Knife of the Year

At a trade fair in Nürnberg, Germany, called IWA & OutdoorClassics 2008, the Victorinox Rescue Tool has been awarded “Knife of the Year 2007.” The IWA International Knife Award, as the designation is apparently also called, went to the Victorinox hand piece for its innovative design, which included. . .

-window breaker
-One-handed blade
-Phillips screwdriver
-6mm screwdriver
-wire stripper
-punch and reamer
-belt cutter
-key ring
-tweezers
-toothpick
-disc saw
-luminescent grip shells
-nylon cord

The “window breaker” caught my attention. This tool, made for use in emergency and rescue situations (maybe one in the same?) was “developed and perfected in cooperation with emergency medical and rescue services in a five-year project,” according to Victorinox press materials.

The knife’s “rounded belt cutter” tool can be used to cut through seatbelts safe and quick. The disc saw, which looks like a serrated or toothed blade, can apparently cut glass, too, which is odd and perplexing, but then see this pic below:

All tools can be opened wearing gloves and are suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users.

It has “luminescent” yellow grips to make it stand out in a gear box during a panic.

Here’s the full story on this interesting emergency knife:
http://www.victorinox.ch/index.cfm?site=victorinox.ch&page=491&lang=E