Karl Elsener (inventor) Karl Elsener (inventor) Karl Elsener (9 October 1860 - 26 December 1918) was a Swiss cutler, inventor and entrepreneur. Karl Elsener completed an apprenticeship as a knife maker in Zug. After some journeyman years he opened a factory in Ibach, Switzerland in 1884 for the manufacture of knives and surgical instruments. He invented the Swiss army knife in 1891 and developed his knife manufacturing company into what has become Victorinox. From 1912 to 1918 Elsener was a member of the cantonal parliament of the Canton of Schwyz. He was married three times. After him his son, Carl Elsener (1886-1950), and
Karl Amundson Karl Amundson Karl Albert Byron Amundson (KABA) (29 November 1873 – 21 February 1938) was a Swedish Air Force major general, ballooner and military attaché. He was the first Swedish Chief of the Air Force (1926–31). Amundson was born in Grythyttehed, Grythyttan, Sweden, the son of colonel Johan "Albert" Amundson (born 1840) and Alma Helena Albertina Godtknecht (born 1854). Amundson became second lieutenant at the Fortification ("Fortifikationen") in 1894, and was promoted to captain in 1904. He was a teacher at the Artillery and Engineering College from 1906 to 1910 and at the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1910