How Victorinox Took the Swiss Army Knife Across the Globe
Your smartphone is an invaluable tool for navigating the digital world, but when faced with a challenge in the physical sense — be it a stubborn wine cork, a tightly sealed package, or a loose thread on your shirt — even the most advanced piece of electronic kit won’t be much use. In these situations, and countless others, a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife remains as indispensable today as it was when the company was founded in Ibach, Switzerland in 1884.
Victorinox founder Karl Elsener originally envisioned the iconic red-handled tool as standard-issue equipment for Swiss military officers who required a simple, versatile, and reliable means of repairing weapons, opening tinned rations, and performing innumerable other tasks in the field.
Over the next century, the Schweizer Offiziersmesser — better known today as the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife — became essential gear for civilians, too, finding its way into countless hiking packs, briefcases, desk drawers, and glove boxes around the world. The reason for this is simple: backed by a century’s worth of innovation and the assurance of Swiss-made craftsmanship, the original Swiss Army Knife is the key to being well-prepared for all manner of everyday obstacles.
Whether you’re hiking deep in the backcountry or embarking leisurely on a countryside escape, having the right tool when you need it is crucial, and for most situations that tool is the Victorinox Huntsman. A descendant of the legendary Swiss Officer’s knife patented in 1897 by Victorinox, the Huntsman packs no less than 15 essential implements into its slender 100-gram frame, including two knives, two screwdrivers, wire strippers, a can opener, a pair of tweezers, and, of course, a corkscrew.
Despite its popularity among civilians, Victorinox has maintained its commitment to creating high-quality tools for professionals working in the field. Immediately identifiable by its high-vis yellow shell, the Rescue Tool is the product of years of collaborative development with professional rescue teams. Equipped with a large, single-hand opening blade, a seatbelt cutter, a window breaker, and specialized saws for cutting through windshields and shatter-proof glass, it’s a compact tool designed to save lives when seconds count.
For those with serious outdoor ambitions (or anyone who appreciates the satisfying feel of a fixed-blade bushcraft knife for opening the mail), the Victorinox Venture is worthy of any task. As with everything bearing the Victorinox Swiss Cross and Shield, the Venture is made in Switzerland to the highest standards, with a 4.13-inch full-tang blade constructed from ultra-tough 14C28N stainless steel hardened to 59 HRC — the gold standard for high-end blades. Likewise, its innovative design is considered down to the tiniest detail, including a sharp 90-degree spine (all the better for sparking a fire with your ferro rod), a protective blade sheath that doubles as a blowtube (to get that kindling blazing all the quicker), and a protruding tang that can double as a hammer. Complete with a lifetime warranty, it’s designed to be your best friend in the great outdoors.
Preparedness is all about having the right tool when you need it — whenever and wherever that may be, and for those in search of a go-anywhere, do-anything solution to dozens of everyday situations, the Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit MX Clip is designed to be on-hand when it counts. With 25 implements including needle-nose pliers, a locking blade with one-handed opening, a metal saw, and an integrated carry clip, this modern addition to the Victorinox lineup offers a full toolbox worth of functionality in an ingeniously compact package. Small and light enough to go anywhere, you may well forget it’s there until you need it. When the time comes, however, there’s no substitute for being prepared, and that’s as true today as it was in 1884.
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