The Victorinox Fisherman is a 91mm Swiss Army Knife with Cellidor handles featuring an emblem of a fish at the bottom of the top scale, originally this was a metal inlay, but was switched to be printed more recently (date???). This knife has quite a long history, and its tool selection has changed over the years.

The Fisherman Plus (possibly not an official name) adds a wood saw to the Fisherman and was a less common model. There were other tool variations on this model in the early days.

The Fisherman Plus is no longer available.

Metal Inlay

Layer Tools

Fischermesser with Metal File

• Large blade
• Small blade
• Fish-scaler / Fish hook disgorger - with ruler
• Scissors
• Bottle-opener with large screwdriver & wire stripper
• Can-opener with small screwdriver tip

The Fisherman Plus adds the:

• Wood saw

Back Layer Tools

• Reamer/Awl
• Hook
• Phillips screwdriver
• Keyring

Scale Tools

• Toothpick
• Tweezers

Scales 

Red or blue (for older models) Cellidor scales with a special metal inlay on the top scale of a fish, which was later switched to be printed.

History

This model has a long, and slightly confusing, history, involving some significant tool changes and which is also intertwined with the Angler model.
The fishscaler and back-spring Phillips were both introduced in 1952. A catalogue from around that time (possibly a little later) shows a 'Sportfischer' (Fisherman) model which was available with a corkscrew (Model 235fa) or a Phillips screwdriver (Model 135fau) and optionally a wood saw (Model 236fau). It also shows the blue-scaled 'Fischermesser'  (Fisherman's knife) which has the corkscrew and adds the metal file, and optionally a wood saw.

The modern distinction of the Fisherman having the back-spring Phillips drive and the Angler having the corkscrew probably came in in the mid-1970s.
Note: Early versions of the Angler also had the scissors, as opposed to the later/current versions which have the pliers.

Variations

Historically several variations were available, adding additional tools to the Fisherman such as the metal file or the wood saw.
A much older version of the Fisherman with blue scales was also available. This model is highly sought after by collectors !

Physical Specifications

Blue Scaled Fisherman

Figures for current (2019) Fisherman:

• Length: 91mm
• Width: 19.5mm
• Weight: 99g

Identifiers

Original format product codes - Victoria/Victorinox - From the 1950s to the early 1970s

• F235fma: Fischermesser (Fisherman's knife); blue Cellidor scales; fish inlay; metal file/saw; long nail-file
• F235fmaU: Fischermesser; blue Cellidor scales;fish inlay; metal file/saw; long nail-file; bail
• 246 kaU: Blue Cellidor scales; wood saw; long nail-file; bail; from the end of 1940s or early 1950s

• 1.3773.72: Fischermesser (aka. Fisherman Deluxe); red Cellidor scales; fish inlay; metal file/saw; corkscrew
• 1.4733.72: Blue Cellidor scales; fish inlay
• 1.4733.72: Current (2019) Fisherman with fish inlay (US Model number - 53541)

Ed Note: There seems to be some inconsistency in the numbering here, as the older blue scaled model, has the same number as the current red scaled model - Usually blue vs red scales would drive a different suffix to the model code!

Related Models

• Angler - Replaces the scissors and multipurpose hook with pliers; exchanges the Phillips drive for a corkscrew
• Deluxe Angler - Adds pliers; exchanges the Phillips drive for a corkscrew - Note: Details included in Angler page
• Super Tinker - Removes the fishscaler/ruler

• Bass - Similar knife made by Wenger
• Master Fisherman - Similar knife made by Wenger, the nail-file instead of small blade

• Fishtale - A similar model by SwissBuck, but without scissors

External Resources

• MultiTool.org thread on vintage 1940s/50s Fisherman models with blue scales
• MultiTool.org thread on vintage Fisherman's knife model