Leather Knife
Think About The Astonishing Versatility Of The Traditional Swiss Army Knife
Karl Elsener, who owned a surgical instrument company, became dismayed in 1891 when he discovered that the small utility knives that the Swiss government were issuing their soldiers were actually made in Germany. Elsener’s national pride drove him to finding a way to have the knives manufactured in Switzerland. He took on the production of the first Modell 1890 knives near the end of 1891. After applying a number of modifications, the versatility of a Swiss army knife became apparent to the world at large.
The model numbers of the knives refer to the year the knife was introduced. The original Modell (German spelling) 1890 was issued to the Swiss army ostensibly to assist the soldiers to open their food cans and to take apart their Schmidt-Rubin rifles. This knife had a can-opener, blade, screwdriver and a reamer. The grips were a dark colored oak wood that was changed to ebony at a later stage.
At the end of World War II, US soldiers were able to buy the knives at their PX stores in military camps, but because they could not say Schweizer Offiziersmesser, which is what the knives were known as then, they started calling them Swiss Army Knives and the name stuck and was adopted throughout the world. The Swiss Army designation has been registered as a trademark by Victorinox and its related companies involved in the manufacture of the knives.
Easily recognizable by its red handle grips with a white cross at one end and consisting of one or two blades and a number of useful tools that may be folded out, a Swiss Army Knife has been the tool of choice of hunters, fishermen, campers and anyone else needing a convenient, portable set of tools that can perform a large variety of tasks. There are many designs on the market that will suit almost any job. Indeed, regardless of what immediately springs to mind, some folks like the black Swiss army knife. These range from the lightweight models containing a knife blade, bottle and can-opener combinations, a screwdriver and a reamer, to the massive Giant, all of nine inches broad and with 87 separate tools able to accomplish 141 functions.
Victorinox, together with Wenger, a subsidiary, are the manufacturers and they produce the very popular Classic Knife which measures only three inches but has amazing strength and little bulk. Equipped with a keyring for attaching to a key chain, the knife can be carried about conveniently. This small model has a number of useful tools such as a toothpick, knife blades, scissors, nail file, various screwdrivers, tweezers and many more tools which may not be used but are available if needed at any time.
The Presentation Master has ushered the Swiss Army Knife into the Information Age with its ultra modern features like a flash drive incorporating a fingerprint scanner enabling encryption of its data, a laser pointing device, and other computer accessories. All of the devices can be folded into the body by hand or pulled in by springs while they are not in use. The model without blades may be taken on board an aircraft.
Extending the range, knives such as the Champion Plus are fitted with such tools as a small saw with serrated blade, fish scaler, hook remover, punch tool, reamer and many more. A waterproof pouch is available as well as a leather belt pouch enabling the knife to be carried on the person. Other models include the Climber Swiss army knife and the Spartan.
Sharpening of any knife may be accomplished by using steel or whetstone, but Victorinox do advise the use of steel and actually supply a knife sharpener to accomplish this. There can be no denying the versatility of a Swiss army knife.
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