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The Swiss Army Knife

Practically everyone has heard of the famous Swiss Army knife. It is a brand of multi-function pocket knife or “multi-tool” which originated in 1897 in Ibach Schwyz, Switzerland. The “Swiss Army knife” term is a registered trademark owned by Victorinox A.G. and Wenger S.A., who are the longtime suppliers of these knives to the Armed Forces of Switzerland. The short description of a Swiss Army knife is a pocket tool that has a blade along with a variety of other useful tools, like screwdrivers, can openers and scissors.

These various other tools are stored and organized very neatly inside the handle of the knife that is operated by a very efficient pivot point mechanism. These unique knives handle is usually red, however , they can be found in a variety of other colors as well. Each brand also features their particular Victorinox or Wenger “cross” logo. And, for military issue knives, Switzerland’s coat of arms.

The “Swiss Army knife” term is often used metaphorically to describe usefulness. In reality, the term “Swiss Army knife” was invented by US soldiers after World War II, because it’s been often assumed they had trouble pronouncing its original name, “Offiziersmesser”. The New York Museum of Modern Art and Munich’s State Museum of Applied Art have each added to their collections, the Swiss Army knife for its popular design.

Victorinox – Swiss Army Knife – VIP in Manufacture

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