POPSCI.COM/ SPRING 2020 81BORN 1891The first Swiss Army knife featured
a blade, a screwdriver, a can opener,
and an awl— everything a soldier
could need to maintain a rifle, prepare
a meal, or repair a saddle. (A later
model for officers added a corkscrew,
because officers were fancy.) When
Karl Elsener started producing them
for the Swiss military, he sandwiched
the carbon-steel components in a
hardwood handle. Its dark color made
the original multi tool difficult to spot
if dropped, so he began painting the
grip bright red in 1908. Another up-
grade came in 1927 with the switch to
rust-resistant stainless steel. Just two
companies— Victorinox and Wenger—
have manufactured the official tool,
adding implements and colors over
the years but never straying from the
original goal of packing the greatest
utility into the smallest space.
THE ORIGINALS