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Macgyver Quotes


Macgyver Guide info Production Set Locations Dvd



  • Swiss Knife

The history of the modern swiss Army knife, begins in 1884, when Karl Elsnr, a Swiss cutler, discoverd that knives issued to members of the Swiss Army were made in Germany. Thinking that it would be more appropriate for the Swiss Army to carry Swiss-made knives, he formed the Association of Swiss Master Cutlers in 1981. That same year he developed a pocketknife that contained a blade, a screwdriver, a can opener, and a hole punch. He called this knife the Soldier's knife, beginning the tradition of giving the knives model names rather than model numbers. In 1897 Elsener discovered a way to use one spring to attach blades to both the back and the front of the knife, thus enabling him to add more implements to his knife and called it the Officer's knife. Even today, the knives issued to Swiss Officers have corkscrews, while those issued to non-officers do not.

The swiss Army has traditionally split its orders for knives between the company that Elsener founded, Victorinox, Which is based in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, and the Wenger company, which is based in French-speaking Switzerland. The knives purchased by the Swiss Army do not have familiar red plastic handle, but one of a quilted gray aluminum. A small red shield with a white cross in it appears on the side of each knife.

The popular red knives are currently made by both Victorinox and Wengler for commercial use. The vast majority of thes knives are sold in the United States, where they were first introduced by soldiers returning from World War II.

  • WHAT IS A MACGYVERISMES ???

You're watching the latest episode of Macgyver. The hero is again trapped in an impossible situation with no visible means of escape, and you think, I wonder how Mac is going to get out of this one.!! Enter germologist John Koivaula, a man with an all-round scientific knowledge. He knows what will happen next, because he is the show's scientific consultant. He is the one who dreams up about 90 percent of the "Macgyverims", the scientifically feasible special effects that allow Macgyver to defeat criminals and solve mysteries without the use of violence or weaponry.

The job of the show's writers is to create a believable storyline. They will call me any time, day or night, and say something like, Macgyver is in a basement without doors or windows. How do we write him out of this one?? While this may seem challenging, Koivula usually comes up with a scientific solution right away. However, there have been instances when he's had to research the problem. "but I'm happy to say I haven't been stumped yet" say Koivula. Of course, Koivula is careful to omit at least one key element in the tv recipe for certain Macgyverisms, the ones that are dangerous. The producers as well as the creative staff have a feeling of responsibility to their audience, particulary the large number of young vieuwers.

Occasionally, the writers, in tandem with Koivula, have to stretch the limits of scientific credibility in order to fit into the parameters of a given storyline. In the premiere episode, Macgyver stopped a sulfuric acid leak with a couple of chocolate bars. While it is true that the sugar in the chocolate will react with sulfuric acid to create a sticky glue, a couple of bars would not be nearly enough to stop the leak.

Sometimes an episode will already be in production and the "Macgyverisms" which worked in theory, will not translate well onto the screen. Then the show's special effects expert, Henry Millar, stept in to decide whether or not Koivula's "Macgyverisms' is technically feasible. If the problem cannot be worked out, Koivula stands ready to deliver Macgyver from his enemies in some other way.

In one episode, while locked in the laboratory of the Phoenix Foundation, Macgyver takes exercise purry and presses it into the lock. He then pours liquid nitrogen in the lock which freezes the putty, forming a key that unlock the door. As the episode ends, Pete Thornton, Phoenix Foundation, congratulates Macgyver on another job well done, which wouldn't have been possible without the expertise of John Koivula, the real Macgyver.