Karl Elsner, founder of Victorinox, began his career as an apprentice making razor knives and surgical instruments in Germany. In 1884 the master cutler returned to his home town of Ibach, Switzerland; opened a workshop and later founded the Association of Swiss Master Cutlers - this led to the creation of the famous Swiss Army knife in 1891. The standard of Karl Elsner's work was very fine and his reputation and popularity quickly grew - as did his business. Today, following consistent development, expansion and consolidation of Elsner's goals, Victorinox is one of the leading knife manufacturers in the world. Every Victrinox knife is razor sharp and produced by Swiss craftsmen using the finest quality steel, hardened to precise standards and passed through rigorous quality control checks. It is this attention to detail and the Elsner family's commitment to producing cutlery of the highest quality that has made Victorinox knives the choice of generations of professional cooks, chefs and butchers.
