The Collector’s Collector

Haoran Yang, one of China’s most prolific Swiss Army Knife collectors, on what Victorinox and Swissness mean to him.

The World of Victorinox: the meaning of Swissness and our Heritage in China

For most of our fans, the little red knife is more than just a multi-tool. The many stories we heard during our recent Swiss Army Knife collectors competition showed us as much. It’s a childhood rite of passage, a gift from a mother or a grandfather. It’s the desire to emulate a hero. It’s the powerful feeling of being prepared that makes these little knives so addictive. These are the stories we heard again and again.

Another theme which came up regularly was just how closely our knives are associated with Switzerland, their country of origin. For a Swiss expatriate living overseas, a Victorinox knife can serve as a reminder of home. For other collectors, the functionality, iconic design and high quality of our pocket knives embody the very essence of Switzerland itself.

One of the most inspiring collections we saw was from Haoran Yang in China, who has curated his own part of our heritage, an impressive collection of rare and vintage knives which has led to him becoming one of China’s most prolific collectors since starting to collect in 2013. For Haoran, the sense of history is part of what makes Victorinox so compelling. Find out more about his collection:

What motivated you to start collecting Victorinox knives?

When I was a child, I found out about Swiss Army Knives by chance in a magazine, but you could not buy them in China at that time. Once they became available in China in the late 90s, I finally purchased my first model, a red Classic. The feeling of joy I got from owning this knife lasted for a long time, I kept taking it out of my pocket to look at it and to open the tools again and again.

In 2013, I came across the many forums and social networks dedicated to the Swiss Army Knife. I found that I really enjoyed looking at the pictures shared by the community and reading about all the various knives. It was like falling in love! Ever since, I have spent between four and six hours a day increasing my knowledge of Swiss Army Knives and I now own about 2,000 Swiss Army Knives, including rare and vintage models, as well as new styles.

What appeals to you most about Swiss Army Knives?

I like the feeling of being able to solve a problem anytime and anywhere. The Swiss Army knife meets my needs and I think it's more convenient and easier to carry than any other tool. The Swiss Army Knife has been there for more than 100 years and time has proved its value.

Tell me about some of the most unusual knives in your collection:

Of course, I'd love to share, I think I have a lot of unusual stories. Let’s talk about my favorite Alox. I managed to find an original 1957 Pioneer, new in the box! For me, this knife has so much meaning because it triggered a revolution in the design of the Soldier’s Knife, which lasted from 1961 until 2008. This became a real inspiration for me and I have since managed to collect nine 1957 Pioneers, as well as collecting other Pioneers from all ages.

Também tenho um dos canivetes que foram produzidos para comemorar o 100º aniversário do canivete do soldado. Apenas 100 desses canivetes foram produzidos; portanto, é um canivete muito raro. Preste atenção no selo de controle “Waffenkontrolle”, que difere ligeiramente do canivete do soldado Alox vermelho convencional.

Adoro colecionar canivetes militares de todo o mundo, como o canivete do soldado de aço polido dos EUA. A foto mostra minha coleção de canivetes militares holandeses, incluindo quatro canivetes Alox azuis muito raros, com talas suaves.

A herança da Victorinox é o que a torna tão especial para você?

Apesar da Victorinox ter progredido muito nos últimos 100 anos, muitos aspectos da empresa permanecem completamente inalterados, como o compromisso com a qualidade e a funcionalidade. Gosto de coisas com um sentido histórico, e é por isso que a Victorinox me atrai. Espero passar minha coleção para o meu filho, para que ele possa compartilhar da felicidade que ela me traz.

Como a Victorinox representa o caráter suíço para você?

Precisão, cuidado, simplicidade e praticidade. Esta é a minha opinião sobre o canivete do exército suíço. Posso ter um canivete do exército suíço no meu bolso sem sentir que ele está aqui, mas logo que preciso dele para resolver um problema ele aparece. Esse é um exemplo perfeito do caráter suíço.

Como o caráter suíço é percebido na China?

Produtos refinados, práticos e orientados ao design são altamente procurados na China. Acredito que isso seja um dos motivos por que há tantos colecionadores do canivete do exército suíço aqui. Em um país onde a manufatura é responsável por grande parte da economia, também estudamos indústrias de países como a Suíça, Alemanha e o Japão, pois apreciamos a qualidade e a sofisticação dos produtos que eles fabricam.

Espero que tenham gostado desta leitura sobre os canivetes do Haoran. Há mais por vir sobre esta impressionante coleção, e também na de nossos outros colecionadores vencedores durante os próximos meses.