Karl Elsener (inventor)

Karl Elsener (posthumously also known as Karl Elsener I) (9 October 1860 – 26 December 1918) was a Swiss cutler, inventor and entrepreneur.^[1]

Karl Elsener
Karl Elsener
Born	(1860-10-09)9 October 1860 Schwyz, Switzerland
Died	26 December 1918(1918-12-26) (aged 58)
Occupation(s)	Knife cutler and entrepreneur
Children	1

Biography

Karl Elsener completed an apprenticeship as a knife maker in Zug. After some journeyman years he opened a factory in Ibach, Switzerland^[2] in 1884 for the manufacture of knives and surgical instruments.^[3] He started production of the Swiss army knife in Switzerland in 1891 and developed his knife manufacturing company into what has become Victorinox.^[4]

From 1912 to 1918 Elsener was a member of the cantonal parliament of the Canton of Schwyz. He was married three times.^{[citation needed]}

After him his son, Carl Elsener (1886–1950) [de], and his grandson Carl Elsener senior (1922–2013) and his great-grandson Carl Elsener Jr. (born 1958) led the Victorinox company. This man's legacy later descended into the family of Frohnes'.^{[citation needed]}

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