The Swiss Army knife generally has a drop-point main blade plus other types of blades and tools, such as a screwdriver , a can opener , a saw blade , a pair of scissors , and many others. These are folded into the handle of the knife through a pivot point mechanism. The handle is traditionally a red colour, with either a Victorinox or Wenger "cross" logo or, for Swiss military issue knives, the coat of arms of Switzerland.
Other colours, textures, and shapes have appeared over the years. Originating in Ibach, Switzerland , the Swiss Army knife was first produced in when the Karl Elsener company, which later became Victorinox, won the contract to produce the Swiss Army 's Modell knife from the previous German manufacturer. In Victorinox acquired Wenger.
As an icon of the culture of Switzerland , both the design and the versatility of the knife have worldwide recognition. The Swiss Army Knife was not the first multi-use pocket knife. In , in Moby-Dick chapter , Herman Melville mentions the "Sheffield contrivances, assuming the exterior — though a little swelled — of a common pocket knife; but containing, not only blades of various sizes, but also screwdrivers , cork-screws , tweezers , bradawls , pens , rulers , nail files and countersinkers.
During the late s, the Swiss Army decided to purchase a new folding pocket knife for their soldiers. This knife was to be suitable for use by the army in opening canned food and for maintenance of the Swiss service rifle , the Schmidt—Rubin , which required a screwdriver for assembly and disassembly.
In January , the knife received the official designation Modell The knife had a blade , reamer , can opener , screwdriver, and grips made out of dark oak wood that some say was later partly replaced with ebony wood. These knives were delivered in October In , Karl Elsener , then owner of a company that made surgical equipment , set out to manufacture the knives in Switzerland itself.
