The Swisschamp XAVT was introduced in 2006 and offers 80 functions in a standard case that is 64.6mm in width. The object consists of 118 individual pieces and is assembled by hand by a skilled craftsman who performance more than 500 different operations to complete the assembly of a single Swisschamp. Amongst the standard components of knife blade, scissors and screwdriver, it also a features a composite scales (the plastic housing for the knife), and the bottom scales consists of a combined digital altimeter, thermometer, barometer and alarm clock as well as a removable toothpick, tweezers, pin and ballpoint pen.

This model is strictly aimed at collectors and is not necessarily intended as a practical everyday knife but more of a demonstration piece for Victorinox to highlight a number of different tool types produced by Victorinox, similar to the Wenger 16999 “The Giant” Swiss Army knife which had 87 tools. As the scales also contain a digital combination clock and environmental measuring tool, the knife is also a good example of Victorinox’s introduction of digital technology into the design of the classic penknife.

This knife was acquired as part of the Shekou Project, an international partnership between the V&A and China Merchant Shekou Holdings (CMSK) to open a new cultural platform called Design Society in Shekou. It was included in the inaugural exhibition, ‘Values of Design’, in the V&A Gallery at Design Society in a section which explores multiple functions as design values.