Tips For Taking Care of a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife

Nowadays, the Victorinox Swiss army knife is a synonym of versatility and quality and any of them treated with care must last you many years. Not for nothing, Victorinox backs up all their pocket knives with a lifetime warranty against any defects in material and workmanship. However, to be sure to fully enjoy these practical small tools during lots of years to come, there are certain tips to follow to take care of them properly.

The material of which Victorinox pocket knives are crafted is stainless steel. This steel has a high resistant to corrosion. However, this doesn't mean that the blade or the joint mechanisms will not rust if proper care is neglect during a long period of time. Fresh water, lemon juice, and orange juice are some substances that could eventually rust your pocket knife. So, every now and then be sure to wash your Victorinox. How to do this? Never put it in a dishwasher. Instead, introduce the pocket knife in warm water and open and close every tool sometimes to be sure that any rusting agent is wash away of the Swiss army knife.

To further maintain your pocket knife, it is a good idea to apply a drop of oil between the spring and the blade or tool shank. But not any oil will do. Remember that we will probably be using our Victorinox with food, so the oil should be suitable for use with foodstuffs.

Sharpen your knife regularly. This is not only a good advice for maintaining the usability of your pocket knife, but a safety measure too. A sharp blade is safer because you will not be applying too much force when cutting something lessening the chances of slipping.

Conclusion: following these simple maintaining tips will ensure you to enjoy your Victorinox Swiss army knife during many years to come.

David Ventura is an outdoor enthusiast with several years of experience in trekking and mountaineering. To know more about my favorite pocket knives check: Best Everyday Pocket Knives or visit my page: David Ventura

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Swiss Army Knife: A Great Gift for Any Active Person

Do you know someone who is just impossible to shop for? We all have a least one person in our lives who drives us nuts because it is so hard to find just the right gift. Well, you might want to consider buying that person a gift that virtually anyone could find a use for (or could at least give it to someone else who could use it) -- a Swiss Army knife.

The Swiss Army knife is not just any old knife but is a conglomerate of tools that can be used for any number of purposes and occasions. The tools are stored in the knife handle and are activated by a pivot point mechanism. The most common tools found on one of these knives are a primary blade, smaller blade, toothpick, corkscrew, nail file, magnifying glass, fish scaler, key chain, pliers, screwdriver, can opener, and file. Newer knives can also have USB flash drives, LED light, digital clock, and laser pointer. And, believe it or not, you can even fit one of these knives in your pocket!

The Swiss Army Knife was developed in 1891 by Karl Elsener, the owner of a surgical equipment company, who was astounded when discovering that knives supplied to Swiss army solders were manufactured in Germany. The original knife contained a cutting blade, screwdriver, punch, and can opener, but were improved over-time to include a second blade and corkscrew.

There are two companies Victorinox and Wenger that currently manufacture Swiss Army for the Swiss army and for export. Victorinox is the former surgical company owned by Karl Elsener and actually owns Wenger. There are numerous companies that produce copies of the Swiss Army knife, but the true product is manufactured by Victorinox which uses the cross and shield as identification on each knife.

The Swiss Army knife has come to denote “quality” and “dependability.” Owning one of these knives is even considered to be a status symbol among many people. In 2006, Victorinox created “the giant,” a knife with 85 devices and 110 functions, It is over nine inches thick and costs around $1200. To say that this knife is over-kill is an understatement (at least for most people anyway). Most knives with a reasonable amount of capabilities would cost between $75 - $300.

So for that difficult person who is always the biggest shopping challenge, consider a Swiss Army knife.You will be buying an icon of quality and craftsmanship that will please anyone. These knives will last for decades if not longer and never go out of style.

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Swiss Army Knife - Is it the Real Thing Or a Fake?

The Swiss Army knife has become an icon for quality, durability, and versatility. There is really no better knife available that will do what one of these knives does - and with impressive quality and craftsmanship. If you decide to purchase one of these fine knives, you need to educate yourself to the special features of the Swiss Army knife so you do not purchase a fake.

The Swiss army knife is often copied by manufacturers of lesser quality and standards because the product is so highly respected and can often become a collector's item over time. Here are a few tips for making sure the knife is authentic before you purchase it.

1. There are only two manufacturers of the authentic Swiss Army knife - Victorinox and Wenger. Victorinox was created by the owner of a surgical equipment company who was upset that knives supplied to Swiss troops were made in Germany. Wenger came along about one decade later as a competitor to Victorinox.
2. An authentic Swiss Army knife will have markings on the blade and exteriors identifying one of the two manufacturers mentioned above. If the blade or exterior parts of the knife have no markings or are identified as being produced by a different company, then the knife is not authentic.
3. Swiss Army knives have only been manufactured since 1891 so, if someone wants to sell you a "collector" knife that is older than that year, it is a fake.
4. Many fake Swiss Army knives will have a traditional looking cross which is passed off as being the official crest. However, Swiss Army knives will have what is called a 'Swiss Cross" which is actually a symbol of the crossbow. Tradition has it that William Tell used the crossbow to shoot and kill the Austrian Governor to Switzerland at the time. This led to a revolution that eventually freed Switzerland from Austria. The use of the crossbow on any product is strictly regulated by the Swiss government as it reflects quality and national pride.
5. If you are thinking of purchasing the knife from a street vendor or someone you do not know, consider your decision. It is safest to purchase your knife from an authorized retailer which must be registered to sell Swiss Army knives. Ask the vendor for proof of registration as a Swiss Army knife retailer before you commit to the purchase.

The Swiss Army knife is a wonderful item to possess and will provide high quality use for many years. It is important to make sure you are purchasing the "real thing" and not a fake, so follow the steps above to protect yourself and enjoy one of the finest knives in the world.

Steve Watson has created useful informational materials on a wide range of topics. He also owns a home health agency in Tallahassee, Florida that provides care to elderly people and helps them remain as active and healthy as possible. You can click on this link to see Steve's primary web site http://www.keepseniorsactive.com

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