The Swiss Army knife is a folding knife or multi-tool manufactured by Victorinox AG (and up to 2005 also by Wenger SA). The term "Swiss Army knife" was created by American troops after World War II because of the difficulties they had in pronouncing "Offiziersmesser", the German name.
The Swiss Army knife generally has a main spearpoint knife, as well as various tools, such as a screwdriver, tin openers, and many others. This attachment is stored inside the knife handle through the pivot point mechanism. The grip is usually in stereotypical red color, and displays the "cross" logo of Victorinox or Wenger or, for a Swiss military problem knife, the Swiss emblem.
Originally from Ibach, Switzerland, the Swiss Army knife was first produced in 1891 after the company, Karl Elsener, who later became Victorinox, won a contract to produce the Swiss Army knife Modell 1890 from the previous German manufacturer.. In 1893, the Swiss cutting tools company Paul BoÃÆ'Â © ch & amp; Cie, who later became Wenger, received his first contract from the Swiss military to produce a model of 1890 knives; the two companies split the contract for the supply of knives from 1908 until Victorinox acquired Wenger in 2005. The Swiss cultural icon, knife design and flexibility has led to worldwide recognition.
Video Swiss Army knife
Histori
Origins
During the 1880s, the Swiss Army decided to buy a new folding knife for their soldiers. This knife is suitable for use by soldiers in opening canned food and dismantle the Swiss service rifle, Schmidt-Rubin, which requires a screwdriver to be assembled.
The Swiss Army Knife is not the first multi-purpose pocket knife. In 1851 in "Moby Dick" (Chapter 107), Melville refers to "Sheffield Contrivances, assuming the outside - albeit slightly swollen - from ordinary pocket knives, but containing, not only blades of various sizes but also screw-drivers, screws, tweezers, piercers, pens, rulers, nail-thinkers, challengers. "
In January 1891, the blade received the official appointment of Modell 1890 . The blade has a blade, a refractory, a can opener, a screwdriver, and a dark oak grip which some say is partly replaced with ebony. At that time no Swiss company had the required production capacity, so an initial order for 15,000 blades was placed with the German knife manufacturer Wester & Co. from Solingen, Germany. These knives were sent in October 1891.
In 1891, Karl Elsener, then the owner of the company that made the surgical equipment, began producing knives in Switzerland itself. At the end of 1891 Elsener started producing knives Modell 1890 . Elsener then wanted to make a folding knife better suited to an Officer. In 1896, Elsener successfully installed the tool on both sides of the handle using a special spring mechanism, allowing him to use the same spring to hold him in place; an innovation at the time. Elsener can then put twice as many features on the knife. On June 12, 1897, this new knife, featuring a second smaller cutter, bottle opener, and wood fiber handle, was first registered at the patent office as Officer and Knife, although it was never part of a military contract.
Karl Elsener used a cross and shield to identify his knives, the symbol is still used today in Victorinox-branded versions. When his mother died in 1909, Elsener decided to name his company "Victoria" in his memory. In 1921, the company began using stainless steels to make the Swiss Army Knife. Stainless steel is also known as "inox", the abbreviation of the French term "acier inoxydable". "Victoria" and "inox" were then combined to create the company name "Victorinox". The headquarters and show room of Victorinox is located in the Swiss town of Ibach.
Victorinox and Wenger
Elsener, through his company Victorinox, managed to control the market until 1893, when the second industry cutters in Switzerland, Paul BoÃÆ'Â chatting & amp; Cie , headquartered in DelÃÆ'Ã… © mont in the French-speaking Jura region, started selling similar products. The company was later acquired by General Manager, ThÃÆ' Â © odore Wenger, and renamed Wenger Company. In 1908 the Swiss government, wishing to prevent a problem over regional favoritism, but might want a little competition in the hopes of lowering prices, dividing the contract with Victorinox and Wenger, each getting half of the placed order. By mutual agreement, Wenger has advertised as a Genuine Swiss Army Knife and Victorinox is using the slogan, Genuine Swiss Army Knife .
On April 26, 2005, Victorinox acquired Wenger, again becoming the sole knife supplier for the Swiss Military. Victorinox has kept both consumer brands intact, but on January 30, 2013, Wenger and Victorinox announced that a separate knife brand would be merged into one brand: Victorinox. Wenger's watch and business license will continue as a separate brand.
Until 2008 Victorinox AG and Wenger SA supplied about 50,000 knives to the Swiss military each year, and produced more for export, mostly to the United States. Many Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army commercial knives can be directly distinguished by the cross logos depicted on their grasp; Victorinox's cross logo is surrounded by a shield while Wenger's cross logo is surrounded by a slightly rounded square.
On January 30, 2013, Wenger and Victorinox announced that separate knife brands would be merged into one brand: Victorinox. The press release stated that the Wenger plant in Delemont will continue to produce knives and all employees on this site will keep their work. They further explained that a wide range of goods from Wenger's ranks would still be produced under the brand name of Victorinox. Wenger's US headquarters will be merged with the Victorinox location in Monroe, Connecticut. Wenger's watch and business license will continue as a separate brand: Swiss Gear.
Many other companies produce folding knives that are similar in quality and price. The cross-and-shield emblem and the words SWISS ARMY are registered trademarks of Victorinox AG and its associated companies.
Swiss military knife contract
In 2007, the Swiss Government made a request for a newly renewed army knife for the Swiss army for distribution by the end of 2008. The new army knife evaluation phase began in February 2008, when Armasuisse issued an invitation to tender. Seven suppliers from Switzerland and other countries are invited to participate in the evaluation process. The functional model put forward by the supplier underwent practical testing by military personnel in July 2008, while laboratory tests were used to assess compliance with technical requirements. A cost-benefit analysis is performed and the model with the best price/performance ratio is awarded a contract. Orders for 75,000 army knives plus cases worth 1.38 million SFr.. This is equivalent to the purchase price of 18.40 SFr., EUR12.12, GBÃ, Â £ 17.99 in October 2009 per knife plus case.
Victorinox won the contest with a knife based on the German One-Hand Army Knife issued by the German Bundeswehr and released in a civil model lineup with additional toothpicks and tweezers stored on a nylon scale (side cover plate) as the One- Hand Trekker/Trailmaster. The new mass production of Soldenmesser 08 (Army Knife 08) for the Swiss Armed Forces began in December 2008.
Maps Swiss Army knife
Features
Tools
There are various models of Swiss Army Knives with a combination of different tools. Although Victorinox does not provide special knives, they have produced many variations to suit each user.
Main tool:
- Large bar, printed on Victorinox model blade with "VICTORINOX SWISS MADE" to verify the authenticity of the knife.
- Small bars
- Nail Files/Nail Cleaners
- Nail/nail/metal file/metal saw
- Wood see
- Scaler/hook disgorger/ruler in cm and inch
- Scissors
- Electric knives/wire cutters
- Trimming knives
- Spatula pharmacy (push cutter)
- Cyber ​​Tool â € <â € <(bit drive)
- Doors/wire cutters/wire crimpers
- LED Lights
- USB stick
- magnifying lens
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Nail polish
- Shackle/marlinspike openers
- Cans/screwdriver signers 3 mm
- Cap opener/6 mm slotted screwdriver/stripper wire
- Combination tool that contains a cap/can opener/5 mm slotted screwdriver/stripper wire
Smaller tool:
- Keyring
- Rebuild
- Multiple combinations
- 2mm marked screwdriver
- Screw
- Bottle Opener or Phillips
- Mini screwdriver (designed to fit in a corkscrew)
Scale tool:
- Tweezers
- Toothpicks
- Bolpoin pressurized (with version that can be drawn on smaller model, and can be used to set DIP switch)
- Stainless Pin
- Digital clock/alarm/timer/altimeter/thermometer/barometer
Three models of Victorinox SAK featured butane lighters: Swissflame, Campflame, and Swisschamp XXLT, first introduced in 2002 and then discontinued in 2005. The model was never sold in the United States due to lack of safety features. They use standard piezoelectric ignition systems for easy and fast ignition with adjustable flame, and are designed to operate at altitudes of up to 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level and continuous operation for 10 minutes.
In January 2010, Victorinox announced the Master Presentation model, released in April 2010. Technological tools include laser pointers, and removable flash drives with fingerprint readers. Victorinox now sells the latest version called Slim Jetsetter, with a "premium software package that provides highly secure data encryption, automatic backup functions, secure web surfing capabilities, file and email synchronization between drives and multiple computers, Bluetooth pairs, and more On the hardware side, biometric fingerprint technology, laser pointer, LED light, Bluetooth remote control and of course, the original Swiss Army Knife tool - blade, scissors, nail file, screwdriver, keychain and standard pen. ** Not all features available in every model in the collection. "
In 2006, Wenger produced a knife called "Giant" which included every tool ever made by the company, with 87 tools and 141 different functions. It was recognized by Guinness World Records as the most multifunctional folding knife in the world. It costs around EUR798 or $ US1000, although some vendors charge a much higher price.
That same year, Victorinox released SwissChamp XAVT, consisting of 118 parts and 80 functions at a retail price of $ 425. The Guinness Book of Records recognizes a unique Swiss blade 314 knife blade that was made in 1991 by Master Cutler Hans Meister as the largest folding knife in the world, weighing 11 pounds.
Lock mechanism
Some Swiss Army knives have a locking bar to prevent accidental closing. Wenger is the first to offer? PackLock? for the main blade on some of their standard 85mm models. Some of the larger Wenger and Victorinox models have a locking blade secured with a sliding lock operated with an unlock key integrated in the scales. Some 111 mm Victorinox series knives have a double liner lock that holds the cutting knife and a barreled screw/stripper separator/stripper tool designed for prying.
Designs and materials
Brass rivets and brass flanged bushings hold all steel parts of the machine and other tools, separators and scales together. The rivets are made by cutting and pointing to the exact size of solid brass bars.
The separator between tools has been made from aluminum alloys since 1951. This makes the blades lighter. Earlier this separation layer was made of nickel-silver.
The martensitic stainless steel alloys used for cutting blades are optimized for high toughness and corrosion resistance and have a composition of 15% chromium, 0.60% silicon, 0.52% carbon, 0.50% molybdenum, and 0.45% manganese and X55CrMo14 or DIN 1.4110 according to Victorinox. After the hardening process at 1040 ° C and annealing at 160 ° C the blade achieves an average hardness of 56 HRC. The steel hardness is suitable for practical use and easy resharpening, but less than that achieved in stainless steel alloys used for knives optimized for high wear resistance. According to Victorinox martensitic stainless steel alloys used for other parts are X39Cr13 (aka DIN 1,4031, AISI/ASTM 420) and for springs X20Cr13 (aka DIN 1.4021, but still in AISI/ASTM 420).
Steel used for wood saws, scissors and nails have hardness of HRC 53 steel, screwdriver, can opener, and rivet have hardness HRC 52, and bottle opener and spring have hardness of HRC 49.
Metal saws and files, in addition to the hardening of special cases, also undergo a process of coating hard chrome so that iron and steel can also be filed and cut.
Although the red cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) (commonly known as the trade names Cellidor, Tenite and Tenex) the Swiss Army Knife scale is the most common, there are many colors and alternative materials such as nylon and aluminum for the available scale. Many textures, colors and shapes now appear in the Swiss Army Knife. Since 2006 the scales on some knife models can have non-slip textured rubber incorporated, intended for adequate grip with wet or wet hands. The modding community is also developed from professionally produced models that incorporate new materials, colors, finishing touches, and sometimes new tools such as firesteels or surgical tool blades' replacement surgical blades to replace the scales standard (handles) with new versions in natural materials such as buffalo horns. In addition to the production of 'limited' editions, many examples of basic level adjustments to professional levels of standard blades - such as retrofit pocket clips, a one-time scale created using 3D printing techniques, anodizing decorations and new-scale materials - can be found by searching 'SAK mods '.
Assembly
During assembly, all components are placed on some brass rivets. The first component is generally an aluminum separator and a flat steel spring. After the tool layer is installed, other separators and springs are placed for the next tool layer. This process is repeated until all desired tool layers and final separators are installed. Once the blade is built, the metal parts are fastened by adding a brass to the rivet. The excess length of the nail was then cut to make it red with the bushings. Finally the rest of the remaining nails flattened into a flanged buster.
After assembling the metal parts, the blade is sharpened to an angle of 15 °, resulting in a 30 Â ° edge steel cutting. The blades are then examined with a reflective laser goniometer to verify the angle of the sharp edges.
Finally the scale is applied. Very small holes inserted into the inner surface attach the bushing, which has cut the cone cross section and slightly weakened, form a suitable one-way interference when pressed into a generally softer and more elastic-scale material. The result is a tight adhesive-free connection that allows the scales of new identical patterns to be applied quickly and easily.
Size
The Victorinox model is available in sizes 58 mm (2.3 inches), 74 mm (2.9 in), 84 mm (3.3 inches), 91 mm (3.6 inches), 93 mm (3.7 inches), 100 mm (3.9 inches). in), 108 mm (4.3 inches) long and 111 mm (4.4 inches) in length when closed. The thickness of the blade varies depending on the number of layers of the tool included. The 91 mm (3.6 inch) model offers the most variety in tool configurations in the Victorinox model line with as many as 15 layers.
The Wenger model is available at 65 mm (2.6 inches), 75 mm (3.0 inches), 85 mm (3.3 inches), 3.7 mm (3.7 inches), 100 mm (3.9 inches) , 120 mm (4.7 inches)) and 130 mm (5.1 inches) long when closed. The thickness varies depending on the number of layers of the tool included. The 85 mm (3.3 inch) model offers the most variety in tool configurations in the Wenger model line, with as many as 10 layers.
Knife issued by the Swiss Military
Since the first edition as a personal fixture in 1891, the Soldatenmesser (Army Knife) issued by the Swiss Armed Forces has been revised several times. There are five different main models Model (model). Their model number refers to the year of introduction in the military supply chain. Some of the main models have been revised from time to time and therefore are in various AusfÃÆ'¼hrungen (executions), also symbolized by the year of introduction. Models issued from the Swiss Armed Forces are:
- Modell 1890
- Modell 1890 AusfÃÆ'¼hrung 1901
- Modell 1908
- Modell 1951
- Modell 1951 AusfÃÆ'¼hrung 1954
- Modell 1951 AusfÃÆ'¼hrung 1957
- Modell 1961
- Modell 1961 AusfÃÆ'¼hrung 1965
- Modell 1961 AusfÃÆ'¼hrung 1978
- Modell 1961 AusfÃÆ'¼hrung 1994
- Soldatenmesser 08 (Army Knife 08)
The Soldiers Knife is issued for every recruiter or member of the Swiss Armed Forces and the knives given to the officers are never different from those issued to non-commissioning officers or warriors. A model incorporating a bottle opener and scissors is produced as an officer tool, but is considered not "essential for survival", leaving the clerk to buy them individually.
Army knife model 1890
The Soldier Knife model of 1890 has a spear blade, reamer, can-opener, screwdriver and grip made of oak (handlebar) scales that are treated with rapeseed oil for greater toughness and water repellency, which makes it black. The wooden handle of Modell 1890 tended to crack and chip so that in 1901 it was converted into a hard reddish-brown fiber similar in appearance to wood. The blade has a length of 100 mm (3.9 inches), 20.5 mm (0.81 inches) thick and weighs 144 g (5.1 oz).
Model army knife 1908
The 1908 Soldier Knife model has a point-clip blade rather than an 1890s point blade, still with a fiber scale, a carbon steel tool, a nickel-silver roll, a liner, and a divider. The blade has a length of 100 mm (3.9 inches), 16.5 mm (0.65 inches) thick, and weighs 125 g (4.4 oz). The contract with the Swiss Army divides production fairly between the Victorinox and Wenger companies.
Model soldier knife 1951
The 1951 Model army knife has fiber scales, nickel-silver rolls, liners, and dividers, and spear knives. This is the first Swiss Armed Forces problem model in which the tools are made of stainless steel. Screwdriver now has a scraper bow on one side. The blade is 93 mm (3.7 inches) long, 13.5 mm (0.53 inches) thick and weighs 90 g (3.2 oz).
Army knife model 1961
The 1961 Soldier Knife model has 93.3 mm (3.7 inches) alox alloy with Swiss topper, drop point knife, reamer, combination bottle blade, screwdriver, and wire stripper, and a combination of can opener and small screwdriver. The blade is 12 mm (0.47 inches) thick and weighs 72 g (2.5 oz)
This official Swiss military model also contains a brass spacer, which allows the blades, with screwdrivers and reamer to be extended simultaneously, to be used to assemble the SIG 550 assault rifle and SIG 510: the blades serve as the firing pin firing during key assembly. The 1961 Soldier Knife model was produced only by Victorinox and Wenger and was the first knife issued by the Swiss Arms.
Army knife 08
Soldier Knife 08 was first issued for the Swiss Armed Forces beginning with the first basic training session of 2009.
Soldier Knife 08 has a 111 mm (mm) ergonomic grip with non-slip textured polymer inlays incorporated in nylon grip shells and dual linear locking system, one-piece 86 mm (3.4 inch) single-piece cutting saw blades, with a small screwdriver marked 3 mm (0.12 in), bottle opening with a 7mm (0.28 in) slotted screwdriver and wire/bender stripper, reamer, Phillips (PH2) screwdriver and split key diameter 12 mm (0, 47 in). The width of the Army Knife 08 is 34.5 mm (1.36 inches), thickness 18 mm (0.71 inches), the overall opening length is 197 mm (7.8 inches) and weighs 131 g (4.6 oz). Soldier Knife 08 is produced only by Victorinox.
Knife issued by other military
The armed forces of more than 20 different countries have issued or approved the use of various versions of Swiss army knives made by Victorinox, including German, French, Dutch, Norwegian, Malaysian and US (NSN 1095-01 -653-1166 Knife, Combat ).
Space program
The Swiss Army Knife has been present in space missions conducted by NASA since the late 1970s. In 1978, NASA sent a confirmation letter to Victorinox regarding the purchase of 50 knives known as the Master Craftsman model. In 1985, Edward M. Payton, brother of astronaut Gary E. Payton, sent a letter to Victorinox, inquiring about obtaining a Master Craftsman blade after seeing his brother used in space. There are other stories also improvements made in space using a Swiss Army knife.
Cultural impact
The Swiss Army Knife has been added to the New York Museum of Modern Art collections and the Munich State Museum of Applied Art for its design. The term "Swiss Army" is currently a registered trademark owned by Victorinox AG and its subsidiary, Wenger SA.
The TV show MacGyver features Angus MacGyver, who often uses different Swiss Army knives in various episodes to solve problems and create simple objects.
In the TV show Psych , Shawn Spencer and his dad always carry a large Swiss Army knife to handle occasional problems.
The term "Swiss Army knife" has entered popular culture as a metaphor for usability and adaptability. The multi-purpose nature of the tool has also inspired a number of other gadgets.
One of Wenger's blade models has inspired a large number of funny reviews on amazon.
See also
- Pocketknife
- multitool gerber
- Leatherman
- Swiss Army Man , a 2016 film that uses absurdist humor to manipulate a male corpse like a multi-tool
Notes and references
Further reading
- Knives and History - Written on the occasion of the centenary of Victorinox. Printed in Switzerland in 1984. It began with 117 pages covering the history of the world's tableware, starting in the Stone Age; lots of black and white prints from old books. 72 pages about the history of Victorinox company; color photo factory, production, and knife. There are also German editions, Das Messer and Seine Geschichte . Large format hard drive.
- Companion Knife Swiss Army: Impossible History of the World's Largest Knife , by Rick Wall. Printed in the US, 1986. While joking about SAK. 61 pages, paperback book. Rick is the current president of the Swiss Army Knife Society.
- Swiss Army Knife Handbook: Official History and Owner's Guide , by Kathryn Kane. Printed in the US, 1988. Practical information about tools, modifications, usage. Good picture, done by the author. 93 pages, paperback book. Published by Swiss Army Knife Society.
- Die Lieferanten von Schweizer Soldatenmessern Seit 1891 , by Martin Frosch, a binding format in German with drawings that mainly deal with the technical details of the Warrior model until 1988.
- Collector's Guide to the 58 mm Victorinox Pocket Knife . Published about 1990 by the author, Daniel J. Jacquart, President of the Victorinox SAK Society. 173 pages that mention the model, material scale, color. Binder format with black & amp; white photos.
- A Fervor Over Knives: Celebrating Wenger's centenary . Printed in Switzerland in 1993. Eight pages on the history of cutlery, 28 pages in the Delemont region in the 19th century, iron, forge, waters, business. 97 pages in Wenger's company; striking color photographs of production and knives. 1200 copies in French, 800 in German, 500 in English. Large format hardback, wider than high.
- Swiss Army Knife: Collector's Companion , by Derek Jackson. Published in London, printed in United Arab Emirates, 1999; second edition printed in China, 2003. 35 pages on the history of cutlery; 157 pages about the Victorinox knife, the company's brief history, hardly mentioned about Wenger; no model history or tool development; nice photos. Most of the material is reproduced from Victorinox The Knife and its History . The first box edition included a soldier with Carl Elsener's signature engraved on his blade; the second edition is sometimes accompanied by one of the limited runs (1 of 5,000) Warriors of 2008, the last of the Model 1961.
- A friend in need, printed by Victorinox . The first edition has no title and no date; second edition dated 2003. 60 pages (2nd edition 56 pages) of the true story of a saved life, an emergency handled, a situation settled with SAK. A small pamphlet.
- Swiss Army Knife , by Peter Hayden. Printed in England, 2005. A children's story where SAK plays a short role. With a funny illustration. 63 pages of paperback.
- Guide of Swiss Army Knife Owners , by Michael M. Young, 2011. Published by author, printed in the United States. 224 pages of paperback with 96 color photos and some pictures. Complete in terms of broad and deep, educated and sometimes funny. The chapter on the history of the corporations and factories of Victorinox and Wenger, the development of Warrior and Officer models, major model charts created by both companies, safe maintenance and use, improvised use, physical test results, improvements and modifications, true stories.
- Les couteaux du soldier de l Armà © © e suisse , by Robert Moix, 2013. An informative summary in French, with many photographs, of the many types and range of folding knife manufacturers issued to the Swiss Army.
- Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Whittling book, by Chris Lubkemann, 2015. "43 easy projects" to engrave with IFRSs.
Of these books, regularly available today (such as on the Amazon website) are Collector's Opinions of Jackson, Lubkemann's Whittling Book and Young User Manual . Some others sometimes appear on Amazon and auction sites like eBay.
External links
- the Victorinox manufacturer website
- Website of the Wenger manufacturer
- SAKWiki
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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