Victorinox Swiss Army Knife | Bantam Red

Victorinox - the original Swiss Army knife -
The Victorinox "Swiss Army knife" is over 100 Years Old. This useful pocket multi tool was legally registered on June 12, 1897. Over 34,000 of these pocket tools with the distinctive Swiss cross leave the factory in central Switzerland each day. Ninety per cent are for export to over 100 different countries and serve as ambassadors for Switzerland.

Karl Elsener, the company founder, wanted to create work in sparsely industrialised central Switzerland and counter the emigration spawned by unemployment. To go from hand crafting to industrial production was at the time adventurous and required enormous determination. Today, this family business in Schwyz provides 950 jobs.

After the soldier's knife, which every recruit receives upon entering the army, Karl Elsener developed a new, elegant and lightweight pocket knife, with six practical tools. He called this new model the "Officers and Sports knife".

After an unparalleled success story around the world, the Victorinox "Swiss Army knife" is even orbiting the earth as part of the standard equipment of the Space Shuttle Crew. The knife has also been successfully proven on expeditions: in the arctic ice of the North Pole; on the highest peak on earth, Mount Everest; in the tropical rain forests of the Amazon, and elsewhere. Time and again, it has been a life saver in situations of extreme danger and great need. The New York Museum of Modern Art and the State Museum for Applied Art in Munich have selected it for their collection of excellence in design, and, since Lyndon B. Johnson, US presidents present guests with Victorinox pocket knives.

Today, the "Officers' knife" is available in over 100 different models. Each knife must undergo seamless quality controls before being released for sale.