Paul Boechat laid the foundation for the company we know now as Wenger, in 1893 while working at a cutlery factory in Delemont, Siwtzerland.  He was working at Fabrique Suisse De Coutellerie when Theo Wenger became the factory director.  Later Theo bought the factory and changed the name to Wenger & Co. S.A.

In 1886 the Swiss Army decided to equip each soldier with a regulation knife.  It was a single blade folding pocket knife.  This knife along with other tools were necessary to maintain the soldier's rifle.  In 1889 the Swiss military issued new rifles and a decision was made to create a knife that held all the tools needed to work on the new rifles.  The military called this knife a rifle accessory.  It was the beginning of what we now call the Swiss Army Knife.

Victorinox was the first swiss company to produce and supply these knives to the swiss army.  In 1893 the company Theo Wenger was in charge of was able to mass produce the knife required by the swiss army and also became a supplier.  

Wenger Swiss Army Knives are referred to as "genuine", while those made by Victorinox are known as "original".