Swiss Army Knives FAQs

With Victorinox stamping on the blade and the Victorinox Emblem (Cross & Shield) on the scale, you own an Original Swiss Army Knife.

The stamping on the large blade differs depending on when it was manufactured:

Since 2005:
VICTORINOX
SWISS MADE
STAINLESS

Since 2014, for selected products:
VICTORINOX
SWISS MADE
DELÉMONT

Victorinox AG guarantees all knives and tools to be of first class stainless steel and also guarantees a life time against any defects in material and workmanship (save for electronic components 2 years). Damage caused by normal wear and tear, misuse or abuse are not covered by this guarantee.

A service charge may apply for repairs or services which are not covered by the guarantee.

You can purchase Victorinox Swiss Army Knives in our Victorinox stores or from a local retailer.
Use our Store Finder to find a store nearby.

Please contact your local retailer or send your product, well packed, directly to our country representative.

In accordance with airline luggage regulations, dangerous objects are generally banned from carry-on and checked-in luggage on flights or are subject to restrictions.

However, these regulations vary depending on the airport, airline and country. You should therefore consult the website of your corresponding airport for detailed information on current regulations before you start your journey.

Some countries have more stringent regulations about carrying objects that can be used as weapons, both in and outside airports (for example, a pocket knife with a lockable blade). Please bear this in mind and make the necessary inquiries. In general, we advise you to stow pocket knives in checked-in luggage.

The term or the declaration "stainless" means the object in question is made of high alloyed steel. Products manufactured using high alloyed steel have a high resistance to corrosion.

The terms "stainless" or "inox" is thus only partly true. If stainless steel products are not cleaned over a long period of time, aggressive substances (fruit acids, salt water etc.) are able to act on (corrode) the material.

A Swiss Army knife is a prized possession, something that will come to your rescue at the most opportune of times. These knives are created from high quality steel and are corrosion resistant achieved by systematic annealing, tempering and polishing. Thus taking care of them is vital to facilitate superior functionality.

Here are a few tips to take care of the Swiss Army knife:

• The electronics in your tool are not waterproof thus remove the battery for all models with integrated electronics.
• To clean open and close the blades several times in warm water until they move easily again.
• After the knife is dry, put a small drop of oil between the blades, tool casing or spring and other friction points.
• Multi Tool Oil is recommended as a lubricant for cleaning which possesses a neutral taste and smell, is highly resistant to ageing, has corrosion protection qualities and is food-safe.
• In order to resharpen and achieve a straight cut use a whetstone at an angle of 15 - 20°. For a serrated cut use a sharpening stone and pull it across the flat side of the serrated cut at an angle of 15 - 20°. A Victorinox Knife Sharpener is the best tool to achieve this.

The temperature in dishwashers can reach between 55 and 80 degrees Celsius (130 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit), depending on the selected cycle. Cleaning salts and strong cleaning agents are used during this process.
Exposing Swiss Army Knives to aggressive environments and high temperatures for extended periods can cause damage.
Therefore, do not put Swiss Army Knives or other pocket tools in the dishwasher!

We recommend that you resharpen your blade using a whetstone at an angle of 15° - 20°. This will result in a cutting angle of 30° - 40°. If resharpening on a grinding wheel, always cool with plenty of water to avoid excessive temperatures.

More information can be found in the following documents:

• Care Tips for Victorinox Pocket Knives (PDF)
• Care Tips for Victorinox SwissTools (PDF)

When selecting a lubricant, various properties need to be taken into account, including legal provisions relating to the safety of foodstuffs. Some oils intended for pocket knives do not provide satisfactory lubrication or may even prevent the knife from working properly (causing it to stick, for example). Also, please heed the general food regulations.

The main features of our Multi-Purpose oil are: neutral in taste and smell, highly resistant to ageing, good wear and corrosion protection qualities, food-safe.

We highly recommend using our Multi-Tool oil 4.3302.

Open the corkscrew. The pin is in the scale right next to the base of the corkscrew.
All 91 mm Swiss Army Knives with plastic scales have a slot for the pin.
Please note that the pin is not fitted as a standard on all models.

More information can be found in the following document:

• Where is the pin located? (PDF)

Please follow these directions when using the corkscrew:

1. Remove the mini-screwdriver (if there is one). The mini-screwdriver is not supplied as a standard with all models.
2. Fully insert the corkscrew into the cork and pull the cork vertically upwards and out of the bottle. Try to avoid twisting or tilting the knife body!

More information can be found in the following document:

• How to use the corkscrew (PDF)

Please refer to this document Battery Changes (PDF).

Important:

Recycling batteries: Never throw batteries into household rubbish. Batteries must be recycled.

New battery: Before inserting a new battery, always check its expiry date.

List of all main functions:

• Victorinox Swiss Army Knives Functions (PDF)

The SwissChamp has 19 tools and packs 33 functions. Hit play to see them all in action.

Please read the Operating Instructions of the Traveller, Traveller Lite and Expedition Lite (PDF).

We appreciate your interest in our Swiss Army Knives. Our range is extensive and accommodates most requests.
For technical reasons, we do not offer special one-off productions!

We appreciate your interest in visiting our production sites. Unfortunately, we do not offer any factory tours at our headquarters in Ibach-Schwyz.

We are happy to offer the following alternatives:

Ibach-Schwyz: 
Visit our factory shop which is on the site of our headquarters.
Victorinox AG, Schmiedgasse 57, CH-6438 Ibach-Schwyz
Opening hours

Brunnen: 
Visit the Swiss Knife Valley VISITOR CENTER, including brand store and museum.
Bahnhofstrasse 3, CH-6440 Brunnen
More information here.

Victorinox Delémont: 
Tours for individuals can be arranged on the first Wednesday of every month.
Please reserve your place at the latest by 2pm on the day before you wish to visit.
Group tours of 6-15 people can be organized from Mondays to Fridays. These must be booked in advance. For reservations, please call us on +41 32 421 39 00.