In this review, I want to talk about the knife not from the point of view of the classical approach, but evaluating it as a multifunctional tool and tourist assistant for all occasions.

As my hiking assistant for all occasions, I use a Swiss army knife, as this class of knives is one of the most advanced and convenient for tourism and outdoor activities in principle, combining quality, ergonomics, small size and a wide practical scope . My knife model is Victorinox Climber. This choice was made based on the performance characteristics and the tools themselves in this knife, and now I will talk about it in more detail.

Overall dimensions of the knife - 91 * 27 * 18 mm, weight is 85 grams. It is made according to the classical layout, the overlays are made of red smooth plastic (there are 6 types of overlays on this model, this one is the most classic). The metal of the knife is high-quality French chromium (chromium content is about 15%) nickel-free “dauphinox” stainless steel (such steel is tough and does not crumble).

The main blade has a length of 70 mm, of which 60 falls on the cutting edge itself. The blade is thin, 2 mm at its widest point. The descents come from the butt, the factory sharpening is razor sharp. The small blade is shorter and thinner - 40 mm (PK - 35) and 1.5 mm thick. The hardness of the knife is about 58 HRC. The blade is easy to sharpen, sharpening holds for a long time.

The knife includes 11 tools. On the “wide” side, these are actually knives - 1 large and 1 small blade, spring scissors, can opener + philips screwdriver (i.e. Phillips screwdriver), bottle opener + wide flat screwdriver + wire bending tool / removal of insulation from wires, from the "narrow" side - a corkscrew for wine, an awl-punch with an eye, a carrying hook. At the end of the knife, in special grooves, there is a plastic toothpick (length is 50 mm) and small tweezers (45 mm), as well as a safety ring for hanging a knife with a diameter of 10 mm.

The knife also has a small hidden feature - at the base of the corkscrew there is an inconspicuous hole, no more than half a millimeter in diameter. This is a kind of cell in which you can put a carnation pin (the so-called corsage pin), a standard 24 mm long pin can be easily placed there. The pin is not included with the knife, but finding it is not a problem, they are often used in everyday life (as an example, a shirt collar is often fixed with a similar pin when buying).

Spring-type scissors, cutting edge length 27 mm. At first glance, this tool is low-power, but this is an extremely erroneous opinion, as it easily cuts even plastic. They cut their nails with no complaints.

A can opener at first seems unusual and uncomfortable, but this feeling disappears as soon as you open the first can of stew or condensed milk with it. You can open the jar with a knife, but this greatly impairs its cutting properties, so the opener is built into the knife for good reason. At the end, it has a flattening that acts as a Phillips screwdriver (Philips according to Western nomenclature), works flawlessly. Please note that when opening cans, the opener must be moved forward, and not towards itself. The opener is designed so that the sharp edges of the lid are rolled up during the opening process.

At the other end of the knife is a bottle opener and a wire stripper/bend tool, which is a notch on the bottom edge of the opener about 2 mm in diameter. The opener fulfills its intended purpose, the insulation stripping tool is extremely specific - it is suitable for thin wires, essentially tearing off the sheath from them. For a tourist, this is not the most necessary tool, but it is worth noting that, constructively, it does not create a feeling of “foreignness” in this knife.

On the reverse side of the knife there are 3 tools - a corkscrew, a hook for carrying and an awl punch. The corkscrew has a length of 35 mm, which is quite enough for its direct purpose, in a large company it is sometimes really not enough at hand.

The carrying hook is rather a tribute to the past (or atavism), at one time it was easier to carry bales and boxes with its help (when bags and bags did not yet exist, loads were rewound with a thin twine). Now it can be used as a handle for carrying heavily loaded plastic bags and as a tack for a pot, can, or bucket of water.

The awl at first glance seems like a very strange tool, but its scope is huge. The shape and dimensions make it easy to pierce denim, thick leather (including shoe leather), rubber and even some polymeric materials, which allows it to be used for quick repair of equipment and “masturbation” in the field.

The oval-shaped eyelet (1.5x3 mm) allows you to immediately thread a harsh thread or several thinner threads to create a strong seam. The awl also performs the function of a center punch (there is a cutting surface on one side), which allows you to make recesses and through holes in wood or plastic. If on a day trip or a halt there is a desire to do wood carving, then such a tool will be very useful.

In 1884, the 24-year-old son of a hatter Karl Elsner decided to radically change the direction of the family business and opened a knife factory in the small town of Ibach in the canton of Schwyz, located in central Switzerland. At that time, folding knives were part of the equipment of the soldiers of the Swiss army, so Elsner set his sights on making products for the military. Moreover, at that time the Swiss army bought knives from the Germans. By the way, those German blades were (and, I must say, still remain) no less famous: they were produced in the city of Solingen, whose workshops have been famous for their weapons since the Middle Ages. However, in 1889, local gunsmiths Rudolf Schmidt and Eduard Rubin invented a new rifle, which later added to the arsenal of Swiss soldiers. She, as noted, was quite effective, but bad luck: to disassemble and clean it, you needed a screwdriver.

In 1889, a rifle was invented that entered service with the Swiss army.

Army knife produced in the city of Solingen 1890

1889 Schmidt-Rubin rifle

Thus, the soldiers needed not an ordinary knife, but a multifunctional one, with which one could at least disassemble the weapon. Therefore, in 1890, Elsner created the Swiss Association of Cutlers, which, in turn, received a government contract for their manufacture and supply (such a kind of import substitution program). In addition to the screwdriver and the blade itself, the knife included an awl and a can opener. However, despite the quality, attempts to make large and functional weapons led to the fact that the domestic manufacturer began to yield to the German one in price. But the army nevertheless acquired knives. So, 1891 is officially considered the year when Victorinox (by the way, the mother of its founder was called Victoria, hence the first part of the name, and inox in French means stainless steel) began to supply Swiss knives to the Swiss army.

Victorinox began supplying knives to the Swiss Army

It is noted that for 6 years the army was not very willing to buy local knives, and the manufacturers themselves did not experience much zeal in their manufacture - many became bankrupt. However, in 1897, Elzner was able to improve his brainchild and patented the "Officer's Sports Knife". It has become smaller, lighter and cheaper than the military itself liked very much.

It can be assumed that, in addition to his own zeal, Elsner’s successes were prompted by the fact that in 1893 the Swiss army signed another contract with Paul Boechat & Cie, which was later renamed in honor of the company’s founder Theodor Wenger simply Wenger (but only their the factory was on the French-speaking side of the country). Competition appears to have been beneficial to both firms seeking to improve the quality of their products. By the way, in 1908, both of them were completely equal in rights: they received the same requirements, as well as the opportunity to place the same “Cross on the Shield” on products. It is worth noting that the confrontation ended only in 2005, when Victorinox acquired Wenger.

In 1908 Victorinox and Wenger were placed on the knives "Cross on the Shield"

After World War II, the popularity of the Swiss Army Knife spread across the ocean. Since 1945, the Americans began to actively buy them, and not only the military. The functionality of the knife also expanded, and improved, meeting the needs of the time: therefore, something appeared, and something, on the contrary, became useless and cut off. For example, the multi-purpose hook was created at a time when parcels were tied with twine. Accordingly, carrying it in your hands was not only inconvenient, but even painful, and the hook made it possible to carry parcels on a knife and not injure your hands. Today its necessity is questionable. From a weapon, the Swiss knife has really turned into an indispensable tool at hand, which is used not only by the military.

For example, the model invented in the middle of the 2000s by a rescuer for rescuers includes 14 elements, which, as noted, perform 18 functions. Firstly, it is easy to open with one hand, has a special metal protrusion at the base of the handle so that you can break glass (for example, cars), a Phillips screwdriver, a bottle opener, a box opener, a flat screwdriver, an awl, a special knife for cutting seat belts and so on.

Many men love modern functional things that are practical to use on the one hand, and on the other hand look stylish and emphasize the individuality of a man with their design. One of these things can be a Swiss knife - a universal device that for many years has proved its indispensability for men, both in everyday life and when traveling. If someone else is not familiar with the device and the combat effectiveness of this Swiss development, we strongly recommend that you read the material below, which will tell you about all the advantages and methods of application swiss knife .

Varieties

Swiss craftsmen are currently producing different models of folding knives, but the main thing for us is how they fundamentally differ from each other. Consider the main 2 types of Swiss knives:

• Swiss souvenir knives- designed exclusively for a gift to a man and do not withstand heavy loads, as they are made using weak fasteners and a light metal alloy (usually these are folding knives of small sizes);

• classic swiss knives- created as a universal aid for men, which can replace many necessary tools (often has a compact size).

Device and functionality

So, let's understand this multifunctional device and see what basic tools it contains:

1. screwdriver. All men know how much this is an indispensable tool in the household, which can be useful not only at home, but also when a vehicle breaks down on the road or when repairing office equipment at work;
2. crosshead screwdriver. A type of screwdriver used in most cases when working with equipment;
3. blade. Due to the durable steel of the blade, it can be used as a knife, which can cut not only products, but also open a tin can, cut off a piece of wire, sharpen a wooden peg, and so on;
4. special can opener. This tool is indispensable in field conditions, where canned food is the main food;
5. the so-called "fish" tool. Designed not only for cleaning fish, but also able to get a stuck hook from a caught fish due to its peculiar shape. Additionally, a ruler marking is applied to the surface, which can be used for different purposes;
6. pliers. The name of the tool speaks for itself. We just note that in addition they can be used as wire cutters, as well as a device for crimping the wire;

ordinary scissors. More suitable for paper or cardboard, but in practice they can cut more durable material;

7. saw. A saw can cut wooden products or any object that does not exceed the density of a tree;
8. file. Double-sided file for processing metal and hard products, and the second side for manicure;
9. small blade. Designed for lightweight materials. Ideal for cutting and peeling vegetables and fruits;
10. awl. A little different from what we used to call an awl, but, believe me, it is much easier for them to make a hole in a leather belt;
11. a tool for removing insulation from wires and for bending it;
12. depending on the model, in this place of the knife there may be tweezers, a pin, and sometimes even a pen.
13. hook. For many Swiss knife users, this tool is still a mystery, but supposedly it is designed to pull parts from hard-to-reach places or transport things using thin slings;
14. magnifier. An indispensable thing on a hike, especially when everyone has forgotten the steel at home;
15. bottle opener. Here it is probably clear what this device is intended for;
16. small screwdriver. The screwdriver is made of brittle metal and is designed to remove bolts from small electronic devices;
17. large screwdriver. Not present on all models, but capable of replacing a chisel or scraper if necessary;
18. corkscrew. As you know, if there is a man at the table, then his duties include opening wine products. It is for such purposes that a corkscrew is an indispensable thing;
19. The smallest screwdriver, which is usually screwed into a corkscrew and is intended exclusively for watches, probably also Swiss ones;
20. screwdriver with a wide sting. Also, this tool can be useful as a core or scraper;
21. key holder. A Swiss knife can be worn as a keychain, but this is too impractical, since some models have dimensions that do not fit the size of the keychain, and the keys will clearly interfere with the full layout of some of the necessary tools.

As you can see, a Swiss knife is an indispensable device for a man if he decides to go hiking or fishing, and it can also be used at home when there is no time to look for the right tool in the pantry.

Briefly about the article: When they say “Swiss”, the second word that comes to mind is either “bank”, or “cheese”, or “knife”. We can’t say anything about cheeses and banks, but universal knives did not appear at all in Switzerland ...

Evolution

Swiss knife

When they say “Swiss”, the second word that comes to mind is either “bank”, or “cheese”, or “knife”. That's about the "Swiss" - folding, with a large number of blades and all sorts of things - knives, we will talk with you today. And let's start with the fact that such knives did not appear at all in Switzerland ...

Simple folding knives were known to the ancient Romans, and the first tool, which, in addition to the blade, included several more useful devices that retracted inside on hinges, comes from the same era. This item (let's call it a multitool), which exists in a single copy, dates back to the 3rd century AD. e.; in the late 1980s, it was raised from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. The multitool contains a fairly reasonable set of daily necessities: a knife, a spoon, an awl, a toothpick, an incomprehensible spatula and a three-pronged fork (someone will say that the fork in Ancient Rome is an anachronism, but it is in the "gadget", although, perhaps, not used as cutlery). It is possible that this item belonged to a traveler and was brought to Rome from the provinces. Of course, it was a single luxury item, possibly made by order of an eccentric rich man: the multitool was completely made of silver, with the exception of a steel blade, and no other similar items could be found.

The history of the multi-bladed knife as a mass phenomenon begins at the end of the 19th century and is associated with the name of the Swiss entrepreneur Karl Elsener. This man wanted to make knives and even founded the Association of Swiss Cutlers. It was a risky business: before that, normal knife production had not been established in agricultural Switzerland. For the needs of the army, they were ordered in Germany, in the "city of blades" - Solingen. Karl sold his first knives of his own making through a store owned by his mother, Victoria Elsener.

In 1889, the Schmidt-Rubin rifle entered service with the Swiss army, which required a screwdriver for maintenance. And then Karl Elsener thought of combining four tools needed by a soldier in everyday life on one wooden handle with a metal base: a screwdriver, a blade, a can opener and an awl. The idea turned out to be successful, and a year later the first batch of such devices - "soldier's knife, model 1890" - was purchased for the Swiss Armed Forces.

When they talk about real Swiss Army knives, they mean, of course, not Chinese fakes and not even the products of some Swiss metallurgists - we are talking about knives from only two companies. In 1893, not wanting to give Karl Elsener a monopoly on the supply of knives to the Armed Forces, the Swiss government permanently split the order fifty-fifty between two manufacturers: Victorinox and Paul Boechat & Cie (later renamed Wenger). Thus was given the go-ahead for a competitive race that lasted more than a hundred years. Both companies supplied identical models of knives to the army and had an equal profit from this, but in the field of civilian and special tools they did not give each other a descent - twin brothers, with similar symbols, with similar advertising slogans (if Victorinox had “real Swiss army knives ”, then Wenger called the knives “true”), with almost identical production processes and commercial strategies, they competed until 2005, when Wenger nevertheless went bankrupt and was bought by Victorinox.

It is interesting that the knives, matching the configuration of the very first Elsener model, were used in the Swiss army until recently. Models of different years differ slightly: since 1908 the wooden handle of the knife has become traditionally red, since 1957 the wood has been replaced by heat-resistant plastic, and in 1961 - corrugated aluminum lining. In addition, this model was somewhat more compact than the previous ones, 93 mm long instead of 100. The last time the standard Swiss knife underwent changes in 2008, and the changes were significant: it became longer (111 mm), acquired an ergonomically shaped handle with discreet color nylon lining and rubber. The set of tools has also changed somewhat: two serrated (serrated) blades of various shapes, a straight and a cross-shaped screwdriver, and two openers. Standard Swiss army knives are supplied not only to the Swiss Armed Forces, but also to the armies of a number of other countries: Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany. In export modifications, design and equipment may vary slightly.

If we talk about non-military "Swiss" knives, then there are a great many varieties of them. Karl Elsener also made models of knives intended for people of various occupations: “Farmer”, “Student”, “Cadet”. There is no standard set. An office worker's knife may include a paper blade, scissors, and a stapler; knife for chores - pliers, various screwdrivers and files; for the "survivor" - a small saw, compass, magnifying glass and flashlight; "ladies" - a nail file, wire cutters and so on. Sometimes rather strange things are found in "Swiss" knives: flash drives, radios and MP3 players, ballpoint pens, watches. There are knives without knives at all - that is, with anything but blades. The number of items in the configuration can reach up to three dozen.

Another common item deserves a separate story - a multitool made not on the basis of a knife, but from pliers (although when folded it can look almost the same as a regular one). Additional tools in such a multi-tool are hidden inside the hollow handles. This device was invented and patented in 1980 by the American Timothy Leatherman, who, traveling for several years in Europe and Asia, periodically faced with the need to repair the car, having a single folding knife at hand. At such moments, he thought: “Something is missing here ...”, and the result of these reflections was a “pocket survival tool” (Pocket Survival Tool), which included pliers, a knife, a file, scissors, a screwdriver, a wrench and a few other useful elements. Currently, Leatherman and many competitors (including Victorinox/Wenger) produce multi-tools for all occasions: for motorists, cyclists, hunters, fishermen, gardeners, as well as purely professional tool kits.

swiss army knife initially carried on board not so many tools. Knife is a must. And the rest is determined by the realities of the time... And technological limitations, or, on the other hand, technological possibilities. And this principle seems to work to this day. And it will continue to work - like a Swiss knife.

Awl- a multifaceted tool in the literal and figurative sense. Its structures have changed. On Swiss knives with aluminum handles, a bent awl, very durable and long, has been preserved. But on folding knives of a more modern type, the design of the awl varies - if the Victorinox knives have a sharpened edge (and a hole), it is convenient to turn new holes in leather belts with such an awl, then on Wenger knives the awl of a symmetrical shape is not sharpened (in principle, you can without much difficulty to sharpen it yourself).

Another traditional instrument is opener for cans. Her form changed, and strongly. Today, the opener on Victorinox knives is combined with a small flat screwdriver, it cuts the can "away from itself", but on Wenger knives, the design of the can opener is completely different (it is convenient, among other things, to cut adhesive tape on packaging boxes - a blunt opener is much easier to wipe off the glue, than a very sharp polished blade of the knife itself). A bottle opener is traditionally combined with a wide flat screwdriver everywhere, but you should know that on large Victorinox models, for example, (111 mm), such a screwdriver is also fixed from folding. Wenger, in defiance of Victorinox, uses a patented screwdriver locking system that works only with a large force pressing the screwdriver against the screw. Speaking of screwdrivers, flat and Phillips screwdrivers are plentiful on the thicker models of Swiss knives, but the ability to use standard hex shank bits seems to be only on a few models of large Wenger folding knives.

And finally corkscrew, which appeared for the first time on an officer's model of an army knife. It is difficult to invent something tricky here, and it is not necessary. Curiously, on small, medium and large "victorinox" corkscrews are the same. On the "Hungarians" too.

But, as already mentioned, this is not all ... Very popular saw. By wood. Probably more popular than scissors. Both are absolutely necessary in a forest or on a desert island, although you will be happy with a simple sharp knife.

Other instruments are more exotic. Relatively rare file for metal, one of the narrow sides of which has teeth, thus performing the functions of a hacksaw. Pliers are good - they can be small, so it's convenient to get jumpers from the motherboard, pull out large splinters, bend thin wires, and so on. On 120 mm Wenger knives you can have pliers more powerful - but in this case, from other functions you will get a knife and openers, or the mentioned saw for metal.

In plump officer-sized knives, you can find a fish scaler, a magnifying glass (obviously plastic), a chisel, and even a wrench. But it's already gadgets, and not knives, although the blade in them is the same size and just as sharp. In general, quite a few models have an additional blade - small for fine work, or concave (including wavy) - for cutting belts and lines, or for hunting needs.

So, so that later you don’t regret the rejected saw for metal or pliers - it’s difficult ...