Swiss Army knife

Victorinox "Huntsman" Swiss Army knife with knife chain and belt clip.

A Swiss Army knife (French: Couteau suisse, German: Schweizer Offiziersmesser, Italian: Coltellino svizzero) is a brand of pocket knife or multi-tool manufactured by Victorinox AG and Wenger SA. Generally speaking, a Swiss Army knife has a knife blade as well as various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers. These attachments are stowed inside the handle of the knife through a pivot point mechanism. The handle is usually red, and features a Victorinox or Wenger "cross" logo or for military issue knives the coat of arms of Switzerland. The Swiss Army knife originated in Ibach Schwyz, Switzerland in the 1890s.

The term "Swiss Army knife" was coined by US soldiers after World War II, presumably because they had trouble pronouncing its original name, "Offiziersmesser". The "Swiss Army knife" has been added to the collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Munich's State Museum of Applied Art for its design and the term "Swiss Army knife" currently is a registered trademark owned by Victorinox AG and its subsidiary Wenger SA. Sometimes, the term "Swiss Army knife" is also used metaphorically to describe usefulness, such as a software tool that is a collection of special-purpose tools.

Features

Some of the various models produced by Victorinox.

File:Victorinox Cybertool.JPG

The Victorinox Cybertool.

Tools

Various models of Swiss Army knives exist, with different tool combinations for specific tasks designed for everyday carry. The simplest model sold includes only a single blade. The most common tools featured are, in addition to the main blade, a smaller second blade, tweezers, toothpick, corkscrew, can opener, bottle opener, slotted/flat-head screwdriver(s), phillips-head screwdriver, nail file, scissors, saw (regular, wood), file, hook (parcel carrier, tightening aid for shoelaces, etc.), magnifying glass, ballpoint pen, fish scaler, hex wrench w/bits, pliers, and keyring. Recent technological features include USB flash drives, digital clock, digital altimeter, LED light, laser pointer, and MP3 player.

The Victorinox Cybertools [1] have many tools of use with computers and electronic equipment. In addition to the usual tools, including pliers and scissors, they have a 4 mm hex screwdriver bit holder and bit case with 4 double-ended bits (8 ends).

In January 2010 Victorinox presented the Presentation Master model line to be released in April 2010. The technologically most advanced model includes a laser pointer, a 32 GB detachable flash drive and Bluetooth. One of the Presentation Master models will be the bladeless Presentation Master Flight model. Besides being lightweight, protected and portable, this bladeless Presentation Master version is permitted to be carried on airplanes. For added convenience, the flash drive component is removable, offering travelers the option to carry their data while storing their pocket tool in their checked baggage.

Knives with the most tools

Since 2006 Wenger has produced a knife called "The Giant" that includes every implement the company has ever made. With 87 tools and 141 different functions it is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most multifunctional penknife. It retails for about GBP 550.

In the same year Victorinox released SwissChamp XAVT which includes 80 functions, with retail price of USD 425.

The Guinness Book of Records recognizes a one-off 314-blade Swiss Army-style knife made in 1991 by Master Cutler Hans Meister as the world's largest penknife, weighing 11 pounds.

Tool locks

Dual liner lock system as used in the Soldatenmesser 08 and various other Victorinox 111 mm models.

Some Swiss Army knives feature a locking mechanism for one or two tools. The employed locking systems make an accidental closure during use of an extended tool unlikely. Several Wenger and Victorinox models feature a locking cutting blade that is operated with an unlocking-button integrated in the scales. Furthermore several models from the Victorinox 111 mm series feature a double liner lock that secures the cutting blade and bottle opener.

Steel

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 1.4110 according to Victorinox. After a hardening process at 1040 °C and annealing at 160 °C the blades achieve an average blade steel hardness of 55-56 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 parts is X39Cr13 or 1.4031 and for the springs X20Cr13 or 1.4021. 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 RC 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.

Rivets

Brass rivets 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.

Separators

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.

Scales

Various sized and scaled models produced by Wenger.

Although red cellidor scaled Swiss Army Knives are most common, there are many colors and scales available. Many textures, colors and shapes now appear in the Swiss Army Knife. Since 2006 the scales on some knife models can have texturized non-slip inlays incorporated, intended for sufficient grip with moist or wet hands. A modding community has also developed, resulting in custom models produced with colorful anodized patterns or wood handles.

Sizes

The standard Victorinox Swiss Army knife is approximately 91 mm (3.6 in) long and 20 mm (0.79 in) wide. Their smaller models are typically about 58 mm (2.3 in) long and 15 mm (0.59 in) wide. The Victorinox Pocket-Multi-Tools with locking are typically about 111 mm (4.4 in) long and 30 mm (1.2 in) wide. Wenger Swiss Army knives typically use 65 mm (2.6 in), 85 mm (3.3 in) and 120 mm (4.7 in) length steppings. Thickness varies depending on the number of tool layers included.

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 access length of the rivets is then cut of 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 the scales are pressed onto the flanged bushings. The scales are being held in place by holes incorporated in the insides of the scales that result in a tight shape connection with the flanged bushings.

History

Origins

Victorinox Bundeswehr

In 1891, Karl Elsener, then owner of a company that made surgical equipment, discovered to his dismay that the Modell 1890 pocket knives supplied to the Swiss army were in fact made in Solingen (Germany); they had originally been ordered in 1889 when the Swiss army switched to a rifle that required a screwdriver for assembly. In that age of nationalism, Elsener set out to manufacture the knives in Switzerland itself. At the end of 1891 Elsener took over production of the Modell 1890 knives, but Elsener was not satisfied with its first incarnation. In 1896, after five years of hard work, Elsener managed to put the blades 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. This allowed Elsener to put twice as many features on the knife; he added a second cutting blade and a corkscrew.

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.

According to Carl Elsener, head of Victorinox in 2009, U.S. soldiers bought Swiss Army knives in huge numbers at PX stores on military bases. As "Schweizer Offiziersmesser" (Swiss Officers Knife) was too difficult for them to say, they called it the "Swiss army knife", and that is the name it is now known by all over the world.

Victorinox and Wenger

Wenger Swiss Army knife, opened.

Elsener, through his company Victorinox, managed to corner 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, Theodore 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 advertises as the Genuine Swiss Army Knife and Victorinox uses the slogan the Original Swiss Army Knife.

On April 26, 2005 Victorinox acquired Wenger, becoming once again the sole supplier of knives to the Swiss Army. Victorinox has stated that it intends to keep both consumer brands intact.

Manufacturers

Main articles: Victorinox and Wenger

The Swiss company Victorinox AG and up to 2008 its wholly owned subsidiary Wenger SA supply about 50,000 knives to the Swiss army each year, and manufacture many more for export, mostly to the United States. Commercial Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army knives can be immediately distinguished by the "cross logos" depicted on their grip shells; 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. The knives supplied to the Swiss Army bear the Swiss Coat of Arms.

• Victorinox logo.
  Victorinox logo.
• Wenger logo.
  Wenger logo.

Many other companies manufacture similar-looking multi-tool folding knives in a wide range of quality and prices. The color red for multi-function knives, the cross-and-shield emblem, and the words SWISS ARMY are registered trademarks of Victorinox AG and its related companies.

Knives issued by the Swiss military

Modell 1890, the first Swiss Soldier Knife produced by Wester & Co. Solingen.

During the late 1880s, the Swiss Army decided to purchase a new folding pocket knife for their soldiers. This knife was to be suitable to help the army in opening canned food and disassembling the Schmidt-Rubin model 1889 service rifle.

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 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 at the German knife manufacturer Wester & Co. from Solingen. These knives were delivered in October 1891.

At the end of 1891 the company Karl Elsener, which later became Victorinox, delivered the first model 1890 knives produced in Switzerland. Also several other manufacturers from Germany and Switzerland produced this knife and its successors. 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.

Since its launch in 1891 the Swiss military knife has been revised several times. There are five different main Modelle; the model number is the year of introduction. Several main models have been revised over time and therefore exist in different Ausführungen (executions). These are the issued models:

Modell 1951, the knife that was issued from 1951 to 1961.

• 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)

The Swiss military never issued knives that differed from these models and executions for commissioned or non-commissioned officers.

Soldier Knife model 1961

Modell 1961, the knife that was issued from 1961 to 2008.

The knife model that was in use by the Swiss Army from 1961 to 2008 has a 93 mm (3.7 in) long knurled alox handle with the Swiss crest, a blade, a reamer, a blade combining bottle opener, screwdriver, and wire stripper, and a combined can-opener and small screwdriver and it weighs 72 g (2.5 oz).

This official army 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.

This and later models of the Swiss Soldier Knife were manufactured only by Victorinox and Wenger.

Soldier Knife 08

Soldatenmesser 08, the knife currently issued.

In 2007, the Swiss Government made a request for new updated soldier knives for the Swiss Army for distribution in late 2008; however, due to size of the order, WTO ruled that it had to open the request for bids from companies around the world, not just the native Victorinox and Wenger.

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 is worth CHF 1.38 million. This equates to a purchase price of CHF 18.40 (EUR 12.12, USD 17.99) per knife plus case.

Victorinox won the contest with a knife based on the One-Hand Trailmaster/Trekker model as issued by the German Bundeswehr since 2003 and started mass production of the new Soldatenmesser 08 (Soldier Knife 08) for the Swiss army in December 2008. The Soldier Knife 08 features an 111 mm (4.4 in) long ergonomic handle with texturized non-slip inlays incorporated in the polymer 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 screwdriver, locking bottle opener with large 7 mm screwdriver and wire stripper/bender, reamer, Phillips (PH2) screwdriver and keyring. The overall length opened is 197 mm (7.8 in) and it weighs 126 g (4.4 oz). The Soldier Knife 08 replaces the previous Swiss soldier's knife, which was introduced in 1961. During the first basic training sessions of 2009 the new Soldier Knives were issued to Swiss troops.

Gallery

• 
  Victorinox Soldier Knife as issued by the German Bundeswehr.
• 
  Victorinox Swiss Army knife, closed
• 
  Victorinox Swiss Army knife, opened
• 
  Wenger Swiss Army knife, closed
• 
  Victorinox Cybertool, opened
• 
  Wenger Scouting 2007 Centenary Swiss Army Knife
• 
  A SwissChamp, one of the most functional Swiss Army knives. It's also in the Museum of Modern Art.
• 
  Victorinox Presentation Master
• 
  Victorinox knifesharpener for sharpening plain and serrated edges on (Swiss Army) knives and multi-tools.

Knife legislation

Main article: Knife legislation

Several jurisdictions prohibit or impose limitations on the possession, transport and carrying of knives or particular knife features affecting sales of the concerned Swiss Army knife models/variants.

In popular culture

The Swiss Army knife is a signature of the American TV show MacGyver, wherein MacGyver often improvises tools that are needed to solve problems. He often used his knife to help build mechanisms out of common items, which led to sayings such as "making a cake out of a stick of chewing gum." In fact, this has led to many discussions to attempt to list the variants that were used. Current lists show nearly every model available in the US during filming.

See also

• Victorinox
• Wenger
• Swiss dagger
• Leatherman
• Gerber multitool
• Multi-tool

External links

• Victorinox manufacturer's web site (English version)
• Soldier Knife 2008 promotional page
• Presentation Master/Victorinox Secure - Support Page
• Wenger manufacturer's web site (English version)
• Roman eating implement, folding, with three-pronged fork, spatula, pick, spike and knife. A.D. 201 — A.D. 300 (Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK)