For more than a century it has been an indispensable piece of kit for campers, hikers and adventurers, but the Swiss Army Knife is about to be stripped of its most elemental part – the blade.
The decision has been taken by Victorinox, the Swiss firm that produces the iconic clasp knife, in response to tighter regulations governing the carrying of knives in many countries around the world.
The company instead plans to make folding tools that will not feature a blade but which they hope will still appeal to some customers – cyclists, for instance.
“We’re concerned about the increasing regulation of knives due to the violence in the world,” said Carl Elsener, the fourth-generation CEO of the family-run company.