Victorinox | Country Knives

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Insight into VICTORINOX—What began in a cutler’s workshop has become a global company that stands for quality, functionality, innovation, and iconic design. In 1884, the cutler Karl Elsener opened his own workshop in Ibach, a small village in the heart of Switzerland. Just seven years after founding his company, Elsener approached the Swiss government about supplying the Swiss army with knives manufactured in Switzerland, rather than importing them from Germany—and started a remarkable Swiss success story. He went on to develop the Swiss Officer’s and Sports Knife – now the iconic Swiss Army Knife – in 1897, creating the foundation for a flourishing company that would be able to hold its own on the world stage. In 1909, in part to distinguish his knives from competition, Elsener started putting the Swiss Cross on all his knives. It was also in this year that Elsener named his company “Victoria” after his…