Swiss Knife – Then Until Now

Travel back to 1891 where Karl Elsener was still the owner of a company that manufactures surgical equipment. It was during that time that he then learned that pocket knives supplied to the Swiss Army was manufactured from Germany. So in the eye of nationalism, he then manufactured a knife that has four important features – a cutting blade, a screw driver, a can opener and a punch and supplied it to the Swiss Army. Thus, the name Soldier’s Knife was derived.

And in 1897, an additional two functions has been added and Soldier’s Knife became the Officer’s Knife. It was also during that year that the symbolic Swiss cross was added to the body. And from then on, the knife became a legacy – not just in Karl Elsener’s family but to the whole world as well.

The Swiss knife’s earliest task was to aid soldiers in their life at the jungle. They are used to saw wood, aid in gun sighting, open canned products and cut cheese. American soldiers first saw this red-handled, multipurpose tool from German prisoners of war. And, it was after the Second World War that Swiss Knife gained worldwide attention and also the advent of a more multipurpose use. Soldiers coming home to America bought this knife as presents to their friends and family back home. From then on, the knife served as a dependable partner to various expeditions in North Pole, South Pole, Mount Everest, Amazon jungle and even to the outer space! The knife also serves as a unique present from the President to dignitaries visiting the White House.

But Karl Elsener’s creation did not rise to fame in just an instant. Through his company Victorinox, he hurdled the competitions like the army turning to Germans in mass producing the knife and a new company (Wenger) opening up, manufacturing and selling the same product. But with hard work and a cunning attitude, his company ended supplying knives for the draftees and eventually acquiring Wenger.

And today, as the world evolves, the endeared knife made a transformation of its own. In addition to the known features, the Swiss knife now has additional features of blunt-tipped children’s knife, a USB key and a “cyber tool” to fix computers. This has indeed come a long way. Same can be said to another type of knife – the bowie knife. Today, you can have a custom bowie knife, suited for your needs and a military bowie knife that is a perfect partner for the Swiss knife.

What we think of as a survival knife did not get in the picture until the turn of the century

Later in WWII Survival knives where given to aircraft crews. To planes and helicopters so that if they got shot down and stuck in there craft they could cut there way of though the canopy. Witch is why on the back of some survival knives they are seriated. To cut though things easier. The navy also included them in there survival kits. Later the military tried to kill two birds with one stone by making the bayonets more like a survival knife.

Survival knives as we think of them did not get into the picture until the turn of the century. Before then men would use knives that looked more like a butcher knives. It was that way until a man named Webster Marbles came up with the idea of making the blade heavier. giving them pommels, and cross guards. These knives some what looked like a Bowie knife, and are much more effective in the woods than a butcher knife.

Later in WWII Survival knives where given to aircraft crews. To planes and helicopters so that if they got shot down and stuck in there craft they could cut there way of though the canopy. this is the reason that some survival knives are seriated on the back side of the knife. To cut though things easier. The navy also included them in there survival kits. Later the military tried to kill two birds with one stone by making the bayonets more like a survival knife. So the bayonet could be used as a field knife but also have the ability to attach to the muzzle of a rifle. A very good idea.

There are many features that a survival knife might have. Many of these knives are made with a serration on its back side. This is meant for cutting though thin metal. Some knives have a hollow hand where you can put things like matches or maybe something for first aid kit. These types of knives where made very popular by Rambo first blood. After this move came out there was a huge demand for these style knives.

There are many examples of fixed blade survival knives. there are lot’s of knives that are viewed as survival knives. Like multi purpose knives, machetes with cutting characteristics, knives that you put around your neck. So when you head off into the woods don?t forget to bring you survival knife because you never know what might happen, and it is always better to have a knife and not need it, then to not have a knife and need it.