The Swiss Army Knife is one of the better known creations to come out of Switzerland. Victorinox was created in the early 1890s by Karl Elsener who was horrified to discover that the Swiss army was being supplied with knives manufactured in neighboring Germany. In establishing Victorinox, it was Elsener’s goal to supply the Swiss army with knives made in Switzerland.
Victorinox enjoyed a short lived monopoly until another Swiss company called Paul Boechat & Cie. (later renamed Wenger) started manufacturing a similar product. The two companies ended up sharing the government contract but each had exclusive use of unique marketing lingo:
Victorinox: The Original Swiss Army Knife
Wenger: The Genuine Swiss Army Knife
Fast forward 100+ years and the rivalry came to an end in April 2005 when Victorinox dealt the final coup de grace and acquired Wenger. Today, Victorinox and Wenger manufacture and distribute a combined 25 million Swiss Army Knives to over 150 countries every year.
There is no doubt that the Swiss Army Knife is a true classic. It is recognized globally for its design and durability and while little improvement of the product is needed, Victorinox continues to innovate adding ever more functionality to the tool. Most recent Victorinox knives have included an MP3 player and a USB memory stick. (Primary source: www.victorinox.com and www.wenger.ch)
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