You may just know it as a Swiss Army Knife. Perhaps you call it a SAK. But the point is, even if you don’t know the formal name, Victorinox Swiss Army Knife, you probably will immediately recognize the red and white plastic scales and familiar lozenge-shaped design.

At the end of World War II, European markets favored the dollar, making these multi-tools economically affordable to many GIs stationed overseas. In the late 40s and 50s, thousands of Victorinox Swiss Army Knives poured across the Atlantic to America.

That was the beginning of something great, which the Swiss, French, and Germans had known all along: that Swiss Army Knives are great tools.

And here’s why.

The Versatility, Plain and Simple

There’s no need to belabor this point but it is also hands down the top reason that a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife is a great tool and not just a marketing gimmick.

A Swiss Army Knife might have any of the following tools, if not others.

• Multiple knife blades
• Serrated blades/saws
• Multiple screwdrivers and other types of bit drivers/sockets
• Awls
• Corkscrews
• Reamers
• Can and bottle openers
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Toothpicks
• Small flashlights
• Keyrings
• Magnifying glass lenses
• Fish scalers
• Hooks
• Various wrenches
• Pin punches
• Wire cutters/strippers
• Rulers
• Even flash drives

And, on top of that, you can use a SAK for a million and one different things, including:

• Cutting rope/packaging
• Opening cans and bottles
• Fastening hardware
• Making camp tools
• Sawing through wood
• Food prep
• Preparing bait or game/fish
• Cleaning a gun
• Making camp furniture
• Making an impromptu stove
• Stripping wire
• Drilling holes
• Deburring metal
• Sharpening a knife
• Removing splinters
• Carrying a large load
• Starting fires
• Cutting new holes in a belt
• Cleaning/scraping surfaces
• Loosening knots
• Uncorking bottles
• Breaking down boxes
• And much more

Ergonomics, General Durability

While it’s no longer the standard and the company makes a wide range of folding knives and folding multi-tools, the basic Victorinox Swiss Army Knife - in the way of the Classic SD - is a small, roughly lozenge-shaped knife.

It is comfortable to hold and to carry, despite the fact that it lacks a pocket clip. It also handles comfortably in a wide range of grips, making it good for tons of different applications.

Also, the bright red scales of most Victorinox Swiss Army Knives are beneficial because they offer high visibility, making it hard to lose them in the dark, or amongst debris or leaf litter.

Moreover, the scales, which are made of a tough, lightweight plastic known as “cellidor” are basically maintenance free, corrosion-resistant, physically durable, and won’t absorb moisture or grease.

The Blade Steel

Unless otherwise noted (as in the case of some special models) Victorinox SAKs are made from a “high-carbon stainless steel” alloy that is not disclosed.

Here’s what you need to know. It’s a very affordable steel, and despite being cheap, is fairly tough. It exhibits exceptional corrosion resistance and is very unlikely to rust.

Common gripes have to do with edge retention. Yes, the steel is soft, that much is true, but that also means it’s unlikely to chip or roll, and very easy to touch up in the field, even if all you have is a relatively coarse stone.

Because Fakes Can’t Cut It

One of the ironic things about Swiss Army Knives is that counterfeiters just can’t seem to touch the brand.  Victorinox has done such a great job producing economies of scale in the pursuit of quality that counterfeiters just can’t get there.

“Cheap” fake Swiss Army Knives are usually roughly the same prices as the real thing, but the gulf between the quality of the two is so wide it creates a veritable abyss.

Point being, you can’t undercut the original. Just pay the price and get a real one, there’s hardly a difference in cost anyway.

The History

The first “official” Swiss Army Knives were created by Karl Elsener and issued to Swiss soldiers beginning in 1891. The first tools featured a knife blade, a reamer, a screwdriver, and a can opener.

They’ve come a long way, and the rest, as you know, is history.

The Company

Victorinox itself is a great company. The brand itself, which also produces watches, is well-respected by collectors because it produces quality goods, and if that weren’t enough, they go further.

Forging and grinding knives is a heat-intensive process. The company recycles that heat in their headquarters in Ibach, Switzerland, and also uses the surplus energy to keep a number of apartments in the vicinity warm.

The company is also committed to sustainability in other ways. They recycle as much of their scrap steel and steel dust as possible, utilize recycled materials, and minimize packaging where possible

Because Victorinox Is So Much More Than Just Swiss Army Knives

One final reason to love a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife is because the company is so much more than pocket knives. They produce a wide range of folding multi-tools, fixed blades, and even kitchen knives.

On top of that, Victorinox also makes watches, travel gear, fragrances, and more.

So, there are a lot of reasons to love Victorinox. It’s a great brand.