Swiss Army knife (Offiziersmesser)
Navaja suiza del ejército (Offiziersmesser)
- Date
- 1891 · confidence high
- Place
- Ibach, Schwyz, Switzerland
- Credited to
- Karl Elsener (Victorinox)
- Field
- Tools
What it is
A pocket knife with several folding tools (blade, can opener, screwdriver, corkscrew) in a single handle, which Karl Elsener manufactured for the Swiss army from 1891. In 1897 he patented the two-spring model, allowing two tools per side.
The Swiss army had bought a soldier's knife in Germany (1890); in 1891 Elsener founded the cooperative to make them in Switzerland and in 1897 he introduced the two-spring model.
What it led to
- a compact tool for soldiers, hikers and craftsmen
- pocket and field multitools
- Swiss national cutlery production