Schwyz Schwyz Switzerland
Years: 1291 - 1291
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Schwyz and its ally Glarus declare war on both Zurich and Austria, and by May 1443 the cantons are again at war.
As in 1440 and again in 1443, Reding directs the war policy of the united cantons against Zürich and, despite his advanced age, sees service on the battlefield as well.
The town council of Schwyz surrenders on May 4, 1798.
Reding and Schauenburg agree on the 13th of May to a cease-fire, the terms of which include the rebel cantons merging into a single one, thus limiting their effectiveness in the central government.
...Schwyz, ...
...Schwyz, ...
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.
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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.
.
“History isn't about dates and places and wars. It's about the people who fill the spaces between them.”
― Jodi Picoult, The Storyteller (2013)
