Each year, Victorinox reaffirms its legacy as a symbol of craftsmanship, precision and enduring design. With the launch of the DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025, the Swiss heritage brand unveils more than just a pocket knife. It offers a statement of artistry and mastery rooted in over 140 years of excellence. This release not only captures the imagination of collectors and enthusiasts but also celebrates the evolution of industrial craft in the 21st century.

Founded in 1884 in the Swiss town of Ibach by Karl Elsener, Victorinox has long been synonymous with the iconic Swiss Army Knife. What began as a utilitarian companion for soldiers has transformed into a global emblem of functionality and design ingenuity. From travel gear to timepieces and culinary tools, the Victorinox universe is built around the core values of quality, innovation and Swiss engineering.

At the heart of the brand’s identity lies the Swiss Army Knife, a marvel of compact multifunctionality that speaks to both tradition and innovation. Every detail, from the mechanical integrity of the tools to the materials used in production, reflects Victorinox’s commitment to precision and purpose. Limited editions, especially those incorporating Damasteel®, have elevated these tools into highly desirable collector’s items, admired for their beauty and built to perform.

The DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025: A Testament to Form and Function

In 2025, Victorinox presents a creation that once again bridges the worlds of utility and design with extraordinary finesse. The Special Companion Damast Limited Edition 2025 is not merely a Swiss Army Knife. It is a celebration of craftsmanship, Swiss culture, and material innovation. Embodying a contemporary take on the traditional, this edition is limited to only 7,000 pieces worldwide, underscoring its rarity and desirability among true connoisseurs.

A direct homage to the beloved “Companion” model, this special edition integrates the distinct aesthetics and strength of Damasteel®, making it a collector’s dream and a designer’s delight. In this section, we examine every aspect of this exceptional object, from its exterior to its inner capabilities.

A Modern Tribute to a Classic: Overall Aspect and Design

The first visual impact of the DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025 is one of understated sophistication. The outer casing, crafted from sleek walnut wood, lends the knife a tactile warmth rarely found in industrial objects. It is smooth yet structured, a material choice that evokes a sense of calm elegance while remaining deeply connected to nature. Each grain is unique, ensuring that no two knives are exactly alike.

Victorinox has chosen a minimalist approach to branding for this edition. The familiar Swiss cross and shield emblem is laser-engraved directly onto the wooden scales, adding to the knife’s purity of form without compromising identity. The contrast between the organic walnut and the dynamic pattern of the Damast blade creates a dialogue between tradition and innovation, reminding us that beauty often lies in balance.

A limited edition number is engraved onto the blade, reinforcing its exclusivity and collectability. There is no superfluous ornamentation here, just thoughtful, restrained design that allows the materials and craftsmanship to speak for themselves.

Compact Yet Capable: Tools and Functionalities

True to the ethos of the Swiss Army Knife, the Special Companion Damast Limited Edition 2025 strikes a balance between compactness and functionality. It houses five essential functions:

• Large Blade
• Small Blade
• Scissors
• Box Opener
• Screwdriver 3 mm
• Bottle opener
• Screwdriver 6 mm
• Wire stripper
• Multipurpose hook
• Corkscrew
• Reamer, punch and sewing awl
• Key ring

The configuration is purposefully minimalist. This is not a survivalist’s toolkit nor an over-engineered gadget. It is a refined daily companion, ideal for those who appreciate elegance in utility. Whether used in the office, at a vineyard, or on a mountain trail, this pocket knife enhances experience through subtlety and efficiency.

The blade, of course, is the centrepiece, and the exceptional properties of Damasteel elevate its performance. But the other tools are not secondary. The scissors, for instance, demonstrate the iconic precision of Victorinox engineering, which allows them to cut cleanly and effortlessly. Every fold and pivot is executed with mechanical accuracy and smoothness.

The Soul of the Knife: The Damast Blade

The defining element of this edition is, without question, the Damast steel blade. Created using powder metallurgy, it combines tradition with modern scientific precision. The pattern chosen for this year is “Odin Heim”, a bold and sweeping motif that dances across the surface of the blade like ripples in molten metal.

Visually, this Damast pattern is nothing short of hypnotic. It offers depth, texture, and a sense of movement that evolves in different lighting conditions. But the aesthetic is only part of the story. The steel itself is forged to deliver superior edge retention, corrosion resistance and structural integrity.

Victorinox utilises Damasteel®, developed in Sweden, for its limited-edition pieces. This modern version of Damascus steel has fewer inclusions and impurities, making it both more reliable and visually cleaner than traditional variants. The result is a blade that not only looks noble but also performs exceptionally over time.

The blade opens and closes with satisfying precision, offering a reassuring tactile experience to the user. It is this interplay between performance and pleasure that sets the DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025 apart.

Form Meets Meaning: Limited Edition Significance

Victorinox has released a series of Damast editions in recent years, each with its character and identity. But the 2025 Companion stands out by being both a nod to simplicity and a celebration of rare materials. It reflects the brand’s capacity to innovate while respecting its roots.

Only 7,000 units have been produced worldwide, each individually numbered. This makes the knife not just a practical tool or collector’s item, but also a potential heirloom. It is made to last, and made to be remembered.

Collectors will appreciate the elegant packaging as well. Each knife comes in a bespoke gift box with a certificate of authenticity. The product presentation honours the same level of care and attention that defines the knife itself.

This edition is likely to become a reference point for future limited editions, showing that excellence can reside in restraint. The DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025 is a study in purity, crafted for those who understand that the essence of luxury lies in integrity.

Damast Steel by Victorinox: Where Tradition Meets Metallurgical Innovation

In the world of high-end knife manufacturing, steel is not merely a material. It is a signature, a story, a source of performance and prestige. For Victorinox, Damast steel has become a defining element of its most sought-after limited editions. The DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025 is no exception, showcasing a blade forged from the finest Damasteel®, a modern evolution of ancient craftsmanship.

Damask steel is instantly recognisable for its hypnotic wavy pattern, a characteristic that is both aesthetic and functional. The origins of this steel trace back to ancient Asia, where it was admired for its strength, beauty and mysterious forging process. Today, Victorinox uses the most refined version of this legendary material, marrying centuries-old tradition with state-of-the-art powder metallurgy.

Victorinox and the Art of Damast

Victorinox has elevated the use of Damasteel® into a precise art. Each year, the company introduces a limited edition model that features this exclusive blade material. These editions have become highly coveted among collectors, thanks to their visual appeal, rarity and performance.

The brand employs the powder metallurgy method to craft its Damast blades. Unlike traditional forging, this method allows for exceptional control over the composition and structure of the steel. The resulting material is spotless, with minimal inclusions and impurities, ensuring not only a consistent pattern but also superior cutting properties.

This approach is deeply aligned with Victorinox’s values: precision, purity and performance. The Damast Limited Edition blades reflect the same quality standards seen in the brand’s kitchen knives, timepieces and travel gear. Each piece is meticulously crafted with extraordinary attention to detail, from the selection of steel layers to the final etching and finishing processes.

Victorinox proudly states that every limited edition with a Damast blade embodies its dedication to exceptional materials, delicate handcraft and unmistakable design. The DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025 is the most recent example of this philosophy brought to life.

The Swedish Legacy of Damasteel®

Behind Victorinox’s Damast blades lies a collaboration with one of the most respected metallurgical innovators in the world: Damasteel AB, based in Söderfors, Sweden. Founded in the early 1990s, Damasteel has its roots in a region renowned for its forging heritage dating back to 1676. The company has transformed Damascus steel into a high-tech craft, thanks to its patented powder metallurgy process.

Damasteel’s method begins with gas atomisation, where molten steel is transformed into perfectly spherical powder particles. These are then sealed in a canister and compacted using a Hot Isostatic Press, creating a dense and homogeneous material with excellent internal integrity.

The real beauty emerges in the forging phase, where these materials are manipulated to reveal unique patterns such as Rose, Dense Twist and Odin Heim. These designs are not only visually striking but also trademarked, making each blade a piece of intellectual and artistic property.

Damasteel combines two specific steels: RWL 34 and PMC27. RWL 34, named after American knifemaker Robert Loveless, provides light contrast and edge performance. PMC27 delivers dark contrast and excellent corrosion resistance. Together, these elements create a blade that is both functional and beautiful.

What makes Damasteel® unique is the structural quality achieved without welds. This ensures strength, stability and optimal edge retention. It is a steel forged not only with fire and pressure, but with intellect, experience and vision.

The partnership between Victorinox and Damasteel is characterised by mutual respect and a shared pursuit of excellence. It allows Victorinox to craft knives that stand at the intersection of tradition and innovation. And in the DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025, that relationship reaches an exquisite new height.

A Legacy of Damast: Other Victorinox Masterpieces

The launch of the DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025 is part of a greater narrative within Victorinox’s dedication to material excellence and collectable design. Over the past decade, the brand has released several limited-edition products that celebrate Damasteel® in both pocket knives and culinary tools. Each of these creations is an object of desire, blending form, function and rarity.

In this section, we revisit three notable Victorinox Damast products that continue to define the brand’s pursuit of aesthetic precision and everyday utility.

Swiss Modern Carving Knife Damast Limited Edition 2022

n 2022, Victorinox brought the strength and refinement of Damasteel® to the culinary world with the release of this exceptional carving knife. The Swiss Modern collection is known for its contemporary silhouette, ergonomic handle and exceptional slicing control. This limited edition elevated those qualities with a 22-centimetre blade made of Damasteel®, featuring a flowing “Ladder” pattern and an edge that holds exceptional sharpness.

The handle, crafted in smoked European walnut, balances elegance and comfort, making this knife not just a tool but a centrepiece of any refined kitchen. It is ideal for carving roasted meats, large vegetables or refined table presentations, bringing Swiss excellence to the world of gastronomy.

Farmer X Alox Damast Limited Edition 2024

The Farmer X Alox Damast Limited Edition 2024 pays tribute to rugged outdoor functionality. With a solid Damast steel blade forged in the “Baldur” pattern and silver Alox aluminium scales, this edition is built for resilience without sacrificing elegance. It features ten functions, including a saw, scissors, screwdrivers and a can opener, making it an excellent companion for camping or DIY tasks.

The Alox scales are embossed and anodised for extra durability, while the blade’s wave-like design stands out as a striking visual signature. Only 6,000 pieces were produced, securing its status as a collector’s item among enthusiasts of robust tools and refined engineering.

Classic SD Brilliant

While not a Damast edition, the Classic SD Brilliant deserves a place in the brand’s constellation of design-focused Swiss Army Knives. This model is a dazzling reinterpretation of the famous SD, featuring a mirror-polished Alox scale finish and premium detailing. It includes five essential functions: a small blade, scissors, nail file, screwdriver and key ring.

Although it does not feature a Damast blade, it embodies the same design-forward mindset that informs Victorinox’s limited editions. For those who appreciate compact sophistication with a touch of brilliance, the SD Brilliant offers a sleek alternative within the broader universe of Victorinox collectables.

Each of these products reinforces Victorinox’s ability to transcend pure utility and move into the realm of design, innovation and collectability. Whether in the kitchen, in nature, or as an everyday companion, Damast steel and Swiss engineering continue to shape objects that are built to last and made to be admired.

Final words

With the DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025, Victorinox once again proves that the Swiss Army Knife is far more than a tool. It is a cultural artefact, a symbol of innovation, and a masterclass in material sophistication. This edition honours the brand’s foundational values – precision, durability and elegance – while embracing the possibilities offered by cutting-edge metallurgy.

Each detail, from the graceful walnut scales to the hypnotic Odin Heim blade pattern, speaks of care, intention and heritage. In a world where function is often sacrificed for fashion, Victorinox creates rare objects that do both, and do so with conviction. The knife is not only limited in quantity but limitless in meaning.

This release is also a celebration of partnerships – between Swiss precision and Swedish innovation, between artisans and engineers, and ultimately between a brand and its loyal community. In the words of Carl Elsener Jr., CEO of Victorinox,

“We have always believed that functionality and design can go hand in hand. Our products are made to accompany people throughout their lives.”

That spirit is embedded in every line of the DAMAST LIMITED EDITION 2025. It is not just a knife. It is a story of timeless craftsmanship and visionary design, a blade forged from steel and shaped by dreams.

So, whether you are a collector, a designer, or simply someone who believes in the poetry of purpose, this edition invites you to carry something rare in your pocket – and something lasting in your hands.

José Amorim
This article was created exclusively for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is protected by copyright. Images are used for illustrative purposes under fair use. If you own the rights to any image and wish it to be removed, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will act promptly.

Altadenans are no strangers to animal sightings — there are peacocks and parrots aplenty around town — but news of a coyote and black bear palling around town together recently has locals talking.

First introduced to the public via a clip posted to social media by the Altadena Sheriff’s Station, the duo have been spotted together multiple times, munching on garbage and patrolling the foothill streets left mostly desolate by the Eaton fire in January.

While seeing a bear or coyote isn’t abnormal in Altadena, observing them together is surprising, says L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Garza, whose partner took the video of the unlikely pair when they responded to a call about the bear in late June. “They were kind of just walking and hanging out together, which was really interesting,” he says. “I think that because of the fires, both animals have lost their natural habitat so they’re down here looking for water and food, but seeing them together painted this picture of them being just two friends, trying to get along and checking out the neighborhood.”

Altadena resident Raimy Rosenduft says she captured the pair a week or so later on her front door camera (experts believe it’s the same couple). In her clip, the bear and the coyote are seemingly enjoying the spoils of a spilled garbage can, surveying the neighborhood while they weigh their next move.

While wildlife experts say it’s understandable that viewers may see the clips and think “check out this pair of cute, furry best friends,” they’re quick to note that what’s going on between the two species seems to indicate more toleration than affection.

“You can humanize your dog or your cat, but I think even that’s a stretch,” says Steve Searles, a wildlife expert and author who Animal Planet once dubbed “The Bear Whisperer.” “Thinking that these animals love you or each other the way that you love them just isn’t based on reality or fact. I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble, but it’s that kind of thinking that gets someone — either a person or more likely an animal — killed.”

There’s a less sentimental explanation for the team-up, Searles says. Back when he was working as a wildlife officer in Mammoth Lakes in the 1990s, Searles says he often saw coyotes sleeping outside bear dens. (Coyotes have also been spotted alongside bears in Burbank, although in seemingly less friendly circumstances, among other places.) “It was like they were just waiting for the bear to wake up and go to work, because it was more economical for them to travel with the bear during its nightly route,” Searles explains. While bears are typically seen as apex predators, he says, black bears — the only wild bears left in California — are actually vegetarian-leaning omnivores, eating far more grass, tubers, roots and berries than meat. Coyotes, on the other hand, are opportunistic eaters, chowing down on whatever crosses their paths. Following a bear, who’ll knock over a garbage can to lick out a discarded jar of peanut butter but may ignore chicken bones, could be a win for the smaller animal.

Unless a black bear has cubs with it or is looking to mate, Searles says, they won’t really pay the coyote much mind. “Everybody’s used to seeing grizzlies on TV catching salmon out of the air at the top of some waterfall, but black bears are one of the laziest animals on the planet,” he explains. “They just want to walk around on your lawn, eating grass or daisies or other non-indigenous species of plants. It’s just plain easier. They don’t want to run for anything if they can help it.”

Bear ecologist Chris Morgan says that, while he wouldn’t use the word “lazy” to describe black bears, he would absolutely call them efficient. “Like all bears, they’re out for the biggest number of calories for the least amount of effort.”

Even if the pairing is less “buddy animal movie” and more biological imperative, that doesn’t mean seasoned wildlife observers haven’t found something interesting in the footage.

Eric Strauss, the executive director of the Loyola Marymount Center for Urban Resilience, says his group has studied coyotes in urban environments extensively. Still, he says, he’s never seen a coyote with a bear. “I’m an old scientist, but still this kind of stuff never stops being delightful,” Strauss says. “We might think we have everything figured out, but the beauty of science is that you have to prepare to be surprised.”

Observing the pair may help scientists understand more about how animals respond to trauma, like the Eaton fire that destroyed both homes and wildlife habitat. “In the same way that fire is traumatic to humans, fire is traumatic to social animals,” Strauss says. “A lot of these social animals, like coyotes, probably lost their partners or lost their offspring and are, to some degree, still in shock. Most social animals are able to experience all the emotions that humans do. They don’t necessarily show it the same way, but I think knowing that creates a bond between us. These animals might still be wild, but, really, we’re not as different as we would like to think we are.”

In Altadena, where bear murals already dotted local stores before the fire, that sort of connection can feel extra special. Greg Mann, who’s lived in Altadena for about 30 years and who’s posted his bear sightings on the local Reddit page, says when he returned to his home in the Canyon Crest neighborhood earlier this spring, the area felt deserted, not just by people but by animals as well.

“Everything was so silent. There weren’t a lot of people back and it was pitch black at nighttime,” he says. “We weren’t seeing any signs of wildlife and [my wife and I] were really concerned because the fire had traveled so quickly so we just weren’t sure how all the animals had fared. But then we started getting deer in our yard again and other animals, and every single time a new animal comes through, it just feels so hopeful. Little by little, it feels like things are starting to get back to the way they should be.”