There are few pieces of gear as iconic as the Swiss Army Knife, and a new book celebrates the utility of this instantly recognizable red classic. The Swiss Army Knife Book: 63 Outdoor Projects by Felix Immler is a beautifully produced book that will appeal to the kid in all of us.
As of this writing the hardback version of the book is the only one available, but that's a good thing. It is a very nicely constructed, with large, gorgeous color photography that invites the reader to spend some time with the content. The author does fine justice to the topic, perhaps not surprising since he's a Swiss native who is a verifiable pocket knife expert as evidenced by his instructor status at Victorinox, the maker of the knives.
Felix's attitude comes through clearly in the book, starting with the picture of him playing air guitar on a broom he made – of course – with his Swiss Army Knife. A multitude of projects follow, from camp implements to shelters to furniture. Each project is clearly documented with pictures, and the descriptions are coded to the pictures with numbers.
Following the projects section is a second section titled Essentials, which covers gathering materials and techniques for using your knife. There are even exercises to practice specific skills. The material includes plenty of tips and advice on general bushcraft, and it didn't take us long to realize we'd be getting more copies of The Swiss Army Knife Book for our younger family members, and we know their parents will enjoy it equally.