Making of a Swiss Army Knife By Hand

[Alnamvet68]

I have heard there are only three of these jigs left in the world that Victorinox once used when all their knives were assembled by hand. Now the process is automated using state of the art equipment that is second to none. Interesting to note that before the new high tech automation, the fit, finish, and overall quality was second to none, and with the automation, nothing has changed, except for the fact they're making a heck of a lot more per day now.
[video=youtube;aEtDxqi1eiU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEtDxqi1eiU[/video]

 

[jackknife]

The fit and finish of the SAK's are as much a result of the precession manufacture of the individual parts as the assembly. By hand or machine, if the parts are made with the fine tolerances and finished off well, then the end product will be fine. Victorinox puts a lot of work into the cleanness of the manufactured parts, both in the machining and clean conditions of the final assembly.

Look down into any old Camillus, Schrade, Imperial, or other knife and you will see shear marks and stamping marks on the springs and blade tangs. And it was part of a breaking in a new knife that you used oil or dish soap to flush out the black crud from the joints. A Vic by comparison is ready to go out of the box.

Start out with quality made components and you get a quality end product.

 

[Alnamvet68]

Speaking of cleanliness, a niece of mine was in Switzerland 2 years ago promoting her resort in Peru, and had the opportunity to tour Victorinox. In her words, the facility is so clean you can eat off the floors.