On the North Pole Expedition
As well as daring expeditions up high mountain peaks, steep cliffs and into undiscovered deserts, ventures to the icy wastes of the Poles among Man’s greatest challenges. But even here you’ll find them – Swiss Army Knives from Ibach.
As, for example, during an exhausting North Pole expedition in the winter of 1976-77. Charles Burton reported in early 1978 on the British North Pole expedition. During the winter of 1976/ 77 his team was on route to the most northerly point on the globe during the dark Arctic night. They had to abandon the expedition just before reaching their destination due to the harsh weather. However, it had made sufficient progress to furnish a couple of heroic stories in which the Swiss Army Knife played a prominent role. Burton recounted in his letter to Ibach:
«In July 1977 we returned to England after six months in the Arctic. The group of ice explorers spent 90 days on the pack ice at temperatures below 50 degrees Celsius. This had been the lowest recorded temperature in the Arctic for 46 years. On 15 May, despite having already covered 890 miles (1432 km) on the ice and just ten days away from the North Pole, we had to be evacuated at once. A breakup in the ice, something which had never happened before, forced us to return. The ice broke up early, as it had never done before, and forced us to turn back. Despite this we were one of the expeditions that succeeded in travelling far to the north that year. The Swiss Army Knives you supplied us with proved invaluable for the entire group on the ice as well as for those at base camp. They were used, among other things, to remove ice from the sledge runners and for opening cans of food.
When one of our party fell into the ice we were able to use the knife to cut his clothing loose and free him from his wet garments which immediately froze. When he fell into the ice the temperatures were minus 37 degrees Celsius, so he had to be taken into a tent quickly and dried out. Without acting quickly, thanks to the help of your knives, he could have been in serious danger.»
It’s Even Become an Objet d’Art
The legendary Swiss knife from the firm of Victorinox in Ibach-Schwyz has not only saved lives, dealt with emergencies and been carried in the trouser pockets of adventurers but has actually become an «objet d’art». The design itself is evidently capable of distinguishing itself: world-class, irrepressible and able to span the generations.
In the words of J. Stewart Johnson, Curator for Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, in his letter to the manufacturers in Ibach: «I am pleased to inform you that at our meeting of 28 November 1977 our Architecture and Design Department has decided to include your Swiss Army Officer’s Knife in our collection.»
Allowed for Advertising Purposes
The letter from the Museum continues: «If you would like to mention in your documentation that your knife has been included in our Architecture and Design Department, please use the following text: “included in the Design Collection at the Museum of Modern Art, New York”. It is the policy of our museum that this kind of information may not be used as advertising text. In plain language the name of the museum must not be mentioned in connection with advertising but simply in order to illustrate a fact. You will no doubt appreciate our position in this respect.» It is logical in itself that the inclusion of the Swiss Army Knife in the museum catalogue is good enough advertising.
Round Cape Horn in a Canoe
Tools and equipment carried on adventurous and often dangerous expeditions must be able to perform under any conditions. Everything can depend on them. Such undertakings include expeditions up the world’s highest mountains, deep into the rain forest, into outer space or barren deserts. They may also take place on the endless and unforgiving oceans. Tools must prove their worth, particularly where salt water quickly attacks and corrodes steel. An example of this was provided by a British group that sailed round Cape Horn in canoes.
The British adventurer Barry J. N. Smith expressed his satisfaction and delight to Victorinox AG in a letter dated 22 January 1978. His canoe expedition round Cape Horn had been a complete success, not least thanks to the pocket-knives carried on the expedition.
In Smith’s own words::
«We left Puerto Williams on 11 December 1977 and rounded Cape Horn eleven days later. As you can imagine we experienced numerous exciting situations as we paddled around the Woolaston Group. We identified a whole range of fauna and flora and both our team and our equipment were put to the test in a unique environment. I am delighted to send you an expedition report together with slides which show your knives in action.»
Survived Salt Water
«Your Swiss Army Officers’ Knives coped superbly with extensive use. They soon became an indispensable tool for a range of tasks as well as in emergencies.
Frank Goodman was very sad when he lost his on Cape Horn Island. I carried my knife in a lifejacket pocket and as a result it frequently came into contact with salt water. Despite this it continued to function perfectly.
Many knives advertised as being stainless steel rust precisely when they are needed most. But not the Victorinox knives. These are obviously the genuine article. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity. Without your help and those of others this adventure would have been impossible. Our success is your success.»
A Pocket Knife Used as a Scalpel
On a domestic flight to Bangalore, India, a child was in danger of choking to death on a sweet that was stuck in his throat. Thanks, however, to a quickwitted doctor and the Victorinox pocket-knife, the child was saved. A similar incident happened on a Dublin street. In both cases lives were saved thanks to the knife from Ibach.
Passengers on a domestic flight in January 1976 witnessed the terrifying moments in which a young mother cried out for help in desperation because her child had swallowed a hard sweet and was in danger of choking. At first an attempt was made to rescue the child with an oxygen cylinder, but without success. Fortunately there was a doctor on the flight. The child was already in a critical condition, so he decided to carry out an emergency operation. However, the first-aid box on board did not have a scalpel. The hostess appealed urgently for a pocket knife over the loudspeakers. A passenger handed the doctor a clean, new and sharpened Swiss Officer’s Knife. The doctor quickly performed a tracheotomy. This courageous action saved the child. Shortly afterwards they landed in Bangalore and the child was rushed to hospital. There was not even an infection as a result of the emergency operation.
