The Swiss Army Knife
The Swiss Army Knife? Yes, the Swiss Army Knife! Technology doesn’t have to come with a microprocessor to be valuable and useful to we retirees. Some things are timeless in their design and value. The venerable Swiss Army Knife is one of them. And, as the old American Express commercial once stated, we “don’t leave home without it”.
History
Timeless is an apt description for this particular piece of technology. So, let’s begin with a little history before we get into the value of taking one with you on your journeys. According to the online fount of all knowledge “Wikipedia”, the first SAKs were produced in 1891 by a firm that would later become Victorinox. Two years later another firm, which became the company Wenger, was selected by the Swiss military to produce additional knives. These two companies shared the contract for knife manufacturing from 1908 until Victorinox purchased Wenger in 2005.
The classic SAK is typically red in colour; however, they are now available in a wide variety of colours and interesting limited-edition graphic designs. I am still kicking myself for not buying a Lichtenstein-branded one while visiting the tiny country.
All feature “a Victorinox or Wenger ‘cross’ logo or, for Swiss military issue knives, the coat of arms of Switzerland” … Wikipedia. If you would like to read more about the history and manufacture of the SAK you can check out the Wikipedia article.
Variety of Tools
What distinguishes the Swiss Army Knife from all other pocket knives is the incredible selection of tools it offers along with the standard two pocketknife blades. Both companies’ ranges are amazingly complete; in 2006 Wenger was able to produce a knife that included 87 tools and 141 different functions and Victorinox manufactured one with 118 parts and 80 functions. The net result is that a myriad of different knife choices are available with a wide variety of tool configurations to consider. Perhaps too many choices? 🙂
If you are interested in exploring the full range of knives now offered by the parent firm Victorinox you can explore their various product lines on their website . A link at the bottom of the page to a downloadable version of their catalogue can be accessed. I would almost suggest you download the PDF catalogue just to look at the awe-inspiring number of knife configurations and sizes the company produces just for the entertainment value.
Many Practical Uses
I did say in an earlier travel post that we take ours with us when we travel. It has become an absolutely essential travel accoutrement. What I probably should have added is that we take it with us whenever we are away from home overnight, anywhere.
I was recently reminded of the value of having one with you whenever you are on the road, and thus, the writing of this article, when a friend arrived here in the South of Spain for a visit.
She came with a very agreeable bottle of Spanish wine to share – very nice. The reason she had it with her was, she had bought it to enjoy in Madrid, but couldn’t open it …she didn’t have a corkscrew! And, the hotel she was staying at didn’t have one either! If she’d have had a Swiss Army Knife …
Yes, having a corkscrew at the ready is definitely important when you are on the road. A number of other simple implements are vital as well, such as a bottle opener. Many beers in other countries don’t come with twist off caps. Hmmmm … bit of a theme developing here.
Surely, you’re thinking, I must have other uses for my SAK that don’t involve boozy beverages. Most obvious of these is having a couple of knife blades when you need to cut up bread and various food products for sandwiches, or to attack cheeses and pâtés.
You will discover loads of other small, practical jobs can be managed with one of the tools on your knife. Having a well-designed, sturdy toothpick on hand when you really need one is a great thing. Or a tiny pair of tweezers when you need to pluck something. I’ll leave what it is you’re likely to be plucking up to you own imagination.
The one other tool that I use on an almost daily basis are the scissors that can be found on some models. I don’t know how many times I have needed to clip a thread, open a package, or cut all of the advertising off a map that I wanted to stuff in my jeans pocket when away from home. I have tightened and loosened screws, opened cans, peeled potatoes, punched holes in a variety of materials, used it as a plum-bob, and clipped, filed and cleaned my nails, That said, I still can’t figure out what to do with the little hook, even though it will allegedly support up to 200 lbs. :-j.
I had almost decided to list all of the various tools and the uses that can be found for one knife or another, but it seemed like a prodigious task. However, if you are interested, the Knife Depot’s website provides a list of the 33 tools and uses included with the flagship SwissChamp model.
What I’m Packin’
Currently, I travel with a “Climber” model. Previously, my model of choice was a “Camper“. I upgraded because one tool that I had on my small “Classic” SAK, which I carry attached to my car and house keys, wasn’t on my travelling one, namely scissors. Having it with me when we were away on overnight trips has made me aware of just how handy it is to have a small pair of scissors with you. The “Camper” model has a saw that I don’t really ever use, so it felt like I was just swapping an unused tool for one I really needed. And, the scissors on the larger model are significantly bigger than the ones on my small knife, so, much more practical.
The other great thing about these knives is that they last forever. The first one I bought was in Switzerland when I was hitchhiking around Europe in the 70’s. It was a gift for my father. When he passed away it came to me. I would probably still be using it, but it went MIA during a getaway weekend in Niagara on the Lake a couple of years ago … sigh. Easily replaced, but it had great sentimental value.
Flying With Your SAK
The Love-goddess and I travel extremely lightly, even if we are going away for two months. However, we still end up checking our small duffle bags because they often contain things, like our Swiss Army Knife, that can’t be carried onboard. But, things are looking up. Things have begun to change in the last couple of years.
In Canada, you may now carry small knives onto flights, as you can in Europe. You can read the relevant sections of the Canadian regulation and the EU regulation for yourself. Both allow for small knives with blades up to 6 cm long, but they don’t identify specific models that can be carried on, of course. Sadly, it does not appear as though the standard Swiss Army Knife … Victorinox’s “Medium Pocket Knives” product line… fit that precise measurement.
When I measure the blade on my knife, the sharpened edge is exactly 6 cm long. However, I BELIEVE that blade length is measured from the body of the knife to the tip of the blade. That means that mine is a pinch too long. Victorinox does offer some smaller knives that would qualify, but none have the important tools that travellers might need … like the corkscrew :-(.
So, why mention this at all? Well, because I can see a day when we might be allowed to take the slightly longer blade versions onboard. I’m certainly going to be doing some inquiring.
Other Useful Travel Tools
The Swiss Army Knife is not the only compact, tool accessory available to folks who want to hit the road prepared for action. The Leatherman firm produces a number of very useful multi-tools that are also suitable travel aids.
I own a Leatherman “Wave” that does have a number of tools that aren’t included on my SAK, but I tend not to take it with me when we travel internationally. To me, it feels much heavier than my knife … and the weight of what you are packing is always important when travelling … AND, it doesn’t have some of my preferred tools … like a corkscrew! 🙂
