When did victorinox Start exporting the Swiss Army Knives to the United States?

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mg357

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May 31, 2012
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I have an unusual Swiss Army Knife Question When did Victorinox Start exporting their knives to the United States?
 
From what I've read over the years, it was after 1945 as WWII GI's brought them home, they became popular in the US. Sorry, that's as close as I can get.
 
Lee Olsen of the Olsen Knife Company was importing and reselling Victorinox knives in the early '60's. They had a small showroom at the factory in Howard City, Michigan. He also imported fixed blade hunting knives from Solingen, Germany.
 
I would like to know when they really boomed in popularity and why so over the traditional cheap scout knives that were... better?
 
stvpourciau said:
I would like to know when they really boomed in popularity and why so over the traditional cheap scout knives that were... better?
Click to expand...

According to the SAKwiki their popularity was due to the inclusion of the corkscrew.

And what was a traditional scout knife at the time? And how exactly was it better?
 
stvpourciau said:
I would like to know when they really boomed in popularity and why so over the traditional cheap scout knives that were... better?
Click to expand...

The real boom in the SAK sales happened in the 1960's, with the boom in backpacking and mountaineering as popular sports. The SAK offered more tools and versatility than the traditional scout knife, with tools that actually worked at their intended task. An added public perception of "better" was the fact that the SAK's offered stainless steel that was pretty decent vs the carbon steel of the scout knife that was made by Camillus, Schrade, Imperial, and others. Many people liked that it was one less thing they had to take care of.

Were the old scout knives "better"?

I carried a scout knife from the age of 12 to when I went in the army not long after high school. It was the old carbon steel Camillus, and it was a good knife. But while in the service, I got introduced to SAK's, and I never looked back. The QA at Victorinox is second to none, backed up with a lifetime warrantee, and more tools and versatility per ounce than the old scout knife, and a much wider choice of models. If the old scout knife is better, it's better in the same way a Colt 1911 is "better" than a Glock 17. Strictly in the eye of the beholder.
 
Charlie_K said:
what was a traditional scout knife at the time? And how exactly was it better?
Click to expand...
Similar to a pioneer but larger blade, thinner fit, carbon steel, and a smoother joint, maybe victorinox Spring is tighter and that's a good thing but I like the action smooth
 
They spread outside of Switzerland when they were carried in US service PX shops from 1945 to 1950.
 
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