O colecionador dos colecionadores

Haoran Yang, um dos maiores colecionadores do canivete do exército suíço da China, fala sobre o que a Victorinox e o caráter suíço significam para ele.

O mundo da Victorinox: o significado do caráter suíço e nossa herança na China

Para a maioria de nossos fãs, o pequeno canivete vermelho é mais do que apenas uma ferramenta multiuso. As muitas histórias que ouvimos durante nosso recente concurso de colecionadores do canivete do exército suíço demonstrou muito mais. É um ritual de passagem da infância, um presente da mãe ou do avô. É o desejo de imitar um herói. É o sentimento poderoso de estar preparado que torna estes pequenos canivetes tão viciantes. Estas são as histórias que ouvimos repetidas vezes.

Outro tema que surgiu repetidamente foi até que ponto nossos canivetes são associados à Suíça, seu país de origem. Para um expatriado suíço vivendo no exterior, um canivete da Victorinox pode ser uma lembrança de casa. Para outros colecionadores, a funcionalidade, o design icônico e a alta qualidade de nossos canivetes de bolso incorporam a própria essência suíça.

as coleções mais inspiradoras que vimos foi de Haoranaora Yang, na China, que cuida de sua própria parte da nossa herança – uma coleção impressionante de canivetes raros e clássicos que fez dele um dos maiores colecionadores da China desde que iniciou a coleção em 2013. Para Haoran, o senso de história é parte do que torna a Victorinox tão atraente. Saiba mais sobre a coleção de Haoran:

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.

I also have one of the knives which was made to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Soldier’s Knife. There were only one hundred of these knives ever made, so this is now a very rare knife. Pay attention to the “Waffenkontrolle” control stamp, which differs very slightly from the conventional red Alox Soldier’s Knife.

I love to collect Army Knives from around the world, such as the burnished steel Soldier’s Knife from the USA. The picture shows my collection of Dutch Army Knives, including 4 very rare blue Alox knives with smooth scales.

Is the heritage of Victorinox part of what makes it special to you?

Although Victorinox has progressed a lot in the past 100 years, many aspects of the company remain completely unchanged, such as the commitment to quality and functionality. I like things that have a sense of history and this is why Victorinox appeals to me. I hope to pass my own collection on to my son, so that he can share the happiness it gives me.

How does Victorinox represent Swissness for you?

Precise, careful, simple and practical. This is my opinion of the Swiss Army Knife. I can have a Swiss Army Knife in my pocket without feeling that it is here, but as soon as I need to solve a problem, it appears. This epitomizes Swissness for me.

How is Swissness perceived in China?

Products which are refined, practical and design-oriented are highly sought after in China. I believe this is part of the reason why there are so many Swiss Army Knife collectors here. In a country where manufacturing is a large part of our economy, we also study the industries of countries such as Switzerland, Germany and Japan, as we appreciate the quality and sophistication of their products.

We hope you have enjoyed reading about Haoran’s knives. There will be more to come on this impressive collection, as well as from our other winning collectors over the coming months.