Have you ever wondered why the quintessential pocket knife is known as a Swiss Army knife? Who invented it and what’s so ”Swiss” about it? Well, buckle your belt and sharpen your blade, because we’re about to go on a journey of all manner of whittled facts and suppositions, as we try to answer the question: why is it called a Swiss Army knife?
Contents
Origin Story
Though we may think of the Swiss Army knife as a symbol of Swiss ingenuity today, it was actually an invention from abroad. Specifically, it was the brainchild of a German cutlery maker named Karl Elsener. Elsener got the idea for a folding pocket knife with multiple tools as a way to help soldiers in Switzerland’s army do the work they needed without the need for carrying around multiple tools. In the 1880s, Elsener began working on designs for a sturdy multi-tool pocket knife, and by the late 1880s, Elsener had his composition finalized. It included a blade, a reamer (for making holes), a screwdriver and a can opener.
At the time, the Swiss military was composed of mainly of conscripted soldiers. By adding these pocket
multi-tools to their supplies, it meant that these soldiers were able to keep their tools in one place instead of multiple places. For this reason, Elsener designed these knives to be lightweight and not to take up as much space and weight as a dagger or pocket knife would. This increased the efficacy of the Swiss military and soon other armies began to copy Elsener’s Multi-Tool pocket knife design.
The Brand is Born
During this time, Elsener was eager to protect the designs and quality of his product. To do so, Elsener and his associates founded the Wenger Company in 1893. The goal was to begin manufacturing pocket knives to the highest standards of quality, which would be on par with the already recognized Swiss quality products. Though Wenger was the exclusive supplier of multi-tool pocket knives to the Swiss Army, Elsener wanted to take his invention to a wider market.
With that goal in mind, Elsener founded Victorinox in 1891. The more futuristic sounding name of Victorinox was both an homage to Elsener’s mother, Victoria, as well as an ode to the steel used to craft the knives. With Victorinox Elsener was able to reach out to a wider market and create products that were not limited to just the Swiss military. Today, Victorinox is the main producer of Swiss Army Knives, while Wenger is the other.
Why It’s Still Called a Swiss Army Knife
Although the Swiss Army knife has been manufactured all over the world since Elsener’s invention, its name has stuck with it. This may be due to the quality of the product, or the tight association it has with the Swiss. Whatever the reason, Swiss Army knife is a synonym for a multi-tool pocket knife and no other brand quite imitates their craftsmanship.
The Swiss Army knife has been known for its quality and practicality since its invention. Built with German ingenuity to make life simpler and more efficient for the Swiss military, its popularity ultimately spread worldwide. It’s still not entirely clear why it is called a Swiss Army knife, but many attribute this to its quality and connection to the Swiss military. The brand has held tight to its reputation and continues to be the go-to when it comes to multi-tool pocket knives.
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