The Swiss army knife has its origins as far back as 1891 when Karl Elsener, who was the owner of a company making surgical implements discovered to his dismay that the pocket knives that were issued to the Swiss army were, in fact, made in Germany. Elsener decided that these knives should be made in Switzerland by the Swiss. He obtained the contract and started producing the current Modell 1890 knives towards the close of 1891. It was not too long before people discovered the versatility of a Swiss army knife.

The model numbers of the knives refer to the year the knife was introduced. The original Modell (German spelling) 1890 was issued to the Swiss army ostensibly to assist the soldiers to open their food cans and to take apart their Schmidt-Rubin rifles. This knife had a can-opener, blade, screwdriver and a reamer. The grips were a dark-colored oak wood that was changed to ebony at a later stage.

At the end of World War II, US soldiers were able to buy the knives at their PX stores in military camps, but because they could not say Schweizer Offiziersmesser, which is what the knives were known as then, they started calling them Swiss Army Knives and the name stuck and was adopted throughout the world. The Swiss Army designation has been registered as a trademark by Victorinox and its related companies involved in the manufacture of the knives.

Recognized throughout the world with their red handles, white crosses, a few blades and several fold-out tools, the Swiss army knife is used by campers, fishermen, hunters, and in fact by anyone who requires a certain set of tools for a multitude of jobs. A vast array of designs is available for almost any activity, from the smaller models having only one blade, a combination can-opener bottle opener, a reamer and a screwdriver to the Giant, which is nine inches wide and boasts 87 different tools and can perform 141 different functions.

The knives are produced by Victorinox and its subsidiary, Wenger, and one of their most popular knives is the Classic Knife measuring just three inches long and offering great strength without the bulk. This knife sports a keyring, enabling it to be carried on a key chain for convenience. Among the range of tools available on this small wonder, are small blades, a toothpick, tweezers, nail files, scissors, various screwdriver heads and a host of other tools that may never be needed but that are there if they are needed.

The knives have been propelled into the twenty-first century by the introduction of the Presentation Master, a futuristic design which features a laser pointer, memory stick and fingerprint scanner that has built-in data encryption. All the features of the knife including the laser pointer and data storage drives may be folded away or can be pulled inside the knife on springs while not being used. Because it has no blades, this device may be carried onto aircraft.

Extending the range, knives such as the Champion Plus are fitted with such tools as a small saw with serrated blade, fish scaler, hook remover, punch tool, reamer and many more. A waterproof pouch is available as well as a leather belt pouch enabling the knife to be carried on the person.

The knives may be sharpened using either steel or a whetstone, although Victorinox recommend using the steel and, in fact manufacture a knife sharpener, precisely for this purpose. With so many uses, the versatility of a Swiss army knife can not be disputed.