Business Notes SPIN-OFFS

Known for its quality and versatility, the Swiss Army Knife has long been the favored possession of many an adventurer. But can Swiss Army Sunglasses inspire the same level of affection? Switzerland's Victorinox, manufacturer of the famed blade, has given permission to its U.S. distributors to use the high-profile Swiss Army name for other products. A division of the Connecticut-based Forschner Group is starting to market a small shelf of quality wares designed to march in step with the knife's popularity. So far they include the sunglasses ($115), featuring a "precision-fit torsion system" that prevents the frames from falling off the face, and the Swiss Army Watch ($95). The new products have already generated almost $2.5 million in sales this year. Says Forschner chairman Harry Thompson: "The idea is to endlessly build a base on which the knife can thrive." Not to mention Victorinox.