Way back in 1884, an intrepid Swiss knife maker had an idea. Perhaps he drew his inspiration from the picturesque and independent slopes of the Swiss Alps, or maybe from the masterless streams that traverse the Swiss wilderness. It could even be that his inspiration stemmed entirely from the spirit of Swiss ingenuity and self-reliance that has colored that nation through generations of resistance. Whatever the case, he got it into his head to create a tool that was not only portable easily stowed, but that offered a variety of minute and carefully tailored functions.

At the time when fixed blades were prevalent and folding knives were far from young - there have been folding knives discovered that date to over a thousand years of age. What was innovative about his vision was the incorporation of multiple tools into a sleek design that balanced aesthetics and function. He accomplished his goal - and today there are as many Swiss Army Knife tools as one might imagine, with careful attention served not only to the function of the tool but the end-user who will be carrying it. From one small knife shop in Switzerland came the idea that has revolutionized knifemaking and knife design the world over, and given a design and a profile that everyone - not just those who use and carry knives daily - will recognize immediately: the Swiss Army Knife.

Today there is a Swiss Army Knife for every trade and use out there, artfully incorporating a suite of tools to make life easier and those who carry them bolder in their pursuit of adventure and recreation. Swiss Army Knives wear proudly a few laurels that have engendered them with great longevity and made them a great influence on models and designers that came after, making them ideal for many people for EDC - in a toolbox, on a boat, in a pack or on a belt.

Unrivaled Functionality
Before you even pick out a specific model of Swiss Army knife to evaluate its ergonomic appeal and nearly limitless applications, you can fall back on the popular perception of the tools, gleaned from years and years of pervasive familiarity, to get a good understanding of just how deeply useful they are. There isn’t someone out there who hasn’t at one time or other pulled out the tweezers from a pair to remove a splinter or a pin, or even flicked out the scissors integrated into so many models to cut through a tag or a thread. It’s just something that has worked its way into the fabric of everyday living. That being the case, a more granular approach to the models will really yield a clear understanding of what gives Swiss Army Knife tools international popularity and immortal appeal.

Even the most basic of Swiss Army knives incorporates a significant number of tools into a compact frame, giving the tool access to new dimensions of functionality. A folding knife alone without any modifications or additional tools is the most basic of all fundamental tools, the tool from which other tools may even be made. One might reach for the simple pen blade on a stockman knife or a Barlow knife to ease any of life’s woes. To cut and splice rope, to whittle a spoon or a bowl from a stock of wood, to clean small game or more mundane tasks like opening letters or cutting tape from packages. More industrious folk might even use the blade as a screwdriver or a bottle opener; but that’s where part of the genius of the people that gave us Swiss Army knives changes the entire game plan - by hiding a bottle opener or a screwdriver right into the frame of that folding knife - adding little bulk and a whole new level of utility.

So, as useful as these tools are, taking a more granular approach will give an even better idea of their limitless functionality. Consider a model like the Victorinox Cadet Alox, which by critical estimations is one of the more austere of the lineup of their collection, and one may start to see the genius in the machine. The lozenge shape, instantly recognizable, harbors four blades of metal, each of which contains at least one specific tool and some of which are expertly compounded. It features a pen blade and a small nail file, but what makes it truly innovative is the fact that within two more blades of steel it houses a wire stripper, can and bottle openers and two screwdrivers. A knife is a knife, except when it’s a Swiss Army Knife. Then it’s also nine or more other things. Even at this basic level, which is only an introductory representation to the impressive ingenuity of their designers, one will encounter a multiplicity of functionality that can easily be stashed in a coat pocket, a tackle box, or really anywhere else. In faith to their ideology, it takes up effectively no room, adds little weight and removes unforeseen headaches with great facility.

Of course, there are much better representations of what a Swiss Army Knife tool is and can do. Consider a model like the aptly named Victorinox Camper, with so many tools that grammarians would assail the writer who labored to include them all in one sentence. It keeps the style of the former, and brings the same knife and tools minus the nail file, but adds a whole complement of other additions to its repertoire. Into a frame that is essentially the same in design, it houses an additional blade, an awl, a corkscrew, and a saw. Outdoorsmen will tell you that with a knife and a saw, the world is your oyster. Camp furniture and camp kitchens need only these tools (and perhaps an ax) to find themselves complete. Of course, in this model, Victorinox throws in a toothpick and a pair of tweezers for good measure and an added touch of refinement. Few visionaries go far enough to understand that at various junctions the bearer might not only need to open a can or a bottle with a cap but a corked bottle as well. Luckily for the adventurous among us, Victorinox saw and slew that obstacle. Models like this and similar pieces like the Victorinox Climber start to give the viewer a true sense of the boldness and intrepid vision of the makers of Swiss Army Knife tools. Yet somehow, there is more.

On the other end of the spectrum, Victorinox has left its iconic lozenge shape to accommodate a new dimension of utility with models such as the Swiss Army Tool Spirit XC. Though it doesn’t bear the traditional marks of the Swiss Army Knife, it also doesn’t bear traditional functionality. It goes well beyond that. Victorinox humbly asserts that this tool offers 36 explicit functions, and those of us who have used multitools and Swiss Army Knives know that explicit functions are really just the gateway to what one might really accomplish with a tool such as this. For each explicit function, there are 3 or more implicit functions that require a touch of ingenuity to execute, and ingenuity is something not in short supply amongst those who carry tools like this.

The Swiss Army Tool Spirit XC brings the bearer the utility of a pair of folding pliers and beautifully pairs it with several blades, screwdrivers, punches, corkscrews, and scissors. It also adds a metal file, metal saw and wood saw to leave no stone unturned. Whether you’re a machinist in a shop or a backpacker who needs to whittle the catch for a snare or both at different times, a tool like this won’t leave you out in the cold. That, and to top it all off it gives you the benefit of a set of Torx wrenches. It’s utility on top of utility with few sacrifices if any. The number of experiences you’ll encounter that will give you little reason to break out this tool are very few, allowing you to shine while working with metal, wire, wood and other media.

As stated, for each explicit purpose there are many implicit purposes that the enterprising user will uncover and on which he or she will capitalize. But the sheer functionality of Swiss Army Knife tools is really only one half of the larger picture. The number of lifestyles and pursuits that Swiss Army Knives can complement and address with ease is another great benefit.

The Perfect Complement
Each of the models explored and many others offer a host of tools and benefits to the user, and one of the keenest attributes of Swiss Army tools is in their adaptability. That’s not just to say in terms of tools but in terms of situations.

If you’re a hiker, camper or backpacker, you might have just as much use for a folding multitool from Victorinox as you would for one of their classic lozenge-shaped models. But Victorinox does not discriminate - their tools will suit a wide variety of users with equal facility and ability. Imagine the times in the woods or on the trail when one might need to open a can for sustenance or cut boot laces to size. For those who travel in the company of larger tents of mountain bikes, the need for a screwdriver or a wrench is a function of time and not of probability. In other words, it’s a question of when not if. Such is the case for many outdoorsmen or tradesmen. And the tools from Victorinox are not only competitive little beasts, but they are also unassuming about it.

What of the question of someone who tinkers with machines, works with wood, or just an everyman who needs a sleek tool to keep in his pocket to tackle the sundry tasks of any old day with ease? Can you count the number of times in one day you might need to fidget with the tiny screws on a speaker or a radio? What about the times when breaking down boxes that came as packaging required a little more heft from your tools than a small pen blade? And what about when you need to make a quick stitching repair on a pair of leather gloves or a bag? A regular pocket knife doesn’t carry an awl with an eye for stitching - but many a Swiss Army Knife does.

That’s part of the beauty of Swiss Army Knife tools. The more you think about what they can do for you or what they have done for you in the past, the less mystery there is about their successes at large. There’s a Swiss Army Knife for any job and a Swiss Army Knife for any person that could be carrying it. It’s an impressive history that is as much a testament to the ingenuity of human spirit as the human spirit is a testament to its design.

Where to Find the Right Model for You
Whether you’re looking for one of their smaller classic models or something as beefy as their camper, White Mountain Knives is the place to go when you’re going to bolster your collection of Swiss Army Knives. The models explored herein are only a small sampling of the designs offered by Victorinox through White Mountain Knives, not only in different configurations but in many collectible styles as well.

White Mountain Knives offers one of the widest collections of knives and tools that the discerning collector or EDC practitioner will find. You simply need to identify the style of Swiss Army Knife that appeals to you and then visit WhiteMountainKnives.com to get started. Even if you have your heart set on a given model that you don’t see listed, contact White Mountain Knives and see what they can do for you - their extensive vendor web gives them access to just about everything out there. Best of all, you’re not just getting access to man’s entire collection of knives and survival tools, you’re getting free shipping on your orders, right from your own home. Take a look through the roster and get that Swiss Army Knife your pack has been missing today.