Ethan Clarke
Swiss Army knives are multi-tool pocket knives manufactured by Victorinox, based in Ibach, Switzerland. The knives are made from a variety of materials, including steel, plastic, wood, and aluminium. The plastic used in the handles of Swiss Army knives is called Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB), also known by the trade name Cellidor. This plastic is known to be cheap and durable, though it can be prone to scratching. Swiss Army knives are widely used outside the army, and are known for their versatility and compactness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic used | Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) (trade names: Cellidor, Tenite, Tenex) |
| Other materials used | Steel, aluminum, rubber, nylon, titanium, brass, copper, G10, carbon fiber, wood |
| Colors | Red, blue, and many others |
| Manufacturer | Victorinox (formerly Wenger and Victorinox) |
| Manufacturing location | Switzerland (mainly Ibach, some in Delemont) |
| Number manufactured per day | 45,000 |
| Number manufactured per year | 10 million+ |
| Number of models | 350+ |
| Number of individual parts | 800+ |
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What You'll Learn
Victorinox: the manufacturer of Swiss Army Knives
Victorinox is a knife manufacturer and watchmaker based in Ibach, Switzerland. It is the manufacturer of Swiss Army Knives and is known as the world's biggest manufacturer of pocket knives. The company was founded in 1884 as Messerfabrik Carl Elsener, the workshop of Karl Elsener in Ibach. In 1891, Elsener began delivering knives to the Swiss Army and co-founded the Schweizerischer Messerschmiedverband, an association of Swiss knife manufacturers.
Victorinox produces 45,000 Swiss Army Knives per day, or almost 10 million per year, with a variety of models and functional combinations. The company imports steel from France, Germany, and Sweden to create the blades, which are stamped to 2mm thick. The composition of carbon in the steel alloy and the temperature during hardening are altered to achieve the desired hardness for different tools. The final sharpening of the blades is done using a process developed by Victorinox, utilising special grinding wheels to achieve a 15-degree cutting edge.
The handles of Victorinox Swiss Army Knives are also made separately and assembled. They can be made from moulded plastic, wood, or riveted handles. The standard colour is red, but other colours are available. The Swiss Army Knife is widely used outside the army, and Victorinox also sells customisable versions of their knives, known as SAKs. These allow users to swap out certain tools for a more personalised configuration.
In addition to its knife business, Victorinox entered the timepiece industry in 1989 under the brand name "Swiss Army". The company has also licensed its logo for use on watches, apparel, and travel gear.
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Steel: the primary raw material used
Steel is the primary raw material used in the making of a Swiss Army knife. The blades of Swiss Army knives are made from steel, which is imported from France, Germany, and Sweden. The steel used is a special blend of stainless steel alloy, whose exact composition is not disclosed. The steel is soft and dulls easily but can be easily sharpened. It is resistant to corrosion and chipping. The steel used for the screwdrivers is softer than that of the blades. The composition of carbon in the steel alloy and the temperature used during the hardening process are altered to achieve the desired degree of hardness for the different tools.
The process of manufacturing a Swiss Army knife involves making each of the tools and handles separately from their respective raw materials and then assembling them together. The steel coils are passed through a machine that punches out the 2mm-thick blade shapes, along with the nail nick or finger groove used to pull out the blade from the handle. 16,000 blades are punched out from one roll of stainless steel sheet, and the waste steel is returned to the supplier. The final sharpening of the blades is done by a process developed by Victorinox, using special grinding wheels to achieve a 15-degree cutting edge.
The handles of Swiss Army knives are traditionally red in colour and are made from materials such as moulded plastic, wood, or riveted handles. The company Victorinox, based in Ibach, Switzerland, is the primary manufacturer of Swiss Army knives, producing about 34,000 to 45,000 knives per day. Victorinox has been making Swiss Army knives for over a century and is the sole supplier of multi-purpose knives to the Swiss Army. The knives are widely used outside the army as well, with civil sales representing most of their turnover.
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Cellidor: the cheap resin plastic used for scales
Cellidor is a cheap resin plastic used for the scales of Swiss Army knives. It is a thermoplastic cellulose ester that incorporates a high percentage of organic cellulose. This plastic is strong, resistant to UV light, and has low moisture absorption. It is also known for its shiny surface, which is attractive to many owners and users.
Cellidor is the most common material used for the scales of Swiss Army Knives (SAKs). It is typically found in the standard, smooth red scales of the knives, although it is available in other colours, including green, pink, purple, blue, black, and camo. The Victorinox Classic SD series features a 58mm (2.25") pocket knife with a Cellidor body and five tools. This series includes black, blue, green, pink, purple, and transparent pink variations, some of which have been retired.
In 2022, Victorinox released a Cadet knife with ABS/Cellidor handle scales, surprising many as only one other official Cadet had been released with these scales. The knife, known as the Rose Edition Cellidor Cadet, featured irregular colours and included a 58mm Victorinox Classic, a 58mm Signature Lite, and an 84mm Cadet. The Cellidor scales added thickness to the knife, allowing it to hold extra tools.
Cellidor was patented in 1952 and is a registered trade name for Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB). Other trade names for CAB include Tenite and Tenex. While Cellidor is the most common material for SAK scales, there are alternative materials available, such as more resilient nylon and aluminium.
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Modifications: the many ways Swiss Army Knives can be customised
Swiss Army Knives are widely used and recognised tools, with most civil sales and exports going to the United States. The iconic knives are known for their versatility and functionality, and they have even been taken to Mount Everest and the Arctic, as well as being standard equipment for NASA astronauts.
The Swiss Army Knife has been produced since 1891, when the Karl Elsener company, later known as Victorinox, won the contract to produce the Modell 1890 knife for the Swiss Army. Since then, the knife has been revised and customised in numerous ways. The standard features of a Swiss Army Knife include a drop-point main blade, a screwdriver, a can opener, a saw blade, and scissors, among others. The handle is traditionally red, with the Victorinox or Wenger "cross" logo, or the coat of arms of Switzerland for knives issued to the military.
Over the years, the Swiss Army Knife has evolved to include different colours, textures, and shapes, with various models offering different tool combinations. Customisations can be made to the knives, with some companies offering to swap out tools or create entirely new scales and designs. For example, a person might prefer a Phillips-head screwdriver over a corkscrew, or vice versa. Self-taught engineers and craftspeople have also begun creating custom scales and full back scales, allowing for more personalisation and variety.
Further modifications include the incorporation of new tools, such as fire steels, replaceable surgical scalpels, and natural materials like buffalo horn for the handles. The size of the knife can also be customised, with Wenger models offering a range of lengths from 65 mm to 130 mm when closed, and varying thicknesses depending on the number of tool layers included.
In recent years, 3D printing technology has also been utilised to create unique and personalised scales for Swiss Army Knives, offering new patterns, sizes, and colours. These modifications showcase the ongoing evolution of the Swiss Army Knife, adapting to the needs and preferences of its diverse user base.
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History: the evolution of the Swiss Army Knife
Swiss Army Knives have a long and interesting history, evolving from their original design in 1891 to the present day, with the iconic tools being widely used all over the world. The name 'Swiss Army Knife' was coined by American soldiers after World War II, as they struggled to pronounce the German word 'Offiziersmesser', meaning 'officer's knife'.
The original knife was designed by Karl Elsener and commissioned by the Swiss government, who wanted a knife for every soldier in the country. This knife, known as the Soldier Knife Modell 1890, had a spear point blade, reamer, can-opener, screwdriver and grips made from oak wood. The grips were treated with rapeseed oil, which made them tougher, water-repellent and black in colour. However, the wooden handles tended to crack and chip, so in 1901 they were replaced with a hard reddish-brown fibre that resembled wood.
In 1908, the second generation of Soldier Knives was produced, this time by several companies in Germany and Switzerland. In 1951, the third generation was released, followed by the fourth in 1961, which was the first to bear the Swiss Coat of Arms on the handle. This model was produced exclusively by Victorinox and Wenger, and it was around this time that the company began to use plastic handles. The 'Original Swiss Army Knife' trademark was given to Victorinox, while Wenger's knives were marketed as 'Genuine Swiss Army Knives'. Wenger was acquired by Victorinox in 2005, and since then, Victorinox has been the sole supplier of multi-purpose knives to the Swiss army.
Over the years, the Swiss Army Knife has been modified and updated, with new tools, colours, textures and shapes. The company now produces around 45,000 Swiss Army Knives per day, with 90% of production exported to over 100 countries. The knives are widely used outside of the army, and are popular with NASA astronauts, mountaineers and arctic explorers. The iconic red colour of the handles is still the most recognisable, but other colours are available, including different colours of plastic, as well as aluminium and nylon.
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Frequently asked questions
Swiss Army knives are made with a cheap resin plastic called Cellidor, also known as Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB).
Swiss Army knives come in the standard colour red, as well as blue. However, there are many colours available.
The handles of Swiss Army knives are traditionally made of plastic, but can also be made of wood, rubber, buffalo horn, or aluminium.
Swiss Army knives are made by Victorinox, Europe's largest knife manufacturer.
