Wenger
In 1886, the Swiss Army, a tough, well-trained professional fighting force, decided to equip every soldier with a regulation single-blade folding knife. A few years later, when a new rifle that required a screwdriver to disassemble it was introduced, the decision was made to create a multi-purpose tool incorporating a knife, screwdriver, reamer, and can-opener - The Swiss Army Knife.
A Swiss cutler soon established a knife manufacturing company, today Victorinox®, and began to make the army knives. In 1893, at Courtetelle in the Delemont valley, the second industrial cutlery manufacturer of Switzerland, Paul Boechat & Cie - and the future Wenger - also received a contract from the Swiss Army to produce knives.
The company from which Wenger® emerged had been a supplier to the Swiss Army as early as 1893, and its sister-company, Victorinox, since 1890. Wenger is in the French-speaking Jura region and its competitor is in the German-speaking canton of Schwyz. To avoid friction between the two cantons, the Swiss Government decided in 1908 to use each supplier for half of its requirements.
So while Victorinox can lay claim to being the original, Wenger's Swiss Army Knives are also genuine. Both companies have been manufacturing Swiss Army Knives for over 100 years and both meet strict specifications defined by the Swiss Army.
A Swiss cutler soon established a knife manufacturing company, today Victorinox®, and began to make the army knives. In 1893, at Courtetelle in the Delemont valley, the second industrial cutlery manufacturer of Switzerland, Paul Boechat & Cie - and the future Wenger - also received a contract from the Swiss Army to produce knives.
The company from which Wenger® emerged had been a supplier to the Swiss Army as early as 1893, and its sister-company, Victorinox, since 1890. Wenger is in the French-speaking Jura region and its competitor is in the German-speaking canton of Schwyz. To avoid friction between the two cantons, the Swiss Government decided in 1908 to use each supplier for half of its requirements.
So while Victorinox can lay claim to being the original, Wenger's Swiss Army Knives are also genuine. Both companies have been manufacturing Swiss Army Knives for over 100 years and both meet strict specifications defined by the Swiss Army.