YJ GIS Industrial Limited

Swiss Army knife from the Roman period. Have you seen it?

600-500 BC:
The oldest pocket knife (or jackknife) ever found dates back to around 600-500 BC. Found in Hallstatt,Austria, it features a single piece with a handle.

1st century AD:
The Romans were really the first people to use knives as tools. Numerous bronze "folding knives" have been found from the Roman Empire alone. But they have no locks or springs, rely solely on friction to keep them closed, and require both hands to open them.

200 AD
A "Swiss Army knife", found at a Roman site, consists of a spoon, blade, fork, spike (most likely used to eat snails), toothpick and shovel, a standard tableware. This well-preserved tool is made almost entirely of silver, except that the blade is made of iron. Owning a knife was a luxury in those days, and it may have been left by a wealthy traveler. The versatile knife became an instant hit with the world and was purchased by the Swiss army as a must-carry tool for soldiers and officers. After World War II, the Swiss Army Knife was purchased and used by the US army in large quantities. Due to the wide distribution of the US army, the Swiss Army Knife was introduced to the world, and the name is still used today.

In 800 AD:
During the Viking age, the use of the jackknife became widespread and it was common to see people using it. They look like the ones shown here, usually open, like a hook.

In 1600:

The Gully, which looks like a pistol grip, is defined as a combat knife and dates back to the 16th century.

In 1650:
Between 1650 and 1700, in the industrial city of Sheffield, England, a large number of inexpensive and practical jackknives were produced, which was what the peasant working class needed at that time. So this kind of folding knife was affectionately called "farm knife" at that time.

1600 years later:
The Navaja, a Spanish jackknife made around the same time, is even more significant. For the first time, it had a tool locking device (a buckle for the connecting position).

In 1710:
There is some evidence that the French invented the butterfly knife at this time (although many Filipinos disagree). The butterfly knife, which has a "two-handle" that completely hides the blade and flips over, was once popular as a stress-relief pastime. But it's actually a very dangerous weapon.

In 1750:
The jackknife, developed in Sheffield around the mid-18th century, historically had a spring attached to it and became popular in the United States after World War II.

In 1891:
The original "Swiss Army Knife" was actually created in 1891, equipped with blades, reamers, can openers and screwdrivers, and distributed to the Swiss army.

In 1990:
The term 'tactical folder' was coined in 1990 by master knife maker Bob Terzuola, who also created a different style of knife that was popular with outdoor enthusiasts at the time.