The Knife Vault

If imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery, then the makers of authentic Swiss army knives must be rather full of themselves by now. That’s because pretenders have been attempting to duplicate the look and feel of an original Victorinox knife for more than a century. The first genuine Swiss army knife was introduced in 1897. Since then, the company has released other quality knives for a variety of purposes including camping and specialty situations.

In order to properly identify a real Swiss army knife, look for the fabled cross and shield insignia. The shield should have five corners with a small dip at the top. And naturally the insignia should be white with a red background. For further proof, check the blade; the word “Victorinox” should be stamped there.