European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 24, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Cut above the rest Switzerland s pocket Toolbox  Kominicki staff writer Landing a government contract was Al Karl Elsener had in mind when he began looking for ways to build a better pocketknife Back in 1884. At the time Elsener s native Switzerland purchased military knives from Solingen Germany Long noted for its Quality forged Blades. Elsener reasoned that if he could offer a better knife with More features at the same Price the Swiss government financially prudent even then would jump at the proposal. So 30-year-old Elsener borrowed Money from the family hat business and set up shop in the town of Ibach an hour s drive South of Zurich. It took a while but he eventually managed to land the right to Supply the Swiss military with pocket knives. He delivered the first Swiss army knives in 1891. Elsener s firm known today As Victorinod has been filling the contract Ever since. The current Swiss government buys about 50,000 of the knives each year splitting its order Between Elsener s firm and Wenger s.a., a company in Delemont in the French speaking part of Switzerland. Millions More of the knives sporting the now famous red handle embossed with the Silver Helvetia Cross Are sold annually to Hunters fishing enthusiasts and other sportsmen in about 100 countries. Karl Elsener s end of the Century Effort May have been Short on Flash but it was Long on practicality. Wood handled and with four separate functions the original Soldier s knife quickly became the Swiss military Standard. The sizable government contract gave Young Karl capital to expand and by 1897 he was producing a lengthy line of pocket knives that he sold by name rather than number As had been the practice. The Schoolboy s knife the Cadet knife and the Farmer s knife among other were enjoying brisk sales when Elsener invented the Swiss officer s knife in 1897. It was a lighter Sleeker version of the Soldier s knife incorporating a main Blade punch can opener and screw Driver. There was also a second smaller Blade and a Cork screw. The original wooden handle which had a tendency to crack was replaced by a hard fiber material. More importantly the knife incorporated a revolutionary Spring design. Up to that time All pocket knives opened on one Side of the handle with one Spring operating two Blades. Elsener s new knife featured six Blades that worked off Only two Springs and it opened on both sides of the handle. Elsener s Basic design has changed Only slightly Over the years. One improvement came in 1921 when the company became one of the first to use stainless steel Blades. At that time the firm adopted the name Victorinod combining Victoria Elsener s Mother s name with inbox the International Symbol for stainless steel. The Victorinod officer s knife was popular outside Switzerland Long before world War ii but it was american gis serving in Europe in the 1940s who really bolstered the firm s International Market. Droves of soldiers brought the knife Home and it was soon on Sale at military surplus stores All Over the United states. In the same Way . Soldiers shortened general purpose vehicle to jeep the Swiss officer s knife became known As simply Swiss army  the firm has fought the change it Sticks to Swiss officer s knife in advertising in Europe but realizes the More Universal name is firmly entrenched in America. We still think officer s knife has a better sound the sound of better Quality said Carl Elsener 64, the founder s grandson. For Europe Swiss army knife sounds too  Victorinod produces about 15,000 army knives a Day a third of the factory s total production that includes Kitchen knives scissors and other cutlery. In its smallest version the army knife features two Blades and Sells for about $7. The grandest Model is the Champion a veritable pocket tool Box that weighs 6 ounces and offers 24 functions. It Sells for around $45. Falling in Between Are hundreds of other models that Combine varying numbers of Blades saws openers magnifying glasses and other features. If the order is Large enough and does not require the development of new parts Victorinod will assemble whatever version of the knife a customer desires said company spokesman Xaver Ehrler. We already make 300 different versions of the knife but there is always somebody who wants number 301," he said. President Lyndon Johnson handed out about 4,000 of the smallest Model during his administration the White House s current resident gives away the same size but with a Royal Blue handle decorated with the presidential  and his signature in Gold. The space shuttle Fleet is equipped with Victorinod master craftsman models which offer nine Standard features plus scissors tweezers toothpick Metal file and Phillips screwdriver. There was some talk about naming a Model after the astronauts Ehler said but nothing has come of it so  the knives Are especially popular with pilots. Most nato countries Issue their fliers Victorinod knives with Olive drab handles the nigerian air Force buys models with a special curved Blade that can be used for cutting through knotted Parachute lines. And when Francis Gary Powers u-2 observation plane was shot Down Over the soviet Union in 1960, the russians quickly paraded the Pilot s Cache of spy paraphernalia before the cold War world. Captured with the Pilot was that most useful of secret weapons the Swiss army knife. In All likelihood the russians got More information from Powers than one gets during a visit of the Victorinod Plant. Taking photographs in the facility is prohibited and Tours of the Plant move at a brisk Pace that does not allow close study of production methods. Much of the equipment used on the Assembly line in fact is designed or machined in House to thwart Industrial espionage Ehrler said. We prefer to buy general sorts of equipment and then alter it for our own use he said. Some of the machines and holds Are designed and built completely on the premises. Why not we have spent years and much Money perfecting our process Why should we give those secrets away to the Competition Page 14 the company s fears Are not unfounded. Competition in the pocket knife business is fierce and it reaches a fevered pitch when it comes to the popular red handled knives. Clones of various Quality Are manufactured in Germany France Japan China and the United states Ehrler said. No one has equated our Quality. It used to be that the Swiss Cross was a customer s Assurance of a Well made knife but even the cheapest copies have started putting the Cross on the handles. The Only real test is to look at the base of the Large knife Blade. If it does t say Victorinod we did t make it he said. Victorinod knives Start out As Long bands of the Best French stainless steel heavy die presses stamp out the assorted Blades and Springs which Are further shaped tempered and honed before receiving a final polishing. Once past the production stage each knife is assembled by hand by one of the Plant s 800 workers. Some veterans can assemble 300 or More of the largest knives each Day. Ehrler said a single Champion requires nearly 400 production Steps one of the last is a Quality Check by one of 60 workers who open and close every Blade test the scissors and ensure the toothpick and tweezers Are in place. Rejects Are sent Back for reworking to a repair department which also refurbishes the handful of knives that find their Way to Ibach by mail some in envelopes marked As simply As Swiss army knife  people Send us knives that Are 10, 20 years old sometimes with snapped Blades or broken scissor Springs Ehrler said. Some people insist on having their old knife repaired rather than buying a new one. Sentimental reasons i guess. People Are funny that Way. We fix them and Send them  the Small number of returns is a testimonial to the Quality that goes into the making of each Swiss army knife Ehrler said. He May be right. In a turn of the tables treat would have pleased the original Karl Elsener the German army began buying its military pocket knives from Victorinod in 1976. And Ehrler added we would love to Supply the american military if they Are Ever  Karl Elsener made his first pocket knives in this Ibach Switzerland farmhouse above. Far left the top of the line Champion. About 15,000 Swiss army knives Are produced daily at the Victorinod factory. The stars and stripes monday March 24, 1986 workers in the Plant s polishing department add Shine to the stainless steel at right founder Karl Elsener. The stars and stripes Page 15