The Victorinox First Mate is a 93mm red alox Swiss Army Knife intended for marine use. This model includes a marlin spike with a sewing eye so it can also be used as a sacking-needle, or to sew/repair other heavy textiles.

Discontinued model, fairly rare.

Layer Tools

First Mate with a bail

• Large blade
• Marlin spike
• Wood saw
• Pruning blade
• Cap-lifter/Bottle-opener with a screwdriver
• Keyring - not present on all versions

Scales

The original First Mate had red Alox scales, with the old silver cross emblem instead of the current Victorinox logo. Some silver Alox scales with the red Victorinox shield were used much later for a relatively small number of knives. See variations below for some collector editions in other colors.

Variations

1. A silver alox version with the red Victorinox shield was manufactured, probably just before this model was discontinued.
2. Somewhat unexpected, but in March 2011 Victorinox manufactured two short special-runs of the First Mate for collectors.
   The first one features very dark blue anodizing on old-style advertising scales with a silver Swiss cross,.'First Mate' is printed in white in the advertising panel. All the tools, and springs in this model are black-oxide coated, including the marlin spike. The main blade is stamped with a serial number from the series (n/50). The liners are shades of grey-blue, brown, or mixture. The special run was limited to fifty knives. The model was part of the 2011 Blue Marlin Spike Series.
   The second one features olive green anodizing on 2011 contemporary style Alox scales featuring a silver Victorinox shield (no advertising panel top or bottom) and black-oxide coated tools and springs. Like the first-one, the liners could be grey-blue, brown, or mixture. The main blade is stamped with an individual serial number from the series (n/50), and the production was limited to fifty knives. The anodizing is slightly darker than some other models that were made in olive green.

History

The ribbed red Alox model (0.8160.20) with the old cross emblem on scale was in production from 1986-1999. Before 1980 it had the model number 2216. Early 2216 models had ELINOX tang stamps and some even had a bail.

In 2009 a small stash of red Alox models were found NIB and sold. At the same time some silver Alox models were made available, it is quite possible they were assembled from spare parts. These ones are more rare than the red Alox models. According to email communications with Victorinox, only between 550 and 600 of the sliver First Mate knives were built between 2005 and 2008. This would make them quite rare relative to other models, and they were, probably the last SAK model to be built with the marlinspike.

Physical Specifications

Silver Alox Version

• Length: 93mm
• Width: 14.6mm
• Weight: 89.6g

Identifiers

• 2216: Red Alox scales - Vintage model number prior to 1980
• 0.8160.20: Red Alox - No keyring attachment
• 0.8161.20: Red Alox - Includes keyring attachment
• 0.8160.26: Silver Alox scales with the Victorinox shield; no keyring

Related Models

• Midshipman - The can-opener replaces the pruner blade
• Pioneer Harvester - The reamer replaces the marlinspike
• Long Rancher - No woodsaw; limited special edition
• Pioneer 2223 / Sea Pioneer - The can-opener replaces the small pruner blade; no woodsaw
• Sailor - One less layer; no bottle-opener or pruner blade
• Seaman - Single layer; no bottle-opener or pruner blade; no saw
• First Mage - A magic wand instead of the marlinspike