After a Century, the Iconic Swiss Army Knife Gets a Sleek New Look

ORANGEBURG, New York — March 15, 2005 — It's said you can't improve on perfection, but Wenger, the maker of the Genuine Swiss Army Knife, has done just that with the launch of their new Evo Series. For the first time in more than a century, Wenger has changed the design, look and feel of their iconic knives, making the most useful tool available even easier to use.

The Evo Series' distinctive handle, a combination of concave and convex shapes, conforms perfectly to the human hand, providing the best grip possible for cutting, loosening or tightening screws and tough bolts, or just uncorking a stubborn bottle of wine. The fluid lines of the Evo were designed to feel as if they had been formed by nothing more than the contact with your fingers and hand, creating optimal grip while giving the knife a sleek, modern look.

"It's amazing what a little plastic surgery can do for a 96 year-old," said Guy Corcoran, Chief Marketing Officer, Wenger N.A. "After a century, we knew it was time for change but we didn't want to move too far from the classic look that has made the Genuine Swiss Army Knife an icon. The new Evo Series, which joins Wenger's full lineup of Swiss Army knives, is sure to appeal not only to those who have owned, used and come to love the Wenger Swiss Army Knife but also to a new generation of everyday multi-tool users who will really enjoy the new look and feel."

"We've redefined the Swiss Army knife, drawing out its true design potential without losing what makes it one of the most familiar and recognizable objects in the world," said Dennis Piretra, Wenger's Director of Marketing. "It was not a question of just making it nicer to look at, or inventing a host of new functions with varying degrees of usefulness: it was a question of making it into something we had somehow always wanted it to be without really realizing it. When you hold the new Swiss Army knife in your hand, you will understand immediately what we mean!"

Wenger took a user's point of view in designing the new shape and look of their new line of knives. An entire product staff including designers, engineers, technicians and production managers worked for over nine months on the development of Evo, all searching for the optimal shape while remaining true to the core of what makes the Swiss Army knife such a classic.

The new line, still made in Switzerland to the exacting standards that make Wenger knives so reliable, features six knives, four larger sizes ranging from five all the way up to ten tools, and two smaller sizes featuring a five and eight tool configuration. The estimated retail price will range from $19.95 to $48.95 per knife depending on options and size. Each genuine Swiss Army knife is designed and crafted to hold true to Wenger's commitment of excellence and is great for camping, home projects, hunting and fishing, and virtually anything in between. The Evo Series will be available in stores like Dick's Sporting Goods, Galyans Sports, www.sportsauthority.com, Gander Mountain, Cabela's and elsewhere in mid-April.