Coat of arms of Switzerland specifically on coins and number plates. A number of regulations passed along with the new flag law, also in force from 2017, restricted the commercial use of the Swiss cross. Dubbed the "Swissness regulation" ("Swissness-Verordnung"), these changes were originally proposed in 2006 by national councillor Jasmin Hutter and state councillor Anita Fetz, and eventually implemented in five separate regulations. Numerous exceptions were granted to companies who have historically used the Swiss cross, such as Swiss army knife producer Victorinox (uses the federal coat of arms as company logo since 1909). Coat of arms of Switzerland The coat of arms of
Swiss Army knife 1891. In 1891, Karl Elsener, then owner of a company that made surgical equipment, set out to manufacture the knives in Switzerland itself. At the end of 1891 Elsener began production of the "Modell 1890" knives, in direct competition with the Solingen company. He incurred financial losses doing so, as Wester & Co was able to produced the knives at lower cost. Elsener was on the verge of bankruptcy when, in 1896, he developed an improved knife, intended for the use by officers, with tools attached on both sides of the handle using a special spring mechanism, allowing him to