Victorinox.. In 1897 the Original Swiss Army Knife was created in the small village of Ibach, Switzerland. Since that time, Victorinox has become well-known in more than 100 countries for precision, quality, functionality and versatility.

In 1891, Karl Elsener, then owner of a company that made surgical equipment, discovered to his dismay that the pocket knives supplied to the Swiss army were in fact made in Germany. In that age of nationalism, Elsener set out to manufacture the knives in Switzerland itself. Elsener began working on what became the predecessor to the modern Swiss Army knife, called the "Soldier's Knife". The original had a wooden handle, as opposed to the plastic and metal seen today, and featured a cutting blade, a screwdriver, a can opener, and a punch. This knife was sold to the Swiss army, but Elsener was not satisfied with its first incarnation. In 1896, after five years of hard work, Elsener managed to put the blades on both sides of the handle using a special spring mechanism, allowing him to use the same spring to hold them in place, an innovation at the time. This allowed Elsener to put twice as many features on the knife; he added a second cutting blade and a corkscrew.

Karl Elsener used the cross and shield to identify his knives. The same symbol is still used to identify a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. When his mother died in 1909, Elsener decided to name his company "Victoria" in her memory. In 1921 the company started using stainless steel to make the Swiss Army Knife. Stainless steel is also known as "inox", short for the French term acier inoxydable. "Victoria" and "inox" were then combined to create the company name "Victorinox".

R. H. Forschner/Victorinox Kitchen/Food Preparation Knives

The R.H. Forschner collection has grown in selection and prominence since its name was first inscribed in steel in 1855. History has shown R. H. Forschner/Victorinox knives to be a premier choice of professional chefs, it is still preferred by professionals today.

World famous for its extremely sharp, Swiss made, steel blades from Victorinox, R.H. Forschner provides professionals in food preparation with superb quality, value-priced cutlery that improves performance and increases productivity. They are manufactured in Switzerland. The famous rosewood handles feature a carved handle design with the unique beauty of natural rosewood and they are very durable. The Fibrox handles feature a non-slip, ergonomic design and are NSF** approved. The blades feature a high-carbon no stain steel with the signature Victorinox polished surface and a taper ground edge.

There are multiple process stages to manufacturing all Victorinox Knives. Each Victorinox knife is constructed by stamping out a single sheet of steel. The blade is hardened, tempered, ground, polished, etched and finished. Victorinox stamped knives features a 3/4 or 7/8 tang and are beautifully finished.

**The NSF mark certifies the quality and hygienic design of the knife. The National Sanitation Foundation mark is proudly carried on all R.H. Forschner blades with a fibrox or nylon handle. This mark assures you of a premium quality knife that is approved for use in a commercial environment. Look for this mark and understand that most food preparation knife manufacturers do not carry this seal!

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