The Swiss Army Knife is an adventurous instrument, famous for its design and versatility. It has different tool combinations, the most common ones are a blade, can/bottle opener, scissors, screwdrivers, reamer, corkscrew and many more ! For those who are burdened to bring dozens of tools in their bag for their activity, the Swiss Army Knife is the perfect solution to lightened and give more space to the luggage. It is most effective when you have outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, etc.
History
The Swiss Army Knife was invented by Karl Elsener in Switzerland. He opened a factory in Ibach, Switzerland in 1884 for the manufacture of knives and surgical instruments. The name of his company, “Victorinox” is a combination from his mother’s name, Victoria and inox, the french term of stainless steel.
The first model of the Swiss Army Knife was produced from the demand of the Swiss Army to open canned food and as a rifle maintenance tool. This first model was called Modell 1890.
After 1893, a second industrial cutler, the Wenger Company started selling similar product. In 1908, the Swiss government splitted the contract with the two companies, each getting half of the orders placed, perhaps to encourage competition nad lowering prices. On 2005, Victorinox acquired Wenger, becoming once again the sole supplier of knives to the Swiss Armed Forces.
Models
There are several different main 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 executions.
Modell 1890
Modell 1908
Modell 1961
Soldatenmesser 08 (Soldier Knife 08)
Today we can discover plenty other models for a wider clients and not exclusively for the army. The website offers plenty of designs, aimed for different type of activities (sport, hunting, gardening, etc.) and personal tastes (different type of colors, drawings and size). Check them out.
These wonderful tools are made from stainless steel. If you are searching for this material, Shanghai Metal Corporation is one of the leader in manufacturing this material, used for daily life such as stainless steel cutlery, kitchen sinks and a countless variety of stainless steel products. Visit our website to discover them. If you need further question, our English speaking staff will be glad to help you.
Credits to : Victorinox, Wikipedia
Photos from Google image
Ayu P.//SMC editor
Shanghai Metal Corporation 