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From humble tool to global icon (Swiss Army Knife)
BBC News ^
| July 30th 2009
| Imogen Foulkes
Posted on 07/30/2009 2:08:29 AM PDT by Cardhu
In Switzerland, there is a saying that every good Swiss citizen has one in his or her pocket.
It is an object that is recognised all over the world, and it is globally popular.
But the Swiss army knife had humble beginnings, and, at the start, it wasn't even red.
In the late 19th Century, the Swiss army issued its soldiers with a gun which required a special screwdriver to dismantle and clean it...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: knife; swiss
Interesting article
1
posted on
07/30/2009 2:08:30 AM PDT
by
Cardhu
To: Cardhu
Because of the 2-inch blade length legistlation in California, I’ve heard that most of these Victorinox knives are illegal there.
Talk about ridiculous!
2
posted on
07/30/2009 2:10:20 AM PDT
by
MyTwoCopperCoins
(I don't have a license to kill; I have a learner's permit.)
To: Cardhu
"From humble tool to global icon (Swiss Army Knife)"
Good thing for the parenthetical. For a moment I thought this was about Joe Biden.
3
posted on
07/30/2009 2:10:38 AM PDT
by
shibumi
(" ..... then we will fight in the shade.")
To: Cardhu
I love mine. Had it for thirty years. It has come in handy MANY times.
To: shibumi
5
posted on
07/30/2009 2:15:04 AM PDT
by
Cardhu
(Be happy, today you will be the youngest you will ever be.)
To: Cardhu
SSGT Barry Sadler’s “Garet Trooper” describes multi
purpose knives in a funny way.
He’s got a hip knife, a side knife, a boot knife,
a shoulder knife.
And a little bitty one that’s a combination flare
gun, dinner set, and genuine police whistle.
6
posted on
07/30/2009 2:21:38 AM PDT
by
HuntsvilleTxVeteran
((B.?) Hussein (Obama?Soetoro?Dunham?) Change America Will Die From.)
To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
I like the idea of flare and dinner set knife.
7
posted on
07/30/2009 2:43:44 AM PDT
by
Cardhu
(Be happy, today you will be the youngest you will ever be.)
To: Cardhu
My favorite is a Kowell Tool.
8
posted on
07/30/2009 2:56:43 AM PDT
by
HuntsvilleTxVeteran
((B.?) Hussein (Obama?Soetoro?Dunham?) Change America Will Die From.)
To: screaminsunshine
I love mine. Had it for thirty years. I bet yours has a corkscrew.
The Swiss military purchasers considered the corkscrew not "essential for survival"
Of course that was the Swiss - now the Spanish and French would certainly disagree.
9
posted on
07/30/2009 2:58:00 AM PDT
by
Cardhu
(Be happy, today you will be the youngest you will ever be.)
To: Cardhu
The one part I could never understand was the strange implement for removing stones from horses hooves...
10
posted on
07/30/2009 3:04:58 AM PDT
by
Vanders9
To: Cardhu
Abd a magnifying glass, scissors, a saw, pliers, 2 knives, 2 screwdrivers and they all work good. I have used it countless times. It cost 125 back then.
To: Cardhu
12
posted on
07/30/2009 3:17:30 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
("...... we are about to be czarred and fettered." ~ alterum ictum faciam.)
To: screaminsunshine
Me too!
13
posted on
07/30/2009 3:19:33 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
("...... we are about to be czarred and fettered." ~ alterum ictum faciam.)
To: Daffynition
To: Daffynition
You had better patent that one. :)
15
posted on
07/30/2009 3:32:13 AM PDT
by
Cardhu
(Be happy, today you will be the youngest you will ever be.)
To: screaminsunshine
The American Army version....
16
posted on
07/30/2009 3:41:23 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
("...... we are about to be czarred and fettered." ~ alterum ictum faciam.)
To: Cardhu
Overkill......
17
posted on
07/30/2009 3:43:43 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
("...... we are about to be czarred and fettered." ~ alterum ictum faciam.)
To: Daffynition
try putting that thing in your pocket. I have swiss army knife that has a screw driver with changeable tips. The two torx tips are very useful.
To: BornToBeAmerican
...but.....but do you have USB? ;-D
19
posted on
07/30/2009 4:57:42 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
("...... we are about to be czarred and fettered." ~ alterum ictum faciam.)
To: Daffynition
No, but mine has a helicopter blade...
To: Cardhu
With all due deference to the SAK, the Leatherman multi-tool is much more useful. A good pair of pliers comes in very handy in a multitude of situations.
21
posted on
07/30/2009 5:46:26 AM PDT
by
Sherman Logan
(Perception wins all the battles, reality wins all the wars)
To: Cardhu
Don’t leave home without it.
To: Sherman Logan
23
posted on
07/30/2009 6:49:51 AM PDT
by
Enigo54
(What we don't have makes up for what we don't have)
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