From the manufacturer About Us In 1884, Karl Elsener opened his cutlers workshop in Ibach-Schwyz. In the early years Karl Elsener worked to combat poverty and unemployment in the Schwyz basin, creating jobs and helping stem the flow of emigration. In 1891 he supplied the soldiers knife to the Swiss Army. He went on to develop the Swiss Officers and Sports Knife now the Swiss Army Knife in 1897. See More