Switzerland

The only genuine Swiss Army Knives are Victorinox and Wenger, but there are many fakes bearing the Swiss cross. The Swiss Army was originally issued with German knives from the famous blade maker Solingen. Victorinox started making knives in Switzerland in 1891. These were issued to soldiers, but officers bought their own lighter, more elegant models. Victorinox made its first Offiziersmesser (officers' knife) in 1897, and in 1945-49 massive deliveries were made to the US armed services. Americans couldn't pronounce the word, so they became simply known as "Swiss Army knives", and that was the origin of its worldwide fame