Production of the Swiss Army Knife begins …
Years: 1891 - 1891
Production of the Swiss Army Knife begins in 1891.
The Swiss Army Knife is not the first multi-use pocket knife: in 1851 in Moby Dick (chapter 107), Melville mentions the "Sheffield contrivances, assuming the exterior – though a little swelled – of a common pocket knife; but containing, not only blades of various sizes, but also screw-drivers, cork-screws, tweezers, awls, pens, rulers, nail-filers, countersinkers."
During the late 1880s, the Swiss Army decided to purchase a new folding pocket knife for their soldiers.
This knife was to be suitable for use by the army in opening canned food and disassembling the Swiss service rifle, the Schmidt–Rubin, which requires a screwdriver for assembly.
In January 1891, the knife receives the official designation Modell 1890.
The knife has a blade, reamer, can-opener, screwdriver, and grips made out of dark oak wood that some say will later be partly replaced with ebony wood.
At this time no Swiss company has the necessary production capacity, so the initial order for fifteen thousand knives is placed with the German knife manufacturer Wester & Co. from Solingen, Germany.
These knives are delivered in October 1891.
In 1891, Karl Elsener, owner of a company that makes surgical equipment, sets out to manufacture the knives in Switzerland itself.
At the end of 1891 Elsener begins production of the Modell 1890 knives, in direct competition with the Solingen company.
He incurs financial losses doing so, as Wester & Co is able to produce the knives at a lower cost.
.
The Swiss Army Knife is not the first multi-use pocket knife: in 1851 in Moby Dick (chapter 107), Melville mentions the "Sheffield contrivances, assuming the exterior – though a little swelled – of a common pocket knife; but containing, not only blades of various sizes, but also screw-drivers, cork-screws, tweezers, awls, pens, rulers, nail-filers, countersinkers."
During the late 1880s, the Swiss Army decided to purchase a new folding pocket knife for their soldiers.
This knife was to be suitable for use by the army in opening canned food and disassembling the Swiss service rifle, the Schmidt–Rubin, which requires a screwdriver for assembly.
In January 1891, the knife receives the official designation Modell 1890.
The knife has a blade, reamer, can-opener, screwdriver, and grips made out of dark oak wood that some say will later be partly replaced with ebony wood.
At this time no Swiss company has the necessary production capacity, so the initial order for fifteen thousand knives is placed with the German knife manufacturer Wester & Co. from Solingen, Germany.
These knives are delivered in October 1891.
In 1891, Karl Elsener, owner of a company that makes surgical equipment, sets out to manufacture the knives in Switzerland itself.
At the end of 1891 Elsener begins production of the Modell 1890 knives, in direct competition with the Solingen company.
He incurs financial losses doing so, as Wester & Co is able to produce the knives at a lower cost.
.
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Years: 1891 - 1891
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