This Day, That Year – June 12

This day in history we feature, the Swiss Army knife. Karl Elsener patented his penknife, later popularized as the Swiss Army knife, on this day in 1897.

Trivia – Swiss Army Knife

Elsener originated a revolutionary idea – a knife that offered as many practical functions as possible in a compact form. The multifunctional pocketknife from Switzerland has been recognized worldwide for almost 130 years after Karl Elsener, and his mother Victoria, began a cutlery company to handle an order for the Swiss army.

In 1897, he patented the Swiss Officer’s and Sport Knife – later marketed as the Swiss Army knife. He also formed the company Victorinox – an amalgamation of his mother’s name with inox – short for acier inoxydable, the French term for stainless steel.

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The company has supplied the Swiss army for more than 125 years and also supplies knives to 10 other armies, including the German army.

Source – BBC

This day in history – Swiss Army Knife