1891 – The Swiss Army knife

THIS YEAR – Each month, Goodmoods travels to a particular year to tell the story of the creation of a popular object. An emblematic piece to be found on leboncoin.

In 1891, it was Karl Elsener, a Swiss industrialist and cutler, who produced the famous multi-function knife following a call for tenders from the Swiss army. This pocket knife created for Swiss soldiers is equipped with a blade, a can opener, a flat screwdriver, a punch and a saw, and is used, among other things, to eat and dismantle their ordinance rifle. In 1897, Elsner introduced a new, lighter and more streamlined red model for officers, which he registered as a trademark under the name « Officer’s and Sports Knife ».

The worldwide popularity of the Swiss Army Knife only really arrived after the Second World War, when American soldiers discovered it during their stay in Europe. More than a military tool, the SAK (Swiss Army Knife) became an essential object for the general public and even gave its name to a French expression!

> Hunting for a Swiss Army knife on leboncoin