We are proud of our history which goes back more than 130 years and four generations. But within the Swiss Master Cutlers Association, there are family businesses that date back even further than ours – like Elsener Messerschmied in Rapperswil.
The Elseners of Rapperswil can trace their business all the way back to 1761 and it is now being run by the 7th and 8th generations, making it the oldest retailer to have been continuously run by the same family in the whole of Switzerland.
Although originally starting off as cutlers who produced swords, farming tools and kitchen knives, the family decided to focus on selling and sharpening knives during the era of industrialization, rather than compete with factory production. As such, they became long-term retailers of Victorinox products and we have been working closely together with them since at least 1891.
This Swiss cutlers family share more than just our surname. Like us, they are true experts in this field, offering seminars and trainings on the different types of knives or on sharpening. Like us, they are committed to innovation and modernization. And like us, a closely-knit family unit is at the very heart of their business.
