What product used by hikers, campers, military personnel, and astronauts, has been produced since 1891 by the Victorinox company?

In 1891, the Swiss cutlery company Victorinox, founded by Karl Elsener, won the contract to produce a revolutionary new folding pocketknife for the Swiss Army. The goal was to provide soldiers with a single, compact tool that could be used for both eating, by opening canned rations, and for maintaining their service rifle. This "Soldier's Knife" was the first of its kind and established the foundation (Review) for the iconic multi-tool known and trusted around the world today.

The tool's incredible utility and reliability quickly found an audience far beyond the military. Its combination of blades, screwdrivers, can openers, and other implements made it an essential piece of gear for outdoor enthusiasts and tradespeople alike. Its reputation for precision engineering even took it to the final frontier; since the 1970s, it has been official equipment for astronauts on NASA space missions, used for various repairs and scientific tasks in orbit.

This iconic multi-tool is a marvel of applied science and mechanical engineering. Each instrument is crafted from specific stainless steel alloys chosen for hardness and corrosion resistance. The intricate system of pivots and springs that allows dozens of functions to fold neatly into a compact handle remains a classic example of efficient, problem-solving design, proving its value from terrestrial campsites to the confines of a space station.