Swiss Army Knife Is The Best Pocketknife Alternative

The best pocket knife is a Swiss Army knife, which was originally named, Offiziersmesser, but proved to be too difficult for many people to pronounce. It is most commonly known as the Swiss Army knife, and is equipped with many handy tools that can benefit almost any person. Usually available in either red or black, it is sold almost everywhere around the globe. Let’s take a look at some of the functions one can expect from this product.

History of the Swiss Army Knife

Because of its intent, there is a main blade and then a smaller secondary blade. The original also had a corkscrew, a can opener and a bottle opener. There is both a flat head and Phillips head screw driver, nail file and scissors. Other tools include a saw blade for wood, a file for metal, a hook to tighten the shoelaces of hiking boots.

As technology presented additional needs for human conditions, some additional tools have been added. Tweezers and toothpick were found to be handy, and a fish scaler were added for assisting with enjoying and preparing food that was caught in the wild. When on maneuvers for many months at a time, survival meant hunting and fishing to stay fed, and alive.

Recent Additions to the Pocket Knife

Some of the newer additions to this wonder are the magnifying glass and a ball point pen. A magnifying glass was typically used to start a fire by focusing using the lens to focus the rays of the sun on dried leaves, which produced enough spark to ignite a fire. This way, the soldiers could stay warm as well as cook a meal of naturally gathered foods.

A few more items which can be found on one of these pocket devices are a hex wrench with bits, and pliers. By using the hook and a pair of pliers, a person can easily make a shelter from the rain by using a rain slicker and string (or vines) to fashion a lean-to structure.

The computer industry took its toll on this product and made it possible to have a USB flash drive on the device, along with a digital clock and altimeter. You can even get a laser pointer, LED light and an MP3 player with these devices. The hex wrench and pliers have been found useful in maintaining related computer equipment, while traveling.

Catching Up to the 21st Century

In 2010, the laser pointer and 32GB detachable Fingerprint USB Flash Drive and Bluetooth technology were added, which makes the perfect portable pocket tool for any terrain, or social situation. If that isn’t enough, there are plans to make a version which is ‘flight allowed,’ for people who travel by airplane. This model won’t have any blades. Of course with changing airport security rules, there is no guarantee that this will always meet the required standards.

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Swiss Army Knife – Victorinox, Swiss Champ

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History Of The Swiss Army Knife

To mark the beginning of the Swiss Army Knife we have to go back about a century and a quarter.  Karl Elsener, who was a cutler (i.e., knife maker) started a new business.

As any good marketer knows, to accomplish good branding, you need a name.  He decided to combine his mother’s name, Victoria, with the german word for stainless steel and came up with “Victorinox” as his new company’s name.  In a further effort to establish his brand recognition, he developed the cross and shield to mark all of his products, which expanded to include a significantly longer list than only knives.

Together with another company, Wenger S.A., Victorinox won the long running contract to supply knives to the army of Switzerland.  The remarkable product that we have all come to know so well was developed in 1897 to fufill and order by the army for a multi-purpose tool that could be easily carried by soldiers.

During World War II, the knives became very popular with American soldiers.  When they would try to buy them, they found it difficult to pronounce the name, “Schweizer Offizers-Messer,” so they started to refer to them simply by a rough translation, the Swiss Army Knife.

Now the brand is well established around the world, and the Americanized name has stuck.  These knives are respected through out the world.

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Black Swiss Army Knife

This site is dedicated to the Swiss Army Knife–especially those that are black.

We hope to explore all aspects of the knives including their history, manufacture, uses, features and more.

We always welcome your participation through your comments.  If you would like to be a guest author, just let us know.