The Swiss Army Knife is a multi-purpose tool that is more sort of a pocket knife. It was after World War II this term came into existence.
The Karl Elsener company started producing the knives after winning its contract from a German manufacturer in 1890. This company later came to be known as Victorinox. Again, in 1893, the contract for producing the knives was provided to another company named the Swiss cutlery company, Paul Boèchat and Cie.
After 1891, Elsener, the owner of Karl Elsener company, faced a bankruptcy situation, which he overcame by manufacturing an improved knife design in 1896, specially designed for officials. But the Swiss Army did not approve of it for marketing. Therefore, the knife was sold Internationally, which helped restore Elsener’s popularity.
In 1908, the contract got split by the Swiss Army between the two companies. After which Victorinox’s slogan was “Original Swiss Army Knives”, and Wenger went with “Genuine Swiss Army Knives”.
This resulted in Victorinox becoming the supreme supplier of knives to the Switzerland Military. But still, the two companies continued manufacturing other products, including watches and travel tools, separately.
Key Takeaways
- Wenger and Victorinox are two Swiss brands that produce high-quality knives, but Wenger focuses on outdoor and camping knives, while Victorinox focuses on pocket knives.
- Another difference is that Wenger uses a more traditional and rustic design, while Victorinox has a more modern and sleek design.
- Lastly, Wenger is the official supplier of the Swiss army, while Victorinox is the original supplier and creator of the Swiss army knife.
Wenger vs Victorinox
The difference between Wenger and Victorinox is that Wenger is a company that manufactures larger and slightly heavier Swiss Army knives, whereas Victorinox knives are more compact and travel-friendly. The former got acquired by the latter in 2005.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Wenger | Victorinox |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment | Wenger was first established as a Swiss cutlery company in 1893. | Victorinox was first established as Karl Elsener company in 1884. |
| Founder | Paul Boèchat is the founder of Wenger. | Karl Elsener is the founder of Victorinox. |
| Size | The knife is slightly larger. | While the knife is a little more compact. |
| Weight | It is a little bit heavier. | It weighs less. |
| Versatility | It is more versatile, containing around 87 tools with 140 functions. | Whereas it comes with basic tools only, not being very versatile. |
| Complexity | Having more tools increases the complexity factor here. | It is a lot simpler in comparison. |
| Lock System | It comes with a basic lock system. | While it has a dual lock system. |
| Ease of Use | The blades and tools of the knife open up more smoothly. | Here, the tools are not that flexible. |
| Warranty Period | It provides a three-year warranty. | Whereas it provides a two-year warranty. |
| Pricing | It comes with premium pricing. | It is more on the affordable side. |
What is Wenger?
Wenger is a Switzerland-based company founded as Swiss cutlery Paul Boèchat and Cie company in 1893. Paul Boèchat is the founder.
In 1893, Wenger was provided with a contract to make the Swiss Army knives from the Swiss Army. It was the second company to have received the contract after Victorinox.
The 9/11 attacks brought a bad phase for Wenger. This crisis resulted in the acquisition of Wenger by its competitor company Victorinox in 2005.
After Wenger’s relaunch event in 2016, the company modified the slogan to “A Swiss Company Since 1893”. This slogan continued for decades.
The Swiss knife produced by Wenger is slightly larger than its Victorinox counterpart. Although it does not have a dual lock system, it comes with 87 different tools, which makes it much more versatile.
What is Victorinox?
Victorinox is a knife and watches manufacturer based in Switzerland. It was founded as Karl Elsener’s company by Karl Elsener himself in 1884.
Victorinox was introduced to the Swiss Army Knife business by the Swiss Army in 1891. After the contract split between Wenger and Victorinox, the latter came up with the slogan “Original Swiss Army Knives”.
In 1972, Victorinox developed its own distributor for the United States. During the 1980s, the company acquired even more shares and set a trademark in the USA.
Until then, Victorinox had started producing timepieces, compasses and sunglasses too. It became successful in expanding its business over major parts of the world.
The Swiss Army knife, the best product manufactured by Victorinox, is widely used. It has a compact size which makes it even more portable.
Main Differences Between Wenger and Victorinox
- The Wenger knife is larger and heavier than the Victorinox.
- The Wenger knife is more versatile yet complex.
- Victorinox knife has a two-year warranty, while Wenger has three years.
- Victorinox knife has a dual lock system.
- The Wenger knife is more expensive than the Victorinox.
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I’ve always been fascinated by the Swiss Army Knife and I’m impressed with the detailed information provided in this article.
Indeed, it is great to understand the historical and design differences between these remarkable companies.
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