FACTS ABOUT SWISS ARMY KNIVES
They were born in Germany, not Switzerland.
The first Swiss Army knives were actually produced in Germany by Wester & Co. The Swiss military force required quality compact knives for its army.
The first official Swiss Army Knife, the Modell 1890, was outsourced to Wester & Co. and produced in Solingen, Germany, over 300 miles from the Swiss border.
SWISS ARMY KNIFE
But they didn’t stay there long.
FUN FACT
Elsener got the name “Victorinox” by combining the name of his deceased mother, Victoria, and acier inoxydable, the French term for stainless steel.
There were actually two official Swiss Army Knives.
The Swiss Army Knife is a literal work of art.
The Swiss Army Knife has been selected for inclusion in exhibits for excellence in design at both the New York Museum of Modern Art and the state museum for applied art in Munich.
Some even come with thermometers. And ballpoint pens. And fucking flashlights.
The SwissChampXAVT is the largest production Victorinox Swiss Army Knife, and includes over 44 tools that serve over 80 functions.
There's a 9-inch, 2-pound version.
The giant, produced by Wenger and first released in 2006, weighs two pounds and includes 87 tools which perform 120 functions other than cutting the shit out of things.
Today, you can buy everything from Swiss Army forks to Swiss Army perfume… kinda.
Victorinox dabbles in other Swiss-made products like household cutlery, watches, general tools, and even cosmetics, perfumes, and clothing.