the category "Master Craftsman ". The latter category, which originally included various models, was later adopted as the designation for the Model No. 136m and the Model No. 136m is still manufactured and marketed today under the Master Craftsman name.
The model gained notoriety when NASA ordered 50 of these from Victorinox in 1978 and handed them out to its staff. A depiction of a space shuttle was later embedded in the scales of the Model No. 136 m.
In a blue aluminum variant, the Dutch Air Force (KLU) and Navy (KM) ordered the Master Craftsman for their troops in the 1960s and 1970s.
Until the end of the 1960s, model no. 136 m was only available in the version with a bow, then only in the version with bow and toothpick/tweezers. This model went through many changes analogous to the changes of the individual tools.
functional parts
The Model No. 136 m had a small and large cutting blade, a can opener and a screwdriver, scissors, a metal file/saw, a saw and, on the back, a Phillips screwdriver and an awl. The model was initially only available with a bracket, later only with a bracket/key ring and toothpick/tweezers.
material thickness
Big cutting blade: 2.7 mm; small cutting blade: 1.7 mm; Scissors: 2.5mm; Metal saw/file: 1.8 mm; saw: 1.8 mm; Screwdriver: 2.0mm; Can opener: 2.0 mm; Phillips screwdriver: 2.8mm; Awl: 2.0 mm
construction
The model no. 136 m is a 5-layer pocket knife. The upper layer consists of the can opener, the screwdriver and the awl on the back. The bottom layer consists of a small and large cutting blade and the Phillips screwdriver on the back, the second layer consists of scissors, the third layer consists of a saw and the fourth layer consists of a metalsaw/file. The latter is fixed to the foot rivet together with the small cutting blade, the scissors, the saw and the screwdriver. An awl and a Phillips screwdriver rotate around the center rivet.
scale material
Victorinox used red Cellidor as the scale material for the Model No. 136 m. An exception was the Dutch Army's orders for its troops, when blue aluminum scales were used.
Liners/spacers/rivets
The liners are made of aluminium, the intermediate layer is made of nickel silver or aluminium.
Trade names: Master Craftsman, Astronaut