The Swiss Army knife is a pocketknife or multi-tool manufactured by Victorinox AG (and up to 2005 also by Wenger SA). The term “Swiss Army knife” was coined by American soldiers after World War II due to the difficulty they had in pronouncing “Offiziersmesser”, the German name (lit. “officer’s knife”).
The Swiss Army knife generally has a main spearpoint blade, as well as various tools, such as screwdrivers, a can opener, and many others. These attachments are stowed inside the handle of the knife through a pivot point mechanism. The handle is usually in its stereotypical red color, and features a Victorinox or Wenger “cross” logo or, for Swiss military issue knives, the coat of arms of Switzerland.
Originating in Ibach, Switzerland, the Swiss Army knife was first produced in 1891 after the company, Karl Elsener, which later became Victorinox, won the contract to produce the Swiss Army’s Modell 1890 knife from the previous German manufacturer. In 1893, the Swiss cutlery company Paul Boéchat & Cie, which later became Wenger, received its first contract from the Swiss military to produce model 1890 knives; the two companies split the contract for provision of the knives from 1908 until Victorinox acquired Wenger in 2005. A cultural icon of Switzerland, the design of the knife and its versatility have both led to worldwide recognition.
Features
A feature of the Swiss army knife is that in addition to a blade other tools are integrated into the knife. Usually, the commercially available knives have red plastic handles (Cellidor) and bear the Swiss cross as a distinctive mark. The original knife was developed at the end of the 19th century for the soldiers of the Swiss Army to combine different tasks in the field in a single compact and lightweight tool. Because of this feature, Swiss Army Knives are still popular with people who like outdoor activities such as hiking, camping orOperate survival art.
The two manufacturers of the original knife are the company Victorinox from the German-speaking canton of Schwyz and until 2005 the company Wenger from the French-speaking canton of Jura. In 2005, Wenger was bought up by its competitor Victorinox, since it had come into financial difficulties since 2001, but was continued until 2013 as a separate brand. According to Victorinox, this takeover was primarily intended to prevent Wenger from being bought by foreign investors, which was likely to damage the reputation of Swiss Army Knives.
The end of 2015 took the watchmaker Swiza from Delémont, after the acquisition by a former manager Wenger, a Swiss Army knife new to the range on, that the 2016 Red Dot Design Award was awarded.
History
Origins
During the late 1880s, the Swiss Army decided to purchase a new folding pocket knife for their soldiers. This knife was to be suitable for use by the army in opening canned food and disassembling the Swiss service rifle, the Schmidt–Rubin, which required a screwdriver for assembly.
The Swiss Army Knife was not the first multi use pocket knife. In 1851 in “Moby Dick” (chapter 107), Melville references the “Sheffield contrivances, assuming the exterior – though a little swelled – of a common pocket knife; but containing, not only blades of various sizes, but also screw-drivers, cork-screws, tweezers, awls, pens, rulers, nail-filers, countersinkers.”
In January 1891, the knife received the official designation Modell 1890. The knife had a blade, reamer, can-opener, screwdriver, and grips made out of dark oak wood that some say was later partly replaced with ebony wood. At that time no Swiss company had the necessary production capacity, so the initial order for 15,000 knives was placed with the German knife manufacturer Wester & Co. from Solingen, Germany. These knives were delivered in October 1891.
In 1891, Karl Elsener, then owner of a company that made surgical equipment, set out to manufacture the knives in Switzerland itself. At the end of 1891 Elsener began production of the Modell 1890 knives. Elsener then wanted to make a pocketknife more suitable to an Officer. In 1896, Elsener succeeded in attaching tools on both sides of the handle using a special spring mechanism, allowing him to use the same spring to hold them in place; an innovation at the time. Elsener could then put twice as many features on the knife. On 12 June 1897, this new knife, featuring a second, smaller cutting blade, a corkscrew, and wood fiber grips, was first registered with the patent office as The Officer’s and Sports Knife, though it was never part of a military contract.
Karl Elsener used the cross and shield to identify his knives, the symbol still used today on Victorinox-branded versions. When his mother died in 1909, Elsener decided to name his company “Victoria” in her memory. In 1921 the company started using stainless steel to make the Swiss Army Knife. Stainless steel is also known as “inox”, short for the French term “acier inoxydable”. “Victoria” and “inox” were then combined to create the company name “Victorinox”. Victorinox’s headquarters and show room are located in the Swiss town of Ibach.
Victorinox and Wenger
Elsener, through his company Victorinox, managed to control the market until 1893, when the second industrial cutler of Switzerland, Paul Boéchat & Cie, headquartered in Delémont in the French-speaking region of Jura, started selling a similar product. This company was later acquired by its then General Manager, Théodore Wenger, and renamed the Wenger Company. In 1908 the Swiss government, wanting to prevent an issue over regional favouritism, but perhaps wanting a bit of competition in hopes of lowering prices, split the contract with Victorinox and Wenger, each getting half of the orders placed. By mutual agreement, Wenger has advertised as the Genuine Swiss Army Knife and Victorinox used the slogan, the Original Swiss Army Knife.
On 26 April 2005, Victorinox acquired Wenger, once again becoming the sole supplier of knives to the Military of Switzerland. Victorinox had kept both consumer brands intact, but on 30 January 2013, Wenger and Victorinox announced that the separate knife brands were going to be merged into one brand: Victorinox. Wenger’s watch and licensing business will continue as a separate brand.
Up to 2008 Victorinox AG and Wenger SA supplied about 50,000 knives to the military of Switzerland each year, and manufactured many more for export, mostly to the United States. Many commercial Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army knives can be immediately distinguished by the cross logos depicted on their grips; the Victorinox cross logo is surrounded by a shield while the Wenger cross logo is surrounded by a slightly rounded square.
On 30 January 2013, Wenger and Victorinox announced that the separate knife brands were going to be merged into one brand: Victorinox. The press release stated that Wenger’s factory in Delemont would continue to produce knives and all employees at this site will retain their jobs. They further elaborated that an assortment of items from the Wenger line-up will remain in production under the Victorinox brand name. Wenger’s US headquarters will be merged with Victorinox’s location in Monroe, Connecticut. Wenger’s watch and licensing business will continue as a separate brand: Swiss Gear.
Many other companies manufacture similar-looking folding knives in a wide range of quality and prices. The cross-and-shield emblem and the words SWISS ARMY are registered trademarks of Victorinox AG and its related companies.
Swiss military knife contract
In 2007, the Swiss Government made a request for new updated soldier knives for the Swiss military for distribution in late 2008. The evaluation phase of the new soldier knife began in February 2008, when Armasuisse issued an invitation to tender. A total of seven suppliers from Switzerland and other countries were invited to participate in the evaluation process. Functional models submitted by suppliers underwent practical testing by military personnel in July 2008, while laboratory tests were used to assess compliance with technical requirements. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted and the model with the best price/performance ratio was awarded the contract. The order for 75,000 soldier knives plus cases was worth 1.38 million SFr.. This equates to a purchase price of 18.40 SFr., €12.12, GB£17.99 in October 2009 per knife plus case.
Victorinox won the contest with a knife based on the One-Hand Germany Army Knife as issued by the German Bundeswehr and released in the civilian model lineup with the addition of a toothpick and tweezers stored in the nylon grip scales (side cover plates) as the One-Hand Trekker/Trailmaster model. Mass production of the new Soldatenmesser 08 (Soldier Knife 08) for the Swiss Armed Forces was started in December 2008.
Features
Tools
There are various models of the Swiss Army Knife with different tool combinations. Though Victorinox doesn’t provide custom knives, they have produced many variations to suit individual users.
Main tools:
Large blade, imprinted on the blade shank of Victorinox models with “VICTORINOX SWISS MADE” to verify the knife’s authenticity.
Small blade
Nail file / nail cleaner
Nail file / nail cleaner / metal file / metal saw
Wood saw
Fish scaler / hook disgorger / ruler in cm and inches
Scissors
Electrician’s blade / wire scraper
Pruning blade
Pharmaceutical spatula (cuticle pusher)
Cyber Tool (bit driver)
Pliers / wire cutter / wire crimper
LED light
USB stick
Magnifying lens
Phillips screwdriver
Hoof cleaner
Shackle opener / marlinspike
Can opener / 3 mm slotted screwdriver
Cap opener / 6 mm slotted screwdriver / wire stripper
Combination tool containing cap opener / can opener / 5 mm slotted screwdriver / wire stripper
Smaller tools:
Keyring
Reamer
Multipurpose hook
2mm slotted screwdriver
Chisel
Corkscrew or Phillips driver
Mini screwdriver (designed to fit within the corkscrew)
Scale tools:
Tweezers
Toothpick
Pressurized ballpoint pen (with a retractable version on smaller models, and can be used to set DIP switches)
Stainless pin
Digital clock / alarm / timer / altimeter /thermometer / barometer
Three Victorinox SAK models featured a butane lighter: the Swissflame, Campflame, and Swisschamp XXLT, first introduced in 2002 and then discontinued in 2005. The models were never sold in the United States due to lack of safety features. They used a standard piezoelectric ignition system for easy and quick ignition with adjustable flame, and were designed for operation at altitudes up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level and continuous operation of 10 minutes.
In January 2010, Victorinox announced the Presentation Master models, released in April 2010. The technological tools included a laser pointer, and detachable flash drive with fingerprint reader. Victorinox now sells an updated version called the Slim Jetsetter, with “a premium software package that provides ultra secure data encryption, automatic backup functionality, secure web surfing capabilities, file and email synchronization between the drive and multiple computers, Bluetooth pairing and much more. On the hardware side of things, biometric fingerprint technology, laser pointers, LED lights, Bluetooth remote control and of course, the original Swiss Army Knife implements – blade, scissors, nail file, screwdriver, key ring and ballpoint pen are standard. **Not every feature is available on every model within the collection.”
In 2006, Wenger produced a knife called “The Giant” that included every implement the company ever made, with 87 tools and 141 different functions. It was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most multifunctional penknife. It retails for about €798 or $US1000, though some vendors charge much higher prices.
In the same year, Victorinox released the SwissChamp XAVT, consisting of 118 parts and 80 functions with a retail price of $425. The Guinness Book of Records recognizes a unique 314-blade Swiss Army-style knife made in 1991 by Master Cutler Hans Meister as the world’s largest penknife, weighing 11 pounds.
Locking mechanisms
Some Swiss Army knives feature locking blades to prevent accidental closure. Wenger was the first to offer a ″PackLock″ for the main blade on several of their standard 85mm models. Several large Wenger and Victorinox models feature a locking blade secured by a slide lock that is operated with an unlocking-button integrated in the scales. Some Victorinox 111 mm series knives feature a double liner lock that secures the cutting blade and large slotted screwdriver/cap opener/wire stripper combination tool designed towards prying.
Design and materials
Rivets and flanged bushings made from brass hold all machined steel parts and other tools, separators and the scales together. The rivets are made by cutting and pointing appropriately sized bars of solid brass.
The separators between the tools have been made from aluminium alloy since 1951. This makes the knives lighter. Previously these separating layers were made of nickel-silver.
The martensitic stainless steel alloy used for the cutting blades is optimized for high toughness and corrosion resistance and has a composition of 15% chromium, 0.60% silicon, 0.52% carbon, 0.50% molybdenum, and 0.45% manganese and is designated X55CrMo14 or DIN 1.4110 according to Victorinox. After a hardening process at 1040 °C and annealing at 160 °C the blades achieve an average hardness of 56 HRC. This steel hardness is suitable for practical use and easy resharpening, but less than achieved in stainless steel alloys used for blades optimized for high wear resistance. According to Victorinox the martensitic stainless steel alloy used for the other parts is X39Cr13 (aka DIN 1.4031, AISI/ASTM 420) and for the springs X20Cr13 (aka DIN 1.4021, but still within AISI/ASTM 420).
The steel used for the wood saws, scissors and nail files has a steel hardness of HRC 53, the screwdrivers, tin openers and awls have a hardness of HRC 52, and the corkscrew and springs have a hardness of HRC 49.
The metal saws and files, in addition to the special case hardening, are also subjected to a hard chromium plating process so that iron and steel can also be filed and cut.
Swiss Army knife model
Since its launch in 1891, the knife of the Swiss army has been adapted several times. There are five different models, the model number is its introductory year. They are models of the years 1890, 1908, 1951, 1961, and finally the knife of soldier 08. The different models have also been partially revised and exist therefore in different versions. Since the 1961 model, the Victorinox and Wenger companies are officially the only manufacturers of the Swiss army knife.
The main novelties of the model 08 are:
a longer serrated blade that can be opened with one hand;
a locking mechanism of the blade and the bottle opener / flat screwdriver in the open position;
a Phillips screwdriver;
a saw;
an anti-slip coating on the handle.
The features of this knife are in every way similar to the knife used in the German army (also produced by Victorinox), only the handle is different.
Military knives never have a corkscrew. Note that this is, since always, the only piece of Victorinox knives that is not manufactured in Switzerland: the corkscrew comes from France, manufactured by Bonpertuis company near Thiers.
In 2014, Victorinox announces the disappearance of the Wenger brand. Some Wenger knives missing from the Victorinox range are preserved but now bear the coat of arms of Victorinox and not the Wenger cross on their plates. Some tools become original Victorinox (like the open-box) and the blade marking is specific. The Wenger factory in Delémont is preserved.
Assembly
During assembly, all components are placed on several brass rivets. The first components are generally an aluminum separator and a flat steel spring. Once a layer of tools is installed, another separator and spring are placed for the next layer of tools. This process is repeated until all the desired tool layers and the finishing separator are installed. Once the knife is built, the metal parts are fastened by adding brass flanged bushings to the rivets. The excess length of the rivets is then cut off to make them flush with the bushings. Finally the remaining length of the rivets is flattened into the flanged bushings.
After the assembly of the metal parts, the blades are sharpened to a 15° angle, resulting in a 30° V-shaped steel cutting edge. The blades are then checked with a laser reflecting goniometer to verify the angle of the cutting edges.
Finally scales are applied. Slightly undersized holes incorporated into the inner surface enclose the bushings, which have truncated cone cross-section and are slightly undercut, forming a one-way interference fit when pressed into the generally softer and more elastic scale material. The result is a tight adhesive-free connection that nonetheless permits new identical-pattern scales to be quickly and easily applied.
Sizes
Victorinox models are available in 58 mm (2.3 in), 74 mm (2.9 in), 84 mm (3.3 in), 91 mm (3.6 in), 93 mm (3.7 in), 100 mm (3.9 in), 108 mm (4.3 in) and 111 mm (4.4 in) lengths when closed. The thickness of the knives varies depending on the number of tool layers included. The 91 mm (3.6 in) models offer the most variety in tool configurations in the Victorinox model line with as many as 15 layers.
Wenger models are available in 65 mm (2.6 in), 75 mm (3.0 in), 85 mm (3.3 in) 93 mm (3.7 in), 100 mm (3.9 in), 120 mm (4.7 in) and 130 mm (5.1 in) lengths when closed. Thickness varies depending on the number of tool layers included. The 85 mm (3.3 in) models offer the most variety in tool configurations in the Wenger model line, with as many as 10 layers.
Knives issued by the Military of Switzerland
Since the first issue as personal equipment in 1891 the Soldatenmesser (Soldier Knives) issued by the Swiss Armed Forces have been revised several times. There are five different main Modelle (models). Their model numbers refer to the year of introduction in the military supply chain. Several main models have been revised over time and therefore exist in different Ausführungen (executions), also denoted by the year of introduction. The issued models of the Swiss Armed Forces are:
Modell 1890
Modell 1890 Ausführung 1901
Modell 1908
Modell 1951
Modell 1951 Ausführung 1954
Modell 1951 Ausführung 1957
Modell 1961
Modell 1961 Ausführung 1965
Modell 1961 Ausführung 1978
Modell 1961 Ausführung 1994
Soldatenmesser 08 (Soldier Knife 08)
Soldier Knives are issued to every recruit or member of the Swiss Armed Forces and the knives issued to officers have never differed from those issued to non-commissioned officers or privates. A model incorporating a corkscrew and scissors was produced as an officer’s tool, but was deemed not “essential for survival”, leaving officers to purchase it individually.
Soldier knife model 1890
The Soldier Knife model 1890 had a spear point blade, reamer, can-opener, screwdriver and grips made out of oak wood scales (handles) that were treated with rapeseed oil for greater toughness and water-repellency, which made them black in color. The wooden grips of the Modell 1890 tended to crack and chip so in 1901 these were changed to a hard reddish-brown fiber similar in appearance to wood. The knife was 100 mm (3.9 in) long, 20.5 mm (0.81 in) thick and weighed 144 g (5.1 oz).
Soldier knife model 1908
The Soldier Knife model 1908 had a clip-point blade rather than the 1890s spear point blade, still with the fiber scales, carbon steel tools, nickel-silver bolster, liners, and divider. The knife was 100 mm (3.9 in) long, 16.5 mm (0.65 in) thick and weighed 125 g (4.4 oz). The contract with the Swiss Army split production equally between the Victorinox and Wenger companies.
Soldier knife model 1951
The soldier Knife model 1951 had fiber scales, nickel-silver bolsters, liners, and divider, and a spear point blade. This was the first Swiss Armed Forces issue model where the tools were made of stainless steel. The screwdriver now had a scraper arc on one edge. The knife was 93 mm (3.7 in) long, 13.5 mm (0.53 in) thick and weighed 90 g (3.2 oz).
Soldier knife model 1961
The Soldier Knife model 1961 has a 93 mm (3.7 in) long knurled alox handle with the Swiss crest, a drop point blade, a reamer, a blade combining bottle opener, screwdriver, and wire stripper, and a combined can-opener and small screwdriver. The knife was 12 mm (0.47 in) thick and weighed 72 g (2.5 oz)
This official Swiss military model also contains a brass spacer, which allows the knife, with the screwdriver and the reamer extended simultaneously, to be used to assemble the SIG 550 and SIG 510 assault rifles: the knife serves as a restraint to the firing pin during assembly of the lock. The Soldier Knife model 1961 was manufactured only by Victorinox and Wenger and was the first issued knife bearing the Swiss Coat of Arms on the handle.
Soldier knife 08
The Soldier Knife 08 was first issued to the Swiss Armed Forces beginning with the first basic training sessions of 2009.
The Soldier Knife 08 features an 111 mm (4.4 in) long ergonomic handle with polymer-textured non-slip inlays incorporated in the nylon grip shells and a double liner locking system, one-hand 86 mm (3.4 in) long locking partly serrated chisel ground drop point blade, wood saw, can opener with small 3 mm (0.12 in) slotted screwdriver, locking bottle opener with large 7 mm (0.28 in) slotted screwdriver and wire stripper/bender, reamer, Phillips (PH2) screwdriver and 12 mm (0.47 in) diameter split keyring. The Soldier Knife 08 width is 34.5 mm (1.36 in), thickness is 18 mm (0.71 in), overall length opened is 197 mm (7.8 in) and it weighs 131 g (4.6 oz). The Soldier Knife 08 is manufactured only by Victorinox.
Knives issued by other militaries
The armed forces of more than 20 different nations have issued or approved the use of various versions of Swiss army knives made by Victorinox, among them the forces of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Malaysia and the United States (NSN 1095-01-653-1166 Knife, Combat).
Knives for the civilian market
The military knife was very sturdy, but also quite heavy (144g). Karl Elsener (in) developed, in 1894, a knife specifically for officers, lighter, with a small extra blade, and a corkscrew. Swiss officers do not receive these army knives, but many of them obtain them from civilian cutlery. The military knife could also be obtained on the civilian market.
The June 12, 1897, the industrialist Karl Elsener makes protect his invention: the mark “Knife of Swiss officer and sports” is protected.
The worldwide popularity of this knife was born after the Second World War, when American soldiers discovered it during their stay in Europe. The international name of Swiss Army Knife is due to the difficulty of pronouncing the official German name Schweizer Offiziersmesser by these soldiers.
This knife has also seen many improvements over the years.
Most consumer models are red, unlike military models. They wear a different Swiss crest according to the manufacturer. The high quality of the manufacturing contributes to the reputation of these products. There are also many cheap imitations generally from China. Their quality is generally disappointing; the steel used is easily oxidized and the blade articulation system is rapidly becoming a problem.
The most common tools are: toothpick, flat screwdriver combined with bottle opener, tweezers, scissors, can opener, corkscrew, punch, etc.
More recently have appeared accessories such as an altimeter, a watch, a flashlight, a laser pointer, a pen, a USB key, etc.
In 2007, Wenger created a knife with all the tools available, ie 87 tools for 121 functions.
In 2015, the Swiza brand launched a range of Swiss knives.
Manufacturers
The two manufacturers of Swiss Army knives, Victorinox and Wenger, each year jointly sell some 50,000 knives to the Swiss Army. The rest of the production is dedicated to exports, especially to the United States. The Victorinox and Wenger knives can be immediately distinguished by their logos: the Victorinox cross is surrounded by a shield with bilateral symmetry, while the Wenger cross is surrounded by a slightly rounded square with quadrilateral symmetry.
Space program
The Swiss Army knife has been present in space missions carried out by NASA since the late 1970s. In 1978, NASA sent a letter of confirmation to Victorinox regarding a purchase of 50 knives known as the Master Craftsman model. In 1985, Edward M. Payton, brother of astronaut Gary E. Payton, sent a letter to Victorinox, asking about getting a Master Craftsman knife after seeing the one his brother used in space. There are other stories as well of repairs conducted in space using a Swiss Army knife.
Cultural impact
The Swiss Army knife has been added to the collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art and Munich’s State Museum of Applied Art for its design. The term “Swiss Army” currently is a registered trademark owned by Victorinox AG and its subsidiary, Wenger SA.
MacGyver, a 1985 television series along with its 2016 reboot features Angus MacGyver, who frequently uses different Swiss Army knives in various episodes to solve problems and construct simple objects.
The term “Swiss Army knife” has entered popular culture as a metaphor for usefulness and adaptability. The multi-purpose nature of the tool has also inspired a number of other gadgets.
One of the Wenger knife models has inspired a large number of humorous reviews on Amazon.
Although red Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) (generally known trade names are Cellidor, Tenite and Tenex) scaled Swiss Army Knives are most common, there are many colors and alternative materials like nylon and aluminum for the scales available. Many textures, colors and shapes now appear in the Swiss Army Knife. Since 2006 the scales on some knife models can have textured rubber non-slip inlays incorporated, intended for sufficient grip with moist or wet hands. A modding community has also developed from professionally-produced custom models combining novel materials, colors, finishes and occasionally new tools such firesteels or tool ‘blades’ mounting replaceable surgical scalpel blades to replacement of standard scales (handles) with new versions in natural materials such as buffalo horn. In addition to ‘limited edition’ productions runs, numerous examples from basic to professional-level customizations of standard knives – such as retrofitting pocket clips, one-off scales created using 3D printing techniques, decoration using anodization and new scale materials – can be found by searching for ‘SAK mods’.
Fame
The Swiss army knife is characteristic of the American TV series MacGyver, where the protagonist often improvises with the necessary tools to solve different types of problems. He frequently uses his SAK (abbreviation for its acronym in English, Swiss Army Knife) to build mechanisms out of the ordinary.
The Swiss army knife has also been parodied on TV shows, such as The Simpsons, and the animated version of The Tick, in which a fictional troop of the Swiss army carries a sorting mat for each type of knife.
Source from Wikipedia