Many people have been familiar with a folding penknife since childhood. During the Soviet era, all boys dreamed of having a good multifunctional knife. It’s bad that they didn’t differ in quality, so the first Swiss knives that appeared in our country caused a storm of emotions.
The first emotions were associated with the price of this device. The Swiss folding knife was ten times more expensive than the usual “Belka” (a popular folding knife from the times of the USSR). Although as soon as I tried the Swiss Army knife in action once, indignation gave way to a strong desire to purchase one for myself.
Currently, the Victorinox Swiss knife is known throughout the world and is a symbol of the reliability and quality of Swiss knives.
History of the emergence and development of the Victorinox company
The history of the Victorinox company, which produced the first Swiss Army knife, began in 1884. It was then that the son of a hatter, Kal Elzner, decided to start producing folding knives, for which he opened a small knife workshop. His knives copied the German Solingen pocket knives, but it was impossible for one to compete with the famous brand.
Realizing this, Karl in 1890 was able to unite 25 craftsmen who made knives into an association to jointly produce a knife of his own design. The knives of the new association were of excellent quality, but were much more expensive than knives from the German brand. A small team of craftsmen could not reduce the price of their products, and a year later Karl was left alone again.
Despite the failure of the enterprise, Karl continued to do what he loved and made new knives, supplementing them with various tools that were not available in Solingen.
1897 became a landmark year for Karl's company. It was this year that he invented and patented the Officer's Sports Knife. It contained 6 tools, which were fixed using two springs. It was this model that was proposed to the Swiss army for officers.
Swiss officials, remembering Karl's failure with knives for soldiers (which copied Solinger), were in no hurry to give him orders for supplies to the army, but the officers quickly appreciated the superiority of the new knives and provided Elzner's small workshop with orders.
Now German knife makers tried to copy Karl’s new creation, but he came up with more and more new tools, maintaining quality at the highest level. To protect against counterfeits, Karl began making red linings on his multi-subject books, decorating them with an emblem in the form of a Swiss cross. Red handles appeared on the twenty-five year old company, in 1909.
In the same year, Karl’s mother, who helped and supported him in all his endeavors, died. In memory of his mother, the company became known as VICTORIA. When in 1923 the company began to use stainless steel in the production of knives (which appeared 2 years ago), the prefix “Inox” was added to the name “VICTORIA”. This is how the name appeared, which is known in every corner of the world - “Victorinox”.
In 1931, all Victorinox knives began to be produced using process automation methods, after which all knives from this company began to be of equally stable quality.
An important stage in the popularization of the Victorinox brand was the Second World War. When the American allies arrived in Switzerland, they really liked small and functional knives. American military personnel bought them in the thousands for themselves and as gifts for family and friends. It is thanks to this that Swiss knives have spread throughout the world.
Nowadays, when most things are consumer goods and lack individuality, Swiss knives are the standard of Swiss quality. Family-run, Victorinox backs all of its knives with a lifetime warranty, which is a unique proposition in itself.
What is remarkable about Victorinox knives and why you might need such a tool
Swiss knives are manufactured on high-tech equipment using the latest methods of processing and hardening of metals. Although the metal used for blades and tools is quite simple (X50CrMoV15 or equivalent), its cutting qualities are amazing. No one else managed to “squeeze” more out of such budget steel than Victorinox did. Representatives of the plant say that some secret additives are added to the metal, but most likely the matter is in the correct hardening of the blade.
The secret of the popularity of Swiss knives:
- Consistent quality in all models. It is said that even the President of Switzerland uses the standard "Victorinox" as the quality of the knives is consistent;
- A huge selection of models for every taste. The line of Swiss knives allows you to choose a tool to suit every taste and budget;
- The presence of scissors and a saw along with the small size of the knife itself make Swiss knives unique in their class;
- Constant updating, adding new tools and releasing new models. This allows you to interest customers of any age and gender.
The most commonly used tools in Victorinox knives are:
- The main blade, which is sharpened at the factory and cuts quite well. The blade does not shave, but just polish it on the skin with GOI paste and the hair will be shaved in one motion. Used for cutting food, ropes and the like. You should not subject it to heavy force loads; it planes wood quite well;
- A small blade is used to cut threads, paper, cardboard or leather. It is also very convenient for them to open parcels;
- Not all models of Swiss knives have scissors, but it is nail scissors that are most often used by the owners of such models;
- Although the wood saw looks miniature, it cuts surprisingly quickly and efficiently;
- An awl with a hole (for thread or cord that may need to be threaded into the hole made);
- Tweezers, which are very convenient for getting splinters;
- Bottle opener (with screwdriver);
- Can-opener;
- Corkscrew;
- Toothpick.
If you're wondering whether you could use a penknife that looks like a toy, we can assure you that appearance is deceiving. All the tools that are present in one or another Victorinox model work one hundred percent. It is not for nothing that these knives are included in the uniform of Swiss military personnel.
Before choosing a Swiss knife, you need to decide what exactly you need the knife for. If the main task for the knife is manicure work, then the keychain knife from the “classic” series is perfect for this. In addition, the knives of this series are made not only in different colors, but also often come with an original design (such a knife is ideal for a gift). These knives are suitable for women or men who carry another folding knife (with a longer blade).
There are often times in life when you need to cut a rope or lace, a chip on a door, or screw in a screw that has come loose, but you don’t have the right tool at hand. If you often find yourself in such situations, then officer knives with a length of 91 millimeters are suitable for you. The most optimal model in this case would be the “Huntsman”, which has the entire set necessary tools, including saw.
If you prefer larger folding knives, check out the Victorinox division called Wenger. The knives produced by this unit are considered soldier knives and are larger in size, although they are slightly inferior in quality to Victorinox.
Which model of Swiss knife should you choose for yourself?
If you want to choose a good folding Swiss knife, then you will have to choose between Victorinox and Wenger (the same Victorinox, only simpler). If you look at the purchase statistics, the most popular are officer knives with a length of 91 millimeters. In fact, keychain knives sell the most (but they probably don't count as knives).
Knives with a length of 111 mm are considered utility or tactical models for going out into the wild. In addition to the length of the blade, they are distinguished by the presence of a large blade lock. They are also suitable for urban use, although they are not as comfortable to wear.
You should not rely on these indicators; you should choose a Swiss knife based on own preferences. For some, even in nature, a blade 60 mm long will be enough, but for some, even a heavy cleaver will not be enough. Typically, Swiss knives are not used as a knife every day, although many people carry it as a second knife.
One of the criteria for choosing a folding knife is its weight. The more tools a particular knife model contains, the more bulky it will become. Due to their lightness, small knives can be lost without noticing how it fell out.
Don’t chase the number of tools; choose a model that you will use 80-100 percent. There are many known cases where, having paid an impressive amount for a multifunctional and heavy folding knife, the owner stops wearing it after a month because he does not use its capabilities.
Different models of Swiss knives have different functions, sometimes quite unusual. For example, the “Cyber Tool” model is equipped not only with pliers. But also a set of bits for screwdrivers, and special knives for yachtsmen - a tool for tightening wing nuts.
If most tools are located on one side of the block, then on back side, most often, an awl and a corkscrew are located. Some models may have a Philips screwdriver instead of a corkscrew.
Now there are many models with clocks, flashlights, flash cards and other similar items. Their presence is a tribute to fashion and does not at all add reliability to a pocket knife.
Features of using some tools in Swiss knives
Some of the tools included in Victorinox knives may be confusing at first. For example, some people don't understand how a can opener works. If you start trying to open the can yourself, you may struggle for half an hour without achieving a good result, since the can will still open crookedly. It’s better to spend a few minutes studying the instructions (where the whole process is clearly shown) or watch a video on a related topic. After this, after practicing on 2-5 cans, the opening process will not present any difficulties for you. The jars will open quickly and without any nicks that could cause injury to your hands.
The wood saw does not evoke positive emotions upon first inspection, but once you try to work with it, the mistrust immediately disappears. If large saws cut into wood the same way as this small saw, cutting boards would be much easier. The lack of saw length can be partially compensated by the circular sawing technique.
Nail scissors are suitable not only for cutting off a broken nail, but also for the usual shortening of nail length. It was the presence of nail scissors that made the “Classic” series so popular among women, especially since the presence of various patterns on the overlays is simply incredible.
Do not forget that the more tools a Swiss knife has, the less convenient it is for everyday carry. This is why you should carefully choose to have only the tools you need.
Having bought a high-quality Swiss knife, you can be sure that it will serve you faithfully long years, and perhaps it will be passed on to your children. If you think that for the price they ask for a real Swiss knife, you can buy several similar Chinese knives, do not give in to this temptation. Millions of Victorinox users around the world trust only real “Swiss”.
For many years, people have mistakenly thought of any folding knife or multi-tool as a “Swiss Army Knife.” The first real and true Swiss Army knife was made in 1890 by two companies, Wenger SA and Victorinox AG, which merged in 2005 to jointly manage production. Marked with the Swiss coat of arms (a white cross on a red background), these ubiquitous tools got their name from Americans during World War II who had difficulty pronouncing the knives' original name in German. These knives are crafted to perfection down to the smallest detail, plus they are multi-functional and one of the best pieces of EDC kit for any pocket.
When choosing from the top tier of products in the Swiss Army line, we looked at contenders that came straight from the source, eschewing knives that claimed to have Swiss Army roots but were in fact multi-tools worthy of the Swiss Army knife name. Each knife is similar to the other except for minor differences, but they all share the features of the original Modell 1890 knife created for members of the Swiss armed forces. If you're ready to make a bargain, here are five of the best Swiss knives.
Victorinox Signature Lite – business class
Pros: holds an edge well
Minuses: strange battery installation
Price: from 1,646 rub.
This model resembles the classic SD in style and performance, but has a few more in stock distinctive features. First, this knife has a handy little LED that's perfect for finding your keys in the dark or the space between your car seat and console if you drop your phone in there.
It also has a retractable handle in case you need to write something down and don't have a suitable device at hand. Both the LED and the handle respond high levels quality like other stainless steel parts, so you can be sure that you can use this device in the most extreme conditions.
Victorinox Huntsman – luxurious
Pros: multiple case styles
Minuses: the inside gets dirty quickly
Price: from 2,137 rub.
Many modern Swiss Army knives have removed the corkscrew feature to make room for additional tools. But since this tool is aimed at hunters, it did not ignore important part each hunt: alcohol.
You can be sure that you can open a can of pale ale as easily as you can remove the cork from a Pinot Noir on a camping trip. This knife can also be used to gut small game and perform other necessary tasks while you're camping outdoors.
Victorinox Champ – tools
Pros: holds a ton of tools yet is slim enough to carry around
Minuses: high price
Price: from 4,449 rub.
We present to your attention the flagship model from Victorinox. This knife is only for serious craftsmen, with its straight edge, file, pliers, several types of knives, hammer drill, hook, corkscrew and things that...okay, we're not sure it can do it all, but we're banking on its high versatility.
Surprisingly thin, despite the sheer number of tools it contains, if you're considering buying a Leatherman knife or other multi-tool, you can't beat this one. If pliers are not your main tool, you will find a use for large selection functions of this butterfly style folding knife.
Victorinox Classic SD - the best basic option
Pros: small size, precise tweezers
Minuses: inconvenient placement of the key fob
Price: from 1,198 rub.
There is nothing superfluous here, just a blade, a file with a screwdriver tip, a toothpick, a set of tweezers, and a pair of small scissors. You can use this knife as a keychain or simply hang it on your camping backpack for outdoor use.
The stainless steel of the product meets the highest standards, the classic SD can exceed it in diameter by only two quarters of an inch. The device can be used daily for personal hygiene, opening letters, not to mention those people who are constantly repairing something, this thing will definitely become indispensable for them.
Victorinox Farmer – precise cut
Pros: Reflective body that is easy to spot in the dark
Minuses: heavier than some other models
Price: from 3,400 rub.
Thanks to the perfect appearance, the body of this knife matches the classic smooth red body that most Swiss Army knives have. An addition was the ribbed texture of the handle in the form of a weak knurl, which will prevent the knife from slipping out of your hands at the wrong moment.
The device also has an awl and a nail file, which is useful for more serious work. The knife is made for working primarily outdoors. Farmer is virtually resistant to rust, breakage, bending or other damage.
Maria SobolevaSwiss multi-subject students are extremely varied, and it’s impossible to choose a Wenger or Victorinox folding knife without additional leading questions.
Well, let's try to help decide- with a gift or purchase.
An officer's knife is ideal for a gift. It is traditionally called - officer The question is thickness(and to a certain extent in the tool set, but for mainstream popular models it is practically determined by the thickness). Thickness depends on budget:) And the choice to some extent depends on the budget manufacturer: Victorinox or Wenger.
“Officer” Victorinox is slightly longer - 91 millimeters versus 85 for Wenger.
If we move on to soldier knives (that’s what the 111mm ones were called) Quizbooks, and Wenger seems to be moving away from such a division), then the difference is more significant: here are two knives in sheaths, Wenger is larger (longer, and often thicker).
We are deliberately leaving this discussion out of the question. And they weren’t far from them. We will say exactly about knives with many tools- and this means from three rows (for an officer’s knife). In the field of double-row knives, Victorinox and Wenger compete with a large number of knife factories - the knife with openers and corkscrew is a very popular product.
Here is a widely used scissor knife. Scissors Victorinox very good.
The small blade is clearly visible in the photo - why doesn’t Victorinox want to replace it with something more useful, like a nail file? Yes, if only because a brother-competitor has already done it (Victorinox and Wenger have recently become one).
Just one tool changes - scissors to a saw - and the emphasis shifts sharply. And camouflage also plays a role.
Either the first knife or the second can be safely given as a gift. But for your loved one, you can buy a model with both a saw and scissors :) And if you want, at least with eight rows of tools. In the end, they all come in handy without exception.
Second part of the article talks about large multi-item knives.
Swiss army knives Victorinox. Which one is better to take? May 12th, 2017
I have long been planning to buy myself a Victorinox Swiss Army knife, which can often or, as sometimes happens, with. This is a simple folding multi-item knife with a minimum of necessary tools. But I absolutely don’t like the “classic” red color. And then, while taking place these days in Istanbul, I accidentally came across a small stand of this famous company, where a collection of army knives produced by Victorinox for the armed forces was presented. various countries peace. Officer models differ from soldiers in the presence of a corkscrew.
01. Army knife for the Bundeswehr. 
02. Army knife for the Dutch Armed Forces. 
03. Army knife for the Malaysian Armed Forces. 
04. Multitool for the armed forces of NATO member countries and the UAE armed forces. 
05. Knife for Italian police services. 
06. Knife for military sailors. 
07. Knife for Australian Navy personnel. 
08. Sling knife for Bundeswehr paratroopers. 
09. Army knife for the US Armed Forces. 
10. Victorinox Swiss Army watches for military personnel. The chronograph is for officers, the simpler ones are for soldiers. 
11.
Which of the presented models is better to take?
