A ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTIBLE REPLICA 1897 LIMITED EDITION

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Key Dates for Victorinox

The journey begins with a small cutler’s workshop in Ibach-Schwyz.

It took a great deal of courage and pioneering spirit for Karl Elsener to set up his cutlery workshop in Canton Schwyz in 1884. He hoped to create jobs and thus stop the local population from leaving the area.

Karl Elsener creates the Original Officer’s and Sports Knife.

As a supplier of soldier’s knives for the Swiss Army, Karl Elsener wanted to create a lighter, more elegant model for officers. In 1897, he registered the knife as a trademark with the name “Officer’s and Sports Knife” – and invented an attitude at the same time.

Celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Swiss Army Knife with the Replica 1897 Limited Edition.

The replica’s development began with a search through our archive for the specifications of the first Officer’s and Sports Knife. We applied today’s production process for individual parts to increase precision. But the final assembly was done by hand, just like in 1897. The result is refined and more elegant.

The Original Officer’s and Sports Knife

6 tools, 18 components
With a long blade, short blade, screwdriver, awl, can-opener and corkscrew, the original was put together from 18 components.

Scales
Because our iconic emblem was not introduced until 1909, the Original Officer`s and Sports Knife did not include the typical Victorinox trademark on its scales.

Steel
The original was made of carbon steel, because we did not start using stainless steel until 1921. Before that, it was too expensive to procure and difficult to machine.

The Replica 1897 Limited Edition

6 tools, 18 components
Today’s model has the same number of functions and its tools work the same as the original – although we’ve improved the safety of the springs for opening and closing.

Scales
T​​oday’s scales are also made of vulcanized fiber and we’ve left off the Cross&Shield for a true look that reflects the original.

Steel
We have used stainless steel for the blades of our knives since 1922. And to make sure your Replica 1897 will last you a lifetime, we have of course made its blades with stainless steel as well.

The history of an iconic pocket knife

The Replica 1897 tells the story of constant refinement over 125 years in one single, elegant product. It embodies all the technical improvements and optimized production methods that have been made over the last 125 years. The result is a beautiful historic look combined with state-of-the-art functionality.
In 1884, Karl Elsener opened a cutlery workshop in Ibach Schwyz. 13 years later he patented the Officer`s and Sports Knife as a lighter alternative to the soldier's knife, with more functions. With this development, the foundation for the iconic Swiss Army Knife was born.
In the early years, working conditions were tough. Forging was exhausting manual labor. Every single part needed adjustments by hand, because stamping machines were not precise enough. So in the end every piece was unique.
As a supplier of soldiers’ knives for the Swiss Army in accordance with its specifications, Karl Elsener had the idea to make a less bulky version with more functions.
When the Swiss Army declared itself happy with what it already had, Karl Elsener was free to let his imagination go wherever he wanted it to. The result was a more elegant, lighter pocket knife with an added small blade and a corkscrew – its multifunctionality was immediately popular.
On June 12, 1897 the Officer's and Sports Knife was patented, with the words "GESETZLICH GESCHÜTZT" (legally protected) stamped onto the screwdriver.
In 2022, we celebrate 125 years of Swiss Army Knives. Over the next century and beyond, the little red knife has become an iconic product, a unique and powerful symbol of innovation that was really the invention of an attitude.

This celebration is also about everyone who has ever enjoyed a Swiss Army Knife, making Victorinox the strong brand it is today. With the Replica 1897 Limited Edition pocket knife, we honor the past and look forward to the future.