Special Feature: Victorinox – Flawless Swiss Functionality

Next Luxury / Gear
by — Brian Cornwell

Victorinox Swiss army knives, virtually everyone has heard of them. The moment you hold one in your hands for the first time, you will never want to let go of it.

Conceived more than a century ago for soldiers, the story of the Swiss army knife and Victorniox traces back to 1884.

There you will find Karl Elsener opening a small cutlery workshop in Ibach-Schwyz, Switzerland, with a river nearby for powering his polishing and grinding machines.

By 1891 the first big order would arrive with the Swiss Army requesting a knife for every solider. At the time, knives were significantly heavy and bulky, which lead the founder into producing a lighter, more elegant knife. He called it the Swiss Officer’s and Sports Knife.

For awhile, pocket knives featured 4 functions with the limitation of only being about to spring out on a single side. On June 12 1987 a patented had been filed and a breakthrough had occurred thanks to the introduction of 2 little springs.

The two springs made for a more compact and more functional tool which increased the tool count from 4 to 6. These two pieces while appearing minor at first glance, are what all Victorinox knives depend on today. The rest is history.

Victorinox – Consistent Innovation

Today, “Victorinox” which comes from the founder’s mother’s name of Victoria and INOX, which is the term for Stainless Steel (inoxydable), produces some 120,000 knives per day, or 25 million per year. Each is loving assembled by hand and offers a little bit of Switzerland to take with you forever.

Over the years, Victorinox hasn’t stopped innovating. While they may have numerous new products out today ranging from clothing, perfume, watches and beyond, you may be surprised to know of their rather interesting prototypes.

These include everything from Swiss army knives with mother of pearl handles, gold handles with over 800 diamonds, and a 200-function pocket knife that wouldn’t even latch onto a belt given its incredibly massive size.

Of course, things like built-in flashlights which consisted of 10% knife and 90% torch have been introduced, alongside things like a built-in ruler which was too small to read, a grooming comb, onion and olive fork, and even a potato peeler.

While not all tools are successful, it’s the constant drive to push the boundaries of perfection that has led Victorinox to create some of the world’s finest and best products for the past 130 years and counting.

Notable innovations:

1902 – Lanyard shackle, toothpick, tweezers, wood saw, and scissors introduced.
1909 – Metal cross inlay on the red fibre scales.
1932 – Stainless steel knives.
1937 – Cellidor scales replace the fibre scales.
1942 – New screwdriver with cap lifter. Nail file with nail cleaner on back of knife.
1946 – New patented can opener.
1951 – Separators Nickel silver, now Alox. New screwdriver with cap lifter, wire stripper and bender. Improved can opener with small screwdriver.
1952 – Fish scaler with hook disgorger. Square Phillips screwdriver in place of the corkscrew. Large long nail file with nail cleaner, metal saw and file.
1961 – New reamer with cutting edge. Scales with invisible rivets.
1967 – First Champion model.
1968 – Shackle (bail) officially replaced with key ring.
1973 – Magnifying glass 8x lens. Champion includes the magnifying glass. Phillips screwdriver. Small blade with pointed tip replaces clip blade.
1978 – Nasa orders 50 Master Craftsman for shuttle crews.
1980 – Soldier gets Alox scales. Metal inlay inox instead of nickel-silver. Round Phillips screwdriver with split for meat cans.
1983 – Mini-screwdriver (in corkscrew).
1985 – Chisel introduced.
1985 – Fine screwdriver (on back). Reamer-punch with sewing eye. Ballpoint pen, Astronautic (with pressure filling).
1986 – Pliers with wire cutters. The Champion becomes the Swiss Champ. Keyrings on opposite sides, one layer wider-the pliers.
1987 – Camouflage scales.
1990 – Swiss watch in the handle.
1991 – SS Pin.
19991 – Multi-Purpose Hook. Solid corkscrew (end of fluted model).
1992 – Golfer blade. Solid round Phillips screwdriver (end of meat can split).
1993 – Screw in scissors becomes rivet.
1994 – Nylon mat scales.
1995 – Wire crimping tool in pliers.
1999 – Bit wrench and bit case. Translucent scales.
2001 – Voyager, small tweezers, new scales.
2002 – LED-Module with Phillips screwdriver. Piezo lighter.
2003 – Stayglow scales. Last year for metal tipped tweezers that were still in special handles such as horn, stag, and in special Swisschamp models.
2004 – Magnifying glass, plastic lens.
2005 – Traveller electronics. Metal file ground stainless. New stamping on big blade.

My top 3 personal favorite Victorinox products:

Victorinox INOX Titanium Watch

FIELD-TESTED HERE

A well-refined and luxury look with the durability of a purpose built military watch make the INOX a true pleasure to own. With 130 extreme endurance homologation tests, if there’s one thing you can be certain of, it’s that this Swiss watch will never stop ticking. Go ahead, split wood with it, take it on a lifetime of adventure and plan to pass it on to the next generation.

A lightweight titanium case offers a smooth, matte-look that’s suitable for both outdoor activities and business casual attire. Leather acquired from the same kind as used in firefighting boots offers an extremely secure, yet supple and soft comfort for wrist. An analog quartz movement, retro overlaid military time numerals, triple-coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and a 200 M/660 FT water resistance all can be found in the Victorinox INOX.

Victorinox Huntsman

FIELD-TESTED HERE

For the ultimate medium sized Swiss army knife, the Victorinox Huntsman is hard to beat. While still compact enough for daily carry use, it features 15 functions ranging from your traditional bottle opener to an aggressively sharp saw blade. Regardless of what you throw at it, the Huntsman can certainly handle it. Strip wires, slice and dice food, clip away loose clothing threads, pull hot pots, screw in and screw out, scrape, pry, and beyond. For hunting to camping, if there’s one Swiss army knife you want in your pack while spending time outdoors, this is it.

Victorinox Spartan PS

FIELD-TESTED HERE

How do you up the cool factor on a classic? With the monochrome Victorinox Spartan PS of course. With a contrasting white cover and black tools finished through a process known as Polispectral, it’s hard to not be drawn in to it’s handsomely stylish good looks. Each tool features a mirror-smooth surface finish that varies in appearance depending on how the light hits it. One moment you see anthracite, the next an alluring deep, dark grey. With about half the thickness of the Huntman, while still retaining an impressive 13 tools in total, the Spartan PS makes for what I consider the perfect everyday carry Swiss Army knife.

More than just Swiss army knives

Did you know that Victorinox offers more than just their iconic Swiss army knives? With a reputation for making some of the finest and world’s best tools for over 130 years, you may be surprised to see their craftsmanship being introduced into additional goods. From culinary tools to travel luggage, watches, fragrance and beyond, the same quality and fine attention to detail found in their Swiss army knives comes standard in all of their other products.

Interesting enough, it’s been said that after 9/11 Victorinox sales for Swiss army knives fell by more than 30%. It makes sense when you consider the fact that airports could no longer sell them and many small bladed tools were being confiscated. Of course, that hasn’t stopped Victorinox from expanding nor innovating, and it’s strikingly evident in their new line of remarkably well-crafted goods.

If you like craftsmanship in a world where only a little can be found left, then do yourself a favor and check our Victorinox. Over 130 years and they haven’t budged once inch on their commitment to durability, and the testament to that statement can be found the moment you hold a Swiss Army knife, watch, or any other product of theirs in your own hands.

Regardless if your interested in my personal favorites like the INOX, Huntsman, Spartan PS, or perhaps something different like their luggage or culinary tools, I’m certain you’ll be as pleased with owning their goods as I am for many years to come.