A Swiss Army knife is always on hand for a great deal of people. The quality in these knives is immense, and the company takes their quality namesake very seriously; a bad product is simply unacceptable. To learn some more tidbits about the Swiss Army brand, check out this article excerpt.

1. They were born in Germany, not Switzerland.
The first official Swiss Army Knife, the Modell 1890, was outsourced to Wester & Co. and produced in Solingen, Germany, over 300 miles from the Swiss border.
2. But they didn’t stay there long.
Victorinox founder Karl Elsener decided in 1891 that it was time to bring the Swiss Army Knife — and the production jobs it entailed — to Switzerland.
3. There were actually two official Swiss Army Knives.
In order to ensure the quality of goods and goals of production, the Swiss government awarded 50 percent of their order contract to Victorinox, and 50 percent to another Swiss cutlery company, Wenger.
4. The Swiss Army Knife is a literal work of art.
The Swiss Army Knife has been selected for inclusion in The New York Museum of Modern Art and the State Museum for Applied Art in Munich.
5. Some even come with thermometers. And ballpoint pens. And flashlights.
6. There's a 9-inch, 2-pound version.
The Giant, produced by Wenger and first released in 2006, weighs two pounds and includes 87 tools which perform 120 functions.
7. Victorinox is still Karl-owned.
Karl Elsener founded and ran the company until 1918 when Karl Elsener II took over from 1919 to 1950. Karl III ran the company from 1951 to 2007, and Karl IV took over and currently mans the helm.
8. Quality control at the Victorinox factories is a big deal.
Each and every knife, product, and tool undergoes a rigorous quality inspection at all of the seven phases of production.
9. Today, you can buy everything from Swiss Army forks to Swiss Army perfume.
Only 40 percent of the company’s output is still dedicated to their namesake knives.
10. But beware: there are many fakes.
Luckily, spotting the difference between a real Swiss Army Knife and a fake is simple. The trick is in the spring mechanism and the telltale Swiss Army Knife “snap” of the tools.

Nowadays, you can hardly walk through any department or outdoor store without seeing the Victorinox symbol on a handful of items. Now known for their quality bags as well as their knives, the company continues to expand their line, and it doesn't look like they are going to let up on their goal of perfection anytime soon. Keep an eye out for fakes, though, which are commonly peddled at flea markets and gun shows. A real Victorinox knife will have a nice crisp ‘snap' as it pops open. If it doesn't, it's not worth your time.

If you'd like to learn more about the Victorinox brand, this article was provided by Maxim.