are all swiss army knives made in switzerland

While the term “Swiss Army Knife” is often associated with Switzerland, not all Swiss Army Knives are made in Switzerland. The original Swiss Army Knives were indeed manufactured in Switzerland by two companies: Victorinox and Wenger.

Victorinox, founded in 1884 by Karl Elsener, is still a family-owned business based in Ibach, Switzerland. They are the largest and most well-known manufacturer of Swiss Army Knives, producing over 30,000 knives per day. Victorinox knives are still made in Switzerland, with a significant portion of the production process taking place in their Ibach factory.

Wenger, founded in 1893 by Paul Boéchat, was another Swiss company that produced Swiss Army Knives. However, in 2005, Victorinox acquired Wenger and integrated their production into the Victorinox factory in Ibach. Although Wenger is no longer an independent company, Victorinox still produces knives under the Wenger brand, primarily in Switzerland.

Now, here’s where things get a bit more complicated: in 2013, Victorinox opened a factory in Shanghai, China, to cater to the growing Asian market. Some Swiss Army Knives are now manufactured in China, particularly those designed for the Asian market or with specific features not found in traditional Swiss Army Knives.

So, while many Swiss Army Knives are still made in Switzerland by Victorinox, not all of them are. Some are manufactured in China, and it’s essential to check the product label or packaging to confirm the country of origin.

It’s worth noting that the term “Swiss Army Knife” is not a protected trademark, which means that other companies can use the term to describe their products, even if they’re not made in Switzerland. However, Victorinox is the only company that can use the “Original Swiss Army Knife” logo, which is a registered trademark.