Latest news with #Victorinox
Geeky Gadgets
15 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
New Victorinox's Bladeless Swiss Army Knives : Perfect for Travel
Have you ever found yourself reaching for a tool, only to realize it's not allowed where you are? Whether it's a flight, a courthouse, or even your workplace, the restrictions on carrying knives can be frustrating for those who rely on their tools daily. Enter the new Victorinox Companion Collection—a bold reimagining of the Swiss Army knife that caters to modern needs without sacrificing the brand's signature functionality. With bladeless designs that comply with knife-free environments and a refreshed take on their iconic red model, Victorinox is proving that practicality and innovation can go hand in hand. But does this range truly deliver on its promise of versatility and adaptability? That's exactly what Jon Gadget is here to explore. In this review, Jon Gadget uncover how the new Victorinox Companion Collection balances lightweight practicality with timeless design, offering solutions for everyday carry enthusiasts and frequent travelers alike. From the sleek, bladeless Alox models—available in striking finishes like gold and dark red—to the updated traditional red Swiss Army knife, this lineup is packed with features that promise to simplify your daily tasks. Whether you're curious about the tools' real-world applications, their suitability for restricted environments, or how they stack up against Victorinox's storied legacy, this insight will leave you with a clearer picture of what makes these tools a standout addition to any pocket or bag. After all, when tradition meets innovation, the results are always worth a closer look. Victorinox Companion Collection Overview Bladeless Alox Models: A Modern Twist on Tradition The centerpiece of the Companion Collection is the introduction of three bladeless Alox models, which offer a fresh take on the traditional Swiss Army knife. These tools are designed for individuals who require functionality without the complications or restrictions associated with carrying a blade. Available in silver, gold, and dark red finishes, the bladeless Alox models combine sleek aesthetics with practical utility, making them ideal for a wide range of users. Companion S Alox (58 mm): This compact, keyring-friendly tool includes scissors and a combination tool featuring a Phillips screwdriver, bottle opener, and wire stripper. It is perfect for quick fixes and small tasks, offering convenience in a lightweight design. This compact, keyring-friendly tool includes scissors and a combination tool featuring a Phillips screwdriver, bottle opener, and wire stripper. It is perfect for quick fixes and small tasks, offering convenience in a lightweight design. Companion X Alox (93 mm): A larger option equipped with robust scissors, this model is lightweight yet lacks a keyring loop, making it better suited for storage in a pocket or bag. Its size and functionality make it a practical choice for everyday use. A larger option equipped with robust scissors, this model is lightweight yet lacks a keyring loop, making it better suited for storage in a pocket or bag. Its size and functionality make it a practical choice for everyday use. Companion Slim Alox (93 mm): Featuring a two-layer design, this tool includes scissors, a flathead screwdriver/pry bar, and a box opener/screwdriver combination. It is particularly useful for opening packages and handling minor repairs, catering to the needs of modern consumers. These bladeless tools are especially valuable in environments where knives are prohibited, such as schools, courthouses, or flights. They also appeal to users who already carry a dedicated knife but require additional tools for specific tasks, offering a versatile and compliant alternative. The Updated Traditional Red Swiss Army Knife For those who appreciate the timeless appeal of the classic Swiss Army knife, Victorinox has refreshed its traditional red model as part of the Companion Collection. This updated version retains the iconic design while incorporating a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance its versatility. The 'Companion' model includes: Scissors Nail file/cleaner Screwdriver/pry bar Box opener Corkscrew Utility hook Awl Pen Toothpick Tweezers This updated design emphasizes practicality and functionality, making it an excellent choice for everyday tasks. Whether you need to open packages, tighten screws, or perform minor repairs, the traditional red Swiss Army knife remains a reliable and versatile tool. New Victorinox SAK Range Full Review Watch this video on YouTube. Take a look at other insightful guides from our broad collection that might capture your interest in EDC gadgets. Bladeless Design: Meeting Modern Needs The bladeless design of the Companion Collection reflects a growing demand for tools that comply with restrictions in public and travel settings. These tools are particularly beneficial for individuals navigating environments where knives are prohibited. Key advantages of the bladeless models include: Providing supplementary tools for users who already carry a dedicated knife. Making sure compliance in knife-free environments, such as schools, workplaces, or courthouses. Offering potential carry-on approval for air travel, though airport security regulations may vary by region. Among the bladeless options, the Companion X Alox stands out as a practical choice for travelers. Its scissors-based functionality delivers utility without raising security concerns, making it a dependable companion for flights and other restricted environments. Pricing and Accessibility Victorinox has priced the Companion Collection to appeal to a broad audience, offering high-quality craftsmanship at competitive rates. The pricing for each model is as follows: Companion S Alox: £33 £33 Companion X Alox: £29 £29 Companion Slim Alox: £39 £39 Traditional Red Companion: £45 These prices reflect the durability and premium materials used in the collection, such as the Alox aluminum scales, which are a hallmark of Victorinox's commitment to quality. Designed for Modern Lifestyles The Companion Collection is tailored to meet the needs of today's consumers, particularly those who frequently handle sealed deliveries or containers. While the range represents an evolutionary step rather than a dramatic reinvention, it underscores Victorinox's dedication to adapting its products to contemporary lifestyles. The company has also hinted at further product releases in 2026, signaling ongoing refinement and expansion. Travel Suitability and Practicality For travelers, the smaller bladeless models, such as the Companion S Alox, may be suitable for air travel, though it is essential to check specific airport security regulations. The Companion X Alox, with its scissors-based design, offers a practical balance of functionality and compliance, making it an excellent choice for navigating knife-free environments. These tools provide a reliable solution for those who value versatility and convenience without compromising on quality or style. Media Credit: Jon Gadget Filed Under: Gadgets News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
New York Times
11-07-2025
- General
- New York Times
12 Kitchen Tools That Make Wirecutter Staffers More Confident Cooks
There's a common kitchen adage that a dull knife is a dangerous knife. Using a dull knife can contribute not only to careless accidents but also to poor, sloppy knife cuts. Yet you don't need to shell out big bucks to score a quality chef's knife, as Wirecutter writer Alexander Aciman can attest. He has been the proud owner of a Victorinox Chef's Knife, the budget pick in our guide to the best chef's knife, for nearly a decade. This great knife is durable, comfortable to use, and pretty sharp. And it costs less than $75. 'It can glide effortlessly through meat and vegetables,' Alexander wrote in an ode to the Victorinox knife. 'The blade feels far more nimble than anything in this price range should.' In fact, he said he occasionally finds himself chopping twice as many potatoes and onions, simply because he enjoys the task so much. We love this knife because the grippy handle helps you get a good grasp, and the strong blade holds a sharp edge for a long time. Mise en place — a French culinary term that roughly translates to putting everything in its place — is the process of prepping ingredients and your workstation so everything is ready to go before you start cooking. Mise en place spares me from having to make last-minute, mid-recipe grocery runs (no more forgotten ingredients) or from chopping a clove of garlic while the food in the pan burns. I rely on Libbey Small Glass Prep Bowls with Lids to keep everything neatly separated until I'm ready to toss it all into the pan or incorporate it into the recipe. These small, durable bowls come in a pack of eight and are dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is easy. They're big enough to hold about ¾ cup of prepped ingredients (think eight plump cherries or a handful of shredded cheese). And they come with lids, so you can stash any leftover ingredients (if you miscalculate how much you need). Before I worked in the restaurant industry, I was a much messier cook. Then I discovered a bench scraper, which I've been known to call a 'chef's best-kept secret.' And ever since, this tool has helped me navigate cooking tasks much more efficiently, nimbly, and tidily. This multipurpose bench scraper has a wide, flat stainless steel surface with a sharp edge that's ideal for a number of kitchen tasks, from slicing to scooping. A bench scraper is a flat, sturdy multipurpose tool that's helpful for scooping, slicing, and portioning ingredients. The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Scraper & Chopper — my prized possession for over eight years — has a flat, stainless steel surface (about the size of a large index card) and a nonslip handle for extra stability. When I'm preparing my mise en place, this tool helps me efficiently move piles of chopped ingredients from my cutting board to a bowl without making a mess. Its sharp edges are strong enough to pierce through soft ingredients, including when I portion out pizza dough or bake biscuits. I can also use the flat surface to smooth out any streaks or bubbles when I'm frosting a birthday cake. No other tool offers such an array of skills. If you don't have the right peeler, removing the skin of a potato can be a tedious task. Yet with a lightweight, sharp Y-peeler, you can swiftly work through a sack without breaking a sweat (or accidentally nicking a knuckle). Before editor Tracy Vence discovered her now-beloved Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler — a super-sharp, lightweight Y-shaped peeler — she believed there was no worse kitchen task than peeling raw beets, preparing potatoes, and removing the skin of an uncooked squash. Now she can't live without this tool, and she even wrote about how it makes her look forward to a meal-prep step she once vehemently dreaded. A Wirecutter top pick for 12 years and counting, the Kuhn Rikon peeler is a superior tool for easily stripping the outer layers of every type of fruit or vegetable, including eggplant, carrots, and celery root. This tool's unique Y shape makes it easier to rotate around an object when you're peeling, versus using a straight swivel peeler, which might feel limited in range. Although this tool is incredibly inexpensive, it's highly durable and beloved by most professional chefs. Wirecutter staffers say it can retain its sharp edge for several years, even with consistent use. While a Kunz spoon bears an uncanny resemblance to any ordinary spoon, it was specifically designed with cooks in mind by internationally renowned chef Gray Kunz. Its unique dimensions make it the perfect tool for drizzling sauces, serving creamy dips, and basting a juicy steak with hot butter. And the spoon's slightly pointed tip helps to guide runny sauces with precision and accuracy when you're plating food. This sturdy stainless steel spoon is much larger than a standard one, and it makes kitchen tasks, like basting and plating, more efficient. I first discovered Kunz spoons during an early gig as a line cook, eight years ago. And since then, I have found that this spoon's versatility readily supersedes the capabilities of any other spoon in my kitchen — and, frankly, of almost any other tool. I often use a Kunz spoon in place of a tasting spoon, a measuring spoon, a plating spoon, a ladle (for small amounts of sauces or liquids), and a spatula. But it's clear I'm not the only Kunz spoon–obsessed cook: Step foot in a professional kitchen and you're bound to encounter at least one of these spoons hard at work. A fish turner (or fish spatula) is a spatula designed with a thin, long surface for easily scooting underneath food and nimbly tossing and turning it. But as editor Katie Okamoto points out in an ode she wrote to her beloved fish spatula (our top-pick, all-purpose spatula), you shouldn't let the name fool you — a flexible fish spatula can do much more than flip fish. Its long, stable, flat surface is big enough to transfer piles of roasted veggies and oversize cookies from a sheet pan, and it can ferry skillet-size pancakes without causing rifts. This affordable, lightweight spatula can be used for a multitude of tasks, including turning delicate fried eggs, fish fillets, crepes, and pancakes. Katie also uses the Victorinox Swiss Army Slotted Fish Turner's stainless steel edge to scrape the fond from the bottom of a cast iron pan, so she can incorporate it into a pan sauce or gravy. And the spatula's slotted design allows grease to fall through and steam to escape when seared foods are being transported from pan to plate. Chopping is an essential skill but a time-consuming task. Fortunately, with the help of a mini food processor, you can cut corners on a busy weeknight. And for practical, daily cooking needs, appliance writer Rachel Wharton swears by the Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper. In her story on the Cuisinart chopper, Rachel details how it helps her quickly dice an onion for a marinara or puree four garlic cloves for a curry. Its small size has even motivated her to make more from-scratch dinners on weeknights, rather than ordering in, because cooking is quicker and less messy, and cleanup much easier than if she were using a full-size processor. In the piece, Rachel also explains how this mini food processor handles smaller-scale tasks (like mincing a few jalapeños or shallots) faster and more easily than a full-size processor. In a full-size processor, small quantities of food often get wedged under the larger blade or pushed to the edges. And the Cuisinart chopper has a compact, lightweight footprint, so it's simple to clean and a boon for smaller-batch weeknight cooking. A digital scale helps take some of the guesswork out of cooking. Rather than portioning ingredients by volume using measuring cups (a less accurate form of measuring due to differences in ingredient densities), you could use a digital scale, which calculates weight down to the exact grams, ounces, or pounds. Professional bakers swear by digital scales, and that's understandable since a few extra grams of baking powder can completely throw off the ratios in a cake, causing the batter to potentially overflow while it's cooking. When she was working as a baker, editorial director Marguerite Preston quickly realized how much more efficient and reliable it is to use a kitchen scale for any measuring task. Now, the Escali Primo Digital Scale is one of the first items she recommends to any aspiring home cook. In a story she wrote about the scale, Marguerite puts it high on the list of the 'Tools I Don't Want to Live Without.' The Primo scale is inexpensive, durable, and accurate. And, as Marguerite wrote, it's 'dead simple to use.' Plus, it's been our top pick since 2017. When Marguerite isn't using her digital scale to weigh ingredients for baking, she uses it for everyday tasks, like measuring coffee beans, portioning dog food, or weighing shredded cheese. It's also a terrific time-saving tool, and by using the 'tare' function, you can easily weigh ingredients in the same bowl without having to scoop, level, or wash a ton of extra dishes. Using a meat thermometer to check doneness early and often helps to avoid overcooking food, and it could spare dinner guests from a bout of food poisoning. It's also small enough to stash in an apron pocket so it's easily accessible. Our top pick, the ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2, is wonderful because it offers a combination of speed, reach, and reliability, and its display is easy to read. While working in restaurants, kitchen writer Lesley Stockton once used other cues to determine doneness (like prodding the surface of a steak). But she discovered that a thermometer is a much more accurate form of measurement (and she's never looked back). In an ode she wrote, Lesley explains that she now reaches for her Thermapen to check the doneness of roasts, poultry, fish, steaks, chops, and meatloaf, or when making candy and jam, and it has yielded better results. Recently, while testing gas grills, Lesley and other kitchen staffers used the thermometer to examine doneness of more than 140 pounds of meat cooked over the course of two weeks. Baking sheets are a kitchen staple. They're ideal for evenly roasting vegetables, baking cookies, or preparing sheet-pan dinner recipes. They're also terrific for tasks like carrying ingredients from the kitchen to an outdoor grill or transporting dirty dishes from the table to the sink. A Wirecutter pick since 2013, the Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet is top-tier. We love it for many reasons. It's versatile and inexpensive. And It's made with bare, heavy-gauge aluminum: During testing, this sheet baked cookies more evenly than sheets that were twice the price, and it didn't warp at high heat. If your current baking sheets are banged-up, warped, or flaking nonstick coating from years of cooking, take that as your sign to invest in a new, dazzling (high-quality) set that'll last for many years to come. Stainless steel cookware offers superior durability and performance, and it can handle higher temperatures than nonstick cookware. Also, compared with cast iron cookware, it produces better searing and tends to heat food more evenly, ensuring that it's consistently cooked through. Kitchen writer Michael Sullivan, the author of our best cookware set guide, said stainless steel cookware is not only critical for getting a good sear on meats, but it can go from the stovetop directly into the oven. Though stainless steel cookware requires a bit of extra care and maintenance — like hand-washing and an occasional scrubbing to remove some tougher stains — Michael said it can last a lifetime if it's properly cared for. These pans continue to impress us with their even heat distribution. Each piece is extremely durable and an ideal weight to hold. All-Clad's D3 Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set is a pricey, buy-it-for-life essential that we think is worth the investment. All-Clad's 10-piece set includes a variety of pieces, including skillets, saucepans, a sauté pan, and a stockpot. This set covers a wide range of cooking needs and offers superior durability and heat distribution (since aluminum is a good conductor of heat and stainless steel maintains it). Editorial director Lauren Sullivan has been using her set for over a decade. If you're not ready to take the leap on the All-Clad set, writer Abigail Bailey said the Tramontina Gourmet 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set — our top-pick cookware set — is a more affordable alternative. And it performed just as well as the All-Clad set during testing. Nonstick skillets tend to have a short life expectancy — about three to five years — but well-maintained cast iron cookware can last generations. When these pans are properly cared for, they tend to get better with age as the seasoning builds up and makes them naturally more nonstick. Cast iron skillets are equipped to handle high heat. Unlike other nonstick-coated pans, they're safe to use past 500 °F or under the broiler (ideal for optimal searing and browning for deeper caramelization and flavor). They can also be used outdoors over a campfire or when grilling — a surefire way to level up your alfresco dinner plans. You don't need to spend a fortune to score a quality cast iron pan. The high-quality Lodge Chef Collection 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet — our top pick — is affordable and made to last. Editor Ben Keough has written about how this pan can be used for a lifetime if it's properly cared for. We put 16 cast iron skillets through six tests to find the best one, and the Lodge skillet fried bacon, baked cornbread, and seared steaks most effectively. You can use it to make anything from eggs to pizza and stir-fry dishes. Plus, it's lightweight and has a comfortable handle, so it's easier to maneuver around the kitchen — especially when you're removing it from a piping-hot oven. You're only a few tools away from finding the professional chef within you. With these 12 reliable and efficiency-promoting items, you'll start cooking more like an expert in no time. This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Maxine Builder. These buy-it-for-life Wirecutter picks will pass the test of time thanks to durable materials, solid construction, and generous warranties. We've gathered a list of essential gear to get cooking in a new kitchen, all for around $200 total. They have one job, and they get it done! From our favorite cherry pitter to a leak-stopping peanut butter stirrer, here are the one-trick ponies we recommend.
Telegraph
04-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Think you know how to use a Swiss Army knife? Think again
It's the ultimate boys' toy for all generations. Whether you grew up with Just William stories, The Dangerous Book for Boys or YouTube crafting videos, the single item that every man either has, wishes to have or regrets not having is a Swiss Army knife. And women are quite fond of them, too. Over the decades, there have been more than 150 different kinds of fold-out tools found on Swiss Army knives. There are currently 178 different pocket knives available from Victorinox, from the Swiss Champ XXL with 73 different tools to the key-ring-size Escort with just six. As I constructed my own knife, the Ranger, a mid-tier model which is probably the most traditional knife in Victorinox's arsenal, I was given a history lesson on the individual tools and the best ways to use them. 1. Blade, large Designed to do everything from wood-whittling to opening letters, the uses of the standard blade are fairly self-explanatory. 'I use my knife blade every day for opening parcels, opening food packets, everything,' says Elsener. 'I carve an apple for breakfast first thing in the morning. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.' For outdoor work, the large blade is a woodman's best friend. To whittle wood, open the blade and close a fist around the handle so just the tip is pointing out. 'This will allow you to gain power,' explains Felix Immler, Victorinox's Swiss Army knife expert instructor. 'From there, use the bottom of the blade at a 45 degree angle to carve your wood. Each stroke should be an explosion of force.' 2. Multipurpose hook Originally included on the Swiss Army Knife as a tool for gentlemen who hoped to make themselves useful to ladies who needed their corsets tightening, the hook's modern era usage is somewhat more mysterious. 'You could use it for… anything you might need a hook for,' a Victorinox spokesperson explained, helpfully. I did find one particularly practical usage of my own, though; open the hook half-way and you use it as a portable stand to rest a phone against. You might also use it to pull a bike chain off your gears, so you can work without getting greasy fingers, or even to tease apart difficult knots. 3. Corkscrew/Screwdriver The original innovation featured on the 'Officer's And Sports knife', the corkscrew's use is fairly self-explanatory. It's also a handy holster for the knife's smallest screwdriver. 4. Reamer, punch, sewing awl (nail cleaner) One of the most mysterious tools on the Swiss army knife is the reamer, punch, and sewing awl. This thin, sharp wedge is at the bottom of the knife. Punch the reamer into something and then rotate the whole knife to carve out a hole. 'You can use it to put a new hole in your belt or make a conical hole in a piece of wood,' says Immler. 'My other favourite trick is to pierce the tip of the reamer into a stable surface to hold the knife steady. Then rub a piece of wood back forth along the sharp edge of the reamer to create little shavings. Then you can quickly draw a fire striker along the reamer to create a fire.' 5. Keyring eyelet Most people will only ever use the keyring eyelet to attach their Swiss Army knife to something, but given how solid the eyelet is, Immler uses his for additional tasks. 'If you feed a paperclip or needle through the eyelet, you can precisely bend it to create a fishing hook,' he explains. 'But it's also very hard – if you ever need to crack a coconut, the eyelet is tough enough to do that too.' 6. Blade, small 'Probably the most underrated tool on your pocket knife,' asserts Immler. 'If you carve wood, it should be your main blade. The small blade has a lot of advantages over the big blade. The small blade is usually sharper because it gets used less, and you can create tighter turns with it, so it's better for detailed work.' Hold the knife as you would to use the large blade, then place a thumb on the back of the blade. Push the knife with that thumb to make precise, shallow cuts in the wood. 7. Wood saw Another fairly simple tool, but the steel wood saw is very effective. 'I would recommend if you're sawing something to clamp the wood between your foot and the ground, and then saw as close to your foot as possible,' says Immler. 'This will prevent the wood you're sawing from moving around too much and if you're bending over to saw with your shoulder, rather than your elbow, that'll give you more power and control.' 8. Toothpick Another lesser-known tool hidden in the scale of all Swiss Army knives is the toothpick. It's also handily sized for cleaning the knife itself. 9. Bottle opener/Screwdriver 6mm/Wire stripper A bottle opener is always worth having in a pinch, especially when (like the can opener) the flat top of it also doubles as a screwdriver. A slightly lesser-known use of this tool is the small nub at the bottom which functions as a wire stripper. With the large blade folded out, place your wire between the handle of the knife and this notch, so that the wire prevents the bottle opener tool from folding back in. Then carefully fold the blade back against the wire to use as a wire stripper. 10. Scissors 'My favourite tool is the scissors, and we often hear the same from customers,' says Elsener. 'They're very helpful when you nick your nail and you can just take your scissors and correct it.' But the scissors are also strong enough to cut through fabric and aluminium cans – useful for making basic camp crafts or first-aid. Because they're spring-loaded, the trick with the scissors is to hold the knife in your palm and 'pump' the scissors, rather than trying to open them up and close them as you would a standard pair of kitchen scissors. 11. Small screwdriver The smallest screwdriver function on the knife neatly slots into the end of the corkscrew, and is designed for tightening up your glasses. 12. Tweezers Hidden inside the 'scale' of the knife is a tiny pair of tweezers. Not exactly a revolutionary bit of kit, but given how small it is, many don't realise it's there. Victorinox also suggests the tweezers can be useful when picking up delicate items of jewellery or even tiny components when repairing electronics. 13. Can opener/Screwdriver 3mm While most people are generally more familiar with rotary can openers, having an emergency back-up is always helpful. Simply press the hooked 'nose' of the can opener into the outside lip of your tin, then use the upper 'punch' in an up-and-down motion around the top of the can to open it. As for the flat end of the can opener? It's also a helpful screwdriver. The history of the Swiss army knife Victorinox, the original Swiss Army knife company, produces 45,000 pocket knives every weekday to be shipped out around the world (the United States, Germany, Mexico, Britain and France are the biggest markets after Switzerland itself). Yet the Swiss Army knife was originally nothing of the sort. When a young Karl Elsener opened his workshop in Ibach, a small town an hour's drive from Zurich, in 1884, he was repairing tools for local farmers and making a few knives per week. The contract for standard-issue Swiss Army knives which featured a blade, reamer, can opener and screwdriver belonged to a German company. In 1896, Elsener presented army generals with a new knife, which, unlike the German one, featured tools on both sides of the grip and an innovative spring system, as well as a corkscrew, which he hoped would make it attractive to officers. The 'Officer's and Sports Knife' was declined by army chiefs. Having already produced hundreds of knives, Elsener faced financial ruin until he began selling the knives to American soldiers stationed in the country. They loved them and took them home as gifts. By 1909, the Swiss army had taken notice and contracted Elsener's company to make knives for its soldiers. The rest is history. Today, the company is a family-run foundation, with Carl Elsener IV the current CEO. It has produced around 550 million multi-tool penknives to date. 'In Switzerland, most people carry a Swiss Army knife with them every day,' Elsener tells The Telegraph. He personally prefers the Traveller, a pocket knife with an electronic display featuring an alarm clock ('set for 5.15am every day in my case,' says Elsener), altimeter, barometer, timer and thermometer. 'I'm one of those guys who like to fix things,' Elsener continues. 'If I'm travelling and I see a screw is loose in my hotel wardrobe, I'll get out my pocket knife and fix it. The Swiss are like this in general, we like to fix things. But you can use them for anything. ' Nasa bought Swiss Army knives for their astronauts, and once, a Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield, used his to get into a Russian space station when the official tools broke. He said, 'Never leave the planet without one,' which is the best commendation we've ever received.' Hidden in Victorinox's off-limits archive lies a wealth of knives from over the decades. There are Swiss Army knives personalised with ebony and mother-of-pearl handles, bone-handled knives, and even a diamond-studded miniature guitar with a Swiss Army knife built into the neck, which was specially constructed for Elvis Presley. What's remarkable is just how hard-wearing these knives are. Knives from 1937 (when the famous red plastic coating was first added) barely show any signs of age.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Think you know how to use a Swiss Army knife? Think again
It's the ultimate boys' toy for all generations. Whether you grew up with Just William stories, The Dangerous Book for Boys or YouTube crafting videos, the single item that every man either has, wishes to have or regrets not having is a Swiss Army knife. And women are quite fond of them, too. Over the decades, there have been more than 150 different kinds of fold-out tools found on Swiss Army knives. There are currently 178 different pocket knives available from Victorinox, from the Swiss Champ XXL with 73 different tools to the key-ring-size Escort with just six. As I constructed my own knife, the Ranger, a mid-tier model which is probably the most traditional knife in Victorinox's arsenal, I was given a history lesson on the individual tools and the best ways to use them. Designed to do everything from wood-whittling to opening letters, the uses of the standard blade are fairly self-explanatory. 'I use my knife blade every day for opening parcels, opening food packets, everything,' says Elsener. 'I carve an apple for breakfast first thing in the morning. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.' For outdoor work, the large blade is a woodman's best friend. To whittle wood, open the blade and close a fist around the handle so just the tip is pointing out. 'This will allow you to gain power,' explains Felix Immler, Victorinox's Swiss Army knife expert instructor. 'From there, use the bottom of the blade at a 45 degree angle to carve your wood. Each stroke should be an explosion of force.' Originally included on the Swiss Army Knife as a tool for gentlemen who hoped to make themselves useful to ladies who needed their corsets tightening, the hook's modern era usage is somewhat more mysterious. 'You could use it for… anything you might need a hook for,' a Victorinox spokesperson explained, helpfully. I did find one particularly practical usage of my own, though; open the hook half-way and you use it as a portable stand to rest a phone against. You might also use it to pull a bike chain off your gears, so you can work without getting greasy fingers, or even to tease apart difficult knots. The original innovation featured on the 'Officer's And Sports knife', the corkscrew's use is fairly self-explanatory. It's also a handy holster for the knife's smallest screwdriver. One of the most mysterious tools on the Swiss army knife is the reamer, punch, and sewing awl. This thin, sharp wedge is at the bottom of the knife. Punch the reamer into something and then rotate the whole knife to carve out a hole. 'You can use it to put a new hole in your belt or make a conical hole in a piece of wood,' says Immler. 'My other favourite trick is to pierce the tip of the reamer into a stable surface to hold the knife steady. Then rub a piece of wood back forth along the sharp edge of the reamer to create little shavings. Then you can quickly draw a fire striker along the reamer to create a fire.' Most people will only ever use the keyring eyelet to attach their Swiss Army knife to something, but given how solid the eyelet is, Immler uses his for additional tasks. 'If you feed a paperclip or needle through the eyelet, you can precisely bend it to create a fishing hook,' he explains. 'But it's also very hard – if you ever need to crack a coconut, the eyelet is tough enough to do that too.' 'Probably the most underrated tool on your pocket knife,' asserts Immler. 'If you carve wood, it should be your main blade. The small blade has a lot of advantages over the big blade. The small blade is usually sharper because it gets used less, and you can create tighter turns with it, so it's better for detailed work.' Hold the knife as you would to use the large blade, then place a thumb on the back of the blade. Push the knife with that thumb to make precise, shallow cuts in the wood. Another fairly simple tool, but the steel wood saw is very effective. 'I would recommend if you're sawing something to clamp the wood between your foot and the ground, and then saw as close to your foot as possible,' says Immler. 'This will prevent the wood you're sawing from moving around too much and if you're bending over to saw with your shoulder, rather than your elbow, that'll give you more power and control.' Another lesser-known tool hidden in the scale of all Swiss Army knives is the toothpick. It's also handily sized for cleaning the knife itself. A bottle opener is always worth having in a pinch, especially when (like the can opener) the flat top of it also doubles as a screwdriver. A slightly lesser-known use of this tool is the small nub at the bottom which functions as a wire stripper. With the large blade folded out, place your wire between the handle of the knife and this notch, so that the wire prevents the bottle opener tool from folding back in. Then carefully fold the blade back against the wire to use as a wire stripper. 'My favourite tool is the scissors, and we often hear the same from customers,' says Elsener. 'They're very helpful when you nick your nail and you can just take your scissors and correct it.' But the scissors are also strong enough to cut through fabric and aluminium cans – useful for making basic camp crafts or first-aid. Because they're spring-loaded, the trick with the scissors is to hold the knife in your palm and 'pump' the scissors, rather than trying to open them up and close them as you would a standard pair of kitchen scissors. The smallest screwdriver function on the knife neatly slots into the end of the corkscrew, and is designed for tightening up your glasses. Hidden inside the 'scale' of the knife is a tiny pair of tweezers. Not exactly a revolutionary bit of kit, but given how small it is, many don't realise it's there. Victorinox also suggests the tweezers can be useful when picking up delicate items of jewellery or even tiny components when repairing electronics. While most people are generally more familiar with rotary can openers, having an emergency back-up is always helpful. Simply press the hooked 'nose' of the can opener into the outside lip of your tin, then use the upper 'punch' in an up-and-down motion around the top of the can to open it. As for the flat end of the can opener? It's also a helpful screwdriver. Victorinox, the original Swiss Army knife company, produces 45,000 pocket knives every weekday to be shipped out around the world (the United States, Germany, Mexico, Britain and France are the biggest markets after Switzerland itself). Yet the Swiss Army knife was originally nothing of the sort. When a young Karl Elsener opened his workshop in Ibach, a small town an hour's drive from Zurich, in 1884, he was repairing tools for local farmers and making a few knives per week. The contract for standard-issue Swiss Army knives which featured a blade, reamer, can opener and screwdriver belonged to a German company. In 1896, Elsener presented army generals with a new knife, which, unlike the German one, featured tools on both sides of the grip and an innovative spring system, as well as a corkscrew, which he hoped would make it attractive to officers. The 'Officer's and Sports Knife' was declined by army chiefs. Having already produced hundreds of knives, Elsener faced financial ruin until he began selling the knives to American soldiers stationed in the country. They loved them and took them home as gifts. By 1909, the Swiss army had taken notice and contracted Elsener's company to make knives for its soldiers. The rest is history. Today, the company is a family-run foundation, with Carl Elsener IV the current CEO. It has produced around 550 million multi-tool penknives to date. 'In Switzerland, most people carry a Swiss Army knife with them every day,' Elsener tells The Telegraph. He personally prefers the Traveller, a pocket knife with an electronic display featuring an alarm clock ('set for 5.15am every day in my case,' says Elsener), altimeter, barometer, timer and thermometer. 'I'm one of those guys who like to fix things,' Elsener continues. 'If I'm travelling and I see a screw is loose in my hotel wardrobe, I'll get out my pocket knife and fix it. The Swiss are like this in general, we like to fix things. But you can use them for anything. 'Nasa bought Swiss Army knives for their astronauts, and once, a Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield, used his to get into a Russian space station when the official tools broke. He said, 'Never leave the planet without one,' which is the best commendation we've ever received.' Hidden in Victorinox's off-limits archive lies a wealth of knives from over the decades. There are Swiss Army knives personalised with ebony and mother-of-pearl handles, bone-handled knives, and even a diamond-studded miniature guitar with a Swiss Army knife built into the neck, which was specially constructed for Elvis Presley. What's remarkable is just how hard-wearing these knives are. Knives from 1937 (when the famous red plastic coating was first added) barely show any signs of age. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
DW
20-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Nicaraguan exiles and the emotional value of objects
This guest article, by a Nicaraguan journalist in exile, is part of the Casa para el Periodismo Libre project, developed by DW Akademie and its partner IPLEX in Costa Rica. For many Nicaraguans forced to flee their country amid the repression of the Ortega-Murillo regime, each object they manage to take with them across the border represents a tangible connection to the past, an emotional anchor in the face of uprooting and, above all, a promise: to return someday. San José, Costa Rica. This is the story of an exiled journalist and his collection of keys. He calls himself *Castro, in homage to the surname of an influential high school teacher in Managua who, upon discovering his talent for Spanish and oratory, suggested he study journalism. Even before leaving, *Castro swore to himself that he would return, that he would open the door to his house, embrace his family and sit on the porch to play with his dog and greet neighbors under the shade of the Indian Laurels that he himself had planted ten years before. He set off on a windy early morning in February 2022. He carried a change of clean clothes, three pieces of underwear, two pairs of balled-up socks, a blue and white scarf, a hand towel, bathing slippers, deodorant, toothpaste, a toothbrush and a bottle of aspirin. Everything fit, tightly, into a Totto school bag belonging to his teenage daughter. In an inside pocket, five keys attached to a stainless steel Victorinox key ring. His house keys. His pride. His inheritance. The fruit of years of bank debt and of surviving on a journalist's salary. He knew every nail, every crack, every corner of that house that he had worked on with his own hands. Each lock told a story: the street lock was opened by a key with traces of red paint; the gate by a key with two parallel notches; the main door by an elongated one with white spots. The other two, smaller, opened the inner gate and the garage lock. He traveled the more than 200 kilometers from Managua to the border post of Las Manos, adjacent to Honduras, listening to the metallic jingle of the keys at the bottom of his backpack. Already on the other side, exhausted after dodging soldiers and police, he took them out and put them in his jeans pocket. From then on, that sound accompanied him for thousands of kilometers, until he settled in a county east of Los Angeles. There, for the first time, he hung them on the key ring of his new home. And then he cried. He cried with the heartbreaking certainty that he might never wear them again. The suitcase and few belongings of a Nicaraguan journalist exiled in Costa Rica Image: La Prensa Chronicle of everything in the suitcase In November 2024, during a podcast workshop for exiled journalists which is part of the Casa para el Periodismo Libre project in Costa Rica, someone shared the story of a communicator who, upon fleeing the country, chose to take only one thing with him: a family photo kept inside a Bible. It was the last image, taken of him at Christmas 2021, showing him with his family. Based on this testimony, other exiles were asked what objects they took with them and what those objects meant. The responses were poignant: keys, stuffed animals, boots, video object carried a story of love, pain and memory. Some names in this article have been changed by express request, to protect the families that remain in Nicaragua and continue to be targets of reprisals. *Castro recalls the symbolic value of his keys jingling: "It was a promise I repeated to myself every day," he says, holding back tears. *Lucia, a 14-year-old teenager who fled with her journalist mother, chose three stuffed animals from her childhood. She could not take her guitar, flute, nor her books or watercolors. "She doesn't play with them anymore," said *Carmen, her mother. "She has them as if on an altar, among posters of her favorite singers. It's her way of remembering that she was happy, even though now she is far from home." There is also Óscar Navarrete, a photographer for La Prensa, who still has the boots, backpack and hat he wore when he crossed the border. "Each print on my boots is a story of struggle," he says. *Ana, a doctor and feminist activist, keeps intact the sneakers with which she was expelled by a patrol in Peñas Blancas, on the Costa Rican border. "I went to many marches with them. With them I will return," she says firmly. The young poet and journalist José Cardoza brought with him a Kodak camera inherited from his grandfather. "I learned to communicate with that camera before I could speak. Today it connects me with the memory of my family," he shared. And *Raul J. keeps a picture of the last Christmas spent with his grandparents, taken a month before leaving. Both passed away two years later. "It's painful, but essential not to forget," he said in a low voice, trying to contain himself. The intimate corner of *Lucia: she prioritized in her backpack objects that represent her happy childhood in Nicaragua Image: La Prensa Nobody leaves because they want to On October 30, Linda Núñez, sociologist and coordinator of Education and Memory of the Human Rights Collective Nunca Más (Never Again), presented in San José the report Nadie se va porque quiere. Voces desde el exilio (Nobody leaves because they want to. Voices from exile), an investigation by Eduardo González Cueva and María Alicia Álvarez based on the testimonies of 40 people displaced by repression. The study, supported by the Mesoamerican Women Human Rights Defenders Initiative (Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Defensoras de Derechos Humanos, in Spanish) and American Jewish World Service (AJWS), documents how the Nicaraguan regime's persecution has forced thousands to flee: activists, opponents, journalists, human rights defenders. The crackdown that followed the April 2018 protests was the tipping point. More than 800,000 people have left the country. Some fled after death threats, others after arbitrary arrests or constant surveillance. Of those interviewed, 45 per cent managed to barely prepare for their departure. The rest fled with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The experience of exile, the report points out, fractures life projects, separates families, destroys stability and leaves a wound that never heals. The stories describe anguish, guilt, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Many also face xenophobia and discrimination in their host countries, with no access to psychological support. Even so, 87.5 per cent report that they dream of returning, despite knowing they will return to a different Nicaragua. "This report documents crimes against humanity," said Núñez. "The Ortega-Murillo regime has destroyed not only individuals, but also their environments." Among the testimonies, one stands out: an exile keeps the key to his house as a symbol of hope. "Only the body passes, but the soul stays on the other side," said Núñez. A Nicaraguan family hid their passports in a chess box to avoid the army seizing them on their migratory route Image: La Prensa Sailboat and anchor The objects that exiles carry are not only memories: they are sailboats that push them forward and anchors that tie them to what they were. This is how Mexican psychologist Perla Guerra explained it to *Castro when he asked her about the emotional meaning of his keys. "An object is a treasure if it gives you hope and comfort. If it causes you suffering, maybe you haven't healed enough," she told him. Specialists agree that these objects help exiles process migratory mourning, maintain memories and reconstruct identities broken by exile. But they warn that excessive attachment can also hinder adaptation. *Carmen, mother of *Lucia, received the recommendation to carefully observe how her daughter interacted with her stuffed animals. "They can be a source of comfort, but if there is an inordinate attachment, you have to create an environment that gives her security without being trapped in the past," she was advised. In December 2024, Mexican journalist Patricia Mayorga - displaced by violence in Chihuahua - shared her experience at a meeting on migration in San José. She asked attendees to take with them the objects they had carried in their exodus and to tell their stories. Keys, backpacks, photos, amulets, piled on the table, each with its emotional charge. "These objects," said Mayorga, "help to cope with the transition, but it is also necessary to learn to let go in order to heal." She herselfhad filled her home in exile with memories of Chihuahua. This transformed her surroundings into a space of gratitude rather than nostalgia. "I didn't make an altar to cry," she said. Instead, the exercise opened up a necessary debate: to what extent is it healthy to hold onto such objects? How do they influence our ability to heal? *Castro was also there. He had returned from California to join his family in Costa Rica. He said that, with pain, he decided to send back to Nicaragua the keys he had been carrying since his first day of exile. The police had begun to harass his family and he feared for them. So, he handed over control of the house to relatives. It was his way of coming full circle. To accept that he might not open that door again, but also to take one more step toward the reconstruction of his life. The metallic sound of the keys, which once accompanied him as a promise, is now just an echo that belongs to another life. *The real names have been changed for security reasons. This text is part of the series Contar el Exilio (Narrating the Exile), produced in collaboration with DW Akademie, the Institute for Press and Freedom of Expression (IPLEX) and the Latin American Network of Journalism in Exile (RELPEX). This series, in turn, is part of the Space for Freedom project within the framework of the Hannah Arendt Initiative, funded by Germany's Federal Foreign Office.
