d f i e

The Swiss Army knife
A tool that’s become an icon

09.07.2010

The Swiss Army knife. A tool that’s become an icon
Coltello d’amore, Swiss dagger, Roman clasp knife, Swisstool

The red pocket knife with the Swiss flag emblem, known around the world as the Swiss Army knife, has important cultural forebears. This special exhibition, staged in association with the collector Horst A. Brunner of Winterthur and the company Victorinox, showcases the enormous variety of historical pocket knives. Arranged thematically, it offers a guided tour through the cultural history of this iconic tool. It examines topics such as knives and superstition, and features unusual examples such as the pistol knife and striking ones such as the largest and smallest pocket knives. There’s also a look at the foundation of the Karl Elsener knife factory in Ibach, Schwyz, plus an insight into the innovative aspects of present-day knife manufacture.




Swiss National Museum
Landesmuseum Zürich
Museumstrasse 2
8021 Zurich

Tel. +41 (0)44 218 65 11
Fax +41 (0)44 211 29 49
E-mail: kanzlei@snm.admin.ch
Opening hours
Tue - Sun 10 am – 5 pm
On Thursdays the museum is open until 7 pm.

Printed from: http://www.swiss-museum.ch/e/zuerich/wechselausstellungen/2010/das_sackmesser.php