history
Victorinox produced the model no. 249 for about 10-15 years around 1900 to 1915. Two different variants were produced, the model no. 249 with a champagne hook, and the model no. 249 S with a screwdriver instead of the hook. The champagne hook was a semi-circular shaped, serrated tool used to loosen the paper/aluminium that wrapped the cork of a champagne bottle. Model No. 249 was advertised as "very practical for innkeepers, waiters, etc." (cf. 1903 catalogue). This tool can still be found in waiter knives today in almost unchanged form. After production ceased around 1915, this tool was never manufactured or used again by Victorinox.
Compared to the other 91 mm officer's knives, model no. 249/249 S had a corkscrew, which used 2 back springs and was built accordingly wide and stable. This corkscrew cannot be found in any other Victorinox model.
functional parts
Model No. 249 had a small and a large cutting blade, a corkscrew on the back and the champagne hook. The model no. 249 S had a screwdriver instead of the champagne hook. There were models no. 249/249 S with the bracket option.
material thickness
Big cutting blade: 2.7 mm; Screwdriver: 2.5mm; small cutting blade: 2.0 mm; Corkscrew: 6.2mm
construction
The large cutting blade and screwdriver rotate around the head rivet, the small cutting blade around the base rivet. The center rivet fixes the corkscrew. The upper layer consists of the large cutting blade, the lower layer of the small cutting blade and screwdriver. The corkscrew on the back uses 2 layers and thus both back springs.
scale material
Fiber red was used as the scale material.
Liners/spacers/rivets
Victorinox produced model no. 249/249 S with aluminum liners and rivets as well as steel intermediate layers.