1884 Following his
apprenticeship in Paris and in
Tuttlingen in South Germany,
Karl Elsener opens his own
cutler's business in Ibach-
Schwyz. The energy for the
grinding and polishing
machines was supplied by a
waterwheel driven by the
Tobelbach brook.
1891 The Swiss Army was
supplied with soldiers' knives
for the first time.
1897 On June 12, the Swiss
Officer's and Sports Knife was
patented.
1989 The launch of Swiss
Army watches in America was
highly successful.
1992 The company opens the
first of its own sales offices in
Japan. In the years that
follow, further subsidiaries are
founded in Mexico, Brazil,
Poland, Hong Kong/China,
Vietnam and Chile.
2005 The takeover of Wenger
SA, Delémont in the Jura
region, knife manufacturer
since 1893 and also a supplier
of the Swiss army, is intended
to secure the ongoing further
development of the "Swiss
Army Knife" and the future of
its Swiss-based production.
2006 Relocation of Watch
factory to Porrentruy.