13 May 2009

Roots Of The Swiss Famous Army Knife

A Wenger Swiss Army knifeImage via Wikipedia

by Semeno Manasaku

The Swiss Army Knife is a multifunctioning tool besides being a knife. This compact knife can be used for many different things and is extremely convenient. It is possible to do many jobs without having to carry around a full tool box. Instead just slip this knife in your pocket and you are all set.

There are many different types of Swiss Army Knives that have different tool combinations. The most common tools found in the Swiss Army Knife are a main blade, tweezers, corkscrew, bottle opener, Phillips head screwdriver, scissors, file, magnifying glass, fish scaler, pliers, small second blade, toothpick, can opener, saw, hook, ballpoint pen, hex wrench with bits, key chain, and a slotted/flat head screwdriver.

Some of the more recent models include an LED light, MP3 player, digital clock, laser pointer, digital altimeter and USB flash drive. There are Swiss Army Knives for the army, which contains a brass spacer so it can assemble a SIG 550 and SIG 510 assault rifle. To commemorate 100 years of the knife, Wenger produced "the Giant" which has 85 tools that an do 100 different things.

The origins of the utility knife date to 1891 when a company that made surgical equipment discovered that the Swiss army knifes being used in the military were actually form Germany. Karl Elsener the owner made the first model of the Swiss Army Knife called the soldier's knife. He eventually enveloped a spring mechanism so that the blades on both sides of the knife could be retracted. The spring mechanism made it possible to include many other tools. The force needed to press these blades back into place are about 8 to 12 kg.

Today the Swiss army knife is manufactured by the original company, Victorinox and Wenger. The main buyers of this knife is the Swiss Army and the United State. Wenger uses the slogan Genuine Swiss Army Knife and Victorinox uses the Original Swiss Army Knife.

To ensure you have a real Swiss army knife then it should have the Wenger cross, a white cross in a red box. The trademark means that you have an authentic Swiss army knife as many companies produce similar products.

The classic model is still popular though there are models available for those that love to fish, the handy man in your life, the constant tinker or person that takes everything apart and then puts it back together. There is a model available for mechanics as well as just general use.

Interestingly the Swiss Army Knife was originally called the Soldier's Knife. The US soldiers returning from WWII coined the term Swiss Army Knife, as they liked this multipurpose knife that they got off of the Germans. The cutting blades on the knife rate a 56 on the Rockwell hardness scale making it a functioning knife and not just a toy.

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For more informations about Victorinox pocket knives visit Victorinox Swiss Army Knives swiss army knife


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