A Swiss Army knife is a small knife that features several blades and tools that can be folded away into the handle when not in use. This tool is also often called a Victorinox knife as the term "Swiss Army knife" is a registered trademark owned by Wenger S.A. and Victorinox A.G.-the two companies that have competed for more than 100 years in making Swiss Army knives. With the popularity of this multi-function pocket knife, these knives today come in various types and various tools are now featured among these depending on where they are to be used.
Karl Elsener's determination of reducing the dependence of the Swiss Army on foreign aid led him to the invention of the Swiss Army knife. When the Swiss Army turned into Solingen, Germany in the year 1889, a knife that incorporates a blade and screwdriver was created. The screwdriver was used in disassembling the newly introduced rifle as part of their weaponry. With the Swiss Cutlery Guild formed by Elsener, the earliest forerunners of the Swiss Army knife were mass-produced.
Schweizer Offiziersmesser or the Swiss Officers knife which is referred to as Elsener's company which is Victorinox has monopolized the market of Swiss Army knives by 1891. Paul Boechat & Cie in the year 1893 which is also another Swiss industrial cutlery business, on the other hand introduced a similar product. Ever since then the Wenger and Victorinox knife competed in the market. Because of the increasing friction between the two companies by the year 1980, the Swiss government decided to split knives orders of the Swiss Army between the two companies. In 2005 on the other hand, Victorinox was able to purchase Wenger. Once again, the Elsener's company is the sole supplier knives to Swiss Army.
Through the years, from the knife that incorporates a blade and a screwdriver, there are about 100 different tool combinations to choose from. Swiss Army knives have five different types that are based of major features. First is the pocket knife which is characterized by main knife blades that do not lock in the open position. This also has tool assortments that include tweezers, toothpick, cork screw, can opener, bottle opener, screwdriver, nail file, and/or scissors, among others. The second type is the Locking multi-blades. These are specially designed with tool assortments needed by police, firemen, and military that feature main blades that lock securely when fully open, and are often worn in a belt pouch.
Cybertools are Swiss Army knives especially designed for modern technicians. In addition to usual tools like pliers and scissors, cybertools also include a hex screwdriver bit holder and a hex nut driver socket. SwissFlash Swiss Army knives, on the other hand, include flash drive memory blades, as well as LED lights and laser pointer, especially designed for modern electronic uses. Finally, the elegant Swiss Army knives are built for office managers and feature ball-point pen blades and small assortments of tools for office task and personal care. These five are the major classifications of these knives, yet, consumers can find a variety of models of these Victorinox knives.
A Victorinox or just simple Swiss Army knife is indeed a very handy tool that can be used in case of emergency. Today, a Swiss Army knife is not only needed by the Swiss Army but can be very useful to the public as well.
Karl Elsener's determination of reducing the dependence of the Swiss Army on foreign aid led him to the invention of the Swiss Army knife. When the Swiss Army turned into Solingen, Germany in the year 1889, a knife that incorporates a blade and screwdriver was created. The screwdriver was used in disassembling the newly introduced rifle as part of their weaponry. With the Swiss Cutlery Guild formed by Elsener, the earliest forerunners of the Swiss Army knife were mass-produced.
Schweizer Offiziersmesser or the Swiss Officers knife which is referred to as Elsener's company which is Victorinox has monopolized the market of Swiss Army knives by 1891. Paul Boechat & Cie in the year 1893 which is also another Swiss industrial cutlery business, on the other hand introduced a similar product. Ever since then the Wenger and Victorinox knife competed in the market. Because of the increasing friction between the two companies by the year 1980, the Swiss government decided to split knives orders of the Swiss Army between the two companies. In 2005 on the other hand, Victorinox was able to purchase Wenger. Once again, the Elsener's company is the sole supplier knives to Swiss Army.
Through the years, from the knife that incorporates a blade and a screwdriver, there are about 100 different tool combinations to choose from. Swiss Army knives have five different types that are based of major features. First is the pocket knife which is characterized by main knife blades that do not lock in the open position. This also has tool assortments that include tweezers, toothpick, cork screw, can opener, bottle opener, screwdriver, nail file, and/or scissors, among others. The second type is the Locking multi-blades. These are specially designed with tool assortments needed by police, firemen, and military that feature main blades that lock securely when fully open, and are often worn in a belt pouch.
Cybertools are Swiss Army knives especially designed for modern technicians. In addition to usual tools like pliers and scissors, cybertools also include a hex screwdriver bit holder and a hex nut driver socket. SwissFlash Swiss Army knives, on the other hand, include flash drive memory blades, as well as LED lights and laser pointer, especially designed for modern electronic uses. Finally, the elegant Swiss Army knives are built for office managers and feature ball-point pen blades and small assortments of tools for office task and personal care. These five are the major classifications of these knives, yet, consumers can find a variety of models of these Victorinox knives.
A Victorinox or just simple Swiss Army knife is indeed a very handy tool that can be used in case of emergency. Today, a Swiss Army knife is not only needed by the Swiss Army but can be very useful to the public as well.
About the Author:
Vincent Benjamin is a mountain climber from Solingen, Germany. During a mountain hike, he makes sure that he is always equipped with various tools that may be necessary during the climb. As such, he always keeps at hand his Victorinox Taschenmesser.